Richmond Township Tioga County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 11
SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS
§ 27-1101 Short Title.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 1.02]
This Part shall be known as the "Sign Ordinance of Richmond Township."
§ 27-1102 General Intent.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 1.03]
The sign regulations, controls and provisions set forth in this Part are made in accordance with an overall plan and program for the public safety, area development, preservation of property values, and the general welfare of Richmond Township, and are intended to: aid in traffic control and traffic safety; preserve and protect values; lessen congestion of land and air space; provide against undue concentrations of signs; establish reasonable standards for commercial and other advertising through the use of signs in order to maintain and encourage business activity and area development; recognize the rights of the public in roads, streets, and highways and the areas adjacent to those roads, streets, and highways; preserve the wholesome and attractive character of the Township, and to recognize that the general welfare includes a community plan that shall be beautiful as well as healthy, spacious as well as clean, and well balanced in its growth and development.
§ 27-1111 Definitions.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 2.01]
The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meaning given in this section:
The area occupied by a business or other public enterprise. When more than one business occupies a single building on the ground floor, each business area shall be considered a separate premise. Businesses or other public enterprises which occupy other floors shall be considered separate premises.
A cohesive unit of stores or other commercial businesses arranged and constructed according to a plan and contained within a single parcel of land.
A sign is any structure, device, light or natural object, including the ground itself or any part thereof, or any device attached thereto, or painted or represented thereon, which shall be used to identify, advertise, or attract attention to any object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, firm, group, commodity, profession, enterprise, industry or business, or which shall display or include any letter, word, model, number, banner, flag, pennant, insignia, device or representation used as an announcement, direction, or advertisement, and which is intended to be seen from off the premises or from a parking lot. The word "sign" shall include signs which are affixed to the inside of windows and glass doors and are intended to be seen from roadways or parking lots. No other indoor sign shall be deemed a sign within this Part.
A detached sign supported by one or more permanent uprights, poles or braces embedded in the ground or attached to masonry foundations embedded in the ground. |
A sign that provides artificial light directly, or through any transparent or translucent material, from a source of light connected with such sign, or a sign illuminated by a light focused upon or chiefly directed at the surface of the sign. |
Any sign which is not a temporary sign. |
A sign which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building. |
A sign not attached to any portion of a building or ground support, and intended for a limited period of display. Does not include window displays of merchandise or advertising related thereto of a temporary nature. |
A sign which is attached directly or painted upon a building wall, and which does not extend more than 18 inches therefrom nor extend above the roof line, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the building wall. |
A sign erected and maintained upon or above the roof of a building. |
A permanent sign maintained in or painted upon a window. Does not include window displays of merchandise or advertising related thereto of a temporary nature. |
A permanent structure detached from the principal building and located in the front yard area in which is displayed the name of a religious institution, hospital, school, nursing home, home for the elderly, library, art center, or similar institution. May include the announcement of services or activities. |
Sign area is the area of the smallest triangle, rectangle, circle, or other geometric figure which can wholly enclose the surface area of the sign. All visible faces of a multi-faced sign shall be counted separately and then totaled in calculating sign area.
§ 27-1115 General Regulations on Signs in All Districts.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 3.01]
The following regulations shall be observed in all zoning districts within the Township.
§ 27-1116 Signs Permitted in All Districts.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 3.02]
1.
Signs listed in this section are permitted in the Township and shall not require permits or licenses and they shall not be counted when calculating the number of signs on a premises. However, such signs shall conform with the general regulations for signs enumerated in the remainder of this Part.
A.
Name and address of resident, but not to include any commercial advertising, of not more than one square foot in sign area.
B.
Home occupation signs limited in content to the name of the owner and the service provided and not exceeding 16 square feet in sign area.
C.
"No trespassing" signs or other such signs regulating the use of a property such as "no hunting," "no fishing," etc., of no more than one square foot in sign area in residential zones and four square feet in all commercial and industrial zones.
D.
Real estate signs not exceeding eight square feet in sign area in residential zones and 16 square feet in all commercial and industrial zones, which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which said signs are located. Such real estate signs shall be removed within 30 days after the premises advertised have been sold, rented, or leased.
E.
Institutional signs for public, charitable, or religious institutions when located on the premises thereof, with a sign area of no more than 16 square feet if single-faced nor 32 square feet if double-faced, and used exclusively for noncommercial purposes.
F.
