Quakertown City Zoning Code
PART 5
SIGNS
§ 501 Scope and Applicability.
[Ord. 983, 3/4/1992, § 5.1]
1.
Purpose. The purposes of the regulations contained in this Part are to:
A.
Promote and maintain overall community beautification.
B.
Establish reasonable time, place and manner regulations on the exercise of free speech.
C.
Promote traffic safety.
D.
Promote the most appropriate uses of the land.
2.
Permit Required.
A.
A sign permit is required for any permanent sign exceeding two square feet in area except for the signs indicated in § 501, Subsection 2B, and the following temporary signs indicated in § 502, Subsection 1C, D and E: real estate signs over six square feet, construction site signs over six square feet, all public events signs, all political signs, all garage sale signs, all special events signs and all mobile signs.
B.
A sign permit is not required for:
(1)
Real estate and construction site temporary signs under six square feet and temporary window signs.
(2)
Any sign which requires a mere change of copy on a sign (the customary use of which involves frequent and periodic changes of copy).
(3)
Exempt signs in § 501, Subsection 3.
C.
Each sign shall comply with the standards of this Part, whether or not a sign permit is required.
3.
Exempt Signs.
A.
Signs applied to the door or window giving the store hours or the name or names of credit or charge institutions shall be exempt from the regulations of this Part when the total area of all such signs does not exceed two square feet.
B.
Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only street numbers, post box numbers or names of the principal occupants of the premises.
C.
Directional, information or public service signs such as those advertising the availability of rest rooms, telephones or similar public conveniences provided such signs do not exceed four square feet in area.
D.
Signs required to be maintained or posted by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, unless specifically prohibited, limited or restricted.
E.
Flags or emblems of political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations.
F.
Traffic control and guidance signs, erected and maintained in the interest of public safety or for the regulation of traffic.
G.
Signs indicating only the name and date of erection of a building and having an area not exceeding four square feet.
4.
Nonconforming Signs.
A.
Signs existing at the date of enactment of this chapter and which do not conform to the requirements of this Part shall be considered nonconforming signs.
B.
Once a nonconforming sign is removed for 90 continuous days, it shall be replaced only with a conforming sign.
C.
Nonconforming signs may be repainted or repaired (including lighting); provided, such repainted or repaired sign does not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign. Wording may be changed.
§ 502 Number Permitted.
[Ord. 983, 3/4/1992, § 5.2]
1.
On-Premises Signs.
A.
In general, no principal use shall install or maintain a greater number of signs along each street on which such use is located for the particular type of sign structure and zoning district established in Table 5.1[1], except as otherwise provided for in this section.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 5.1 is included at the end of this chapter.
B.
Planned Developments.
(1)
Planned Commercial, Office, or Industrial Developments, In addition to the signs permitted for individual commercial uses, one freestanding, on-premises sign indicating the name of the development and which shall not exceed 50 square feet may be erected along each road fronting such development.
(2)
Residential Developments. One freestanding, on-premises sign indicating the name of the subdivision or residential development and which shall not exceed 50 square feet may be erected along each road fronting such development.
C.
Real Estate, Construction, Special Event and Political Temporary Signs. A temporary, on-premises sign may generally be erected on a lot without a permit for a period not exceeding 30 days; provided, that such signs are not attached to trees, fences, utility poles or the like, and that such signs are not placed in such a position as to obstruct or impair vision or traffic or in any manner which creates a nuisance, hazard or disturbance to the health and welfare of the general public.
(1)
Real Estate. A temporary sign may be permitted within the property lines, advertising the prospective or completed sale or rental of the premises upon which it is located; provided, that such sign shall be maintained and removed within seven days after consummation of the lease or sale transaction. Any such sign which is over six square feet in area shall require a sign permit.
(2)
Construction Sites. A nonilluminated temporary sign (developer/contractor sign or mechanic/subcontractor/other artisan sign) may be permitted on a construction site; provided, such sign shall be removed within seven days after completion of the construction work and not more than one sign per developer, contractor, mechanic, subcontractor or artisan shall be placed on each street frontage of the construction site. Any such sign which is over six square feet in area shall require a sign permit.
(3)
Public Events. A temporary sign may be permitted announcing a public, educational, charitable, civic, religious or similar event for a total period not to exceed 30 days in any calendar year; provided, it is removed within seven days after the conclusion of the event. A permit shall be required.
(4)
Political. No political sign may be erected on any public property including, but not limited to, any public right-of-way, utility pole or public parkland. Political signs may be erected on private property with the permission of the property owner starting 70 days before an election and must be removed within seven days after an election. No sign shall exceed nine square feet. No permit shall be required for political signs.
D.
Special Events Temporary Signs. A sign permit shall be provided for the following special events temporary signs:
(1)
Special Programs. Signs are permitted one week prior to and during a special event such as a block party, lawn fete or other special event thirty-day limit.
E.
Temporary Signs, Mobile Stands. A temporary sign may be placed on premises or on a mobile stand which is capable of being moved from one location to another. This type of sign may be used for a maximum ten-day period, three times a year. Any sign placed on a mobile stand shall require a sign permit. There must be a minimum of 30 days between ten-day periods.
2.
Off-Premises Signs.
A.
Advertising Signs (Billboards).
(1)
Size and Location. Off-premises billboards shall be:
(a)
Three hundred square feet billboards in the HC District along Route 309.
(b)
Maximum height of the sign is to be 20 feet.
(2)
Setbacks and Spacing. Off-premises billboards shall be:
(a)
Setback at least 20 feet from the street right-of-way.
(b)
Spaced no closer than 500 feet from another billboard on the same side of the street.
(c)
Located no closer than 50 feet from a LR, MR or HR District as measured along same side of street.
(d)
Located no closer than 500 feet from a historic site or structure.
B.
Other Permitted Off-Premises Signs.
(1)
Signs necessary for the direction, regulation and control of traffic; street name signs; legal notices; warnings at railroad crossings; and other official signs which are similarly authorized or erected by a duly constituted governmental body. No maximum size is established.
(2)
Temporary nonilluminated signs directing persons to temporary exhibits, shows or events and sponsored by a nonprofit organization may be erected subject to the following requirements:
(a)
Signs shall not exceed 50 square feet in area.
(b)
Signs shall not be posted earlier than three weeks before the occurrence of the exhibit, show or event and shall be removed within one week after termination of the exhibit, show or event.
(3)
Nonilluminated signs in the HC and LI Zoning Districts for directing patrons, members or audiences to service clubs, places of worship or other nonprofit organizations, provided that the signs shall indicate only the name of the facility and the direction to the facility and shall not exceed 200 square inches in area.
[Amended by Ord. 1198, 2/6/2013]
§ 503 Sign Area Regulations.
[Ord. 983, 3/4/1992, § 5.3; as amended by Ord. 1198, 2/6/2013]
No sign shall exceed the maximum sign area established for that sign in Table 5.2[1], except in the LR, MR and HR Districts where places of worship and schools may have an on-premises sign(s) up to 20 square feet.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 5.2 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 504 Location.
[Ord. 983, 3/4/1992, § 5.4]
1.
Not Within Street Lines. No sign shall be allowed within street right-of-way lines (except those of the government body which owns such right-of-way and public events temporary signs in the TC and NC Districts), unless specifically authorized by another Borough ordinance or Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law or regulation.
2.
No Traffic Interference.
A.
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.
B.
All signs shall comply with the provisions of § 404, Subsection 3.
3.
Freestanding Signs. No portion of any freestanding sign shall be located closer than 10 feet from any lot line. Freestanding signs shall be prohibited on a property where this requirement cannot be met.
4.
A-Frame Signs. All A-frame signs shall be located a minimum of seven feet from the curbline and shall be put in at night. Such signs shall be weighted at the base so that the sign cannot be moved by strong winds; however, no sign shall be chained, tied or otherwise affixed to any object, structure, or the ground.
[Amended by Ord. 1198, 2/6/2013]
5.
Awning Signs.
[Added by Ord. 1198, 2/6/2013]
A.
Awning signs should be traditional fabric foldout awnings and not permanently affixed, backlit awnings.
B.
A minimum height of eight feet from the lowest point to the sidewalk is required.
6.
Marquee Signs.
[Added by Ord. 1198, 2/6/2013]
A.
Marquee signs shall not exceed 100 square feet.
B.
Marquee signs shall maintain a vertical clearance of 10 feet above grade.
