Parkside City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIII
Signs 1
§ 182-81 Purposes.
The purposes of this article are to regulate the type and dimensions of signs in the various zoning districts of Parkside Borough, to recognize the commercial communication requirements of all sectors of the business community, to protect the public from damage or injury caused by or attributable to distractions and obstructions caused by improperly designed or located signs, and to safeguard property values by encouraging the use of signs that are consistent and harmonious in relation to the buildings and areas where they are placed.
§ 182-82 Scope and applicability.
A.
Any sign hereafter erected shall conform to the provisions of this article and any other ordinance or regulations of the Borough relating thereto. Any sign not specifically authorized by the provisions of this article shall not be erected in the Borough.
C.
Application for such permits shall be made in writing to the Borough in accordance with § 182-89.
D.
The Zoning Officer is hereby authorized and empowered to revoke any permit issued by the Borough upon failure of the holder thereof to comply with any provision of this article.
E.
The provisions of this article shall not apply where signage is erected and maintained by the Borough for Borough purposes, provided that the Borough obtains all other required government permits prior to their use.
§ 182-83 Determination of size of signs.
A.
The size of any sign shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this article and the following:
(1)
When a sign consists of actual letters, numbers, and/or logos and not a lettered board and such sign is erected on or attached to a building wall or other similar surface, the size of such sign shall be measured by the geometric shape formed by the extreme outside edge of the largest letters, numbers, or logos contained in the sign.
(2)
When a sign consists of a lettered board and such sign is erected on or attached to a building wall or other similar surface, the size of such sign shall be determined by calculating the area of the lettered board.
§ 182-84 Sign restrictions and standards.
A.
Prohibited signs. It is unlawful to erect or maintain the following signs:
(1)
Flashing, blinking, twinkling, spinning, animated, inflatable, aerial, crane, or lighted moving signs, including automatic color changing and rotating lamps and other moving objects that call attention to the sign.
(2)
Advertising cloth or paper banner or signs of any similar character suspended or hung on any property, except for temporary banners. However, banners and pennants for public purposes shall be permitted in the C-1 and C-2 Commercial Districts.
(3)
Wall bulletins or any other signs painted directly on the facade of a building or other structure.
(4)
Curb or sidewalk signs or signs painted, attached, or suspended from any outdoor bench, chair, or similar structure.
(5)
Swinging and hanging signs.
(6)
Signs, letters, posters, and advertisements which are tacked, pasted, tied or otherwise affixed to poles, posts, buildings, fences or other structures located on public property or within public rights-of-way in the Borough of Parkside.
(7)
Signs placed, inscribed, or supported upon the roofline or any structure that extends above the roofline of any building.
(8)
Freestanding signs advertising or identifying a business in the C-1 and C-2 Commercial Districts.
(9)
Digital movable billboard signs.
B.
Projecting signs. No new projecting signs shall be erected after the date of enactment of this chapter. Projecting signs in existence at the enactment of this chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs and shall be allowed to continue.
C.
General restrictions and standards. The following restrictions shall apply to all permitted signs:
(1)
Where not inconsistent with this article, all signs constructed or erected under the provisions of this article shall comply with the standards set forth in the latest applicable version of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
(2)
Where applicable, the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in relation to signs shall be followed.
(3)
No sign shall be located, arranged, or placed in a position where it will cause danger to traffic or will interfere with traffic through glare; block required sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways; or cause confusion with a traffic control device by reason of color, location, shape, or other characteristics or through any other means.
(4)
Except for traffic signs, no sign shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any public street except in the C-1 and C-2 Commercial Districts, nor shall any such sign be closer than six feet to the right-of-way line of a public street, unless specifically authorized by other ordinances and regulations of the Borough of Parkside or other governmental bodies or agencies having jurisdiction or regulatory authority in the matter.
(5)
No illuminated sign shall be lighted on days when the business or permitted use is not open.
(6)
Every sign must be constructed of durable materials and shall be solidly and firmly attached, supported, and/or anchored to the supports or framework.
(7)
Every sign must be kept in good condition and repair. Any sign that is allowed to become dilapidated shall be removed by and at the expense of the landowner or lessee of the property on which it is located.
