Promote and maintain overall community beautification.

Establish reasonable time, place and manner regulations on the exercise of free speech.

Promote traffic safety.

Promote the most appropriate uses of the land.

A sign permit is required for any permanent sign exceeding two square feet in area not excepted by subsection (2)(B).

A sign permit is not required for

Each sign shall comply with the standards of this Chapter, whether or not a sign permit is required.

Any sign specifically authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania laws or regulations.

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 the sign ordinance when the total area of all such signs does not exceed two square feet.

Signs not exceeding two square feet in area and bearing only street numbers, post box numbers or names of the principal occupants of the premises.

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.

Signs required to be maintained or posted by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, unless specifically prohibited, limited or restricted.

Flags or emblems of political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations.

Traffic control and guidance signs, erected and maintained in the interest of public safety or for the regulation of traffic.

Labels identifying the source, brand name or manufacturer of merchandise exhibited for sale.

Signs indicating only the date of erection of a building and having an area not exceeding four square feet.

Any of the following signage, if approved by the Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission pursuant to the Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional Wayfinding Signage Program, shall be exempted from the provisions of §§ 27-602 through 27-606: primary and secondary regional gateway signs, Borough gateway signs, and wayfinding guide signs and identification signs inside the Borough. All wayfinding signage shall satisfy the requirements set forth in § 27-613 of this Part.

Signs not exceeding 3.5 square feet in area and bearing the names of the principal occupants of a premises providing governmental services, names of elected officials occupying legislative offices and other state, local and county governmental services or offices shall be permitted to be affixed upon the door of the premises being occupied.

Signs existing at the date of enactment of this Chapter and which do not conform to the requirements of the Chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs.

Once a nonconforming sign is destroyed or removed, it may be replaced only with a conforming sign.

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 also be changed.

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 6.1, except as otherwise provided for in this Section.

Planned Developments.

Temporary Signs. A temporary, on-premises sign may generally be permitted on a lot, providing it is removed within seven days after it is no longer needed, as follows:

Special Events Temporary Signs. A sign permit shall be provided for the following special events temporary signs:

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.

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:

Nonilluminated signs in the RR Zoning District for directing patrons, members or audiences to service clubs, churches or other nonprofit organizations; provided, the signs shall indicate only the name of the facility and the direction to the facility and shall not exceed six square feet in area.

Off-premises directional signs for governmental services, governmental buildings, legislative offices and other state, local and county governmental services or offices shall be permitted in any zoning district, provided that the number of directional signs does not exceed one directional sign for each individual facility or legislative office, and further provided that the property owner has granted written permission in the form of a letter, lease or other memorandum acceptable to the Borough Solicitor and Borough Council. The total square footage of any such off-premises sign shall not exceed two square feet in the aggregate per governmental service. The aforesaid off-premises signage shall not be included in calculating the sum total of maximum permitted square footage of signage permitted for the property owner or occupant of the property where the off-premises sign is located. Such off-premises signage may be illuminated only in accordance with the regulations of the district in which it is located. The provisions of §§ 27-404, Subsection 3, and 27-604, Subsection 3, shall not be applicable to off-premises directional signs in this subsection, provided that signs are mounted five feet or more above grade on a single post not exceeding three inches by three inches or three inches in diameter.

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.

All signs shall comply with the provisions of § 27-404, Subsection 3.

Location. The location of illuminated signs shall be regulated as follows as illustrated in the following table:

Light sources to illuminate signs shall neither be visible from any street right-of-way nor cause glare hazardous or distracting to pedestrians, vehicle drivers, or adjacent properties.

No more than 0.2 footcandle of light shall be detectable at the boundary of any abutting property.

Hours of operation.

Brightness.

Message duration. The length of time each message may be displayed on a message center sign, digital display, or Tri-Vision Board sign is based upon the visibility and speed limit unique to individual signs and adjacent road conditions. The following method should be used to calculate minimum required message duration for message center signs, digital displays, or Tri-Vision Board signs:

External. Externally illuminated signs, where permitted, are subject to the following regulations:

Internal. Internally illuminated signs, where permitted, are subject to the following regulations:

Sign Type. Message center signs are permitted in the form of freestanding, monument, and wall signs, both on premises and off premises, in accordance with all regulations established in § 27-604.

