Permit required. A zoning permit is required for all permanent signs except official governmental, name and address and trespass signs. No permit is required for temporary signs or signs which require a mere change of copy on a sign, the customary use of which involves frequent and periodic changes of copy. All signs shall comply with the standards of this chapter, whether or not a permit is required.

Nonconforming signs. Signs existing at the date of enactment of this chapter and which do not conform to the requirements of this chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs. After three years of the date of enactment of this chapter, nonconforming signs may, after notification, be removed by the Township at the expense of the owner or lessee of the property on which the nonconforming sign is located. Once a nonconforming sign is destroyed or removed, it may be replaced only with conforming signs. Nonconforming signs may be repainted or repaired (including lighting), provided that such repainted or repaired sign does not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign; wording may also be changed.

No signs (except those of a duly constituted government body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices) shall be allowed within right-of-way lines unless specifically authorized by other ordinances and regulations of the Township and in compliance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulations.

No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with traffic through glare, through blocking of reasonable sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways, through confusion with a traffic control device (by reason of color, location, shape or other characteristic) or through any other means.

On-premises. Each use shall be limited to two of the following signs along each street on which the use is located: one parallel or projecting sign, one window sign and one freestanding sign. The sign area for each street may be computed separately.

Off-premises.

Shielding. Signs may be illuminated by direct lighting, provided that such lighting is shielded so no direct light will shine on abutting properties or in the normal line of vision of the public using the streets.

Prohibited in residential districts. Illuminated signs shall be prohibited from the BMC, LC, RA and RR Districts.[1]

Real estate. Temporary signs may be permitted within the property lines, advertising the prospective or completed sale or rental of the premises upon which they are located, provided that they shall be maintained and removed within seven days after consummation of the lease or sale transaction.

Construction sites. Nonilluminated temporary signs (developer/contractor signs or mechanic/subcontractor/other artisan signs) may be permitted on new construction sites, provided that they shall be removed within seven days after completion of the construction work and no more than one sign shall be placed on each street frontage of the construction site.[1]

Shopping centers. In the case of a shopping center, one freestanding sign indicating the name of the center or similar use may be erected. No portion of a shopping center freestanding sign shall be less than 20 or more than 40 feet above the ground. The area of any one side of such sign shall not exceed 100 square feet. The location and orientation of such sign shall be shown on the development plan.

Others. In the case of a group of business uses other than a shopping center on a lot held in single and separate ownership, a single freestanding sign, including individual signs identifying different establishments, may be erected on a common backing, provided that the total area of one side of the sign does not exceed 30 square feet and that any individual sign does not exceed four square feet. The structural backing for all such signs shall be uniform and no sign may extend, in any direction, beyond the outside edge of the backing. No portion of any such backing shall be less than five feet or more than 12 feet above the ground.

Sign area. In the case of a shopping center or a group of stores or other business uses on a lot held in single and separate ownership, the provisions of this section relating to the total area of signs permitted on a premises shall apply with respect to each building, separate store or similar use. Only parallel signs shall be permitted for individual establishments.

Banners, spinners, flags, pennants or any moving object used for commercial advertising purposes, whether containing a message or not, except as stated in § 300-51.

Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type, except those portions of signs which indicate time and temperature changes.

Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the roof or upon any building or structure which extends above the eaves of the roof of any building.

Signs on mobile stands which can be moved from place to place.

Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor.