Nottingham Township Washington County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIII
Signs
§ 425-94 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to permit such signs that will not, by their size, location, construction or manner of display, obstruct the vision necessary for traffic safety, or otherwise endanger public health, safety and morals, and to permit and regulate signs in such a way to support and compliment the Township's community character and advance the community objectives set for the in Township Comprehensive Plan. Additionally, the purpose of the Township's sign regulations are to:
A.
Encourage the effective use of signs as a means of identification and communication.
B.
To maintain and enhance the Township's unique community aesthetic and character.
C.
To promote pedestrian and vehicular safety and prohibit the erection of signs in such numbers, sizes and designs, and locations that may create a hazard to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
D.
To minimize adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property.
E.
To promote and protect the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the Township.
F.
To promote the installation of signs that are complementary to the buildings they serve and consistent with the general character of the surrounding development.
G.
To provide adequate identification for locations within the Township while minimizing sign clutter and confusion.
H.
To avoid the uncontrolled proliferation of signs.
I.
To promote legibility, reduce the time needed to read signs, and reduce vehicular driver distraction.
J.
To restrict signs that overload the public's capacity to receive information or that increase the probability of traffic congestion and accidents by distracting attention or obstructing vision.
K.
To avoid potential hazards to motorists and pedestrians using the public streets, sidewalks, and rights-of-way.
L.
To control public nuisances created by signs.
§ 425-95 Permits; inspection; maintenance.
A.
No sign or sign structure shall be erected, displayed, altered, or relocated, except as provided for herein, until a sign permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer. A separate permit shall be required for each sign requiring a permit.
(1)
Regular, routine, and customary maintenance, including the repainting of an existing sign, where no change in lettering size, no new graphic elements or new content of any kind is contemplated, shall not require a sign permit.
(2)
Repairs to damaged sign faces or sign structures shall not require a sign permit.
(3)
Replacement of a sign face with an identical sign face utilizing identical materials, shall not require a sign permit.
B.
Applications for a permit shall be submitted on a form provided by the Township and fee paid as set for by the Township fee schedule, as amended from time to time.
C.
Provided the application is in order, applicable fees are paid, and the requirements of this article are met, the Zoning Officer shall issue a building permit for the erection of the sign. Such permit shall expire 12 months from the date of issuance. If construction or erection of the sign is not completed within this time frame, the permit shall be deemed null and void.
D.
Inspections by the Zoning Officer shall be made to determine compliance with those regulations and specifications. Any discrepancies shall be identified, in writing, citing the irregularities and the action(s) required to address the requirements. If no action has been taken by the sign owner within 30 days, the sign shall be deemed in violation and the permit shall be revoked, the sign may be requested to be removed, and legal actions may be undertaken.
E.
The Zoning Officer may remove, or order the removal of, any sign erected, or placed, in violation of this chapter, at the expense of the sign owner.
F.
Signs that are found to present an immediate hazard to the public may be ordered removed, immediately by the Zoning Officer, without notice, and the cost assessed to the sign owner.
§ 425-96 Exempt signs.
The following types of signs shall not require the issuance of a sign permit:
A.
Address markers.
B.
Signs erected by a public agency or utility providing warning or information to the public, and any signs erected by the Township or under direction of the Township.
C.
Signs denoting the availability of property for lease or sale, a maximum of 12 square feet in area and a maximum of one sign per property. Such signs shall be permitted only if the property on which the sign is located, or a building thereon, is for lease or sale. No such sign shall be located within the public right-of-way.
D.
Political signs. Such signs shall be removed within seven days after the political event for which they were intended.
E.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Temporary event signs and banners announcing a nonprofit event of a civic organization for noncommercial purposes, provided that there is only one sign per property and the sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area, and the sign shall be erected for a period not to exceed 30 days prior to the start of the event and removed within three days after the conclusion of the event.
(2)
Signs announcing special events, including but not limited to: auctions, grand openings, new management, going-out-of-business and similar special, limited-time events of a defined duration, provided that such signs shall be displayed for a maximum of fourteen consecutive days per special event and there shall be only one sign per occupied tenant space.
(3)
Portable sign (excluding changeable letter signs) including A-frame, sandwich board or tent signs, provided that:
(a)
The sign has a maximum of two sign faces.
(b)
The sign shall be located within the main street frontage of a building provided that only one temporary sign is permitted per building and the sign shall be placed immediately in front of the building with which the sign content is associated.
(c)
The sign face size shall be a maximum of five square feet per sign face of the sign.
(d)
Such signs shall be removed at the end of the business day and during nonbusiness operating hours.
(e)
Such signs shall not obstruct pedestrian traffic.
(4)
Signs announcing new building or construction projects and identification of the contractors associated with the projects, provided the sign is erected after the beginning of the construction activity and removed upon completion of the construction project or issuance of an occupancy permit, if required.
(5)
Other temporary signs. All other temporary signs, including but not limited to those which advertise or announce community, civic, educational, charitable, or religious projects, special events, political campaigns, and the like, and including, but not limited to, signs placed in anticipation of an upcoming election or during other similar political campaigns or events, shall meet the following requirements:
(a)
Shall not exceed 12 square feet in area per side, except that one such sign per property may be no more than 20 square feet in sign area per side.
(b)
Shall not be more than eight feet tall, measured from ground level to the top of the sign, except where one such sign may be attached to a building, existing sign structure, or other permanent structure.
(c)
Where more than one such sign is placed on a single property, parcel, or lot, the signs shall be separated by a distance of no less than 10 feet.
(d)
Shall not be erected sooner than 30 days prior to the scheduled date of the advertised event, election, or the like.
(e)
Shall be removed within seven days after completion of the project, or after the date on which the advertised special event, election, or the like, has taken place or otherwise concluded.
§ 425-97 General regulation.
A.
Prohibited signs.
(1)
Animated signs are not permitted.
(2)
Signs illuminated by a flashing, pulsating or intermittent internal or external light source are not permitted. Internal illumination that changes intensity with a frequency of less than 15 seconds shall be considered flashing.
(3)
Signs that create glare on adjacent properties or any adjacent street are not permitted.
(4)
Signs constructed from temporary materials, such as nonrigid plastic, nylon, fabric, or untreated or unpainted wood, except as permitted as a temporary sign by this section.
B.
Setbacks and location.
(1)
Signs shall be placed no closer than 10 feet to any property line or any right-of-way line, measured horizontally from the sign edge and shall not project within an existing street right-of-way.
(2)
Monument signs shall be placed no closer than five feet to the closest property line and 18 inches from an abutting street right-of-way line.
(3)
No sign shall be erected in such a manner or location that would obstruct vision, ingress and/or egress, or interfere with safe traffic flow.
(4)
No sign shall be located so as to block doors, operable windows or fire escapes, or access to them; nor shall a sign be attached to a fire escape.
(5)
Such sign shall not extend vertically past the roofline of the building upon which the sign is located.
(6)
No sign shall project over a street, alley, or driveway, nor be closer than two feet from the closest perpendicular edge of the curb or paved edge of any such vehicular way.
C.
Lighting.
(1)
Signs in residential zoning districts shall be illuminated externally from concealed light fixtures and the illumination shall be directed to the sign face only to minimize light spillover beyond the edges of the sign face.
(2)
Signs in B and M Zoning Districts may be illuminated internally, provided that only the name and official logo of the business or entity are illuminated.
(3)
Where a sign is illuminated with an external light source, such lighting shall be provided through sharp cutoff, directed-light fixtures that are decorative in nature or concealed from view and the illumination shall be directed to the sign face to minimize light spillover beyond the edges of the sign face.
(4)
No sign lighting shall be installed in a manner or of such a brightness as to create excessive glare on adjacent property or uses such that such lighting inhibits the use and enjoyment of the adjacent property or uses.
(5)
Flashing signs and signs with flashing lights are not permitted.
§ 425-98 Residential district signs.
The following signs are permitted in residential zoning districts:
A.
Building signs for identification of home occupations or no-impact home-based businesses shall be permitted, except in PRDs and on lots in the R-2 and R-3 Zoning Districts, provided that such sign is a maximum of five square feet and shall not be illuminated.
B.
Monument signs identifying a residential development or neighborhood, provided that the maximum sign area shall be 18 square feet per sign face and the sign shall not exceed four feet in height.
C.
Signs displaying name, activities and/or functions for public institutions (churches, public schools, accredited private schools, and publicly owned or operated buildings), provided that:
D.
One monument sign is permitted on a property.
(1)
The maximum sign area shall not exceed 30 square feet per sign face and there shall be a maximum of two sign faces.
(2)
Changeable copy/lettering and LED signs are permitted provided that they do not comprise more than 50% of the total sign area. Except as to permitted location, all other requirements of this chapter for LED signs shall be met.
(3)
The maximum height shall be four feet.
(4)
No monument sign shall be located in such a manner as to obstruct traffic sight visibility.