Signs regulating on-premises traffic, parking, or other functional subdivision such as lavatory facilities, telephone, signs denoting other sections of a building such as lubrication, office, etc., when less than two square feet in sign area and bearing no commercial advertising.
G.
Signs erected by a governmental body, or under the direction of such a body, and bearing no commercial advertising, such as traffic signs, railroad crossing signs, safety signs, signs identifying public schools and playgrounds, and the like.
H.
Memorial signs or tablets and signs denoting the date of erection of buildings if not more than one square foot in sign area. (Size limitation does not apply to tombstones or memorial plaques located in cemeteries.)
I.
The flag, pennant, or insignia of any government, or of any religious, charitable or fraternal organization.
J.
Temporary signs no larger than 16 square feet in sign area advertising the sale of edible farm products produced on the premises, or advertising auctions and special events of charitable or public service groups.
K.
Permanent residential development signs at major entrances designed to identify a residential subdivision and containing no commercial advertising. Maximum sign area: 16 square feet.
L.
Signs identifying a golf course or country club, or other recreational facility when located on the premises thereof and containing no commercial advertising if no more than 32 square feet in sign area.
§ 27-1117 Signs Prohibited in Richmond Township.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 3.03]
1.
The following signs shall not be permitted, erected, or maintained in the Township, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Part or elsewhere. Existing signs shall be removed or brought into conformity with the provisions of this Part within 90 days after the Part is passed.
A.
Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving illumination or with illumination which varies in intensity or which varies in color and signs which have any visible moving part, visible revolving parts, or visible mechanical movement of any description, or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical pulsations or by actions of normal wind currents. Hanging signs which simply swing in the winds, clocks and temperature signs and barber poles may be exempted provided they comply with all other provisions of this Part.
B.
Light sources which cast light on signs shall be shielded by opaque material so that the bulbs, floodlights or tubes are not visible off the property on which the signs are located.
C.
Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety or health.
D.
Any sign which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination obstructs the vision of drivers or obstructs or detracts from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads.
E.
Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required exit way.
F.
Signs which make use of words such as "Stop," "Look," "One-Way," "Danger," "Yield," or any similar words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters, in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
G.
Any obsolete sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold. In any case, 90 days shall be allowed for removal of an obsolete sign.
H.
Signs on public property or public rights-of-way unless erected by a governmental body or unless required to be so located by order of a governmental body. No sign located on public property or a public right-of-way shall bear any commercial advertising or announcement.
I.
Signs painted on, attached to or supported by a tree, stone, cliff or other natural object.
J.
String lights, other than temporary holiday decorations, which are unshielded from off the property on which they are located.
K.
Searchlights, pennants, spinners, banners, streamers, and other forms of outdoor advertising not specifically mentioned in this Part except for occasions such as grand openings and community affairs and then only with special permission of the Zoning Officer. Use shall be limited to a thirty-day period.
§ 27-1118 Limit on Number of Signs per Premises.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 3.04]
Notwithstanding anything else in this Part or elsewhere, no more than four signs may be erected or maintained on any premises at any one time; except that when a premise is located on a corner lot and has public entrances on two or more public ways, or where a building has both a front and rear public entrance, one additional sign may be erected. In calculating the total number of signs on a premises, both permanent and temporary signs shall be combined in the total. A double-faced sign shall count as a single sign. Signs enumerated in § 27-302 of this Part shall not be counted in calculating the total.
§ 27-1119 Limit on Height of Signs.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 3.05]
No sign, or any part thereof, including braces, supports, or lights shall exceed a height of 25 feet. Height shall be measured from grade level directly below the face of the sign to the highest part of the sign.
§ 27-1120 Limit on Sign Area.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 3.06; as amended by Ord. 1-93, 1/4/1993]
1.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Part or elsewhere, the total sign area per premises, except in commercial and manufacturing zones, including both permanent and temporary signs, shall not exceed one square foot per lineal front foot of the main building on the premises, except that no premises shall be limited to less than 10 square feet of total sign area, In no case shall the total sign area of all signs on one premises exceed 80 square feet, except that shopping centers in planned commercial districts may have one additional shopping identification sign located along each street frontage used as an entrance. Such sign shall be subject to the requirements of § 27-403.
2.
The gross surface area of a ground sign or wall sign in the commercial and manufacturing zones shall not exceed 288 square feet for each proposed face. The surface of the entire structure shall not exceed more than 288 square feet. All other sections of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect.
3.
A special exception shall be allowed for ground pole signs containing two back-to-back surfaces which are attached to the same pole. The aggregate gross surface of both faces shall not exceed a total of 576 square feet. But, in any case, no individual face shall exceed a total aggregate area of 288 square feet.
§ 27-1121 Limit on the Content of the Largest Sign on a Property.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 3.07]
The largest sign on a premises shall not advertise any particular article of merchandise unless it is the principal product sold or manufactured on the premises.
§ 27-1122 Signs Identifying Businesses or Other Public Enterprises Which Occupy Space Other Than on the Ground Floor of a Building or Structure.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 3.08]
Notwithstanding anything else in this Part or elsewhere, signs identifying businesses or other public enterprises which occupy space other than on the ground floor of a building or structure shall be limited to one flush mounted wall sign located adjacent to the street entrance to such areas and one window sign located on the premises. The size of each such wall sign and window sign shall not exceed three square feet in sign area.
§ 27-1123 Safety and Maintenance.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 3.09]
1.
Every sign and all parts thereof, including framework, supports, background, anchors, and wiring systems shall be constructed and maintained in compliance with the building, electrical, and fire prevention codes as they now exist or as they may hereafter exist. In the absence of an electrical ordinance, the National Electrical Code shall be used as the standard for all wiring systems.
2.
All signs and all parts thereof shall be kept in a good state of repair and maintenance.
§ 27-1131 Projecting Signs.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 4.01]
1.
In addition to the general provisions of this Part, the following regulations shall apply to all projecting signs.
A.
Projecting signs are prohibited in AR Zones.
B.
No projecting sign shall project more than six feet beyond the building line in the direction of the street, nor shall any portion of any projecting sign be closer than two feet to the face of the right-of-way line.
C.
No portion of any projecting sign shall be less than 10 feet above grade level.
D.
No single face of a projecting sign shall exceed 16 square feet in sign area.
E.
No projecting sign shall have a vertical dimension greater than 10 feet.
F.
There shall be no more than one projecting sign for any premises unless the premises is located on a corner lot or has public entrances on two or more public ways, in which case one projecting sign may be erected for and toward each public way.
§ 27-1132 Wall Signs.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 4.02]
1.
In addition to the general provisions of this Part, the following regulations shall apply to all wall signs:
A.
Wall signs are prohibited in AR zones except signs flush mounted to the wall of a building or structure and four square feet or less in sign area.
B.
No wall sign shall extend above the top of the wall upon which it is placed.
C.
No wall sign, or any part thereof, shall project more than 18 inches from the wall upon which it is mounted.
D.
No wall sign shall extend beyond the left and right extremities of the wall to which it is attached.
E.
No wall sign, or any portion thereof, which projects from the building or structure upon which it is mounted, shall be less than 10 feet above grade level.
§ 27-1133 Ground-Pole Signs.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 4.03]
In addition to the general provisions of this Part, the following regulations shall apply to all ground-pole signs. Ground-pole signs are prohibited in AR zones except that such signs may be permitted in the AR zone to identify those businesses which are primarily oriented toward serving the traveling public, for example, motor vehicle service stations and centers, hotels, motels, shopping centers and restaurants and when such sign is along a primary highway.
§ 27-1134 Roof Signs.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 4.04]
1.
In addition to the general provisions of this Part, the following regulations shall apply to all roof signs:
A.
Roof signs are prohibited in AR zones.
B.
No more than one roof sign may be erected or maintained on a single premises.
C.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Part or elsewhere, roof signs shall be limited in height to one foot for each five feet of building height as measured to that portion of the roof directly below the face of the sign. Further, the height of the sign shall be measured from the roof directly below the sign to the highest portion thereof.
§ 27-1135 Directional Signs.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 4.05]
1.
In addition to the general provisions of this Part, the following regulations shall apply to all directional signs:
A.
Directional signs may be erected along major roadways to direct vehicles or pedestrians to premises in locations far removed from or not easily seen from major roadways. Such signs shall be reviewed by the Township Planning Commission prior to the issuance of a sign permit by the Zoning Officer.
B.
Directional signs shall be ground-pole signs with a maximum area of 10 square feet on a single-faced or 20 square feet on a double-faced sign.
C.
The content of directional signs shall be limited to the name of the establishment and direction and distance information.
