Moon Township City Zoning Code
PART 7
SIGNS
§ 27-701 Application.
[Ord. 658, 4/9/2015]
1.
Signs shall only be erected and maintained in compliance with the provisions of this Part, other Parts of this chapter and any and all regulations of the Township relating in any way to the erection, location, size, height, use, number, lighting, operation, alteration or maintenance of signs, billboards, banners and other similar advertising devices as defined herein.
2.
No sign shall be erected, altered, painted, relocated, remodeled, expanded or maintained in any manner that is inconsistent with provisions of this chapter and all other applicable Township ordinances. A sign permit shall be obtained from the Zoning Officer prior to the erection or alternation of any sign. The Zoning Officer shall review and approve all sign applications and sign permits.
§ 27-702 General Regulations.
[Ord. 658, 4/9/2015]
The following regulations shall apply to signs in all zoning districts:
A.
Restricted Signs. The following signs shall not be permitted in any zoning district:
(1)
Banners or pennants, other than temporary special event signs authorized by this chapter.
(2)
Signs placed on trees, utility poles, official traffic control devices, or official traffic signs.
(3)
Signs which imitate traffic control devices.
(4)
Signs painted on fences or retaining walls.
(5)
Strings of lights, flashers, flags, pennants or other display paraphernalia, except those displays specifically authorized by this Part.
(6)
Overhanging signs, as defined herein.
(7)
Signs on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers which are parked on a public right-of-way, public property, or private property (other than temporarily for overnight storage on the site of a business or for maintenance, repair, loading, unloading or rendering a service at any location) which are visible from the public right-of-way and where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property.
(8)
Signs located within public rights-of-way, except as otherwise provided in this Part.
B.
Exempt Signs. The following signs shall be exempt from the regulations of this Part:
(1)
Residential identification signs, as defined herein.
(2)
Holiday decorations displayed for recognized federal or state holidays, provided they do not interfere with traffic safety or do not, in any other way, become a public safety hazard. Holiday decorations shall not include temporary special event signs, as defined by this chapter.
(3)
Memorial/historical plaques.
(4)
Window display signs, as defined herein, provided they shall not exceed 20% of the gross surface area of all windows in an establishment.
(5)
Signs erected by a governmental agency, including street signs, official traffic signs and official notices.
(6)
Signs authorized by the Township to be located on Township facilities and public rights-of-way.
C.
Lots with Multiple Street Frontage. In nonresidential zoning districts, a lot having a total lot area greater than two acres which fronts on more than one street shall be permitted to have one sign which is permitted per lot, on each street frontage. This requirement shall not apply to pole signs.
D.
Temporary Signs.
(1)
General. In all zoning districts where authorized by § 27-703, real estate signs, construction signs and development signs shall be considered temporary signs which shall be removed within 30 days of the completion of sale, lease or construction.
(2)
Restaurant Sandwich Board Sign. Sandwich board signs shall only be permitted for restaurants, subject to the following requirements:
(a)
The sign shall be placed immediately adjacent to the entrance to the facility, provided that the sign does not impede pedestrian traffic. A minimum five-foot clearance shall be maintained for pedestrian access.
(b)
The sign shall not be placed within a public right-of-way.
(c)
The sign shall be secured to the building or other fixed object with a chain or similar device and shall be constructed of such design and materials so as not to be displaced by a peak wind gust speed of 60 miles per hour.
(d)
Placement of the sign shall be limited to the hours which the restaurant is open to the public and the sign shall be removed daily.
(e)
Only one sandwich board sign shall be permitted per restaurant.
(f)
The size of the sign and its structure shall not exceed six square feet.
(g)
The sign shall be nonilluminated.
(3)
Temporary Community Event Sign. One temporary community event sign shall be permitted to be erected at a Township facility, public building, place of worship, school or similar building, subject to the following requirements:
(a)
The signs shall be constructed of weather-resistant material such as wood, cloth and plastic.
(b)
The gross sign surface area of all such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet.
(c)
The sign shall be nonilluminated.
(d)
The signs shall not be digital, animated, or flashing.
