Quarryville City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIII
Sign Regulations
§ 420-1301 Scope and applicability.
A.
In all zoning districts, signs may be erected, altered, maintained, used, removed or moved only when in compliance with the provisions of this article and any other applicable ordinances and regulations.
B.
Signs existing at the time of passage of this chapter, which were legally erected, and which do not conform with the requirements of this chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs, and once removed, shall be replaced only with conforming signs. Nonconforming signs may be repainted or repaired (including the lighting), provided that the repainted or repaired sign does not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign. Wording may also be changed.
§ 420-1302 Definitions.
[Amended 4-7-2014 by Ord. No. 406]
The term "sign" when used in this chapter shall mean a device for visual communication that is used to bring the subject to the attention of the public. Signs do include lettering, logos, trademarks, or other symbols that are an integral part of the architectural design of a building, that are applied to a building, or that are located elsewhere on the premises; signs affixed to windows or glass doors or otherwise internally mounted such that they are obviously intended to be seen and understood by vehicular or pedestrian traffic outside the building; flags and insignia of civic, charitable, religious, fraternal, patriotic, or similar organizations; insignia of governments or government agencies; banners, streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, and similar materials; and inflatable objects. Signs do not include architectural features that may be identified with a particular business; backlit awnings that include no lettering, logos, or other symbols; signs within a building that are obviously intended to be seen primarily from within the building; outdoor signs intended for use within a property, such as menu signs by fast-food restaurant drive-through lanes, signs with regulations within a park, and building identification signs within a campus; flags of governments or government agencies; decorative seasonal and holiday banners on residential properties; and displays of merchandise either behind store windows or outdoors. The following additional definitions shall apply to this article:
An off-premises, permanent sign that directs attention to a product, service, business, or cause.
A sign attached to or painted on a building that has a use in addition to supporting the sign; this includes wall signs and roof signs.
A sign that directs attention to any business, professional, commercial, or industrial activity occurring on the premises on which the sign is located, but not including a home occupation sign. (Also see "center sign.")
A business sign that provides identification at the entrance to a center such as a shopping center, office complex, or industrial park.
A temporary sign that carries the name and information about a contractor who is involved in construction work occurring on the premises on which the sign is located.
An identification sign at the entrance to a residential development.
Any business, commercial or industrial sign and/or billboard or portion of a sign and/or billboard that appears to have movement or that appears to change, caused by any method other than physically removing and replacing the sign or its components, whether the apparent movement or change is in the display, the sign structure itself, or any other component of the sign. This includes a display that incorporates a technology or method allowing the sign face to change the image without having to physically or mechanically replace the sign face or its components. This also includes any rotating, revolving, moving, flashing, blinking, or animated display and any display that incorporates rotating panels, LED lights manipulated through digital input, "digital ink" or any other method or technology that allows the sign face to present a series of images or displays. This definition shall not include electronic message display signs that repetitively indicate time, temperature and date, to other text or scrolling text message signs and to vehicular service station signs that digitally display current fuel prices.
An electronic business, commercial or industrial sign that displays time, temperature or current sales or events related to the business activity occurring on the premises. Electronic message center signs shall only consist of text-type messages and shall not be permitted to contain graphics, pictures or any other animated displays.
A sign not attached to or painted on a building, or a sign attached to or painted on a building that has no use in addition to supporting the sign.
A temporary sign that directs attention to the sale of personal goods on the premises on which the sign is located.
An off-premises sign placed by a governmental unit, such as a traffic, directional, informational, or street name sign.
A sign providing information about a business activity conducted within a dwelling unit on the premises on which the sign is located.
A sign used to identify the name and display information about the individual, organization, agency, institution, facility, or development located on the premises on which the sign is located, but not including a business sign. (Also see "development sign" and "public use sign.")
An informational sign, no more than two square feet in size, that carries a message such as "enter," "open," "telephone," "rest rooms," "no parking," "no trespassing," "warning," a listing of hours when open, an on-site direction, or anything similar. Incidental signs may not include any commercial message or logo, except that one "enter" sign per entrance may include a logo or business name, as long as the entrance is exclusively for that business and the logo or business name is subordinate to the word "Enter."
A sign that directs attention to a candidate or candidates for public office or to an opinion of a public or private nature, such as, but not limited to, a community, social, religious, political or ballot issue.
When used in this article, the word "lot" shall mean a designated parcel, tract or area of land established by a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed or built upon as a unit [e.g., (1) the area used by a dwelling unit in a townhouse structure; or (2) a tenant space in a multiple tenant building].
An off-premises sign displaying information about a church, service club, or other organization that does not operate for the purpose of making a profit.
A sign that does not apply to the property on which it is displayed.
A sign that applies to the property on which it is displayed.
A temporary sign that provides information about a real estate open house, including the words "Open House," the day and time of the open house, and the name of the realtor.
A sign located such that pedestrian or vehicular traffic might pass beneath any part of it.
A sign intended to be displayed for an unlimited period of time.
An identification sign used to identify the name and display information about a public use, such as a government building, school, park, firehouse, or church.
A sign with a message relating to a business organization performing a public service and subject to special governmental regulations (e.g., an electric company, sewer authority, or telephone company).