§ 27-1136 Real Estate Development Signs.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 4.06]
1.
In addition to the general provisions of this Part, the following regulations shall apply to all real estate development signs:
A.
The use of real estate development signs shall be limited to those developers or owners having for sale a minimum of six lots in one subdivision.
B.
Such signs must be located on the premises which are for sale.
C.
Such signs may advertise only the subdivision in which the sign is located and not the sale of lots elsewhere, or the realtor's, developer's or landowner's business in general. The content of such signs shall be limited to the name of the development, the developer's name, and the telephone number of the developer or his sales agent.
D.
Such signs shall conform to relevant setback line requirements.
E.
The maximum sign area of any such single-faced sign shall be 25 square feet, and for any such double-faced sign, 50 feet. No part of such sign shall be more than 10 feet above grade or in excess of 10 feet in any dimension.
F.
Artificial illumination of such signs is prohibited.
§ 27-1137 Shopping Center Signs.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 407]
1.
In addition to the general provisions of this Part, the following regulations shall apply to shopping centers:
§ 27-1141 Special Restrictions.
§ 27-1142 Intent to Allow for Special Exception.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 7.01]
The intent of this Part is to allow certain provisions of this chapter to be modified where such modifications will encourage excellence in the planning and design of signs and to advance the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan of Richmond Township. Nothing in this Part, however, is intended to permit the erection or maintenance of signs which are prohibited in § 27-303.
§ 27-1143 Procedure for Applying for Special Exception.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 7.02; as amended by Ord. 91-4, 9/3/1991]
1.
In the event that any owner or lessor wishes to erect, alter or maintain a sign other than as permitted in this chapter, the following procedure shall be adhered to:
A.
No request for a special exception shall be considered until the Zoning Officer has determined, in accordance with Part 6 hereof, that the sign is or will be, if erected as provided in the permit application, in violation of this chapter.
B.
After such determination is made and the owner or lessor desires to appeal the Zoning Officer's finding, such owner or lessor may apply, in writing, for a special exception. Such application shall be directed to the Zoning Hearing Board of Richmond Township and mailed to the Zoning Officer.
C.
Upon receiving the application for a special exception, the Zoning Officer shall forward such application, together with copies of all data, documents, and correspondence in the possession of the Zoning Officer relative to the matter, to the Zoning Hearing Board and notify the Planning Commission.
F.
If the request for a special exception is approved, the Zoning Officer shall, after 30 days, issue the permit or license initially requested. However, if the request for a special exception is denied and the sign in question is an existing sign erected prior to the enactment of this chapter or a new sign erected in violation of this chapter, the owner or lessor shall have 90 days in which to remove the sign. If the owner or lessor fails to remove the sign within the time period provided, the Zoning Officer shall then cause the sign to be removed immediately. The cost of such removal shall be borne by the owner or lessor of such sign or shall be a lien on the property upon which the sign is located.
§ 27-1151 Zoning Officer.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 6.01]
1.
The appointed Zoning Officer shall enforce the provisions of this Part.
2.
The Zoning Officer shall examine all applications for permits for erection of signs and issue licenses for new signs or for continued use of existing signs as hereinafter provided. He shall record and file all applications together with any accompanying plans and documents for permits, licenses issued, and make an annual inspection of all signs in the Township. In addition, he shall make such reports as the Supervisors may require.
3.
If the Zoning Officer shall find that any sign has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this Part, he shall promptly notify the owner or lessor thereof in writing and shall indicate in his letter the provision or provisions of this Part which are violated. If the owner or lessor fails to remove or alter such sign so as to comply with the provisions of this Part or fails to make application for a special exception as hereinafter provided within 90 days, the Zoning Officer shall cause such sign to be removed. The cost of such removal shall be borne by the owner or lessor of such sign or shall be a lien on the property upon which such sign is located.
4.
The Zoning Officer shall cause any sign which is in immediate peril to persons or property to be removed immediately. The cost of such removal shall be borne by the owner or lessor of such sign or shall be a lien on the property upon which such sign is located.
§ 27-1152 Permits for Erecting, Altering, or Moving Permanent Signs.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 6.02; as amended by Ord. 91-4, 9/3/1991]
1.
A permit is required to erect, alter, or move any permanent sign.
2.
Application for a permit to erect, alter or move a permanent sign shall be made on a form provided by the Zoning Officer. The application shall contain or have attached thereto the following:
A.
Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant.
