Southampton Township Cumberland County, PA Zoning Ordinance

Front yards are required on all street frontages, and one yard other than the front yards shall be deemed to be a rear yard, and the other (or others) side yards.

No obstructions to vision exceeding 30 inches in height above pavement level (measured as average center line elevation) shall be erected or maintained within a seventy-five-foot clear sight triangle formed by the center line of intersecting streets.

In the case of lots which have frontage on more than one road or street, the rear lot line shall be opposite the lot line along which the lot takes access to a street.

Front yard setbacks.

No proposed dwelling need have a setback greater than the average of the two existing dwellings with the greatest setbacks located within 200 feet on each side of the said proposed dwelling, on the same side of the street, within the same block, and the same zoning district. However, in no event shall the front yard be less than 20 feet.

When a public street or private road upon which a lot abuts has a total right-of-way of less than 50 feet, the front yard setback and/or the width of the side yard abutting the public street or private road shall be measured from a line parallel to and not less than 25 feet from the center line of said public street or private road.

Projections into required yards.

Cornices, canopies, eaves, gutters, bay windows, balconies, fireplaces, chimneys or other architectural features may project into required front or rear yards a distance not exceeding 36 inches, and into side yards a distance not exceeding 18 inches.

Covered carports, patios and porches to be attached to an existing building or to be part of a new building, whether enclosed or not, shall be considered as an integral part of the main building and shall not project into any required yard setback. Uncovered decks and patios may project five feet into any side yard and 10 feet into any rear yard or front yard.

Uncovered stoops, landings, or stairs, and window wells and uncovered or unenclosed basement or cellar steps may project into required yard setbacks a distance not to exceed 42 inches.

Through lots. Where a lot extends through from street to street, the applicable front yard regulations shall apply on both street frontages. However, in the event of a complete system of through lots which are designed for reversed frontage, the front yard need only be along the more minor street of the subdivision.

Waiver of yards. No side yard or rear yard shall be required where such yard abuts an operating railroad right-of-way.

No land or building in any zoning district shall be developed, used or occupied in any manner so as to create any dangerous, injurious, noxious, or otherwise objectionable fire, explosive, or other hazard; noise, or vibration; smoke, dust, odor or other form of air pollution; heat, cold, dampness, electromagnetic or other substance, condition or element in such manner or in such amount as to adversely effect the reasonable use of the surrounding area or adjoining premises (referred to herein as "dangerous or objectionable elements"), provided that any use permitted or not expressly prohibited by this chapter may be undertaken and maintained if it conforms to the regulations of this section limiting dangerous and objectionable elements at the point of the determination of their existence.

Enforcement provisions applicable to other uses. Even though compliance with performance standards procedure in obtaining a building permit is not required for some particular uses, initial and continued compliance with the performance standards themselves is required of every use, and provisions for enforcement of continued compliance with performance standards shall be invoked by the Township against any use if there are reasonable grounds to believe that performance standards are being violated by such use.

Performance standard regulations.

Fire and explosion hazards. All activities involving, and all storage of, flammable and explosive materials shall be provided at any point with adequate safety devices against the hazard of fire and explosion and adequate firefighting and fire-suppression equipment and devices standard in the industry. Burning of waste materials in open fires shall be done with due consideration of safety. The relevant provisions of state and other local laws and regulations shall apply.

Vibration. No vibration shall be produced which is transmitted through the ground and is discernible without the aid of instruments at or beyond the lot line; nor shall any vibration produced exceed 0.002 g peak at up to 50 cps frequency, measured at or beyond the lot line using either seismic or electronic vibration-measuring equipment. Vibrations occurring at higher than 50 cps frequency or a periodic vibration shall not induce accelerations exceeding 0.001 g. Single impulse aperiodic vibrations occurring at an average interval greater than five minutes shall not induce accelerations exceeding 0.01 g.

Smoke.

No emission shall be permitted at any point from any chimney or otherwise, or visible gray smoke of a shade equal to or darker than No. 2 on the Power's Micro-Ringelmann Chart, published by McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, Inc. and copyright 1954 (being a direct facsimile reduction of the standard Ringelmann Chart as issued by the United States Bureau of Mines), except that visible gray smoke of a shade equal to No. 2 on said chart may be emitted for four minutes in any 30 minutes.

These provisions applicable to visible gray smoke shall also apply to visible smoke of a different color but with an apparently equivalent opacity.

Odors. No emission shall be permitted of odorous gases or other odorous matter in such quantities as to be readily detectable when diluted in the ratio of one volume of odorous air emitted to four volumes of clean air. Any process which may involve the creation or emission of any odors shall be provided with a secondary safeguard system, so that control will be maintained if the primary safeguard system should fail. There is hereby established as a guide in determining such quantities of offensive odors Table III, "Odor Thresholds," in Chapter 5, "Air Pollution Abatement Manuals," copyright 1951 by Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc., Washington, D.C. and said manual, and/or table, as subsequently amended.

Fly ash, dust, fumes, vapors, gases, other forms of air pollution. No emission shall be permitted which can cause any damage to health, to animals, vegetation, or other forms of property or which can cause any excessive soiling, at any point on the property of others, and in no event any emission, from any chimney or otherwise, of any solid or liquid particles in concentrations exceeding 0.3 grains per cubic foot of the conveying gas. For measurement of the amount of particles in gases resulting from combustion, standard corrections shall be applied to a stack temperature of 500° F. and 50% excess air.

Electromagnetic radiation. It shall be unlawful to operate, or cause to be operated, any planned or intentional source of electromagnetic radiation for such purposes as communication, experimentation, entertainment, broadcasting, heating, navigation, therapy, vehicle velocity measurement, weather survey, aircraft detection, topographical survey, personal pleasure, for any other use directly or indirectly associated with these purposes which does not comply with the then-current regulations of the Federal Communications Commission regarding such sources of electromagnetic radiation, except that for all governmental communications facilities, governmental agencies and government-owned plants, the regulations of the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee shall take precedence over the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission regarding such sources of electromagnetic radiation. Further, said operation in compliance with the Federal Communications Commission or the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee regulations shall be unlawful if such radiation causes an abnormal degradation in performance of other electromagnetic radiators or electromagnetic receptors of quality and proper design because of proximity, primary field, blanketing, spurious reradiation, harmonic content, modulation or energy conducted by power or telephone lines. The determination of "abnormal degradation in performance" and "of quality and proper design" shall be made in accordance with good engineering practices as defined in the latest principles and standards of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the Institute of Radio Engineers, and the Electronic Industries Association. In case of any conflict between the latest standards and principles of the above groups, the following precedence in the interpretation of the standards and principles apply: (1) American Institute of Electrical Engineers; (2) Institute of Radio Engineers; and (3) Electronic Industries Association.

Radioactive radiation. No activities shall be permitted which emit dangerous radioactivity at any point beyond the property line. The handling of radioactive materials, the discharge of such materials into air and water, and the disposal of radioactive wastes shall be in conformance with the regulations of the Atomic Energy Commission as set forth in Title 10, Chapter 1, Part 20, Standards for Protection Against Radiation, as amended; and all applicable regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Heat. For the purpose of this chapter, heat is defined as thermal energy of a radioactive, conductive, or convective nature. Heat emitted at any or all points shall not at any time cause a temperature increase on any adjacent property in excess of 10° F., as measured on the nearest property line, whether such change be in the air or in the ground, in a natural stream or lake, or in any structure on such adjacent property.

Light glare.

Direct light glare. Direct light glare is defined for the purpose of this chapter as illumination beyond property lines caused by direct or specularly reflected rays from incandescent, fluorescent, or are lighting, or from such high-temperature process as welding or petroleum or metallurgical refining. No such direct glare shall be permitted, with the exception that parking areas and walkways may be illuminated by luminaries so hooded or shielded that the maximum angle of the cone of direct illumination shall be 60° drawn perpendicular to the ground, with the exception that such angle may be increased to 90° if the luminary is less than four feet above the ground. Such luminaries shall be placed not more than 16 feet above ground level, and the maximum illumination at ground level shall not be in excess of three footcandles.

Indirect light glare. Indirect light glare is defined for the purpose of this chapter as illumination beyond property lines caused by diffuse reflection from a surface, such as a wall or roof of a structure. Indirect glare shall not exceed that value which is produced by an illumination of the reflecting surface not to exceed:

Three-tenths footcandle (maximum).

One-tenth footcandle (average).

Deliberately induced sky-reflected glare, as by casting a beam upward for advertising purposes, is specifically prohibited.

Liquid or solid wastes. No discharge shall be permitted at any point into any sewage disposal system, or watercourse, or lake, or into the ground, except in accordance with standards approved by the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection or other regulating department or agency, of any materials of such nature or temperature as can contaminate any water supply or otherwise cause the emission of dangerous or offensive elements. There shall be no accumulation of solid wastes conducive to the breeding of rodents or insects.