(e)
No such sign shall be located within the clear sight triangle or in such a position that it will cause a hazard by obstructing visibility for traffic on a street or obscuring a traffic signal or other traffic control device.
(f)
A portable sign shall not be considered a temporary sign under this subsection.
(g)
Only one such sign shall be permitted per lot frontage. No such sign shall be located within 100 feet of any other temporary sign.
(h)
The sign shall be displayed for a period no longer than 30 consecutive days and shall be removed within one day following the event that it promotes. This type of sign shall only be displayed on the subject property no more than 30 consecutive days in any three-month period and no more than 60 days in any calendar year. The duration and permit period restrictions within this subsection shall not apply to signs installed by the Township.
Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection, a temporary community event sign may be located across a public street right-of-way subject to the approval from the governmental entity that has jurisdiction over the specific public street right-of-way and compliance with the design and location requirements of such governmental entity. |
E.
Changeable, Moving and Flashing Signs. Changeable signs, moving signs and flashing signs shall only be permitted in the M-1 Industrial District subject to the regulations contained in this chapter; provided, however, the following portions of signs are exceptions to this requirement provided that the following signs do not flash:
F.
Portable, Painted, Sandwich Board and Inflatable Signs. Portable signs, signs painted on walls, sandwich board signs (except as permitted under Subsection 1D(2)) and inflatable signs shall only be permitted in the M-1 Industrial District subject to the regulations contained in this chapter.
G.
Notification Signs. In all zoning districts, the number, location and size of legal notification signs erected by public agencies shall be in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Legal notification signs posted on private property by property owners, such as "no trespassing," "no hunting," "no soliciting" and the like shall be limited to a gross sign surface area not exceeding two square feet. The placement and maximum number of signs permitted along street frontages shall be one sign for every 30 feet of street frontage.
H.
Visibility. No sign shall be located in such a position that it will cause a hazard by obstructing visibility for traffic on a street or obscuring a traffic signal or other traffic control device. No sign shall be located within the clear site triangle of any intersection. No sign, other than official traffic signs, shall hang over the right-of-way of any street. No sign, other than official traffic signs, shall be erected within the right-of-way of any street, except as otherwise provided in this Part.
I.
Illumination. Illumination, when authorized by this chapter, shall be directed upon the sign face and not toward adjoining properties or streets. Flashing or oscillating signs shall only be permitted in the M-1 Industrial District. Lighting shall be stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times. The intensity of any source of illumination of any sign, whether indirect or internal, shall be controlled so as to not create glare and to be compatible with the intensity of ambient light and illumination on surrounding properties.
J.
Maintenance and Inspection. All signs must be constructed of a durable material and maintained in good condition. Any sign found to be in an unsafe condition upon inspection by the Zoning Officer shall be declared to be a public nuisance and an enforcement notice shall be issued to the owner, in accordance with the requirements of Part 14, to repair or remove the sign within a reasonable time period. Upon failure of the owner to comply, the Township shall remove the sign at the owner's expense.
K.
Removal of Signs. Whenever any business or entity is discontinued or vacated, all signs relating to such business or entity shall be removed within 30 days of the discontinuance or vacation of the business or entity. Whenever a sign permit expires for a sign, the sign relating to the expired sign permit shall be removed immediately. Upon failure of the owner to comply, the Township shall remove the sign at the owner's expense.
L.
Permits Required. A sign permit shall be required for the erection or placement of all signs with the following exceptions:
(1)
Notification sign.
(2)
Real estate sign.
(3)
Political sign.
(4)
Construction sign.
(5)
Off-premises directional signs erected by a governmental agency.
The Zoning Officer shall issue the required sign permit upon submission of an application which complies with all applicable provisions of this chapter and payment of the required fee established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. |
M.
Expiration of Permits. Any permit issued by the Zoning Officer for erection, alteration, replacement or relocation of any sign shall expire automatically within six months of the date of issuance if work authorized by the permit has not been initiated and diligently pursued.
N.
Sign Location. Except for political signs and billboards, where authorized by this chapter, all signs shall be located on the premises which they are intended to serve.
