Manchester Township York County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 14
SIGNS
§ 27-1401 Purpose.
[Ord. 1996-1, 1/23/1996, § 1400]
The purpose of this Part is to promote and protect the public health welfare and safety by regulating existing and proposed outdoor advertising signs and outdoor signs of all types. It also protects property values; creates a more attractive economic and business climate enhances and protects the physical appearance of the community, preserves the scenic and natural beauty of designated areas and provides a more enjoyable and pleasing community. It is further intended hereby to reduce sign or advertising distractions and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way, provide more open space, the curb and deterioration of natural beauty and community environment. Therefore, signs may be erected and maintained only when in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and any and all other ordinances and regulations relating to the erection, alteration or maintenance of signs and similar devices.
§ 27-1402 Permitted Permanent Signs.
[Ord. 1996-1, 1/23/1996, § 1401; as amended by Ord. 2010-11, 10/12/2010, § 4]
1.
Subject to the provisions of this Part, only the following types of permanent signs are permitted:
A.
P-1. All signs and signals owned or operated by the Township or other governmental agencies.
B.
P-2. Identification signs for public and for semi-public facilities such as schools, churches, hospitals, libraries, clubs and public utilities, an individual letter fascia sign exceeding 20 square feet in any area may be permitted by special exception where such sign lends itself to the architecture and appearance of the structure to which it is attached.
C.
P-3. Nameplate identifying the owner or resident of a private property. Such sign may be in addition to normal name and address on or attached to a mailbox, which Signs are not subject to the regulations of this Part.
D.
P-4. Memorial or historical markers or tablets.
E.
P-5. Signs indicating the private nature of a road, driveway, or other premises, and signs controlling the use of private property, such as the prohibition of hunting, fishing or trespassing.
F.
P-6. On-site directional signs.
G.
P-7. Freestanding business signs, excluding shopping center, shopping plaza or mall.
H.
P-7A. Attached business signs, excluding shopping center, shopping plaza or mall.
I.
P-8. Freestanding business signs for apartment and office identification. An individual letter fascia sign exceeding six square feet, but no larger than 30 square feet in area may be permitted by special exception where such sign lends itself to the architecture and appearance of the structure to which it is attached. Note: Choice of P-8 or P-8A sign.
J.
P-8B. Freestanding signs for residential subdivision and outdoor recreation areas. One sign may be permitted at each entrance with a maximum area of 32 square feet and a maximum height of 10 feet.
K.
P-9. Freestanding commercial sign for shopping center, shopping plaza or mall.
Note: Individual stores are prohibited from individual freestanding signs.
L.
P-9A. Attached Commercial signs for individual stores within a shopping center, shopping plaza or mall.
N.
P-11. Changeable Electronic Variable Message Signs (CEVMS).
§ 27-1403 Permitted Temporary Signs.
[Ord. 1996-1, 1/23/1996, § 1402]
1.
Subject to the other provisions of this article, only the following types of temporary signs are permitted throughout the Township:
A.
T-1. Signs identifying architects, engineers, contractors, tradesmen or others engaged on construction work on premises wherein their work is proceeding. Such signs shall be removed as soon as the work ceases or is completed.
B.
T-2. Real estate signs on individual properties of less than three acres that are for sale, rent or lease or which have been sold, rented or leased. Signs to be removed within one week of sale, rent or lease agreement.
C.
T-3. Real estate signs or properties of three acres or more, offering or sale, rent, lease or subdivision for commercial, residential or industrial use. Signs to removed within one week of date of sale, rent or lease agreement.
D.
T-4. Signs announcing proposed housing development, apartments or office complexes. Signs to be removed upon 75% completion of development.
E.
T-5. Signs announcing proposed commercial, industrial or other nonresidential development. Signs to be removed within one year of erection.
F.
T-6. Signs announcing grand openings, new ownership or change of use, on the site of the permitted use. Signs shall be removed 14 days after erection.
G.
T-7. Signs, advertising the temporary sale of agricultural products raised on property for which it is being sold. Signs to be displayed only when products are on sale.
H.
T-8. Temporary signs announcing a special event (does not include yard/garage sales and temporary reduction in prices). Sign shall not exceed 30 consecutive days at any site within the Township nor exceed two special events per year. Special event signs for charitable or nonprofit organizations shall be exempt from requirement limiting signs to two special events per year but shall be subject to all other requirements for T-8 signs.
I.
T-9. Yard sale and garage sale signs. Signs shall be erected only during the days of the sale.
J.
T-10. Political posters, banners, signs, etc., about candidates, political parties and ballot issues. Allowed six weeks prior to election and two weeks following election.