Where a commercial property abuts a residential property.

Landscaping. Parking areas shall not intrude upon minimum landscape requirements; however, entrance and/or exit drives may cross landscaped areas at as close to a 90° angle as possible. Where adjacent to a residential district, required side and rear landscaping shall be increased by 10 feet and be of a type that shall provide at maturity a visual barrier between the residential district and the commercial use.

Commercial, industrial, institutional or multifamily uses shall meet the following standards: Any part of the lot which is not used for structures, loading areas, parking spaces and aisles, sidewalks and designated storage areas shall be provided with an all-season, well-maintained vegetative ground cover. Landscaped areas shall be kept free of debris, rubbish and noxious weeds.

A twenty-foot-wide-strip along the side and rear property lines shall be landscaped with ground cover and plant material and shall not contain impervious cover except for the crossing of necessary entrance/exit driveways.

A ten-foot-wide strip beyond the reserved or dedicated right-of-way for any road or street shall be landscaped with ground cover and plant material and shall not contain impervious cover, except for the crossing of necessary entrance/exit driveways.

[Amended 7-28-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-2]

An accessory building not attached to the principal structure shall be permitted in all districts and may not be in located in the required front yard. The accessory building shall follow the lot area and yard regulations for the zoning district it is located in.

Such building shall not be more than 25 feet in height.

Accessory buildings less than 250 sq ft are considered to be a shed. Sheds may be five feet off the side and rear property line. Sheds may not be located in the required front yard.

Where the subdivision of lots is proposed, an accessory building may be erected within one of the side yards or rear yard, provided such accessory building be located not less than five feet from the side or rear lot line or 10 feet from any building except when a shed is erected within the side or rear yard adjacent to a side street on a corner lot, the accessory building shall be not less than the required front yard depth from the exterior side lot line.

No buildings may be erected within an area designated in the subdivision or development plan as a utility or drainage easement.

When an accessory structure is attached to the principal building, it shall comply in all respects with the requirements of this chapter applicable to the principal building.

Any accessory structure 1,000 sq ft or greater or with electric requires Uniform Construction Code (UCC) inspections (agriculture accessory structures only require electrical inspections).

Out-of-the-home housing must comply with zoning setback regulation of the principal use.

Where a lot has frontage on two or more streets or other public rights-of-way, the height limitation shall apply only as measured from the average finished grade to the highest visible point of the roof.

Chimneys, flues, towers, spires, cupola domes, pole masts, antennas, barns, and silos shall be exempt from height limitations of this chapter, provided their location is not in the required yard.

Swimming pools shall be permitted in all zoning districts.

A zoning permit shall be required for the installation or construction of a private outdoor swimming pool on the same lot as the principal residence, subject to the following conditions:

Such pool may not be erected in the required yard.

The water edge of such pool shall not be located nearer than 20 feet to any lot line for an in-ground pool or nearer than 15 feet for an aboveground pool.

Fences, barriers and gates for swimming pools shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Uniform Construction Code.[1]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 138, Construction Code, Uniform.

Portable wading pools 24 inches or less shall be exempt from Subsection B(3) above.

Upon application to the Township, a temporary use may be granted subject to terms and conditions established by the Zoning Officer, and the use shall be in keeping with the spirit, intent, and objectives of the zoning district that the use is being requested.

[Amended 7-28-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-2]

Fences and walls (including retaining walls) may be erected, altered, and maintained within the yards, provided that any such fence or wall shall not exceed four feet in height in the front yard; six feet in height in the side or rear yards; and eight feet in height within the buildable area of the lot.

No wall, fence, sign or other structure shall be erected or altered and no hedge, trees, shrubs or other growth shall be maintained or permitted which may cause danger to traffic or a street or public road by obscuring the view.

No fence, wall or other structure shall be erected or maintained within the right-of-way of any street, drainage or sewer right-of-way, or any other public easement.

A fence or wall may be erected higher than six feet in height to enclose a pool or other structure, provided it is 10 feet away from any property and it complies to Uniform Construction Code.

A fence six feet may be built without a setback from a lot line. (However, a small setback is recommended to provide future maintenance of the fence.)

No fence shall be constructed out of fabric, junk, junk vehicles, appliances, tanks or barrels.

If one side of a fence includes posts or supports, those posts or supports shall be placed on the interior of the fence, as opposed to facing onto a street or another lot.

If a fence is finished only on one side, the finished side shall face outward, away from the lot or parcel upon which it is located.

No fence or wall shall be constructed without acquiring a land use permit.

Where buffer yards and screening are required by the terms of this chapter, they shall be provided in accordance with the following standards:

Screening requirements shall be applicable under the following circumstances:

Where a proposed commercial, industrial, or institutional use abuts an existing residential use or a residential district;

Where any proposed multifamily residential use abuts an existing single-family detached, single-family semidetached, or two-family detached dwelling;

Where screening is required by this chapter, or where it is required by the Township or by the Zoning Hearing Board;

Garbage storage shall be centralized and enclosed on three sides by architectural screening or a plating strip in accordance with § 350-1210 of this chapter.

Buffer yard. The entire perimeter of the tract undergoing development shall be provided with a minimum twenty-foot-wide planting strip or buffer yard, which will act as an effective screen separating uses. Such buffer yard shall be 40 feet wide if adjacent to a residential use or district. The required yard space for the district in which the use is located may be considered as all or part of the buffer yard. Where uses are separated by a public street, the required buffer yard may be reduced to a minimum of 25 feet if adjacent to a residential use or district, along the portion of the tract boundary containing the public street.

Screening.

Vegetative screening shall include a variety of deciduous and evergreen species which are indigenous to the area, that will provide a year-round visual buffer. The screening shall include no less than 50% evergreens.

Vegetative screening shall incorporate earthen mounds or berms, wherever possible, to improve sound as well as visual buffering.

Plant materials used in the screen planting shall be at least six feet in height when planted and be of a species which will produce a complete visual screen of at least eight feet in height at maturity.

No plantings shall be placed with their centers closer than five feet from the property line, and trees planted for screening should be separated by a minimum of 10 feet. There shall be two offset rows of trees, each separated by a minimum of 10 feet to provide a more effective screen.

All existing trees within the required buffer yard above three inches in caliper and/or eight feet in height shall be preserved wherever possible.

Screening shall be designed so as to not obstruct the clear sight triangle at road intersections.

Screening design, including the type of plant materials used, spacing of plant materials, and the use and location of earthen berms, shall be subject to review as a part of a conditional use or a land development process.

Vegetative screens shall be perpetually maintained during the period the principal use causing the need for screening is in operation. Any plant material which does not survive shall be replaced within six months.

Permitted uses and accessory and incidental uses thereto shall only be conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building or within an area screened from any street or highway. Such screening shall not be forward of the front of the building. Screening may consist of a permanent evergreen hedge, a masonry wall, a uniformly painted wood fence, or other appropriate plantings or material. Such screening may contain up to 25% open space. Solid fence-like screening shall not be less than eight feet, nor more than 12 feet in height. Trees or shrubs shall be at least six feet in height at the time of planting.

Where adjacent to a residential district, required screening shall be of a type that shall provide, at maturity, a visual barrier between residential and industrial uses. Such screening shall include at least 50% evergreen species of trees and/or shrubs. Any trees or shrubs that fail to grow shall be replaced by the property owner within six months.

Parking areas shall not intrude upon minimum landscaping requirements. However, entrance and exit drives and sidewalks may be located within landscaped areas.

Perimeter. All parking areas, regardless of size, shall conform to applicable perimeter setback and landscape requirements pertaining to the zone in which the parking area is located.

Interior. Parking areas greater than 12 spaces shall provide a minimum of 5% of the paved lot area for interior landscaping. The perimeter landscaped areas shall not be counted as part of the paved lot area, nor shall these areas be counted as part of the interior landscaped area. Each separate landscaped area should contain a minimum of 40 square feet and should have a minimum dimension of 3 1/2 feet. Parking areas should contain more than one such landscaped area, and these areas shall be in such manner as to divide and break up the expanse of paving.

All off-street parking areas which provide more than eight parking spaces shall be screened from any abutting property zoned residential or used for residential purposes.

Screening may be accomplished by the placement of adequate buildings, earthen berms, a solid fence high enough to provide screening, and/or the provision, and maintenance, of solid planting in the form of contiguous evergreen shrubs. Evergreen trees or shrubs shall be at least four feet in height at the time of planting and set back at least five feet from any property line.

[Amended 7-28-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-2]

General provisions. Off-street parking facilities shall be provided to lessen congestion in the streets. The parking required herein shall be available to patrons throughout the hours of operation of the particular business or use for which such parking facilities are provided. As used herein, the term "parking space" includes either covered garage space or uncovered parking space located off the public right-of-way.

Permanent uncovered parking spaces shall be deemed to be part of the impervious coverage of the lot on which it is located, whether or not such spaces are paved.

Any new building or use or any existing building or use which is to be converted, enlarged or added to for any reason shall be provided with not less than the minimum parking spaces as set forth in this article.

No parking space to be provided under the terms of this article shall be located within the right-of-way of any street, roadway or public alley or closer to the property line than the prescribed landscape setback lines as established in this chapter, if any, except where a variance may be granted by the Zoning Hearing Board for the encroachment of vehicular parking in a designated landscape setback.

A parking study may be requested by the Zoning Officer to determine the total number of parking space needed for a particular use.

Design standards.

The minimum size of a parking space for any use shall be 10 feet wide by 18 feet long, except for handicapped spaces. Notwithstanding the above, all parking spaces shall be ample in size for vehicles for which use is intended.

Parking lot layouts shall be no less than those listed in the following table:

Angle of Parking	Depth From Curb* (feet)	Aisle Width (feet)		Module Width (feet)
Angle of Parking	Depth From Curb* (feet)	One-Way	Two-Way	Module Width (feet)
90°	18	18	24	60
60°	18	18	20	54 or 56
45°	16	16	20	48 or 52

NOTES:
*	Measured perpendicular to curb or edge of parking lot.

No part of the public right-of-way of any street or road shall be used in computing the required area for parking. However, parallel parking may be permitted along the curb or edge of an access drive or private road, providing the spaces are not less than eight feet by 22 feet in addition to the required width for the circulation of vehicles.

Parking lanes shall not be longer than 300 feet without providing a circulatory road. Parking areas which provide required spaces shall not be more than 600 feet from the use requiring the parking.

Entrance/exit drives for parking areas shall be a minimum of 18 feet for one-way travel and 24 feet for two-way travel. Drives shall be uniform in width, smooth flowing and provide for ninety-degree intersections.

No parking area for multiresidential use, commercial, industrial, public, or semipublic use shall be permitted which would allow or encourage the backing of vehicles directly into a street. Points of ingress and egress between a street and off-street parking and service areas shall be designed, located, and controlled so that vehicles can be moved from such parking and service areas to the street only by way of such designated points of ingress and egress.

All dead-end parking lots shall be designed to provide sufficient backup area for the end spaces.

For all uses other than dwellings, if under 10,000 square feet gross leasable area, continuous parking may be permitted abutting the front and/or sides of the building, excluding the area in front of any entrance and/or exit, where a minimum of 20 feet in width shall be kept open and parking prohibited. To the extent possible, this area shall have physical controls such as curbing or landscaping.

Single commercial usage shops and stores or multitenant "strip commercial" facilities over 10,000 square feet gross leasable area may permit abutting parking on the sides only, excluding fire exits or entrances, where a minimum of 20 feet in width shall be kept open and parking prohibited.

Parking abutting buildings of a shopping mall shall be prohibited.

(11)

All paved areas abutting buildings where parking is prohibited shall be posted as "FIRE LANE - PARKING PROHIBITED."

Parking requirements for dwelling units.

For all residential uses, there shall be provided the following minimum on-lot parking spaces for new or additional dwelling units:

Type Dwelling Unit	Spaces Per Dwelling Unit
Single-family detached	2.0
Single-family semidetached and attached units	2.0
Multifamily: studio/efficiency	1.25 plus 1 guest space per 5 units
Multifamily: 1 bedroom	1.5 plus 1 guest space per 5 units
Multifamily: 2 bedrooms	2.0 plus 1 guest space per 5 units
Multifamily: 3(+) bedrooms	2.25 plus 1 guest space per 5 units

Parking spaces shall be at a reasonable distance not to exceed 300 feet from the dwelling unit and be provided with reasonable pedestrian and vehicle access. Required spaces may be located up to 50 feet into an adjacent zoning district. Parking spaces required for each dwelling shall be in the same ownership as the dwelling, except in condominiums. All spaces shall have direct, unobstructed access. Special parking requirements for mobile home parks are contained in Chapter 295, Subdivision and Land Development.

Parking requirements for uses other than dwelling units.

Type of Use	Required Parking Spaces
Hotels, motels	1 per each unit plus 1 per each employee on maximum shift, and additional spaces as required to meet 30% of the rated capacity of other uses (restaurant, etc.)
Tourist homes, boarding and lodging homes, rooming houses	1 per each unit or room plus 1 for the owner or manager and 1 per each employee, and additional spaces as required to meet 30% of the rated capacity of other uses, as may be applicable
Religious institutions, churches, temples, chapels, etc.	1 per each 3.5 seats, based on the total capacity, plus 1 for each classroom (see social halls for requirements for church social halls)
Banks	1 per 350 square feet of net leasable area, plus 1 per employee on maximum shift, plus one reserved space for drive-in banks as determined by the Zoning Officer
Professional and general offices	1 per each 300 square feet of net leasable area, with a minimum of 5 spaces
Retail shops and stores	1 per each 300 square feet of net leasable area with a minimum of 5 spaces, plus 1 per employee on maximum shift
Shopping malls	4.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area
Furniture and appliance stores	1 per each 400 square feet of net leasable area, plus 1 per employee on maximum shift, with a minimum of 5 spaces
Grocery stores, supermarkets	1 per each 350 square feet of gross floor area
Carry-out food establishments (with or without drive-through)	Minimum of 10 spaces plus 1 space for each 2.5 seats
*Eating places, restaurants (no sit-down bar area)	1 per each 2.5 seats
*Drinking places, bars, nightclubs	Spaces equal to 30% of total permitted occupancy
**Bowling alleys, billiard and pool establishments	For bowling alleys, 5 per alley; for billiard and pool establishments, 1 per each 300 square feet of net leasable area, with a minimum of 5 spaces
Warehousing and storage	Provide automobile parking to accommodate the total number of employees expected on the 2 busiest consecutive shifts on an average workday
Wholesale establishments	1 per each 400 square feet of net leasable area
Community buildings and social halls	Spaces equal to 30% of total design occupancy rating
Automotive repair and service shops, tire sales stores	4 spaces plus 2 for each service bay, plus 1 per each 300 square feet of showroom area
Gasoline service stations	4 spaces plus 2 for each service bay
Convenience store, minimarket	5 spaces plus 1 per each 250 square feet of gross floor area
Personal services (includes establishments primarily providing services that generally involve the care of the person or his apparel, such as laundries, dry cleaning, photo studios, beauty shops and barbershops)	1 per each 350 square feet of new leasable area, with a minimum of 5 spaces, plus 1 per each employee If use is classified as a home occupation, see separate
Home occupations	As determined by the Zoning Officer, based on the type of occupation and anticipated need
Open area commercial uses (such as mobile home sales, recreational vehicle sales, monument sales, nursery stock and related uses as determined by the Zoning Officer)	1 per each 2,500 square feet of gross lot area occupied by the use
Auditoriums, assembly halls	1 per each 4 seats
Clinics, medical office buildings	1 per each 175 square feet of gross floor area
Medical offices, dental offices, etc. (operated from a dwelling)	1 per each 175 square feet of gross floor area, with a minimum of 8 spaces
Day-care centers, nursery schools, or babysitting services (not operated from a dwelling)	1 space per employee on maximum shift, plus spaces equal to 20% of maximum permitted occupancy
Nursing homes, convalescent homes, etc.	1 per each 2.5 beds, plus 1 for each employee on maximum shift

NOTES:
*	If an establishment contains both a dining area and a bar area, the requirements for eating places and drinking places shall be applied to each area separately.
**	If the establishment contains both bowling and billiard facilities, the requirements of each shall be applied separately.

Uses not specifically listed. Parking for any use not specifically listed shall be determined by the Zoning Officer.

Lighting. The main entrances, exits and parking areas of all parking lots of 15 spaces or more shall be lighted. Light standards shall be protected from vehicular traffic by curbing or landscaping. Lighting shall be shielded so as not to produce objectionable glare or impede vision of adjacent residential uses or passing motorists.

Signs. Entrances and exits shall be clearly marked and preferred exit routing shall be parked where applicable. One-way roads shall be marked on the road surface and by signs. All parking lots with over 100 spaces shall have the individual parking aisles identified.

Marking. Parking spaces in paved lots shall be defined by yellow and/or white lines, painted or so marked with road surface tape, with a minimum width of four inches. Lines shall be remarked as necessary to insure their visibility.

If lights are required, a lighting plan shall accompany the Land Development Plan

[Amended 7-28-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-2]

Title and general intent.