B.
A map drawn to scale showing the location of the building, structure, or lot upon which the sign is to be attached or erected; the position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings and thoroughfares; the position of other signs on the premises; and the size and dimensions of each other sign.
C.
A plan drawn to scale showing design of the sign, materials to be used, method of construction, and means of attachment to the building or ground.
D.
Name of person, firm, corporation or contractor erecting, altering or moving said sign.
E.
Any other information the Zoning Officer may require in order to show full compliance with this and all other applicable ordinances of the Township.
3.
After determining that the application is in order and that the sign to be erected, altered or moved will be in full compliance with this and all other applicable ordinances of the Township, the Zoning Officer shall issue a permit authorizing the work to be performed. Such permit must be kept on the premises where the sign is to be displayed and must be shown to the Zoning Officer at his request. Permits are valid for 180 days following the date issued.
4.
After such permit has been issued and said sign has been erected, altered or moved as specified in the permit application, the owner or lessor of the sign shall notify the Zoning Officer, who shall inspect the sign. If the completed sign is as specified in the permit application and does not violate any provisions of this and any other applicable ordinance of the Township, the Zoning Officer shall issue a license for such sign to the owner or lessor of such sign as hereinafter provided.
5.
Every applicant, before being granted a permit hereunder, shall pay to the Zoning Officer by check payable to the Township a fee for each such permit. The amount payable shall be determined by the size of the sign to be erected, altered, or moved in accordance with the fees, as established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. No permit shall be granted for a sign in excess of 80 square feet in sign area unless a special exception, as hereinafter provided, shall have been granted for such sign.
6.
If the Zoning Officer finds that the sign to be erected, altered, or moved will be in violation of this chapter, he shall notify the applicant in writing of his findings and shall indicate in his letter the provision or provisions of this chapter which would be violated. The applicant may then either withdraw his application, modify the plan so as to remove the potential violation, or request that a special exception be granted as hereinafter provided.
§ 27-1153 Licenses.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, § 6.03; as amended by Ord. 91-4, 9/3/1991]
1.
General.
B.
Licenses may be issued only after sign has been erected and approved by the Zoning Officer as being in full compliance with the provisions of this and all other applicable ordinances of the Township.
C.
Licenses must be kept on the premises where the sign is displayed and must be shown to the Zoning Officer at his request.
D.
Licenses for permanent signs shall be valid until such time as the sign is found to be in violation of this Part.
E.
Licenses for temporary signs shall be valid only for the calendar year in which they are issued and must be renewed on or before January 10 of each year thereafter until such time as the sign is removed.
F.
Application for a license shall be made on a form provided by the Zoning Officer.
2.
Licenses for Existing Permanent Signs. All owners or lessors of permanent signs in existence on the date of enactment of this chapter shall make application for a license within 90 days of said date. The Zoning Officer shall, within 10 days after receiving said application, inspect the sign for which the application is filed. If the sign is found to be safe and in good repair and does not violate any of the provisions of this Part, a license shall be issued. If the sign is found to be in violation of the provisions of this Part, a license shall be issued except that said license must be renewed annually until the violation is corrected or until a special exception is granted, as hereinafter provided, at which time such sign shall be considered a new sign. Nothing herein contained is intended to exempt any sign from the provisions of § 27-1118 of this Part.
4.
Licenses for Temporary Signs.
A.
All temporary signs as defined in this Part, except those signs enumerated in § 27-1117, must be licensed. Possession of a valid license for a temporary sign shall entitle the owner or lessor to display that sign only, and if more than one temporary sign is to be displayed, a license is required for each. If a temporary sign is removed or its use discontinued, the license for that sign is terminated.
B.
The size, content, or location of a temporary sign may be changed at any time so long as its location remains on the premises and the changes do not violate any of the provisions of this Part.
5.
License Fees.
A.
Permanent Signs. Every applicant, before being issued a license hereunder, shall pay to the Zoning Officer by check payable to the Township a fee for each such license. The amount payable shall be determined by the size of the sign area in accordance with the fee schedule established, from time to time, by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
B.
Temporary Signs. Every applicant, before being issued a license for a temporary sign, shall pay to the Zoning Officer by check payable to the Township a fee as established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
§ 27-1154 Penalties for Violations.
[Ord. 9/2/1986, Art. VIII]
Violations of this Part shall be considered as violations of this chapter and the penalties for violations shall be the same.