§ 27-1404 Prohibited Signs.
[Ord. 1996-1, 1/23/1996, § 1403]
1.
The following of signs shall not be permitted in the Township:
A.
Signs of such a design and location that they interfere with, compete for attention with or may be mistaken for a traffic signal. This shall include any sign visible from the public right-of-way which uses an arrow device or the word "stop." It shall also include signs in which the colors red and green are used either in direct illumination or in high reflection by use of special preparation such as fluorescent paint or glass.
B.
Any sign located in or extending into a public right-of-way, except those owned or operated by duly constituted government.
C.
Any freestanding or projecting sign within a clear sight triangle.
D.
Signs projecting over a public sidewalk area more than 18 inches.
E.
Animated, sequential, flashing, rotating or oscillating signs.
F.
Open flames used to attract public attention to a place of business or to an advertising sign.
G.
Freestanding signs for individual uses within a shopping center.
H.
No sign shall be placed on the roof or be higher than the vertical walls of any structure.
I.
Inflatable signs are prohibited except for special events.
§ 27-1405 General Regulations for All Signs.
[Ord. 1996-1, 1/23/1996, § 1404]
1.
Signs must be constructed of durable material, maintained in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated.
2.
Advertising painted upon, or displayed upon, a barn or other building or structure shall be regarded as an advertising signboard and the regulations pertaining thereto shall apply.
3.
Each sign shall be removed when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
4.
Lighted signs shall be interior lighted with nonglaring lights, or shall be illuminated by shielded flood lights or spot lights, shielded so there is no direct light transmitted to other properties or public rights-of-way.
5.
No sign shall be located so as to interfere with visibility for motorists at street or driveway intersections.
6.
Sign Measurements.
A.
The area of the sign composed of letters only, attached to a building facade without any background material other than the building components shall be the area within the perimeter of the entire lettered words.
B.
The area of sign composed of letters only attached to a building facade on background material to set off the letters shall be the area within the perimeter of the background material, including any molding.
C.
The area of all other signs shall be the area within the perimeter of the sign structure, including any molding.
§ 27-1406 Billboards and Outdoor Advertising.
[Ord. 1996-1, 1/23/1996, § 1405; as amended by Ord. 2005-12, 12/13/2005, § 1, Part 31]
1.
Billboard and outdoor advertising devices shall be allowed in I-Industrial Districts in accordance with the following standards and regulations.
A.
In Industrial Districts, no such structure shall contain over one advertising sign per facing, nor shall any individual advertising sign face exceed 14 feet in vertical measurement or 48 feet horizontally and in no event to exceed 672 square feet in area.
B.
No advertising sign shall be permitted to be erected upon the roof of any building and advertising signs shall be required to setback 30 feet from the front lot line or to the established building line, whichever is less:
C.
No advertising sign shall be permitted to be erected within 300 feet of an adjoining residential district or pre-existing residential use if visible from and designed to face into such district or pre-existing residential use. If the advertising sign will be on a different side of a major arterial highway or expressway from the residential district or residential use, then the three-hundred-foot setback shall not be required.
D.
V-shaped advertising sign structures supported by a single structure shall be permitted provided that the angle formed by the two sides of the advertising sign structure does not exceed 30°.
E.
One billboard or outdoor advertising device shall be separated by 1,000 ft. to another billboard, outdoor advertising device or freestanding business identification sign.
F.
Lighting of Signs.
(1)
No sign shall be permitted which is not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light being directed at any portion of the traveled way of any highway, or which is of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any vehicle or which interferes with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
(2)
No sign shall be so illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, device or signal.
(3)
Signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights are prohibited, except those giving public service information such as time, date, temperature, weather or similar information.
§ 27-1407 Permits.
[Ord. 1996-1, 1/23/1996, § 1406]
2.
The following operations shall not be considered as creating a sign and shall not require a permit:
A.
Replacing Copy. The changing of the advertising copy or message on an approved painted or printed sign or on approved signs that are specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.
B.
Maintenance. Painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or a sign structure, unless structural change is made.
§ 27-1408 Permitted Permanent Signs.
[Ord. 1996-1, 1/23/1996, § 1407; as amended by Ord. 2010-11, 10/12/2010, § 5]
See following tables.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Permitted Permanent Signs Tables are included as attachments to this chapter.
§ 27-1409 Permitted Temporary Signs.
[Ord. 1996-1, 1/23/1996, § 1408]
See following tables.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Permitted Temporary Signs Tables are included as attachments to this chapter.