Short title. This section shall be known as the "Southampton Township Sign Regulations" (hereinafter called "regulations").

General intent. The sign regulations, controls and provisions set forth in this regulation 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 the Township of Southampton, and are intended to:

Aid in traffic control and traffic safety.

Preserve and protect property values.

Lessen congestion of land and air space.

Provide against undue concentrations of signs which distract and endanger traffic safety and traffic flow.

Establish reasonable standards for commercial and other advertising through the use of signs in order to maintain and encourage business activity and area development.

Avoid uncontrolled proliferation of signs.

Recognize the rights of the public in roads, streets, and highways.

Preserve the wholesome and attractive character of the Township.

HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CAMPUS

To recognize that the general welfare includes a community that shall be beautiful as well as healthy, spacious, as well as clean, and well-balanced in its growth and development.

Definitions. The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings given in this subsection:

BANNER

Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is usually mounted to a pole or building at one or more edges, with a minimum dimension of three square feet per face; but not including any solid-colored, multicolored, or seasonal decoration containing no commercial message. National, state or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution or business, shall not be considered banners.

BUSINESS OFFICE BUILDING

A building used as offices and occupied by personnel to perform business, professional, administrative or clerical functions.

BUSINESS OFFICE COMPLEX

A group of business office buildings or condominium units located on a single tract of land, or separate business office buildings located on separate lots as part of the business office complex.

CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGN

A sign that changes messages or copy by electronic or mechanical means, regardless of the technology used.

FLAG

Any fabric, usually rectangular in shape, of distinctive design, that is used as the symbol of government, political subdivision or other entity. Such a flag, that is raised and lowered on a flagpole, shall not be considered a sign.

GROUND POLE SIGN

A sign supported vertically by one or more uprights, poles or braces placed in or upon the ground.

A single tract of land, improved by a building or a group of buildings, that includes a hospital and other spaces utilized for the healing arts, which may include but are not limited to professional office space designed and used primarily for the diagnosis, treatment and outpatient care of human patients by an individual practitioner or an association or group of licensed physicians or similar professional health care practitioners, which may include outpatient operating rooms, physician professional offices, offices for any of the healing arts, medical clinic-limited, pharmacies located within a hospital or medical building, and related accessory uses.

ILLUMINATED SIGN

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 directed at the surface of the sign.

INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS CENTER

A group of two or more uses permitted in the Commercial or Manufacturing District and located in a building, or buildings, on a single tract of land in the Commercial or Manufacturing District.

OFF-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN

A sign which contains a message unrelated to a business or profession conducted upon the zone lot where such sign is located or which is unrelated to a commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered upon the zone lot where such sign is located.

ON-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN

A sign which contains a message related to a business or profession conducted upon the zone lot where such sign is located and which is related to a commodity, service or entertainment that is sold or offered upon the zone lot where the sign is located.

PENNANT

Any lightweight fabric, plastic or other material, usually triangular in shape, suspended from, or attached to, a rope, wire, string or pole, whether grouped in series or not, and normally designed to move in the wind.

PERMANENT SIGN

Any sign which is intended to be displayed for a length of time in excess of 30 days.

PREMISES

The area occupied by a business or other commercial, professional or industrial enterprise.

PROJECTING SIGN

A sign which projects horizontally from and is supported by a wall of a building.

ROOF SIGN

Any sign or part thereof erected and maintained upon or above the roof of any building.

SEARCHLIGHT

Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same zone lot as the light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.

SHOPPING CENTER

An area of land occupied by a cohesive group of three or more retail stores, service facilities or other commercial uses arranged and constructed according to a plan and having common off-street patron parking as an integral part of the use of the land.

SIGN

Any structure, device, light or 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, 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, and shall be deemed to include window signs.

SIGN AREA

That area enclosed by one continuous line, connecting the extreme points or edges of a sign. The area shall be determined using the largest sign area or silhouette visible at any one time from any one point. This area does not include the main sign support structure, but all other ornamental attachments, inner connecting links, trim, etc. which are not part of the main supports of the sign are to be included in determining sign area. When attached to or painted on a surface, a building, canopy, awning, wall or window, the area is that of the smallest polygon that encompasses all of the letters and/or symbols. All visible faces of a multifaced sign shall be counted separately and then totaled in calculating sign area.

STOREFRONT

The front of a business or business building facing a street, driveway, or parking area.

STREAMER

A long, narrow, ribbonlike strip of cloth or fabric, colored paper, etc., hanging loose at one end, suspended from, or attached to, a rope, wire, string or pole, grouped in series, and normally designed to move in the wind.

TEMPORARY SIGN

A sign including, but not limited to, banners, which is to be displayed out of doors and intended to be displayed for a period of time not to exceed 30 days.

WALL SIGN

A sign which is attached directly to or painted upon a building wall and which does not extend horizontally more than 12 inches therefrom nor extend above the roof line or extend beyond the edge of the building. Any sign that is affixed to the building marquee, building awning or a building canopy shall be considered a wall sign.

WAYFINDING SIGN

A sign that erected along public and private roadways to direct vehicles or pedestrians to particular uses within the hospital and medical campus.

WINDOW SIGN

Any sign, picture, symbol or combination thereof designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale or service that is placed inside a window or on the inside or outside surface of a window, and is intended to be a permanent sign.

ZONE LOT

A parcel of land in single ownership that is of sufficient size to meet minimum zoning requirements, or duly authorized relief therefrom, for area, coverage and use, and that can provide such yards and other open spaces as required by this chapter.

General regulations in all districts.

Signs permitted in all districts. Signs listed in this subsection are permitted in all zoning districts as defined in this section, as amended, and shall not require permits [except certain real estate marketing signs as defined in Subsection C(1)(c) hereinbelow] and 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 subsection:

Name and address of resident. Name and address of resident, but not to include any commercial advertising of not more than two square feet in sign area.

No-trespassing signs. No-trespassing signs or other such signs regulating the use of a property, such as "No Hunting," "No Fishing," etc., of not more than two square feet in sign area in residential zones, and five square feet in all commercial and industrial zones.

Real estate marketing signs. Real estate marketing signs are signs which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the land or structure(s) upon which they are located, and shall include construction signs which give the name or names of the principal contractors, architects, and lending institutions responsible for construction on the site. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet per face in area, with no more that two faces, in residential districts, and shall not exceed 32 square feet in area per face in all other zoning districts. One real estate marketing sign may be placed on a given zone lot for every street right-of-way which abuts that zone lot. If a given street adjacent to a zone lot abuts that lot for a continuous distance of 500 feet or more, one additional real estate marketing sign may be displayed along that street right-of-way. Any person or real estate broker seeking to erect such signs greater than 16 square feet per face and up to 32 square feet per face, in any nonresidential zoning district, must submit a notice to the Director of Community Development setting forth the name, address and phone number of the landowner, identification of the property to be posted, the approximate location of the sign on the site, and the name, address, phone number and start date of the listing contract of the real estate broker, if any, involved in marketing the property.

Bulletin board for public, charitable or religious institutions. Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions, when located on the premises thereof and with a sign area of not more than 25 square feet if single-faced, nor more than 50 square feet if double-faced, and used exclusively for noncommercial announcements.

Signs regulating on-premises traffic, parking or other functional subdivision. Signs regulating on-premises traffic (e.g., "In-Out," "Enter-Exit"), parking or other functional subdivision, such as lavatory facilities, telephone, signs denoting other sections of a premises, such as "Lubrication," "Office," etc., when less than five square feet in total sign area.

Signs erected by a governmental body. 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, etc.

Memorial signs or tablets. Memorial signs or tablets and signs denoting the date of erection of buildings.

Flags, pennants or insignia of any government, religious or fraternal organizations, charitable organizations. The flag, pennant or insignia of any governmental, or of any religious, charitable or fraternal organization, which shall be limited to a maximum area of 32 square feet per face with a maximum of two faces and to a height not to exceed the maximum building height in the appropriate zoning district as allowed by this section. Flying the flag of the United States of America shall be done in accordance with regulations established by the federal government.

Auctions, garage or yard sales. Such signs shall be limited to a maximum size of five square feet in area and shall be removed as soon as the event or activity advertised thereby has occurred, and shall not be permitted to exist more then 15 days' prior to such event or activity.

(j)

Special events of charitable or public service groups. Such signs shall be limited to a maximum size of 32 square feet in area per face with a maximum of two faces and shall be removed as soon as the event or activity advertised thereby has occurred and shall not be permitted to exist more than 30 days' prior to such event or activity.

(k)

Permanent residential development signs. Permanent residential development signs at major entrances designed to identify a residential subdivision and containing no commercial advertising shall have a maximum sign area of 25 square feet.