§ 505 Height.
[Ord. 983, 3/4/1992, § 5.5; as amended by Ord. 1000, 9/1/1993, § 2; as amended by Ord. 1053, 9/1/1999, § 1J]
No sign shall exceed the maximum height restriction for the particular type of sign structure and zoning district established in Table 5.3[1].
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 5.3 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 506 Construction.
[Ord. 983, 3/4/1992, § 5.6; as amended by Ord. 1053, 9/1/1999, § 1K]
1.
Every sign shall be constructed of durable materials and shall be kept in good condition and repair.
2.
Any sign which is allowed to become dilapidated may, after notification, be removed by the Borough at the expense of the owner or lessee of the property on which it is located.
§ 507 Illuminated Signs.
[Ord. 983, 3/4/1992, § 5.7]
1.
Direct Lighting. Signs may be illuminated by direct lighting; provided, such lighting shall be shielded so no direct light will shine on abutting properties or in the normal line of vision of the public using the streets.
2.
Internal Lighting. A sign may be designed to give forth artificial light internally or through transparent or translucent material; provided, such light is maintained at a stationary and constant intensity and color at all times when in use.
3.
A-frame signs may not be illuminated.
§ 508 Removal.
[Ord. 983, 3/4/1992, § 5.8]
1.
On-site signs advertising a use no longer in existence or a product no longer available shall be removed or changed to advertise the new use or product within 90 days of cessation of the original use.
2.
Signs once removed for 90 continuous days shall be replaced only by signs in conformance with this chapter.
§ 509 Vehicles or Structures Used as Signs.
[Ord. 983, 3/4/1992, § 5.9]
1.
Any vehicle or structure to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the carrying of such sign or signs no longer is incidental to the primary purpose of the vehicle or structure but becomes a primary purpose in itself, shall be considered a freestanding sign and as such be subject to the provisions regarding freestanding signs in the district in which such vehicle or structure is located.
2.
Any abandoned vehicle to which a sign is affixed shall be considered a freestanding sign, subject to the provisions regarding freestanding signs in the district in which such abandoned vehicles are located.
3.
All sign provisions of this Part shall apply to the use of silos, smokestacks, water towers and other similar structures as signs.
§ 510 Signs Prohibited in All Districts.
[Ord. 983, 3/4/1992, § 5.10]
(Note Exceptions) The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts:
A.
Banners, flags, pennants or any moving object used for commercial advertising purposes (whether containing a message or not), except for use during not more than one special occasion in one calendar year by a use located in the TC, NC, HC, OB and LI Districts for a period of not more than a total of 10 days per calendar year.
B.
Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type, except the following:
[Amended by Ord. 1183, 1/3/2012]
(1)
Portions of signs which indicate time and temperature changes.
(2)
Changeable-copy signs, electronic and graphic display signs (unless otherwise prohibited by state, county, or federal laws), as defined in Chapter 27, Part 2, of this chapter, subject to the following requirements:
(a)
They shall be permitted only in TC, NC and HC Zoning Districts.
(b)
They shall be located no closer than 100 feet to an LR, MR or HR District, measured along the same side of the street.
(c)
Electronic message boards shall be set back at least 20 feet from the legal right-of-way.
(d)
No electronic message board sign shall exceed 35% of the maximum sign area established in Table 5.2 for the type of sign structure that the electronic message board is classified.
(i)
If the electronic portion of the sign is only a portion of the sign, the electronic portion of that sign shall not exceed 10% of the maximum allowable sign area as established in Table 5.2 for that type of sign structure that the sign is classified.
(ii)
An electronic message board shall be considered an accessory use; therefore, the property shall not be leased or subleased for the sole purpose of displaying an electronic message board.
(iii)
There shall be no off-premises advertising using an electronic message board.
(e)
No sign shall be so illuminated such that it interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, device or signal.
(f)
Any bulbs that are used for lighting shall not exceed 25 watts.
(g)
The illuminated letters, words, message or display shall not change any more frequently than every 10 seconds.
(h)
All such signs shall be equipped with a properly functioning default mechanism that will stop the sign in one position should a malfunction occur.
(i)
The other applicable sign provisions of this Part are met.
C.
Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound, odor or glare.
[Amended by Ord. 1183, 1/3/2012]