(8)
Except for traffic signs, incidental signs, and billboards, all permanent signs shall be located on the property to which their text or message applies.
(9)
Freestanding signs, wall signs, canopy signs, and awning signs shall have a clearance of not less than eight feet between the ground and the bottom of the sign.
D.
Area of multi-faced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two identical sign faces are placed back to back so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of these faces.
E.
Freestanding signs.
(1)
The bottom or lowest edge of any freestanding sign shall be no closer to the ground than eight feet. At least six feet of the upper portion of the eight-foot space shall be open and unobstructed. No more than two feet above the ground level can be devoted to and maintained for flowers, ground covers and low spreading shrubs. If such plantings are installed, they shall be maintained at the maximum height of two feet and shall be free of weeds, debris, and other undesirable material.
(2)
All single-post freestanding signs shall be made of metal, except for those used in residential districts which may be made of pressure-treated timbers. All such posts shall be embedded in the ground at least three feet, six inches, unless otherwise directed by the Zoning Officer.
(3)
Freestanding signs will be permitted in residential areas only when set back a minimum distance of six feet from the front property line.
(4)
Freestanding signs shall only be illuminated by concealed or indirect lighting.
(5)
There shall be a distance of not less than 75 feet between freestanding signs.
F.
G.
Window signs. A maximum of 25% of the total window area may be used for permanent signs that are etched, painted or permanently affixed to the window.
H.
Temporary signs.
(1)
The use of any temporary sign, except for sales or price change signs and signs exempt by § 182-85, shall require a permit which shall be effective for not more than 30 days.
(2)
Temporary signs shall be placed so as not to obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic or create a safety hazard.
(3)
Such signs shall not obstruct access to or from any door, window, fire escape, or ventilating equipment, nor be attached to any standpipe or fire escape.
(4)
Temporary signs shall be removed immediately upon expiration of the permit.
(5)
The size of these signs shall not exceed 1/3 of a square foot of sign area for each linear foot of building width.
(6)
Temporary commercial advertising signs shall not be attached to fences.
I.
Sales or price change signs.
§ 182-85 Signs not requiring permits (exempt signs).
The following signs are exempt from the need to secure a permit but are subject to all other applicable provisions of this article:
A.
Public notice, warning, or official traffic sign required by a federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
B.
Any sign inside a building not attached to a window or door that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the property on which such sign is located.
C.
Building markers; that only include building name, date of construction, or historical data on an historical site, provided that there is only one per building with a maximum area of six square feet.
D.
Flags of the United States, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States or any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction, provided that such flag does not exceed 60 square feet in area and shall be flown from a pole not more than 40 feet in height.
E.
Incidental signs containing no commercial message of any kind, provided that such signs do not exceed eight square feet.
F.
Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises or lot upon which they are erected, provided that there is no more than one such sign per street frontage. Such sign shall be neither illuminated nor exceed six square feet. All such signs shall be removed on or before the date of settlement.
G.
Signs advertising the development of the premises where they are erected. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet in residential districts and 32 square feet in nonresidential districts. All such signs shall be removed on or before the date of settlement.
H.
Nameplate signs on private residences, provided that they do not exceed 108 square inches.
I.
Decorations for an officially designated holiday; provided, however, that they do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
J.
Yard sale or garage sale signs, provided that they do not exceed two square feet and are removed within 24 hours after such sales.
K.
Signs announcing educational, charitable, civic, religious, or similar campaigns or events, provided that such signs are erected for a period not to exceed 30 days or more than four times in any calendar year for a maximum annual total of 120 days. Such signs shall not exceed eight square feet. However, if these signs are proposed for placement on telephone poles, a permit shall be required.
L.
Changeable copy signs for churches, schools, and other uses which by their nature require such signs, provided that only one such sign shall be permitted. However, in the case of a corner property, one additional sign is permitted on the side of the property. The size of such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet.
§ 182-86 Signs requiring permits.
The following signs, as described under each zoning district or group of districts, are permitted, provided that they meet the conditions in § 182-84 and a sign permit has been obtained:
A.
Signs in the R-1, R-2, and RM. The following types of signs and no others shall be permitted:
(1)
Nameplate signs, not exceeding 108 square inches. Not more than one such sign per dwelling shall be permitted.