(l)

Signs identifying places of worship. Signs identifying places of worship, when located on the premises thereof, shall have a maximum sign area of 25 square feet.

(m)

Decals. Commercial decals affixed to windows or door glass panes are signs. Such decal signs shall not exceed 1,500 square inches in the aggregate per zone lot, and shall be affixed to such pane to a height not to exceed four feet as measured from the threshold of the principal public entrance.

(n)

Air-suspended signs. Hot-air balloons, signs suspended by a balloon and inflated signs, used only for special events. Such signs may be displayed in any nonresidential zoning district for a time period of not more than 15 days, maximum of three uses per calendar year, after receiving permission from the Zoning Officer.

(o)

Political signs. Signs announcing candidates seeking public office, ballot issues and other information pertinent thereto shall be permitted. Such signs may be displayed not more than 60 days' prior to and not later than seven days after the election for which the sign is intended.

Signs and other devices prohibited in all zoning districts. The following signs and other devices shall not be permitted, erected or maintained in any zoning district, notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained in this section or elsewhere:

Signs which flash, revolve, move, visually dissolve copy, scroll copy, animate copy or vapor produce, including any sign that moves in whole or in part. Clocks, hanging signs which move by action of normal wind currents, time-and-temperature signs, barber poles and changeable message signs are excepted, provided that they otherwise comply with all provisions of this regulation.

Light sources which cast light on signs unless shielded by opaque material so that lamps are not visible from off the property on which the signs are located.

Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety or health.

Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring or manner of illumination, obstruct the vision of drivers, either when leaving a roadway or driveway, or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads.

Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required building exit.

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.

Any obsolete sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or product sold.

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, with exception of signs under Subsection C(1)(j) supra, provided that no such sign shall be placed in any public park.

Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a tree, stone, cliff or other natural object, except signs permitted under Subsection C(1) supra.

(j)

String lights used for illumination, other than temporary holiday uses, which are not shielded from off the property on which they are located.

(k)

Any searchlights, pennants, and/or streamers, except for grand openings, not to exceed 15 days duration, and then only with the prior permission of the Zoning Officer.

(l)

The outdoor display of products for sale, greater than 10 feet from applicant's storefront, with the exception of automobiles, passenger vans and light pickup trucks displayed at an automobile dealership.

Limit on number of signs per premises. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this regulation or elsewhere, no more than three signs may be erected or maintained on any zone lot at any one time, except when a building 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; except in business office complexes as provided in Subsection D(9) infra; and except in industrial business centers as provided in Subsection D(14) infra. A double-faced sign shall count as a single sign. Signs enumerated in Subsection C(1) and Subsection D(10) infra shall not be included in calculating the total.

Limit on height of signs. The height limit of any freestanding sign shall be determined relative to the surface elevation of the nearest road from which the freestanding sign is intended to be viewed. If the center-line elevation of the road cartway has a higher elevation than the ground elevation at the proposed sign location, when measured along a line connecting these two points and running perpendicular to the adjoining lot line, the sign height limit may be increased by the resulting difference in elevation; however, no sign or any part thereof (including braces, supports or lights) shall exceed a height of 20 feet above the center-line elevation of the road cartway if erected at the right-of-way line of the street, road or highway adjoining the premises on which the sign is located, plus one foot additional height for each three lineal feet that said sign is located from such street, road or highway as measured on a perpendicular line from such right-of-way line to the nearest part of the sign. If this same method of measurement indicates that the ground at the proposed sign location has either a higher elevation than or the same elevation as the center-line elevation of the road cartway from which the sign is intended to be viewed, then the sign height limit shall not exceed a height of 20 feet if erected at the right-of-way line of the street, road or highway adjoining the premises on which the sign is located, plus one foot additional height for each three lineal feet that said sign is located from such street, road or highway as measured on a perpendicular line from such right-of-way line to the nearest part of the sign.

The above notwithstanding, under no circumstances shall any sign exceed 35 feet in height regardless of its distance from the right-of-way line. In all cases, height shall be measured from the actual grade of the premises directly below the face of the sign (exclusive of any mounds or other additions to the grade level) to the highest part of the sign.

Limit of sign area. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this regulation, the total sign area per zone lot shall not exceed three square feet per lineal front foot of that portion of the building occupied by the occupant of said zone lot, except that no premises shall be limited to less than 32 square feet of total sign area. In no case shall the total sign area of all signs on one zone lot exceed 250 square feet [including directional signs as provided in Subsection D(6)(c), supra], except in shopping centers as provided in Subsection D(8), and business office complexes as provided in Subsection D(9) infra, and Subsection D(10) infra (temporary signs), and hospital and medical campuses as provided in Subsection D(13) infra, and industrial business centers as provided in Subsection D(14) infra. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this section, the total sign area for a basement premises shall not exceed 20 square feet.

Safety and maintenance.

All signs and all parts thereof including, but not limited to, framework, supports, background, anchors and wiring systems, shall be constructed and maintained in compliance with the building, electrical and fire prevention codes of Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code[1] as they now exist, or as they may be thereafter adopted. In the absence of an electrical code ordinance, the National Electrical Code shall be used as the standard for all wiring systems.

Editor's Note: See Ch. 138, Construction Code, Uniform.

All signs and all parts thereof shall be kept in a good state of repair and maintenance.

Signs on vehicles. Any vehicle or trailer with a sign or signs attached thereto placed or painted thereon, visible from any public right-of-way, shall be prohibited, subject to the following exceptions:

Any vehicle or trailer which is actively engaged in making deliveries, pickups or otherwise actively in use and the sign face does not protrude in excess of one inch from the vehicle. Such vehicle or trailer, when not in use, shall be parked so as not to be visible from any public right-of-way; or

Where no alternate location for parking, that is not visible from the public right-of-way, is reasonably available, such alternate location shall be as inconspicuous from the public right-of-way as possible.

Specific sign types and uses.

Projecting signs. In addition to the general provisions of this section, the following specific regulations shall apply to all projecting signs:

No sign shall project more than five 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 street, curb or curb line.

No portion of any sign shall be less than eight feet above ground level.

No single face of a sign shall exceed 15 square feet in sign area.

No sign shall have a vertical dimension greater than six feet.

There shall be no more than one projecting sign on any building unless the building 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.

Wall signs. In addition to the general provisions of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to all wall signs:

No sign shall extend above the top of the wall upon which it is placed.

No sign, or any part thereof, shall project more than 12 inches from the wall upon which it is mounted. If external lighting is used, lighting attached to a wall must be at least 10 feet above the surface of the ground level and may project no more than two feet from the wall of the building.

No sign shall extend beyond the left and right extremities of the wall to which it is attached.

There shall be not more than two signs per wall on any building or structure, and aggregate sign area shall have a total area of not more than 100 square feet or 25% of the wall area, whichever is less. Where a building in a shopping center in the C-G Zoning District is located more than 400 feet from a public street, the aggregate sign shall have a total area of not more than 250 square feet or 25% of the wall area, whichever is less.

Ground pole signs. In addition to the general provisions of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to all ground pole signs:

Every ground pole sign and all parts, braces and supports thereof shall be located entirely within the property lines of the premises and shall not project over public rights-of-way or other adjoining lands. Ground pole signs are permitted between the property line and the building setback lines, except where otherwise prohibited.

A ground pole sign shall have no more than two faces or advertising sides.

No single face or advertising side of a ground pole sign shall have an area which exceeds the square footage calculated by multiplying one square foot times 1/2 the number of lineal front feet which the subject zone lot has adjoining on a public street, road or highway measured at the right-of-way line, but in no event shall any such face or side exceed 50 square feet. Where the frontage of any zone lot is less than 64 lineal feet, a single face or advertising side shall be permitted not to exceed 32 square feet.

No ground pole sign face or advertising side shall have any dimension (length, width, diameter, etc.) in excess of 10 lineal feet.

All ground pole signs hereafter erected shall be located within a planted green area at least equal to the allowable area of a single face or advertising side for the subject sign, which area shall also include ornamental evergreen shrubbery to minimize the visibility of poles, supports and braces of such sign.

No single face or advertising side of a ground pole sign shall have an area greater than 50 square feet. Where the frontage of any zone lot is less than 64 lineal feet, a single face or advertising sides shall be permitted not to exceed 32 square feet.

Roof signs. In addition to the general provisions of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to all roof signs:

The highest point of a roof sign shall not exceed the building height limitation as provided in this section as applicable to the pertinent zoning district.

Not more than one roof sign may be erected or maintained on a single zone lot.

Off-premises advertising signs. In addition to the general regulations of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to all off-premises advertising signs, except directional signs:

Such signs are permitted in the ( A) Agricultural, ( C) Commercial, and M) Manufacturing Zones as designated in this chapter.