A temporary sign that provides information about a real estate activity on the premises on which the sign is located, such as a sign advertising a sale, rental, or property available for or in the process of development, but not including an open house sign.
A sign attached to or painted on a roof.
A temporary sign placed on the sidewalk adjacent to the commercial activity it advertises, but not including a contractor sign, a garage/yard sale sign, a home occupation sign, an open house sign, a real estate sign, or a special event sign.
A temporary sign that carries information about a special event such as an auction, flea market, festival, carnival, meal, or fund-raising event, but not including any business sign, such as a "sale" sign at a store.
A sign that is displayed for no more than three months in any year, unless stated otherwise in this chapter.
A sign attached to or painted on the wall of a building.
An exhibit behind a window that is intended to draw attention to a product, service, business, or cause.
§ 420-1303 Outdoor sign specifications.
[Amended 4-7-2014 by Ord. No. 406]
A.
Sign area and height. The following guidelines shall apply when interpreting area and height regulations of signs in this article:
(1)
Area. The area of a sign shall be the area of the smallest geometric shape that will encompass all elements of the sign, such as letters, figures, symbols, designs, or other display.
(a)
When the sign is a separate unit, the area shall include any borders, framing, trim, decorative attachments, background, and space between elements; it shall not include any supporting structure unless that structure is illuminated, is in the form of a symbol, or contains advertising elements.
(b)
When the sign is applied to a wall or otherwise has no definable edges, the area shall include all color, artwork, or other means used to differentiate the sign from the surface upon which it is placed.
(c)
When a single sign structure has more than one face with the same message, and no two sign faces are more than three feet apart at any point, the area shall be computed by determining the greatest total area of all sign faces visible from any single location.
(2)
Height. The height of a sign shall be measured from the average ground level beneath the sign to the highest point of the sign. The ground level shall be the lower of the ground level existing at the time of construction or the ground level existing prior to construction and prior to any earth disturbance at the site. This prior ground level may be established by any reliable source, including, without limitation, existing topographic maps, aerial photographs, photographs of the site, or affidavits of people who are personally familiar with the site. No person(s) shall artificially increase the maximum height of a sign by altering the grade at the base of the sign by any means.
(a)
No sign shall be higher than the height limitation of the district in which it is located.
(b)
The height of freestanding signs shall be controlled by the regulations in Tables 1 and 2.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Tables 1 and 1 are included as attachments to this chapter.
(c)
Wall signs may be at any height on the wall to which they are attached, except that they may not extend higher than the top of the wall.
(d)
Roof signs may extend no more than five feet above the lowest point where they are attached to the building and may not extend above the highest point of the roof.
B.
General regulations. The following regulations shall apply to all signs, in addition to the specific regulations contained in the following provisions of this section. Where the general regulations are contradicted by a specific regulation, the specific regulation shall control:
(1)
All signs shall reflect the general character of the neighborhood.
(2)
All signs shall be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and secured in a safe manner.
(3)
When a sign becomes unsafe, the Zoning Officer shall give written notice to the owner of the premises on which the sign is located that the sign must be made safe or removed immediately.
(4)
The areas surrounding all signs shall be maintained in a neat, clean, and attractive condition.
(5)
All signs shall be removed within three months if the purpose for which they were erected no longer exists.
(6)
Each property that displays one or more permanent freestanding signs and that is in an area where street addresses have been assigned, must prominently display the address on one permanent freestanding sign visible from the street. The address must include the street number; the street name is optional. The address must be of a size and design that is easily identifiable and legible from moving traffic in the street at a distance of 100 feet (three-inch-high lettering/numerals with a three-quarter-inch stroke). The area taken up by the address does not count as part of the sign area. Center signs are exempt from this requirement.
(7)
No temporary signs shall be permitted except as authorized elsewhere in this section.
(8)
No sign shall be located within a street right-of-way except a government sign or a sidewalk sign on a pedestrian walkway in a business district.
(9)
No sign within the clear sight triangle should obstruct vision between the heights of 30 inches and eight feet above the elevation of the center line of the street.
(10)
No signs shall be painted, pasted, nailed, stapled or otherwise attached to utility poles, trees, fences, fire hydrants, or in an unauthorized manner to walls or other signs, except insofar as such signs comply with generally applicable rules, regulations or policies formally adopted by the Borough Council.
(11)
No freestanding sign shall be permitted within a floodplain.
(12)
No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any door, stairway, window, fire escape, or other means of ingress and egress.
(13)
No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct building ventilation or light.
(14)
No overhead sign shall have a clearance of less than eight feet between any pedestrian walk and the lowest part of the sign; and less than 17 feet six inches between any roadway and the lowest part of the sign.
(15)
No sign that is parallel to and attached to the face of a building shall project more than 18 inches over a public sidewalk.
(16)
No sign that is perpendicular to and attached to the face of a building shall project more than 48 inches from the building.
(17)
No sign shall have lights or other illuminating devices that constitute a public safety or traffic hazard.
(18)
No sign shall be permitted that imitates, or that might be confused with, an official traffic sign or signal, such as by containing the words "Stop" or "Danger," or by including red, green or yellow lights.
