West Cocalico Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 17
SIGN REGULATIONS
§ 27-1701 Use, Location, and Size Regulations.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 1700]
The following types of signs and no others shall be permitted to be erected or maintained, unless specifically identified in the criteria for a land use permitted by special exception in Part 23 of this chapter.
1.
Identification, informational, or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
2.
Signs advertising the sale or rental of premises provided that:
A.
Such signs shall be erected on the premises to which they relate.
B.
The area of one side of any sign shall not exceed 20 square feet in the Industrial/Commercial District and 10 square feet within all other districts.
C.
Such signs shall be removed within 14 days after the property is sold or rented.
3.
Signs indicating the location and direction of premises available for or in the process of development and having inscribed thereon the name of the owner, developer, builder, or agent provided that:
4.
Signs of mechanics and artisans during the period such persons are performing work, provided that:
6.
Signs prohibiting or otherwise controlling trespassing upon particular premises, or indicating the private nature of a road, driveway, or premises, or otherwise controlling the use of the property, provided that the area on one side of any such sign shall not exceed six square feet.
7.
Signs indicating the name of a particular organization, home for the aged, nursing home or convalescent home, farm or estate, provided that:
10.
Business or industrial signs provided that:
A.
The area on one side of any free-standing sign shall not exceed 80 square feet in the Industrial/Commercial District and 12 square feet in any other district.
B.
Not more than one such sign shall be erected on each street frontage.
C.
In the Industrial/Commercial District, the area of any sign attached to a building shall not exceed 15% of the wall area on which the sign is placed.
D.
In districts other than the I-C, the area of any wall sign or projecting sign attached to a building shall not exceed 10% of the wall area on which the sign is placed or 20 square feet, whichever is less.
E.
The sign placed on any building or lot shall be related to the business conducted on such premises.
11.
Temporary signs advertising a sale or event, provided that such signs shall not be displayed in excess of one month and shall be removed promptly after the event.
§ 27-1702 General Sign Regulations.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 1701]
1.
The following regulations shall apply to all permitted sign uses:
A.
Area of Sign. The area of a sign shall be construed to include all letter, wording, and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed (but not including any supporting framework and bracing incidental to the display itself). Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to a building, wall, or window, the area of the sign shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other regular geometric shape which encompasses all of the letters and symbols. In computing the square foot area of a double-faced sign, only one side shall be considered, provided that the both faces are identical. If the interior angle formed by the two faces of the double sided sign is greater than 45°, then both sides of such sign shall be considered in calculating the sign area. A cube shall be considered four signs.
B.
No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to traffic on a street by obscuring the view.
C.
Signs in the Public Right-of-Way. No signs shall be allowed in the public right-of-way, except for the following:
(1)
Permanent Signs. Permanent signs, including:
(a)
Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(b)
Bus stop signs erected by a public transit company.
(c)
Informational signs of a public utility regarding its poles, lines, pipes or facilities.
(2)
Temporary Signs. Temporary signs, including:
(a)
Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, convey public information and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(b)
Signs announcing special events of charitable or public service groups, provided such signs shall be approved by the Zoning Officer and shall:
(c)
Emergency Signs. Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, a public utility company or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the public right-of-way.
(d)
Other Signs Forfeited. Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with the requirements of this section, shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the Township shall have the right to recover from the owner or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.
D.
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:
(1)
Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving illumination or with illumination which varies in intensity or which varies in color, and signs which have any visible moving part, visible revolving parts, or visible mechanical movement of any description, or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical pulsations or by action of normal wind currents. Clocks, hanging signs which move with air currents, time and temperature signs and barber poles are excepted, provided they otherwise comply with all other provisions of this part.
(2)
Light sources which cast light on signs unless shielded by opaque material so that bulbs are not visible from off the property on which the signs are located.
(3)
Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety or health.
(4)
Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner or intensity of illumination, distract or obstruct the vision of drivers to the extent which creates a significant safety hazard, either when leaving a roadway or driveway, or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device or public streets and roads.
(5)
Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required building exit.
(6)
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.
(7)
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.
(8)
Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a street sign or street light standard, stone, cliff, or other natural object.
(9)
Searchlights, pennants, spinners, banners and streamers, inflatable balloons and similar devices, except for temporary occasions not to exceed 15 days' duration, such as grand openings, and then only with special prior permission of the Zoning Officer.
(10)
Signs which utilize animated, sequential, intermittent, automatic changing video display.
E.
No roof signs shall be permitted.
F.
No freestanding sign shall be higher than 20 feet from the ground.
G.
In addition to the above requirements of this Part, every sign referred to in this Part shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following standards:
(1)
All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of any building and electrical codes as adopted by the Township.
(2)
No sign shall be erected within or adjacent to a public rights-of-way that would create a significant risk of harm in the event of a collision with another vehicle or motorcycle.
(3)
Except for banners, flags, temporary signs and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this section, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure.
(4)
All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition.
§ 27-1703 (Reserved for Future Use)
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 1702]
This section shall be reserved for future use.
§ 27-1704 Applications and Permits.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 1703]
1.
Applications for permits to erect, alter or modify permanent signs shall be made to the Zoning Officer.
2.
It shall be unlawful to commence the erection of any permanent sign or to commence the moving or alteration of any permanent sign until the Zoning Officer has issued a sign permit for such work.
3.
In applying to the Zoning Officer for a sign permit, the applicant shall submit a dimensional sketch or scale plan indicating the shape, size, height and location of all signs to be erected, altered or moved and supply such other information as may be required by the Zoning Officer for determining whether the provisions of this section are being observed. If the proposed sign as set forth in the application is in conformity with the provisions of this section and other ordinances of the Township then in force, the Zoning Officer shall issue a sign permit for such sign. If the sign permit is refused, the Zoning Officer shall state such refusal in writing with the cause and shall immediately thereupon mail notice of such refusal to the applicant at the address indicated in the application. The Zoning Officer shall grant or deny the permit within 15 days from the date the application is submitted. The issuance of a permit shall in no case be construed as waiving any provisions of this section.
§ 27-1705 Removal of Certain Signs.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 1704]
1.
After 180 days, any sign which advertises business or service no longer in existence on the premises shall be considered to be abandoned. 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 Zoning Officer. For political signs that are abandoned, the County political organizations for the party to which the candidate belongs shall be responsible for the cost of removal of signs by the Township. If such persons fail or refuse to remove such abandoned signs after the notice aforesaid, the Zoning Officer may remove the signs at the expense of the property owner or the persons responsible for the erection and/or maintenance thereof.
2.
In addition, any sign installed or placed on public property or within any public right-of-way that is not in conformance with the requirements of this section shall be forfeited to the public and subject to removal. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the Township shall have the right to recover from the owner or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.