Such signs are subject to the following restrictions:

No sign shall be located at a lesser distance than 300 lineal feet from:

[a]

The district boundary line of any adjoining (VC) Village Center Zoning District; or

[b]

Any building used for residential purposes.

No such sign shall be located on a lot having a frontage or width along a street, road or highway adjacent to the sign less than:

[a]

One hundred feet in the (VC) Village Center Zoning District where the lot is served by municipal sanitary sewerage.

[b]

One hundred fifty feet on any lot in the (VC) Village Center Zoning District, or where the lot is located in the (VC) Village Center Zoning District and is not served by municipal sanitary sewerage.

The maximum sign area for any one sign facing shall be 300 square feet (inclusive of any border or trim, but excluding the base or apron supports and other structural members), except in zoning districts where the sign is located adjacent to and intended to be seen by vehicular traffic on the limited-access highway known as State Route 81, in which latter location said sign area shall not exceed 700 square feet per facing [inclusive of any border, trim or embellishment (which embellishment shall not exceed 28 square feet of area), but excluding the base or apron, supports and other structural members]. The term "facing" herein above and in Subsection D(5)(b)[4] hereinbelow shall mean the surface area of the structure containing the message of the sign.

[4]

A sign structure shall contain not more than two facings, with only one sign per facing, which facings may be placed only back-to-back or V-shaped at an interior angle of less than 90°.

[5]

No portion of any sign shall exceed a height of 35 feet above ground level. All off-premises advertising signs shall be set back from any adjacent building or structure a distance equal to the overall height of the sign.

[6]

All such signs shall be attached to the ground by a single vertical metal or concrete post, pillar, pole or column.

[7]

Signs shall not be located at a lesser distance in any direction from each other than 3,000 lineal feet.

[8]

All signs shall be located not less than 40 lineal feet from the legal right-of-way line of any existing street, road or highway or from the dedicated right-of-way line of any street, road or highway as shown on a subdivision or land development plan approved by this Township.

[9]

Signs may be illuminated, but no direct ray of light shall extend beyond the face of the sign.

[10]

The construction of all signs shall comply with all building/construction regulations of this Township.

[11]

Every sign shall be identified on the structure with the name of the owner.

[12]

All applications for off-premises advertising signs shall include a written agreement of contract signed by the owner of the parcel or zone lot on which the off-premises sign will be located which allows for the placement of such signs on the property.

Directional signs. In addition to the general provisions of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to all permanent directional signs:

Signs may be erected near roadways to direct vehicles or pedestrians to zone lots not located on such roadways, but the access to which is from such roadways. Such signs may not be erected in any public right-of-way. Written permission from the owner of the property where the sign will be placed, including a site plan showing the location of the directional sign, must be submitted with the sign permit application.

Directional signs shall be limited to ground pole signs with a maximum area of six square feet on a single face or 12 square feet on a double-faced sign.

The area of a directional sign located off-premises shall be charged against the total area of the sign owner's on-premises allowable maximum sign area as provided in Subsection C(5) hereinabove.

The content of directional signs shall be limited to the name of the establishment and direction and distance information.

Directional signs shall not be located more than 500 feet from an entrance or other roadway or entrance and shall be on the same side of the road as the advertiser's premises.

When two or more directional signs are requested at the same location, all information shall be combined in one sign which shall not exceed an area of 12 square feet for a single-faced sign or 24 square feet for a double-faced sign.

Real estate development marketing signs. In addition to the general provisions of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to all real estate development marketing signs:

The use of real estate development marketing signs shall be limited to those developers or owners having a minimum of six lots in one subdivision.

Such signs must be located within the development.

Such signs may advertise only the lots in the subdivision in which the sign is located and shall not include 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 principal contractors, architects and lending institutions responsible for construction in the development, the developer's name, sales agents and telephone numbers.

Such signs shall conform to relevant setback line requirements.

Such signs shall be limited to a maximum of two per subdivision entrance.

The maximum sign area of any such single-faced sign shall be 20 square feet and, for any such double-faced sign, 40 square feet. No part of such sign shall be more than 10 feet in any dimension.

Shopping center signs. In addition to the applicable general provisions of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to shopping centers:

Only one ground pole sign advertising the shopping center and/or individual businesses within the shopping center may be erected on lands occupied by a shopping center along each public road adjoining said lands from which road access is provided to said lands.

No single face or advertising side of any such ground pole sign shall have an area which exceeds the square footage calculated by multiplying one square foot times the product of 1/2 the number of lineal feet of shopping center lands adjoining a public road along which said sign may be located pursuant to Subsection D(8)(a) immediately above, but in no event shall any such face or side exceed 150 square feet. For shopping center ground pole signs in the C-G Zoning District, the lineal feet of shopping center lands adjoining a public road shall be measured before the subdivision of any outparcels.

A ground pole sign permitted by this Subsection D(8) shall have no more than two faces or advertising sides.

Except as otherwise specifically allowed or limited in this Subsection D(8), the provisions of Subsection D(3) supra pertaining to ground pole signs generally shall apply to ground pole signs allowed in shopping centers.

In addition to any advertising included on any ground pole sign allowed above, each individual business within the shopping center shall be allowed and limited to wall signs in accordance with Subsection D(2) hereinabove; except that retail stores that: (i) have a gross floor area in excess of 40,000 square feet; and (ii) include two or more retail uses that are recognized as separate industries or industry groups under the retail trade sector of the latest edition North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), shall be permitted to have two or more wall signs with an aggregate sign area of 250 square feet or 25% of the wall area, whichever is less, provided that no individual wall sign shall exceed a sign area of 100 square feet or 25% of the wall area, whichever is less. Where a retail store in a shopping center in the C-G Zoning District meets the criteria in this subsection and is located more than 400 feet from a public street, the aggregate sign area shall be 625 square feet or 25% of the wall area, whichever is less, provided that no individual wall sign shall exceed a sign area of 250 square feet or 25% of the wall area, whichever is less.

Business office building signs and business office complex signs. In addition to the general provisions of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to business office building signs and business office complex signs:

Only one ground pole sign which bears the name of a business office building and/or the name of one or more business occupant may be erected on the lands occupied by such use and shall be limited to the provisions of Subsection D(3) supra.

Only one ground pole sign advertising the business office complex and/or individual businesses within the business office complex may be erected along a public road adjoining the business office complex at a location of said road access. When a business office complex has more than one access onto a public road adjoining said business office complex, then up to two ground pole signs are permitted at two locations of access to the said public road as long as there is a minimum separation distance of 300 feet measured along the property line abutting said public road and the business office complex contains a minimum of two business office buildings with a minimum of 75,000 square feet of building floor area in the aggregate.

Each business occupant shall be limited to one wall sign in accordance with the provisions of Subsection D(2) supra, except that a business occupant occupying a gross floor area in excess of 150,000 square feet shall be permitted to have one face for each side of the building that faces a public or private street or parking lot, up to a maximum of three wall signs with an aggregate sign area of 300 square feet or 25% of the wall area, whichever is less, provided that no individual wall sign shall exceed a sign are of 100 square feet or 25% of the wall area and no such wall signs shall face a dwelling unit on an adjoining property. Notwithstanding subsequent Subsection D(2)(a) supra, such wall signs shall be permitted to extend above the top of the wall on which it is placed by no greater than 30 inches.

A ground pole sign permitted by this Subsection D(9) shall have no more than two faces or advertising sides.

Except as otherwise specifically allowed or limited in this Subsection D(9), the provisions of Subsection D(3) supra pertaining to ground signs generally shall apply to ground pole signs allowed in a business office complex.

Temporary signs. In addition to the general provisions of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to temporary signs:

An individual business shall be limited to one temporary sign at any one time, and further limited to a total of three thirty-day usages per calendar year.

A temporary sign shall relate only and directly to the business located on the same zone lot.

A temporary sign shall have no more than two advertising sides or faces.

A single advertising face or advertising side of a temporary sign other than a banner shall not exceed 24 square feet in area.

A temporary sign face or advertising side shall not have any dimension (length, width, height, diameter) in excess of six lineal feet.

Temporary signs may be placed no further than 10 feet from the applicant's storefront. This requirement applies to all multitenant buildings and uses.

A temporary sign permit application must be filed and approved before a temporary sign can be displayed. Accompanying a temporary sign application shall be:

A site plan showing the location of the building, structure or zone lot to which the sign is to be attached or erected and showing the position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings and thoroughfares.

A plan showing the design of the sign, materials to be used, color, lighting, size of lettering, method of construction, dimensions, and the means of attachment to the building or ground.

An application fee in an amount to be determined, from time to time, by a duly adopted resolution of the Township Board of Commissioners.

When a temporary sign permit is issued, the applicant will receive a temporary sign decal. This decal shall be affixed to the bottom right corner of the approved temporary sign for the entire length of time the sign is permitted to be displayed and shall only be affixed on the approved temporary sign, and no other. At the end of the approved display time, the decal shall be deemed expired and therefore null and void, and the temporary sign shall be removed.

(11)

Permanent nonresidential development signs. In addition to the general provisions of this section, the following specific regulations shall apply to all permanent nonresidential development signs:

A nonresidential subdivision shall be a development that has subdivided a minimum of four nonresidential lots to qualify for a permanent nonresidential development sign.

Permanent nonresidential development signs shall only be permitted in the (C) Commercial District and when the proposed development is primarily office buildings in the (M) Manufacturing Districts.

The maximum sign area of a permanent nonresidential development sign shall not exceed 50 square feet, whether it be one-sided or two-sided. No sign shall have more than two faces or sides.

No more than two signs for the same nonresidential development may be located within 1,000 feet of each other and only at major entrances to the development.

The content of the sign shall be limited to the name or the logo of the nonresidential development and no more than one occupant within the development, with the former being predominant.

No permanent nonresidential development sign or any part thereof (including brace, structure, supports or lights) shall exceed the height of 15 feet.

All permanent nonresidential development signs hereafter erected shall be placed within a landscaped area at least equal to the allowable area of a single face or side for the subject sign.

When a shopping center has signs under § 350-1212D(8), the shopping center shall not also have a separate sign under this subsection.

(12)

Changeable message signs (CMS). In addition to all other applicable provisions of these regulations, the following specific regulations shall apply to all changeable message signs (CMS):

Changeable message signs (CMS) shall be permitted when used: (i) in conjunction with wall or ground-pole, on-premises advertising signs, all off-premises advertising signs; and (ii) at schools, churches and other places of worship for the limited purpose of communicating messages related to the use, municipal emergencies and events, and time and temperature. Changeable message signs shall be permitted as wall signs only within the commercial general and commercial limited zoning districts.

Only one on-premises advertising sign containing a CMS shall be permitted for each lot regardless of the number of retail stores, service facilities, service providers and other commercial uses on the lot. No off-premises advertising sign containing a CMS shall be located within 3,000 radial feet of any other off-premises advertising sign containing a CMS. The 3,000-radial-foot distance shall be measured in all directions and from off-premises CMS located within all neighboring municipalities.

On-premises advertising signs shall have fixed copy for a minimum of one minute and off-premises advertising signs shall have fixed copy for a minimum of 10 seconds.

Transition between messages shall be instantaneous. There shall be no visual dissolve or fading, in which any part of one message appears simultaneously with any part of a second message.

Messages shall not blink, travel, scroll, be animated, flash or include movement.

Brightness levels shall be automatically adjusted to ambient light levels and shall not exceed 0.20 footcandle above ambient light levels as measured at five feet above grade, using all-white setting, at any time of day or night. Measurement shall be from the following distances:

Signs (square feet)	Distance (feet)
Less than 300	150
300 to 400	200
Greater than 400	250

Light from a changeable message sign shall not exceed 0.2 footcandle above ambient light levels on any property containing a residential use as measured at the property line of the zone lot along a line of sight to the sign.

Owner or applicant of a changeable message sign shall permit message access for local, regional, state and national emergency services during emergency situations. Emergency messages are not required to conform to message standards listed herein.

Advertising copy on off-premises advertising signs shall not display messages for any retail store, service facility, service provider or other commercial use where the property line of the lot on which the use is conducted is within 500 radial feet of the off-premises advertising sign.

(j)

No changeable message sign shall display content that replicates or depicts any traffic control device or signal.

(13)

Hospital and medical campus. In addition to the general provisions of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to signs located in and about a hospital and medical campus:

Permitted signs. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this regulation, a hospital and medical campus may construct the following signs with dimensions as set forth in this Subsection D(13):

Ground pole sign. A hospital and medical campus may erect one ground pole sign with no more than two faces. In no event shall any such face or side exceed 125 square feet. The ground pole sign may incorporate a changeable message sign on each face. The ground pole sign may be located on the lot containing the hospital and medical campus, alternatively, it may be erected on a different lot located within 1,000 lineal feet of the property line of the lot containing the hospital and medical campus along a state-owned roadway to direct vehicles or pedestrians to the hospital and medical campus. If located on a different lot, it shall be regulated as an on-premises advertising sign. The ground pole sign shall prominently display whether or not the hospital includes an emergency room. Such sign may not be erected in any public right-of-way. If not located on the lot containing the hospital and medical campus, written permission from the owner of the property where the sign will be placed, including a site plan showing the location of the ground pole sign, must be submitted with the sign permit application. A ground pole sign on a different lot shall not count against the maximum signage permitted on that lot.

Way-finding signs. In addition to other signage permitted within a hospital and medical campus, way-finding signs are permitted on the lot containing the hospital and medical campus. Such signs may be erected along public and private roadways to direct vehicles or pedestrians to particular uses within the hospital and medical campus. Such signs may not be erected in any public right-of-way, and may have no more than two faces. Way-finding signs shall prominently display directions to the emergency room, if any. Way-finding signs shall be ground pole signs with a maximum height of 10 feet and a maximum area of 45 square feet per face. The content of way-finding signs shall be limited to the name and logo of the owner of the hospital and medical campus and the name and direction of particular uses within the complex. The area of way-finding signs shall not be charged against the total area of the sign owner's maximum allowable signage.

Roof sign. A hospital and medical campus may have up to two roof signs, each of which may have one face. The total area of the roof sign or roof signs, as the case may be, in the aggregate may not exceed 600 square feet.

[4]

Street number signs. Each building within the hospital and medical campus that is open to the public may have a street number sign prominently displayed on each wall of the building that faces a public or private street or parking lot. Each number sign must be visible from the nearest public street and may not exceed 50 square feet. The area of number signs shall not be charged against the total area of the sign owner's maximum allowable signage.

[5]

Wall signs. Except as provided herein, each building within the hospital and medical center campus may have one wall sign with one face for each side of the building that faces a public or private street or parking lot. The foregoing notwithstanding, more than one wall sign may be affixed to the same wall of a building or structure, provided: (a) any additional wall sign must be affixed to the wall such that the nearest edge of the wall sign is not more than 20 feet from the entrance into the building or structure; (b) the walls signs identify different services or uses within the building or structure; and (c) the wall signs must be separated laterally buy at least 60 lineal feet. Each wall sign may not exceed 60 square feet.

[6]

Emergency room and ambulance signs. In addition to the above signs, each hospital that is equipped with an emergency room shall have signs designating the location of the emergency room at each public entrance to the emergency department and an ambulance sign at each ambulance entrance. Each such sign shall not exceed 40 square feet.

(14)

Industrial business center signs. In addition to the general provisions of this regulation, the following specific regulations shall apply to industrial business center signs:

Only one ground pole sign advertising the industrial business center and/or individual businesses within the industrial business center may be erected on the zone lot occupied by an industrial business center along each public road adjoining said lands from which road access is provided to said lands; except that where said zone lot has more than 500 feet of frontage along a public road adjoining said zone lot from which road access is provided to said zone lot, then an additional ground pole sign is permitted on said zone lot as long as there is a minimum separation distance of 500 feet between said ground pole signs on said zone lot.

A ground pole sign permitted by this Subsection D(14) shall have no more than two faces or advertising sides.

Except as otherwise specifically allowed or limited in this Subsection D(14), the provisions of Subsection D(3) supra pertaining to ground pole signs generally shall apply to ground pole signs allowed in industrial business center.

In addition to any advertising included on any ground pole sign allowed above, each individual business within the industrial business center shall be allowed and limited to wall signs in accordance with Subsection D(2) hereinabove; except that buildings that: (i) have a gross floor area in excess of 40,000 square feet; and (ii) include two or more businesses shall be permitted to have two or more wall signs with an aggregate sign area of 250 square feet or 25% of the wall area, whichever is less, provided that no individual wall sign shall exceed a sign area of 100 square feet or 25% of the wall area, whichever is less.

Signs in residential zones.

Signs in residential zones, (VC) Village Center:

All signs are prohibited in residential zones as defined in this chapter (VC) Village Center, except those signs allowed under Subsection C(1) supra or as allowed as nonconforming sign uses under Subsection I(1) infra.

Illuminated signs are prohibited in residential zones except for street address signs, signs indicating churches or other places of worship, signs indicating schools, and municipal signs necessary for public safety.

Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this regulation, no sign may be erected or maintained in a residential zone which exceeds a maximum sign area of 25 square feet.

