Lower Providence Township Montgomery County
City Zoning Code

A sign which has not identified or advertised a current business, service, owner, product, or activity for a period of at least 180 days, in the case of off-premises signs, or at least 360 days in the case of on-premises signs.

A sign that designates the street number and/or street name for identification purposes, as designated by the United States Postal Service; also known as a nameplate sign.

A sign depicting action, motion, or light or color changes through electrical or mechanical means.

A cloth, plastic, or other nonstructural covering that projects from a wall for the purpose of shielding a doorway or window. An awning is either permanently attached to a building or can be raised or retracted to a position against the building when not in use.

Any sign painted on, or applied to, an awning.

A lighter-than-air, gas-filled balloon, tethered in a fixed location, which contains an advertisement message on its surface or attached to the balloon in any manner.

Any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper, or similar nonrigid material attached to any structure, staff, pole, rope, wire, or framing which is anchored on two or more edges or at all four corners. Banners are temporary in nature and do not include flags.

Any source of electric light, whether portable or fixed, the primary purpose of which is to cast a concentrated beam of light generally skyward as a means of attracting attention to its location rather than to illuminate any particular sign, structure, or other object.

The maximum linear width of a building measured in a single straight line parallel, or essentially parallel, with the abutting public street or parking lot.

A structure, other than an awning, made of fabric, metal, or other material that is supported by columns or posts affixed to the ground and may also be connected to a building.

Any sign that is part of, or attached to, a canopy.

A sign or portion thereof on which the copy or symbols change either automatically through electrical or electronic means, or manually through placement of letters or symbols on a panel mounted in or on a track system. These two types of changeable-copy signs include message center signs, digital displays, and tri-vision boards.

The distance above the walkway, or other surface if specified, to the bottom edge of a sign. This term can also refer to a horizontal distance between two objects.

The portion of a sign message made up of internally illuminated components capable of changing the message periodically. Digital displays may include, but are not limited to, LCD, LED, or plasma displays.

Signs designed to provide direction to pedestrian and vehicular traffic into and out of or within a site.

A type of illumination comprised of either: a) a group of incandescent light bulbs hung or strung overhead or on a building or other structure, or b) light bulbs not shaded or hooded or otherwise screened to prevent direct rays of light from shining on adjacent properties or rights-of-way.

Any sign printed or painted on cloth, plastic, canvas, or other like material with distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols attached to a pole or staff and anchored along only one edge or supported or anchored at only two corners.

A sign whose artificial illumination is not kept constant in intensity at all times when in use and which exhibits changes in light, color, direction, or animation. This definition does not include electronic message centers signs or digital displays that meet the requirements set forth herein.

A unit of incident light (on a surface) stated in lumens per square foot and measurable with an illuminance meter, a.k.a. footcandle or light meter. One footcandle is equal to one lumen per square foot.

A unit of emitted light (from a surface) stated in lumens per square foot and measurable with an illuminance meter, a.k.a. footcandle or light meter. One footlambert is equal to one lumen per square foot.

A sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that is independent and detached from any building or other structure. The following are subtypes of freestanding signs:

A freestanding, open-air structure constructed for the purpose of shielding service station islands from the elements.

Any sign that is part of, or attached to, the vertical sides of the gas station canopy roof structure. For the purposes of this article, gas station canopy signs shall be considered wall signs.

Any official sign erected and maintained for public safety purposes, the regulation of traffic, or for identification purposes, including, but not limited to, highway route number signs, street signs, parking signs, directional signs, warning signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public service companies indicating danger or construction, which are erected by or at the order of a governmental official, officer, employee, or agent thereof, in the discharge of official duties.

Signs or displays including lighting which are a nonpermanent installation celebrating national, state, and local holidays, religious or cultural holidays, or other holiday seasons.

A sign with electrical equipment installed for illumination, either internally illuminated through its sign face by a light source contained inside the sign or externally illuminated by a light source aimed at its surface.

A source of any artificial or reflected light, either directly from a source of light incorporated in or indirectly from an artificial source.

A sign that displays general site information, instructions, directives, or restrictions that are primarily oriented to pedestrians and motor vehicle operators who have entered a property from a public street. These signs shall not contain any commercial advertising.

Signs displayed in the window displaying information such as the business' hours of operation, credit institutions accepted, commercial and civic affiliations, and similar information. These signs shall be informational only and shall not contain a commercial message.

A sign that is an air-inflated object, which may be of various shapes, made of flexible fabric, resting on the ground or structure and equipped with a portable blower motor that provides a constant flow of air into the device.

An electronic or animated sign that reacts to the behavior or electronic signals of motor vehicle drivers.