(2)
Identification signs for apartment buildings or complexes, schools, churches, hospitals and similar permitted uses other than individual dwellings, provided that:
(a)
Such signs shall be freestanding signs, ground signs, or wall signs only. Freestanding or ground signs shall not exceed four feet in height.
(b)
Not more than one wall sign and one freestanding or ground sign shall be permitted for each frontage.
(c)
The size of freestanding, ground, and wall signs shall not exceed 15 square feet.
(3)
Signs identifying nonresidential uses permitted as valid nonconforming uses, provided that they meet the same requirements as Subsection A(2) above.
(4)
Signs identifying major home occupations and home professional offices (accessory use signs).
B.
Signs in the C-1 Commercial District.
(1)
Any sign permitted in residential districts.
(2)
Wall signs, projecting signs, freestanding signs, freestanding ground signs, freestanding pole signs, awning signs, and canopy signs.
(4)
Not more than three types of permitted signs shall be permitted on any premises, provided that the combined area of these signs shall not exceed 50 square feet.
C.
Signs in the C-2 Commercial District.
(1)
Any sign permitted in residential districts or the C-1 District.
(2)
Wall signs, projecting signs, freestanding signs, freestanding ground signs, freestanding pole signs, awning signs, and canopy signs.
(4)
Not more than three types of permitted signs shall be permitted on any premises, provided that the combined area of these signs shall not exceed 70 square feet.
D.
Signs in the OS Open Space District. The following signs and no others shall be permitted in the OS Open Space District.
§ 182-87 Billboards.
The following provisions relating to billboards are designed to promote and protect the general public health, safety, and welfare by regulating existing and proposed billboards. They are intended to reduce billboard advertising distractions that may contribute to traffic accidents and personal injuries and other hazards that arise out of the proliferation of billboards within a limited geographic area. The provisions are also designed to protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate, enhance the physical appearance of the community, and generally provide a pleasing and enjoyable environment.
A.
Billboards shall be permitted only in the C-2 as a use by special exception.
B.
Billboards shall only be allowed as freestanding signs and shall not be located on top of or be attached in any manner to a building or other structure.
C.
Billboards shall be independently supported and have vertical supports of metal that are galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent rust and corrosion.
D.
Only one billboard shall be permitted on a lot at any given time.
E.
Each face of a billboard shall be demonstrated to be oriented toward the road upon which the billboard fronts or faces to cause the least impact upon neighboring properties.
F.
No billboard shall be erected within 1,000 feet of another billboard.
G.
The maximum size of billboards shall be 100 square feet.
H.
The minimum distance from a street right-of-way shall be 35 feet.
I.
The height of billboards shall not exceed the maximum permitted building height by more than 20 feet.
J.
External illumination of any and all sign faces on a billboard shall be shielded to prevent the light source from being seen from adjacent or nearby residential properties, streets, or sidewalks.
K.
Notwithstanding the above, no billboard shall be located within the safe clear sight distance or safe stopping distance of a signalized intersection, which distance shall be determined in accordance with applicable PennDOT standards; and no part of a billboard sign shall interfere with or obstruct vehicle traffic, travel, or ingress and egress to a public street or generally where it will obscure the vision of motorists and thereby create a safety hazard.
M.
Where a billboard structure contains no advertisement or message for a period of 120 consecutive days, the Zoning Officer shall forward a notice to the owner of the sign advising the owner of the unused status of the sign structure. The owner shall be required to remove the sign structure, provided that no advertising or message is placed thereon within 180 days from the original notice.
N.
A removal bond, in form and amount satisfactory to the Borough, shall be posted with the Borough to ensure that a billboard sign will be properly removed upon abandonment or other termination of use.
§ 182-88 Nonconforming signs.
Signs that are nonconforming or identify nonconforming uses shall be governed by the following requirements.
A.
A sign which is nonconforming at the effective date of this chapter may be continued although such sign does not conform to the provisions of this chapter, but the size of any such nonconforming sign shall not be enlarged, except as permitted in § 182-132.
B.
A nonconforming sign may be changed to or replaced by another nonconforming sign provided that the degree of nonconformity is not greater than that of the original sign. Whenever a nonconforming sign has been changed to a more restricted nonconforming sign, such sign shall not thereafter be changed to a less-restricted nonconforming sign.
C.
Where the owner of the establishment is changed, any nonconforming sign at such establishment must be removed, and any new sign must conform to the provisions of this chapter.
D.
No nonconforming sign which has been damaged to more than 50% of its value or has been removed or discontinued for 90 days shall be repaired, rebuilt, or replaced, except as a conforming sign (or when authorized as a special exception).
E.
If a nonconforming use of a building ceases or is discontinued for a continuous period of 12 months or more and such nonconforming use is deemed to be abandoned as per § 182-135 of this chapter, any nonconforming sign on the premises shall also be considered abandoned and any subsequent signs erected or maintained on the premises shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
§ 182-89 Permits and inspections.
A.
Except as otherwise provided in § 182-85 relating to exempt signs, no sign shall be erected in the Borough until a permit therefor has been obtained in the following manner:
(1)
An application in writing, filed on forms provided by the Borough, shall be made to the Zoning Officer by the person desiring the permit.
(2)
The application submitted to the Zoning Officer shall give full particulars regarding the size, shape, material, and supports of the sign as well as a sketch or sketches showing the location of the sign on the building or lot, the distance from the curbline, and the height of the sign. The application shall be sufficiently specific to enable the Zoning Officer to determine if the sign complies with this chapter as well as any other ordinance or regulation of the Borough relating thereto. A fee, as Borough Council may establish from time to time by resolution, shall accompany such application.
(3)
If the person submitting the application is not the owner of the property upon which the sign is to be erected, the written consent of the owner of the property on which the sign is to be erected shall accompany the application.
B.
Whenever any sign or sign face is replaced by another sign, enlarged in any manner or altered, dismantled, damaged or otherwise destroyed, a permit shall be required as provided in Subsection A above before the sign is replaced, enlarged, altered, or repaired.
C.
Unsafe and unlawful signs. If the Zoning Officer shall find that any sign or other advertising structure regulated herein is unsafe or insecure or is a menace to the public or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, he/she shall give written notice thereof to the permittee. If the permittee fails to remove or alter the structure so as to comply with the standards set forth herein within 10 days after such notice, such sign or other advertising structure may be removed or altered to comply by the Zoning Officer at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which it is located. The Zoning Officer shall refuse to issue a permit to any permittee or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The Zoning Officer may cause any sign or other advertising structure that causes immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
D.
Inspections and fees. The Zoning Officer shall cause a routine inspection of all signs in the Borough to be made at least once every three years and at any other times when he or she deems such inspection necessary. He or she shall report to Borough Council all unsafe signs, all signs failing in any respect to conform to the requirements of this article, and all signs not licensed by the Borough. To cover the cost of inspection of all signs, as required by this section, the owner of every sign located in the Borough shall pay a license or inspection fee to the Borough. The rate of such fee in each case shall be based upon the area of such sign and is hereby fixed at $0.10 per square foot, with a minimum fee of $25.
E.
All signs for which a permit has been issued must be completely constructed within six months after the date of issuance of the permit. Upon written request, the Zoning Officer may grant one extension for an additional three-month period, provided that the applicant presents reasonable grounds for the extension.
§ 182-90 Amortization.
A.
Temporary, sidewalk, sandwich or "A" frame signs, movable freestanding signs, banners, pennants, and similar types of signs shall be abated, removed, or brought into compliance within 90 days after enactment of this chapter.
B.
Signs painted on walks, fences, or benches shall be removed, abated, or brought into compliance within two years after enactment of this chapter.
C.
Any sign copy that no longer advertises or identifies a use conducted on the property on which said sign is erected must have the sign copy covered or removed within 30 days after written notification from the Zoning Officer. Upon failure to comply with such notice, the code official is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign copy. Any expense, incident thereto, shall be paid by the owner of the building, structure, or ground on which the sign is located.
D.
Any sign which ceases to be in use for a period in excess of 120 consecutive days shall be deemed to be abandoned and shall be removed within 30 days of written notification from the Code Official; and, upon failure to comply with such notice, the Zoning Officer is hereby authorized to cause removal of such abandoned sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building, structure, or ground on which the abandoned sign is located.