Newtown City Zoning Code
§ B70-6.07
Permitted signs.
A.
Subject to these regulations, the following signs are allowed without a permit:
(1)
Not more than one real estate sign for each lot is allowed on which the sign is located; such sign not to be illuminated or exceed six square feet in area in residential zones or 12 square feet in non-residential zones.
[Amended 2-12-2014, effective 3-3-2014]
(a)
Real estate signs shall be removed 30 days after the sale, lease or rental.
(2)
One identification sign, not to exceed nine square feet in area, to identify a public or semi-public facility. The identification sign for a place of worship, school, museum or similar institution may include as part of its sign area, a bulletin board on which messages and announcements of activities and programs can be displayed.
(3)
Intentionally omitted.
[Amended 2-12-2014, effective 3-3-2014]
B.
Subject to these regulations, the following signs are permitted for allowed residential uses in a Residential Zone with a sign permit:
[Added 3-20-2012, effective 4-15-2012; 2-12-2014, effective 3-3-2014]
(1)
For non-residential uses other than governmental buildings, one freestanding sign meeting the following requirements:
(a)
the sign shall be of the hanging-type, supported by a single post;
(b)
not larger than two square feet with the longest side not more than three times the length of the shortest side;
(c)
signs shall be located between the side property lines of the lot on which the referenced use is located, as extended to the center line of the street;
(d)
no portion of such sign shall be located within 10 feet from the edge of that portion of the street designed for motor vehicle use.
C.
Subject to these sign regulations, the following signs are allowed with a special temporary permit:
(1)
Temporary signs including banners, pennants, valances, flags, streamers, inflatables and A-frame signs provided that:
(a)
a temporary permit has been issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer indicating the nature, size, location and tenure of the signs;
(b)
the permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed 10 days;
(c)
the signs shall be removed within 48 hours after the event to which they relate;
(d)
such signs shall not be illuminated;
(e)
Temporary non-banner type signs shall not exceed nine square feet in area to include both sides and temporary banner signs shall not exceed 90 square feet in area; and
[Amended 2-12-2014, effective 3-3-2014]
(f)
up to four temporary sign permits may be obtained in any one calendar year relating to a single location.
(g)
Temporary sign permits may be obtained for charitable and other nonprofit events within the Town of Newtown, nonrecurring professional or business events such as grand openings, going out of business, clearance sales, seasonal promotions and events.
[Added 12-9-2015, effective 12-21-2015]
(2)
Subject to the requirements of the preceding section, only one temporary banner or sign at a time, for public service, non-profit purposes, in connection with an event transpiring within the Borough or Town of Newtown, may be hung or posted over Queen Street, between its intersection Page A6-6 with Church Hill Road and its intersection with Glover Avenue. Permits for such banner signs may be issued by either the Warden of the Borough or the Borough Zoning Enforcement Officer.
[Amended 2-12-2014, effective 3-3-2014]
D.
Subject to these regulations, the following signs are allowed in a professional zone with a permit:
[Amended 4-10-2013, effective 4-22-2013; 2-12-2014, effective 3-3-2014]
(1)
One identification sign per property not to exceed eight square feet in area; and
(2)
One wall or hanging sign per building occupant not to exceed four square feet in area or six feet in length and affixed to their occupied space. The information on a wall or hanging sign, not to exceed four square feet, may be placed on an awning, provided that a wall or hanging sign is not placed on the building. The wall sign, hanging sign, and signage on the awning shall be compatible with the distinctive character and architecture of the building.
[Amended 4-10-2019, effective 4-22-2019]
(3)
For Professional zoned properties with multiple buildings, an additional directory sign not to exceed eight square feet in area will be allowed for each interior building. The interior directory-style sign shall not be directly visible from a roadway.
(4)
Properties/buildings located in the Village District where all parking is located within the rear yard or rear of building shall be entitled to one identification sign for each accessible road frontage and two wall signs per building occupant, one visible from the street and the other visible from only the rear parking. Name plate signs not to exceed two square feet in area may be used in lieu of the wall signs in the rear of the building and must be visible only from the rear parking.
E.
Subject to these regulations, the following signs are allowed in a Business zone with a permit:
[Amended 2-12-2014, effective 3-3-2014]
(1)
One identification sign per property not to exceed eight square feet in area; and either
(a)
One projecting business sign per building occupant not to exceed eight square feet in area; or
(b)
One wall or hanging sign per building occupant not to exceed 14 square feet in area, except that the business establishments having an excess of 50 linear feet of building frontage shall be allowed an additional one square foot of sign area for each five linear feet of such building frontage; provided, however, that no such business establishment shall have a total sign area in excess of 25 square feet. Up to four square feet of the wall or hanging sign allowance may be placed on an awning and will be included in the total sign allowance. The wall sign, hanging sign, and signage on the awning shall be compatible with the distinctive character and architecture of the building.
[Amended 12-9-2015, effective 12-21-2015; 4-10-2019, effective 4-22-2019]
(c)
For Business zoned properties with multiple buildings, an additional directory sign not to exceed eight square feet in area will be allowed for each interior building. The interior directory-style sign shall not be directly visible from a roadway.
(2)
Properties located in the Village District and where all parking is located within the rear yard, shall be entitled to one identification sign for each accessible road frontage and two wall business signs per building occupant, one visible from the street and the other visible only from the rear parking. Each such sign shall not exceed 14 square feet in area, except that business establishments having in excess of 50 linear feet of frontage shall be allowed an additional one square foot of sign area for each five linear feet of such additional frontage provided, however, that no such business establishment shall have any single sign that exceeds 25 square feet in area.
F.
Subject to these regulations, the following signs are allowed in an Industrial zone with a permit:
(1)
One freestanding sign not to exceed 20 square feet in area; and
(2)
Two industrial or name plate signs, as applicable, not to exceed four square feet in area per building occupant; and either:
(a)
One wall industrial sign per building occupant not to exceed 14 square feet in area, except that the business establishments having an excess of 50 linear feet of building frontage shall be allowed an additional one square feet of sign area for each five linear feet of such additional frontage; provided, however, that no such industrial establishment shall have a total sign area in excess of 25 square feet; or
(b)
One projecting sign per building occupant not to exceed 16 square feet in area.
(3)
For Industrial zoned properties for multiple industries within the property, the freestanding sign area may be increased by two square feet per industrial tenant with an industry in that property. The total freestanding signage shall not exceed 24 square feet.
G.
For municipal buildings and municipal uses (in a residential zone), signage allowances of § B70-6.07C(1) shall apply for one freestanding sign, with a maximum of two sides, which directs attention to the governmental facility with additional sign area permitted for offices or uses and/or preexisting nonconforming uses on the premises on which the sign is located and/or specific events taking place therein or on the grounds thereof. The additional sign area shall not exceed two square feet per office, use and/or specific event. Such event signs may be changed from time to time without prior approval and are limited to events taking place and such events as are planned to occur within the 30 days next following any change in the event sign.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § B70-6.07.1, Signs in residential zones, added 3-20-2012, effective 4-15-2012, which immediately followed.
I.
Village District identification and business sign.
[Added 12-9-2015, effective 12-21-2015]
(1)
Properties in the Village District other than those zoned residential and properties zoned residential on which the principal use is not a residence shall be entitled to one roadside identification sign for each accessible road frontage and not more than two wall signs per business occupant, one visible from the street and the other, where all parking is located within the rear yard, visible only from the rear parking area. Such wall signs may be composed of multiple parts if building design makes such a multipart sign more consistent with Village District goals. Each such sign, including a multipart sign, shall not exceed the wall sign square footage specified in each zone, except for establishments having in excess of 50 linear feet of building frontage shall be allowed an additional one square foot of sign area for each five linear feet of building frontage; provided, however, that no such establishment shall have any such sign that exceeds 25 square feet in area.
(2)
On properties located in the Village District containing shopping centers and multicomponent business, professional and industrial developments on which an anchor or principal building structure is set back from the roadway at least 200 feet, such shopping center or business, professional or industrial development may have, in lieu of a roadside identification sign, one building identification sign located either on the face of the building or on a roof element such as a cupola. Such shopping center or business, professional or industrial development with three or more discrete business buildings may have up to two building identification signs per center or development.
(3)
Building identification signs shall be set back from the traveled portion of the adjacent roadway at least 200 horizontal feet and be no larger in area than 30 square feet, provided that four additional square feet may be added for each additional 100 feet the sign is back from the traveled portion of the adjacent roadway. Such signs shall otherwise conform to general sign regulations contained herein.
(4)
One additional projecting sign per tenant located at the main business entrance if the center or development has a pedestrian walkway. The sign shall contain the business name and will not exceed two square feet.