O.
Gross Sign Surface Area. In computing the gross sign surface area of a double-faced sign, only one side shall be considered provided both faces are identical. If the interior angle formed by the two faces of the double-faced sign is greater than 45°, then both sides of such sign shall be considered in calculating the gross sign surface area.
§ 27-703 Signs Authorized in All Zoning Districts.
[Ord. 658, 4/9/2015]
The following signs are authorized in all zoning districts:
A.
Bulletin Board Sign. One bulletin board sign which is nonilluminated or indirectly or internally illuminated, and which does not exceed 30 square feet in gross sign surface area, shall be permitted in connection with any place of worship, school, university, library, Township facility or similar public building. The bulletin board sign may be provided in the form of an electrically activated changeable sign provided that the sign complies with the following requirements:
(1)
The sign shall be attached to a freestanding ground sign which complies with the requirements of this Part.
(2)
The sign shall be nonilluminated or internally illuminated.
(3)
Messages on the sign shall not change at a frequency of more than one time per minute, except for time and temperature signs.
(4)
The time interval used to change from one complete message/display to the next complete message/display shall be a maximum of one second.
(5)
There shall be no appearance of a visual dissolve or fading, in which any part of one electronic message/display appears simultaneously with any part of the second electronic message/display.
(6)
There shall be no appearance of flashing or sudden bursts of light, and no appearance of animation, movement, or flow of the message/display.
(7)
Any illumination or contrast of light level shall remain constant.
(8)
In a residential zoning district, the sign shall only be permitted if it is located along an arterial street or collector street.
B.
Real Estate Sign. Real estate signs shall be permitted, subject to the following requirements:
(1)
In residential zoning districts, one nonilluminated, temporary real estate sign shall be permitted on each lot provided the gross sign surface area shall not exceed six square feet.
(2)
In nonresidential districts, one nonilluminated, temporary real estate sign shall be permitted on each frontage of a lot provided the gross sign surface area shall not exceed 32 square feet per sign.
(3)
The real estate sign shall not exceed six feet in height.
(4)
The real estate sign shall be removed within 30 days of the sale, lease or rental of the property on which it is located.
(5)
A real estate sign advertising an open house in a residential zoning district shall be permitted provided that:
(a)
Only one such sign shall be permitted per development/subdivision.
(b)
The sign shall be placed on private property, outside of the public right-of-way, at the entrance to the subdivision/development for directional purposes.
(c)
The gross sign surface area shall not exceed two square feet.
(d)
The sign shall not exceed three feet in height.
(e)
The sign shall be nonilluminated.
(f)
The sign shall be removed daily, immediately at the close of the open house period, and shall not be left overnight.
C.
Development Sign. One nonilluminated, temporary development sign shall be permitted on each lot provided the gross sign surface area shall not exceed 32 square feet. The development sign shall not exceed six feet in height when located in any residential zoning district and shall not exceed 10 feet in height in any nonresidential zoning district. Such sign shall be removed within 30 days of the sale or rental of the last lot or completion of the proposed construction in the development.
D.
Construction Sign. One nonilluminated, temporary construction sign announcing the names of contractors, mechanics or artisans engaged in performing work on the premises shall be permitted on a lot; provided, the gross sign surface area shall not exceed 12 square feet and the sign shall be removed within 30 days of the completion of the work.
E.
Home Occupation Identification Sign. One nonilluminated home occupation identification sign shall be permitted for an approved home occupation, provided that the surface area of the sign does not exceed two square feet and the sign shall contain only the name, address and occupation of the resident, and shall not contain any logo or any other advertising.
F.
Political Sign. Temporary political signs shall be permitted, subject to the following requirements:
G.
On-Premises Directional Sign. On any lot which contains two or more multi-family dwelling buildings or nonresidential buildings, and/or on any lot which provides more than 100 parking spaces, on-premises directional signs shall be permitted, provided that (1) the gross sign surface area of any one sign shall not exceed four square feet and (2) the height of the sign shall not exceed three feet. On lots with an area of less than 20,000 square feet, a maximum of two nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated on-premises directional signs shall be permitted. On lots with an area of between 20,000 square feet and one acre, a maximum of four nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated on-premises directional signs shall be permitted. For each additional acre, or fraction thereof above one acre, two additional on-premises directional signs shall be permitted.
§ 27-704 Signs Authorized in Residential Zoning Districts.
[Ord. 658, 4/9/2015]
The following signs shall be permitted in all residential zoning districts:
A.
Residential Plan Identification Sign. One nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated permanent wall or freestanding ground residential plan identification sign with a gross sign surface area not to exceed 15 square feet and containing only the street address and/or name of a residential subdivision plan or multi-family dwelling building or development. A sign identifying the name of a residential subdivision may be affixed to a free-standing decorative wall, rather than to a building wall, provided that the decorative wall meets all applicable requirements of this chapter.
B.
Business Identification Sign. One freestanding ground sign for any business use (other than a home occupation) which is a legal nonconforming use, or which constitutes a use authorized by this chapter in the subject residential district; provided, that:
(1)
No pole sign exists on the lot.
(2)
The gross sign surface area shall not exceed 18 square feet.
(3)
The structure height of the ground sign shall not exceed eight feet.
(4)
The location of the ground sign shall be designed to not interfere with vehicular traffic visibility entering or exiting the lot or traveling on any street.
(5)
The foundation of the ground sign shall have a decorative finish that compliments the principal building on the property and such foundation shall have a minimum height of 18 inches above the adjacent ground level.
(6)
The ground sign shall be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated.
(7)
The ground sign shall be located at least 10 feet from the street right-of-way line, or 40 feet from the center line of the street, whichever is greater. Where the lot abuts a residential property, the setback from the lot line of that property shall not be less than 50 feet.
(8)
No portion of the ground sign shall project over any public right-of-way nor shall it be located within the clear sight triangle of any street intersection.
(9)
The ground sign shall contain no more than two sign faces, one per side.
§ 27-705 Signs Authorized in Nonresidential Zoning Districts.
[Ord. 658, 4/9/2015]
The following signs shall be permitted in all nonresidential zoning districts:
A.
Temporary Special Event Sign. A temporary special event sign shall be permitted, subject to the following requirements:
(1)
No more than one sign shall be permitted on any establishment at any one time.
(2)
The sign shall be securely attached to the building.
(3)
The sign shall be displayed for a period no longer than 30 consecutive days and shall be removed within one day following the event that it promotes. This type of sign shall only be displayed on the subject property no more than 30 consecutive days in any three-month period and no more than 60 days in any calendar year.
(4)
The gross sign surface area of the sign shall not exceed 32 square feet per establishment. In the event that there is more than one establishment on a property, the aggregate gross sign surface area of all temporary special event display signs on the property at any one time shall not exceed 80 square feet.
(5)
The sign shall be nonilluminated.
(6)
Portable signs shall not be considered temporary special event signs.
B.
Changeable Sign. Changeable signs (including animated, digital and electronic message signs) shall only be permitted in the M-1 Industrial District. In addition to the authorized business identification sign, one changeable sign shall be permitted per lot in the M-1 Industrial District, regardless of the number of businesses on the lot, subject to the following requirements:
(1)
The sign shall not exceed 30 square feet in gross sign surface area.
(2)
The sign shall be permanently affixed to the wall of a building on the subject property.
(3)
The sign may be nonilluminated or internally illuminated.
(4)
Messages on the sign shall not change at a frequency of more than 12 times per hour, except for time and temperature signs.
C.
Business Identification Sign.
(1)
Wall Sign. Each business establishment shall be permitted to have wall signs which may be illuminated or nonilluminated. The aggregate gross sign surface area of all wall signs shall not exceed two square feet for each lineal foot of width of the front wall of the building occupied by the business. The wall sign shall not be located on the roof, nor extend above the height of the building. The wall signs may be placed on any side of the building which does not face residentially zoned property.
(2)
Ground Sign. In addition to the wall sign, one free-standing ground sign shall be permitted per lot, regardless of the number of businesses on the lot; provided, that:
(a)
No pole sign exists or is proposed to be erected on the lot.