The physical attributes of a sign that allow for an observer's differentiation of its letters, words, numbers, or graphics.

A nonpermanent sign that is displayed on private property for more than 30 days, but not intended to be displayed for an indefinite period.

An objective measurement of the brightness of illumination, including illumination emitted by an electronic sign, measured in candles per square foot (cd/sq. ft.).

A permanent structure, other than a roof or canopy, attached to, supported by, and projecting from a building and providing protection from the elements.

Any sign attached to a marquee for the purpose of identifying a use or product. If attached to a theater, performing arts center, cinema, or other similar use, it may also advertise films or productions.

A sign having parts that physically move or revolve rather than merely appear to move as might be found in a digital display. The physical movement may be activated electronically or by another means, but shall not include wind-activated movement such as used for banners or flags. Mechanical movement signs do not include digital signs that have changeable, programmable displays.

A memorial plaque or tablet, including grave markers or other remembrances of persons or events, which is not used for a commercial message.

A type of illuminated, changeable-copy sign that consists of electronically changing alphanumeric text, often used for gas price display signs and athletic scoreboards.

The spreading of one message across more than one sign structure.

A large picture/image (including but not limited to painted art) which is painted, constructed, or affixed directly onto a vertical building wall, which may or may not contain text, logos, and/or symbols.

A sign which was erected prior to the establishment of zoning regulations within the Township or was erected in compliance with the then-enacted zoning regulations, but does not currently comply with sign regulations of the zoning district in which it is located.

An outdoor sign whose message directs attention to a specific business, product, service, event or activity, or other commercial or noncommercial activity, or contains a noncommercial message about something that is not sold, produced, manufactured, furnished, or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located. (also known as a "billboard").

A sign whose message and design relate to an individual business, profession, product, service, event, point of view, or other commercial or noncommercial activity sold, offered, or conducted on the same property where the sign is located.

A sign attached or affixed to a building, window, or structure, or to the ground in a manner that enables the sign to resist environmental loads, such as wind, and that precludes ready removal or movement of the sign and whose intended use appears to be indefinite.

An on-premises sign that expresses an opinion, interest, position, or other noncommercial message.

A sign designed to be transported or moved and not permanently attached to the ground, a building, or other structure.

A sign indicating a street or drive which is not publicly owned and maintained and used only for access by the occupants of the development and their guests.

A building-mounted, double-sided sign with the two faces generally perpendicular to the building wall, not to include signs located on a canopy, awning, or marquee.

A sign containing any material or device which has the effect of intensifying reflected light.

A sign contained within an athletic venue and intended solely to provide information to the attendees of an athletic event.

The description of a luminaire from which no direct glare is visible at normal viewing angles, by virtue of its being properly aimed, oriented, and located and properly fitted with such devices as shields, barn doors, baffles, louvers, skirts, or visors.

Any device, structure, fixture, painting, emblem, or visual that uses words, graphics, colors, illumination, symbols, numbers, or letters for the purpose of communicating a message. A sign includes the sign faces as well as any sign-supporting structure.

The total dimensions of a sign surface used to display information, messages, advertising, logos, or symbols. See § 143-143 for standards for measuring sign area.

The part of the sign that is or can be used for the sign area. The sign area could be smaller than the sign face.

The vertical dimension of a sign as measured using the standards in § 143-143.

Poles, posts, walls, frames, brackets, or other supports holding a sign in place.

A sign tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, public benches, streetlights, or other objects, or placed on any public property or in the public right-of-way or on any private property without the permission of the property owner.

The exterior facade of a building housing a commercial use visible from a street, sidewalk, or other pedestrian way accessible to the public and containing the primary entrance to the commercial establishment.

The side or sides of a lot abutting on a public street or right-of-way.

A banner suspended above a public sidewalk and attached to a single street pole, not including utility poles. These signs shall not contain any commercial advertising.

A type of nonpermanent sign that is located on private property that can be displayed for no more than 30 consecutive days at one time.

An outdoor unit with a slatted face that allows three different copy messages to revolve at intermittent intervals.

A sign displayed on a vending machine indicating the name of the product being sold and/or the price of such product.

A building-mounted sign which is either attached to, displayed on, or painted on an exterior wall in a manner parallel with the wall surface. A sign installed on a false or mansard roof is also considered a wall sign.

An on-premises sign regulating the use of the premises, such as a "no trespassing," "no hunting," or "no soliciting" sign.

Any sign that is applied, painted, or affixed to a window, or placed inside a window, within three feet of the glass, facing the outside of the building, and easily seen from the outside. Customary displays of merchandise or objects and material without lettering behind a store window are not considered signs.