Height. A message center sign shall have the same height limits as other permitted signs of the same type and location.

Area. Message center signs shall not exceed 50% of the sign area for any one sign and shall not exceed more than 30% of the total area for all signs permitted on a property.

Maximum Number. Where permitted, one message center sign is permitted per street frontage, up to a maximum of two message center signs per property.

Message Display.

Conversion of a permitted non-message center sign to a message center sign requires the issuance of a permit pursuant to § 27-601, Subsection 2.

The addition of any message center sign to a nonconforming sign is prohibited.

Public Service Announcements. The owner of every message center sign shall coordinate with the local authorities to display, when appropriate, emergency information important to the traveling public, including, but not limited to, Amber Alerts or alerts concerning terrorist attacks or natural disasters. Emergency information messages shall remain in the advertising rotation according to the protocols of the agency that issues the information.

Off Premises. Off-premises message center signs are strictly prohibited.

Sign Type. Digital displays are permitted on premises in the form of freestanding, monument, and wall signs in accordance with the regulations established in § 27-604.

Height. A digital display shall have the same height limits as for other permitted signs of the same type and location.

Area. When used as an on-premises sign, digital displays shall not exceed more than 30% of the total sign area permitted on the site.

Maximum Number per Property. Where permitted, one digital display sign is permitted per property.

Message Display.

Conversion of a permitted non-digital sign to a digital sign requires the issuance of a permit pursuant to § 27-601, Subsection 2.

The addition of any digital display to a nonconforming sign is prohibited.

Public Service Announcements. The owner of every digital sign shall coordinate with the local authorities to display, when appropriate, emergency information important to the traveling public, including, but not limited to, Amber Alerts or alerts concerning terrorist attacks or natural disasters. Emergency information messages shall remain in the advertising rotation according to the protocols of the agency that issues the information.

Off Premises. Off-premises digital display signs are strictly prohibited.

Permits for illuminated signs will not be issued without an approved electrical permit, if required. Applications for electrical permits shall be filed at the same time as the sign permit application.

All work shall be completed in full compliance with all applicable electrical codes.

The electrical supply to all exterior signs, whether to the sign itself or to lighting fixtures positioned to illuminate the sign, shall be provided by means of concealed electrical cables. Electrical supply to freestanding signs shall be provided by means of underground cables.

The owner of any illuminated sign shall arrange for a certification showing compliance with the brightness standards set forth herein by an independent contractor and provide the certification documentation to Red Hill Borough as a condition precedent to the issuance of a sign permit.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation ("PennDOT") is the agency charged with granting permits for the placement of overhead signs and banners across state highways. PennDOT policies require that local municipalities adopt a resolution authorizing such sign and banner placements in order to eliminate the requirement for individual permits issued by PennDOT.

PennDOT requires that, as between PennDOT and the Borough, the Borough assume full responsibility for erecting, maintaining and removing such signs or banners and assume all liability for damages occurring to any person or property arising from any act or omission associated with erecting such signs or banners.

Location. The Borough will permit one banner to be displayed between permanent wooden poles at one of the following locations: (i) across Main Street at its intersection with 4th Street; (ii) across Main Street at its intersection with 5th Street; or (iii) across Main Street between 9th Street and 11th Street.

Eligibility. Potential sponsoring organizations should represent a national, state, regional or local political subdivision or agency or a nonprofit, cultural or civic organization recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and should promote a nonprofit or cultural civic event or activity of particular interest or benefit to residents of Red Hill Borough.

Specifications. Banners shall be made of durable material resistant to ultraviolet rays, mold and mildew, and shall have two double-stitched reinforced hems and four brass grommets, one in each corner. Banners must be connected to poles with rope or wire placed through the upper and lower hems and must have wind slits. Banner size shall be a maximum of four feet in width and 30 feet in length. Vertical clearance above the center line of the roadway shall be a minimum of 17 feet and six inches.

Banner Content. Banners are not to be used for commercial advertising or to advertise or promote political candidates, parties or issues. However, a professional logo or name of a business or corporation, advertising a commercial product, enterprise, business or company may be included, provided that it occupies in space no more than 20% of the overall banner, regardless of whether such entity is sponsoring the activity or banner installation.