§ 425-99 Nonresidential zoning districts.
A.
In nonresidential zoning districts, all of the following signs are permitted:
(1)
One freestanding sign for each building.
(2)
One building, awning, canopy, wall or marquee sign for each building.
(3)
One building, awning, canopy, wall or marquee sign for each building tenant, for which a Township occupancy permit is issued or otherwise required.
(4)
Directional signs, a maximum of five square feet in size per sign face, up to a maximum of four signs on a property.
B.
All signs shall meet the following requirements, unless otherwise specified:
(1)
A sign shall have a maximum of two sign faces.
(2)
Freestanding signs.
(a)
No freestanding sign shall have more than two sign faces.
(b)
The maximum height of any freestanding sign, measured from ground level to the top of the sign, shall be 10 feet.
(c)
Each sign face of a freestanding sign shall have a maximum of 40 square feet of sign area per sign face.
(d)
Where a building includes multiple occupied tenant spaces, the maximum freestanding sign area shall be 50 square feet of sign area per sign face.
(e)
Where two or more buildings are located on the same lot or under common ownership, the maximum freestanding sign area shall be 60 square feet of sign area per sign face, provided that a total of only one freestanding sign is permitted for all buildings on the same lot or under common ownership.
(f)
No freestanding sign shall be located in such a manner as to obstruct traffic sight visibility.
(3)
The maximum sign area of any building, wall, canopy, awning, or marquee sign shall be 30 square feet and shall meet the following criteria:
(a)
The sign shall not project above the wall, roofline, or surface to which it is mounted nor obstruct building windows.
(b)
The sign shall not encroach upon any road right-of-way nor shall it in any way interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(c)
No sign shall extend below a point measured from grade to a height of nine feet. In all instances, signs must comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Accessibility Guidelines on protruding objects and headroom.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(d)
The sign shall not project more than five feet from the building facade to which it is attached.
(4)
LED signs are permitted in nonresidential zoning districts only.
(a)
All LED sign images, messages, and graphics displayed on the sign face must be static. Animation and video displays are prohibited.
(b)
The transition from one static display on the LED sign face to another must be instantaneous without any special effects, including but not limited to flashing, spinning, revolving transition methods, scrolling from left to right or top to bottom, slot machine, splice, mesh, radar, kaleidoscope, spin, or any other animated transition.
(c)
The images and messages displayed must be complete in themselves, without continuation in content to the next image or message or to any other sign.
(d)
Each message displayed must remain displayed continuously for a minimum of 10 seconds.
(e)
No sign shall be brighter than 5,000 nits between sunrise and sunset and 250 nits between sunset and sunrise, measured according to recognized industry standards for brightness measurement.
§ 425-100 Billboards.
A.
Billboards are a principal use, permitted only on property that is within the B-2 or M-1 Districts and such property must be a minimum of 0.25 acre in size with frontage along an arterial or collector roadway.
B.
Only one billboard is permitted per property and no additional signs are permitted on a property occupied by a billboard.
C.
Billboards shall be set back a minimum of 250 feet from an existing residential structure, such that no part of the billboard or support structure is within 250 feet of an existing residential structure.
D.
Billboards shall be set back a minimum of 1,000 feet from any existing billboard or the location of a billboard for which a sign permit is approved or pending.
E.
All billboards shall be maintained in good repair, even when there is no occupied sign area within or on the billboard structure.
F.
The sign area of all billboards shall be a maximum of 250 square feet per sign face.
G.
Billboards shall have no more than two sign faces and the sign faces shall be mounted to the sign structure such that the faces are completely parallel with each other.
H.
The maximum height of the structure and sign face of any billboard shall be 20 feet.
I.
The illumination of any billboard shall be from exterior light fixtures; internal illumination of the sign area or any portion of the billboard is not permitted, except where the billboard is an LED sign. The billboard lighting shall be directed only to the sign face of the billboard and shall be provided by sharp cutoff, shielded light fixtures to minimize illumination spillover beyond the sign face.
J.
All billboards shall be considered abandoned after a period of 12 months during which there is no occupied sign area within or on the billboard structure, excluding announcement that the billboard is available for rental. Abandoned billboards are prohibited.
K.
All billboards that are LED signs shall meet the applicable requirements of this section pertaining to LED signs.
§ 425-101 Nonconforming signs.
Any physical change or alteration to the structure of an existing, nonconforming sign, excluding regular maintenance and in-kind replacement of the sign face, requires compliance with the requirements of this chapter.