(19)
No sign or window display shall include a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling an emergency vehicle or facility.
(20)
No sign shall advertise activities or products that are illegal under federal, state or township laws or regulations.
(21)
No sign shall include statements, words, or pictures that are considered to be vulgar, obscene, or pornographic.
(22)
No streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, balloons or similar materials shall be displayed outside a building. (See "Special Event Sign" in Table 2[2] for regulations that apply to banners used as special event signs.)
[2]
Editor's Note: Table 2 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(23)
In addition to any other signage permitted by this section, each mixed-use or commercial-zoned property may display one flag, not to exceed 20 square feet, with a company or corporate identification logo on premises on an approved, standard flag pole.
(24)
No animated, sequential, intermittent, flashing, rotating, or oscillating signs shall be permitted except dynamic display signs and electronic message center signs meeting all requirements of Subsections C and D below. Intermittent, sequential and flashing shall be defined as a copy change of less than 15 seconds.
(25)
No sign shall emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound or odor.
(26)
No sign shall be placed on an automobile, truck, or other vehicle if that vehicle is being used primarily for displaying such sign.
(27)
No permanent inflatable signs shall be permitted.
(28)
No open flames shall be permitted as part of a sign or in any other way to attract attention.
(29)
Advertising painted upon or displayed upon a barn or other structure shall be considered a sign and shall comply with the regulations of this section.
(30)
Any sign that has been authenticated as historically significant and accurate for its specific location, whether original or a replica, may be exempted from the regulations of this section.
(31)
Signs may be interior-lighted with nonglaring lights; signs may be externally lighted by shielded fixtures that provide downward lighting so there is no direct light transmitted to other properties, public rights-of-way or the night sky.
(32)
The light from any illuminated sign shall not adversely affect the safe vision of operators of vehicles moving on public or private streets or parking areas; any residential district; or any part of a building or property used for residential purposes.
(33)
No lighting shall be permitted to outline buildings or structures or parts thereof through the use of exposed neon tubing, strings of lights, or other means, with the exception of customary holiday decorations, which may be installed 30 days prior to, and removed not later than 21 days after, the holiday.
(34)
Business signs in other than commercial and industrial zones shall not be illuminated when the business is closed.
(35)
All electrically illuminated signs shall be constructed to the standards/listing of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and the latest edition of the National Electric Code.
C.
Regulations for dynamic display signs. Dynamic display signs shall be permitted by special exception only in the Highway Commercial District (C-2), subject to the following conditions, as well as all other applicable requirements:
(1)
Dynamic display signs shall be located no closer than 300 feet to any existing residential zoning district.
(2)
All dynamic display signs shall be set back a minimum of 35 feet from a street right-of-way.
(3)
Only one dynamic display sign shall be permitted per lot and shall not be located any closer than 200 feet to any other dynamic display sign on an adjacent property. A dynamic display sign which is not a billboard shall be counted toward the maximum number and square footage of signs for the lot as established in Table 1.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Table 1 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(4)
Dynamic display signs shall be permitted to change, alter, or move images at a minimum of a ten-second interval.
(5)
The images that are portrayed on the sign must be static, and the change to another static image must be instantaneous without any special effects. The images that are portrayed shall be complete in it themselves without continuation of content to the next image, display or to another sign.
(6)
All dynamic display signs shall be erected with a light detector or photocell by which the sign's brightness can be dimmed when ambient light conditions darken. In no case shall a dynamic display sign cause objectionable glare to motorists, bicyclists and other pedestrian travel along any roadway, pathway, or driveway. A lighting diagram or other documentation acceptable to the Zoning Hearing Board shall be submitted with the application to demonstrate compliance with the lighting regulations of this chapter. In the event the light emits more illumination onto adjoining properties than what is permitted by this chapter, illumination levels or the sign location shall be adjusted accordingly.
(7)
If the sign malfunctions as to create a violation of any of these regulations, as determined by the Zoning Officer, the sign shall be turned off immediately and kept off until the sign can be repaired to be in full compliance with the above-mentioned regulations.
(8)
An applicant proposing a dynamic display sign shall be required to obtain a sign permit and a Uniform Construction Code permit, in the event an approval is given to its application.
(9)
Any billboard which is a dynamic display sign or which contains dynamic display components shall, in addition to the requirements of this § 420-1303C, meet all requirements of Table 1 for billboards.[4] Where there is a conflict between this § 420-1303C and Table 1, the more stringent regulation shall apply.
[4]
Editor's Note: Table 1 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
D.
Electronic message center signs. Electronic message center signs shall be permitted only in the Commercial District (C-1) and the Highway Commercial District (C-2), subject to the following conditions, as well as all other applicable requirements:
(1)
One electronic message center sign is permitted per lot; the message board shall not exceed 20 square feet and must be located below the name of the business or center, and must be part of the freestanding business or center sign. The area of the electronic message center sign shall be deducted from the total permissible area of freestanding signage on the subject lot.
(2)
The text portrayed on the message center portion of the sign shall be of one color and shall be displayed on a black, unlit background.
(3)
No more than four lines of text shall be displayed at one time.