(b)
The gross sign surface area of the ground sign shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(c)
The structure height of any ground sign shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(d)
The location of the ground sign shall be designed to not interfere with vehicular traffic visibility entering or exiting the lot or traveling on any street.
(e)
The foundation of the ground sign shall have a decorative finish that compliments the principal building on the property and such foundation shall have a minimum height of 18 inches above the adjacent ground level.
(f)
Ground signs shall be nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated, or internally illuminated.
(g)
All ground signs shall be located at least 10 feet from the street right-of-way line, or 40 feet from the center line of the street, whichever is greater. Where the lot abuts a residential property, the setback from the lot line of that property shall not be less than 50 feet.
(h)
No portion of any ground sign shall project over any public right-of-way nor shall it be located within the clear sight triangle of any street intersection.
(i)
A ground sign shall contain no more than two sign faces, one per side.
(3)
Pole Sign. In addition to the authorized wall signs, one free-standing pole sign shall be permitted, per lot, regardless of the number of businesses on the lot and regardless of the number of street frontages of that lot; provided, that:
(a)
Pole signs shall only be permitted in the M-1 Industrial District, unless otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b)
No ground sign exists or is proposed on the lot.
(c)
The pole sign shall be nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated or internally illuminated.
(d)
The maximum structure height of the top of the pole sign shall be 25 feet.
(e)
The minimum structure height of the bottom edge of the pole sign shall be 10 feet.
(f)
The gross sign surface area of the pole sign shall not exceed 40 square feet for one business, and 64 square feet if there is more than one business on the lot.
(g)
No portion of any pole sign shall project over any public right-of-way nor shall it be located within the clear sight triangle of any street intersection. The location of the sign shall be designed to not interfere with vehicular traffic visibility entering or exiting the lot or traveling on any street.
(h)
All pole signs shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street right-of-way line, or 40 feet from the center line of the street, whichever is greater. Where the lot abuts a residential property, the setback from the lot line of that property shall not be less than 50 feet.
(i)
The pole sign shall contain no more than two sign faces, one per side.
(4)
Roof Signs. A roof sign may be illuminated or nonilluminated. Roof signs shall be permitted only in place of a wall sign in the M-1 Industrial District. The gross sign surface area of a roof sign shall not exceed two square feet per each lineal foot of width of the front wall of the building or 200 square feet, whichever is less. A roof sign shall not project more than six feet above the highest point on the roof on which it is placed.
(5)
Arcade Signs. In shopping centers or office complexes which have pedestrian access ways covered by a roof, marquee or exterior arcade, one arcade sign shall be permitted for each business in the building; provided, that:
(6)
Awning Signs. Awning signs shall be permitted subject to compliance with the following requirements:
(a)
The gross sign surface area of the awning sign shall not exceed an area equal to 25% of the background area of the awning or awning surface to which such a sign is affixed, or the permissible gross sign surface area for a wall sign provided under subparagraph (1) of this chapter, whichever is less.
(b)
Neither the background color of an awning, nor any graphic treatment or embellishment thereto, such as striping, patterns or valances, shall be included in the computation of the gross sign surface area of an awning sign.
(c)
Awning signs and wall signs are mutually exclusive; an awning sign may be erected, or a wall sign may be erected, but not both.
(7)
Menu Board. A menu board shall be permitted as part of a drive-through facility for a high-turnover restaurant subject to compliance with the following requirements:
(a)
The menu board shall be integrated with the drive-through facility.
(b)
The menu board shall be in the form of a ground sign.
(c)
The menu board shall be nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated or internally illuminated.
(d)
The gross sign surface area of the menu board shall not exceed 50 square feet.
(e)
No more than 20% of the gross sign surface area of the menu board shall be utilized for business identification purposes.
(f)
The structure height of any menu board shall not exceed six feet.
(g)
The menu board shall be located on the subject property within 10 feet from the building which it serves. The location of the menu board shall not interfere with internal traffic circulation.