Duration of Display. Banners may be hung for a period not to exceed 21 days. The banner shall be removed within five days of the date the event for which the banner was displayed has ended. All banners shall be the responsibility of the sponsoring organization. The Borough shall not be responsible for storing banners.

Installation. The banner shall be installed and removed by a contractor selected and engaged by the sponsoring organization at the locations approved by and in accordance with specifications provided by the Borough. Banners are to be placed parallel with the ground, and banner placement shall in no way restrict the line of sight of motorists. A sponsoring organization shall furnish to the Borough Zoning Officer, at the time of application for a permit: (i) documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Borough evidencing that the sponsoring organization has received approval from PPL to use the PPL-owned poles for installation of the banner; and (ii) a certificate of insurance evidencing general liability insurance coverage for the contractor as provided in Subsection 4G, below, even if the sponsoring organization does not engage the Red Hill Borough Fire Company as contractor to perform the installation. Prior to installation, the sponsoring organization shall submit the banner to the Borough Zoning Officer for inspection to assure that its physical condition satisfies the requirements set forth in this Section. Furthermore, the sponsoring organization shall provide contact information for the contractor installing the banner, including the name and contact information of a person who will be responsible to address emergencies and can be contacted using the contact information provided on a twenty-four-hour-per-day, seven-days-per-week basis.

Insurance. The sponsoring organization wishing to have a banner installed must carry a general liability insurance policy in the amount of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate naming Red Hill Borough, the Red Hill Fire Company and their elected and appointed officials, officers, employees, volunteers, consultants and agents as additional insureds under the aforesaid liability insurance policy. The sponsoring organization shall provide a certificate of insurance evidencing such insurance coverage, which shall state that the insurance policy may not be amended, canceled or terminated without prior written notice to Red Hill Borough. The Red Hill Fire Company shall be an additional insured for the purpose of allowing the Red Hill Borough Fire Company to address emergencies related to overhead street banners when the contractor installing the banner cannot be successfully contact to address an emergency.

Banner Condition. The Borough Zoning Officer has the authority to refuse the placement of a banner that is in poor condition. In addition, the Borough Zoning Officer has the authority to order the immediate removal of a banner which has become frayed, ripped or unsightly, is in danger of becoming detached, or has fallen or otherwise become detached. In that event, the Borough may undertake or arrange for the prompt removal of the banner, and the sponsoring organization shall be required to promptly pay a removal fee, in an amount to be determined from time to time by the Borough Zoning Officer, together with all costs and expenses incurred by the Borough relating to such removal. The Borough shall not be responsible for theft of or damage to banners.

Traffic Control. Traffic control during installation and removal shall be consistent with the general provisions of 67 Pa. Code Chapter 212, Official Traffic Control Devices, and the national Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices as issued by the Federal Highway Administration, and be performed in accordance with the most current Department Publication No. 213. Copies of these materials are available for examination at the Borough Hall.

No banner shall be installed without first obtaining a permit issued by the Borough Zoning Officer.

Applications for a banner permit shall be submitted to the Borough Zoning Officer on a form supplied by the Borough at least 45 days prior to the desired installation date. Banner permits may be requested up to one year in advance of the desired installation date and will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.

All banner applications shall contain a sketch of the proposed banner(s), depicting banner content and dimensions.

The Zoning Officer shall determine if the application complies with the standards specified in this Section.

The Zoning Officer shall approve or deny the application within 30 days.

The Zoning Officer shall approve the permit if the application conforms with the standards contained in this Part and the requirements of Chapter 27, Part 6, of the Red Hill Borough Zoning Code.

The Zoning Officer shall deny the permit if the application does not conform to the standards in this Part and/or the requirements of Chapter 27, Part 6, of the Red Hill Borough Zoning Code. The applicant shall be given written notice of, and the reasons for, the denial.

The Zoning Officer shall impose an application fee to cover the processing cost of the banner permit and collect the fee at the time of application.

Upon the issuance of any permit pursuant to this Part, the Zoning Officer shall promptly forward a copy of the permit to the District Office of PennDOT.