One sign not to exceed a maximum sign area of six square feet and a maximum height of six feet, may be erected only on a zone lot containing at the date of enactment of this subsection an approved permitted or approved conditional nonresidential use in any (VC) Zoning District.

Changeable message signs are prohibited in all residential zoning districts for both existing and future proposed signs except at schools, churches or other places of worship, in accordance with § 350-1212D(12)(a) of this chapter.

Abandoned signs.

Definition. As used in this subsection, the following term shall have the meaning indicated:

ABANDONED SIGN

A sign which has remained without bona fide advertising for a period of six months, and for which the sign owner has not made application for a current permit as provided hereinbelow, or which is without a current lease or license from the landowner, or as to which the sign owner has ceased to attempt to lease the advertising space; or

A sign which requires maintenance or repair in excess of 25% of the replacement cost of the sign as determined by the Director of Community Development after consultation with the sign owner if said owner can be identified from the permit previously issued for such sign.

Removal of abandoned sign. Signs that are abandoned shall be removed by the persons responsible for the erection and/or maintenance thereof within 30 days after notice of the abandonment to such persons by the Code Enforcement Officer. If such persons fail or refuse to remove such abandoned sign after the notice aforesaid, the Code Enforcement Officer may remove the signs at the expense of the persons responsible for the erection and/or maintenance thereof.

Enforcement.

Code Enforcement Officer.

Appointment. The Board of Supervisors, by resolution, shall appoint the Code Enforcement Officer and any assistants to enforce the provisions of this regulation.

Duties of the Code Enforcement Officer and the Zoning Officer.

The Zoning Officer shall examine all applications for permits to erect and/or maintain signs and shall issue permits for signs which conform to the requirements of this regulation. The Zoning Officer, or designees, shall record and file all applications, conduct an inspection of all signs, and make such reports as the Board of Supervisors may require.

When the Code Enforcement Officer finds that any sign has been constructed, structurally changed, altered, or erected, or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this section, the owner, lessee or lessor shall be promptly notified thereof in writing. If the owner, lessee or lessor fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the provisions of this regulation within 10 days of the mailing of written notice, the Code Enforcement Officer shall commence enforcement proceedings as provided in Subsection G(5), Remedies, infra.

When the Code Enforcement Officer finds any sign which presents an immediate peril to persons or property, he or she shall be empowered to order it to be removed and the costs of such removal shall be borne by the owner or lessor and shall constitute a lien upon the premises.

Sign permits.

General provisions for all signs requiring permits. All applications for sign permits shall be made on forms supplied by the Zoning Officer. Permits must be kept on the premises (except for off-premises signs) where the sign is displayed and must be produced and exhibited to the Zoning Officer upon request.

Permits to erect new signs or to alter or move existing signs.

No sign hereafter shall be erected, structurally changed, altered, or moved until a permit has been obtained therefore from the Zoning Officer. Such a permit shall be issued only when the Zoning Officer is satisfied that such sign will comply with all the applicable provisions of this section.

An application for a sign permit shall be made on the forms provided above and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:

[a]

Name, address, and telephone number of applicant.

[b]

A site plan drawn to scale showing the location of the building, structure, or lot to which the sign is to be attached or erected and showing the position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings and thoroughfares.

[c]

A plan drawn to scale showing the design of sign, materials to be used, colors, lighting, size of lettering, method of construction, and means of attachment to the building or ground.

[d]

Name of person, firm, corporation, or association erecting, altering or moving said sign.

[e]

Name and address of the owner of the land on which the sign is to be erected, altered, or relocated, together with the owner's written consent.

[f]

Any other information the Zoning Officer shall require in order to show full compliance with this section and all other applicable ordinances of this Township.

Within five days after a sign has been installed, the owner of the sign shall notify the Zoning Officer, who shall inspect the sign. If the sign is installed in accordance with the permit, the permit shall be validated by signature of the Zoning Officer. All installed signs must be duly validated.

Permits for existing signs. All owners of signs in existence at the time of the effective date of this section who do not hold permits shall make application for sign permits within 90 days of said effective date. After receipt of an application to permit an existing sign, the Zoning Officer shall inspect the sign. If the sign is safe and in good repair and otherwise in compliance with this regulation, a permit shall be issued to the applicant.

Permit fees.

Every applicant for a permit hereunder shall pay to the Township a fee for each sign regulated by this section in accordance with a sign permit fee schedule, as may be adopted from time to time, by the Board of Township Supervisors.

Every applicant for a permit hereunder for a temporary sign shall pay to the Township a fee in accordance with Subsection D(10)(g)[3] of this regulation.

Disclaimer of municipal liability. The grant of a permit shall not constitute a representation, guarantee or warranty of any kind by the Township of Hampden or by any official or employee thereof of the practicability or safety of the proposed or existing sign or use, and shall create no liability upon the Township, its officials, or employees.

Remedies.

Any violation or attempted violation of this section or of any condition or requirement adopted pursuant hereto may be restrained, corrected, or abated by citation, injunction or other appropriate proceeding pursuant to state law. The remedies of the Township shall include the following:

Issuing a stop-work order for all work on any signs on the same zone lot.

Seeking an injunction or other order of restraint or abatement that requires the removal of the sign(s) or the correction of the nonconformity.

Imposing any penalties that can be imposed directly by the Township; seeking in court the imposition of any penalties that can be imposed by such court under this regulation.

[4]

In the case of a sign that poses an immediate danger to the public health or safety, taking such measures as are available to the Township under the applicable provisions of this regulation and the Building Code[2] for such circumstances.

Editor's Note: See Ch. 138, Construction Code, Uniform.

The Township shall have such other remedies as are and as may from time to time be provided for or allowed by state law for the violation of this section.

All such remedies provided herein shall be cumulative to the extent that state law may permit the availability of a particular remedy set forth herein for a certain violation or part thereof, such remedy shall remain available for other violations or other parts of the same violation.

Nonconforming signs.

All signs which are in existence on the effective date of this regulation and have been previously issued a valid sign permit, which do not conform to one or more of the applicable provisions of this section with the exception of those signs prohibited under Subsection C(2), Signs and other devices prohibited in all zoning districts, above shall be eligible for a nonconforming sign permit, which permits shall be issued under the provisions of Subsection G(2) above but shall be marked as "Nonconforming Sign Permit."

Any sign which is in violation of Subsection C(2) hereinabove shall be removed or brought into compliance with the provisions of this section within 30 days after the effective date of this section. It shall be unlawful to maintain a sign in violation of Subsection C(2) supra. The Code Enforcement Officer is empowered to institute enforcement proceedings after the expiration of 30 days for any violation of this Subsection H(2).

All nonconforming signs shall be permitted to remain in their present form and status until removed, at which time any replacement sign shall comply with the provisions of this regulation.

Any nonconforming sign shall be brought into compliance with the provisions of this section when any proposed structural change, alteration, repair or maintenance constitutes an expense of more than 25% of the replacement value of the sign.

With respect to off-premises advertising signs, the original as-built shape and size of the sign shall be the maximum area permitted, regardless of the allowable square footage indicated on the original permit.

A nonconforming off-premises advertising sign may not be enlarged in any way.

Regardless of any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the owner of a legal nonconforming off-premises advertising sign or on-premises advertising sign may convert the sign face to a CMS, provided the sign area, height and any other dimension, if nonconforming, are not increased, and if the sign use is a nonconforming use, there is no increase to the sign size or change in shape, and in either case, the requirements of Subsection D(12)(a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (j) are met; however, the sign face of any nonconforming sign in any residential district (VC) shall not be permitted to be converted to a CMS.

Nonconforming sign uses.

A sign in use and existing upon the effective date of this section but which would be prohibited by this regulation because of its existence in a zoning district prohibiting such sign shall be permitted to remain in existence as a nonconforming sign use, provided that such sign had been previously issued a valid sign permit.

The Zoning Officer shall document the status of nonconforming sign use on the sign permit required under Subsection G(2) above. Such documentation shall be the exclusive evidence and proof of the status of a nonconforming sign use.

Removal of signs. The Code Enforcement Officer shall order the removal of any sign constructed, erected or maintained in violation of this section. Ten days' notice in writing shall be given to the owner and/or lessor of any such sign, or of the building, structure, or zone lot on which such sign is located, to remove the sign or to obtain a permit in order to bring it into compliance with this regulation. If it reasonably appears that the condition of the sign is such to present a threat to the safety of the public, the Code Enforcement Officer may order the removal of the sign immediately. Any costs of removal incurred by the Township shall be assessed to the owner of the property on which the sign is located, or to the sign owner or lessee, if different than the property owner, and may be collected in the manner provided by law.

Poultry is permitted by right in (A) Agricultural, (WC) Woodland Conservation, and (VC) Village Center Districts.

With parcels less than one acre, the following regulations pertain: