West Rockhill Township
City Zoning Code

The area of a sign shall include all lettering, 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 which are incidental to the display itself. The computation of area of the sign shall include decorative trim in addition to the portion devoted to the message and lettering.

Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to or painted on a surface, building, wall, or window, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other shape which encompasses all the letters and symbols.

For a sign painted upon or applied to a building, the area shall be considered to include all lettering, working, accompanying designs, or symbols together with any backing associated with the sign.

In computing the size of a double-faced sign where the sides are parallel to each other, only one side shall be considered, provided the size of both faces are identical. If the interior angle formed by the two faces of the double-faced sign is greater than 45°, then both sides of such sign shall be considered in calculating the sign area.

Unless the regulations of this chapter specifically state that a sign may be placed off the lot or premises to which it relates, signs may be placed only on the same lot with the use or establishment to which the sign relates.

No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to traffic on a street or entering a street by obscuring the view, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic control device. No sign shall be placed in a clear sight triangle.

All parts of any sign, except for official traffic and street signs, shall observe the placement requirements established herein.

Signs of a flashing, rotating, or revolving-type, with the exception of barber poles.

Novelty signs, including but not limited to objects (i.e., tires, automobiles, food products, etc.) pennants, banners, balloons, bulletin boards, and animated signs.

Roof signs. Any sign placed above or at the same level as the roofline of a flat roof or the lowest point of eaves of a sloping or mansard roof.

Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound, or odor.

Video signs.

Any sign suspended between poles and lighted by a series of lights.

Any sign which imitates any official traffic sign, signal or device.

Any vehicle or trailer, which is not regularly and customarily used to transport persons and property for the business it advertises, which is parked on a public right-of-way or on public or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way, which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign or advertising device for the primary purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business or activity located on the same or on another property.

Any sign erected on a tree or utility pole, or painted or drawn on a rock or other natural feature. (Except that "no trespassing" signs not exceeding two square feet may be placed on trees.)

Any banner sign or sign of any other type across a public street or on any private property, except for such signs which are approved by the Township to be of general benefit to the municipality or for public convenience, necessity, or welfare.

Any sign suspended between poles which is either a pennant which blows in the wind or a spinner which spins in the wind.

A series of lights or lighting outlining the edges of commercial buildings or commercial building elements shall be considered a sign under the terms of this chapter and shall be prohibited.

Any sign which does not conform to the requirements of this chapter which were in effect when the sign was erected.

Signs containing information on which it states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter in the zoning district on which the property to which the sign relates is located.

Any sign facing an occupied dwelling unit within a residential district shall be prohibited within 200 feet of such occupied dwelling.

Indirectly illuminated signs shall shine with white or clear light only. Fully shielded fixtures shall be used and the source of illumination shall not be visible from any adjoining property or roadway. The planting of vegetation, while a desirable additional means to reduce the impact of the light source, shall not be considered as a replacement for this requirement.

The internal source of directly illuminated signs shall be a white or clear light only. No internally illuminated sign, including, but not limited to electronic signs, shall exceed 5,000 nits in the daytime or 250 nits in the nighttime hours. These intensity levels shall be preset by the manufacturer and protected from end-user manipulation by password-protected software or other method determined appropriate by the Township. Annual recertification shall be required from the manufacturer and provided to the Township on the anniversary date of the issuance of the original sign permit to erect an electronic sign. In the event the manufacturer is no longer available for recertification, the annual recertification may be made by a person or entity deemed qualified by the Township. Illumination of all electronic signs shall be by light-emitting diode (LED) or similar style illumination only.

Illuminated signs with any form of exposed neon or other tubes are prohibited.

No red, green or yellow illuminated sign shall be permitted within 300 feet of a traffic signal.

Except for electronic signs, signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights are prohibited, provided that illumination of electronic signs may not have flashing light or meet the meet the definition of "video signs."

Official highway route number signs, street name signs and other official traffic signs which are in the interest of public safety or the regulation of traffic.

Directional, informational, or public service signs, such as those advertising the availability of restrooms, telephone or similar public conveniences, provided that such signs do not advertise any commercial establishment, activity, organization, product, goods, or services, except those of public utilities. Any sign covered by this paragraph shall not exceed two square feet.

Governmental flag or insignia.

Legal notice.

Window sign. A sign applied to a window pane giving store hours or the name or names of credit or charge institutions, when the total area of any such sign or all signs together does not exceed one square foot.

Cornerstone. Historical plaque or sign affixed to the surface of a building wall and not exceeding 200 square inches.

Barber pole. Revolving barber pole sign provided that it does not exceed 36 inches in height and that it is erected only in a commercial district in conjunction with a barbershop.

Bunting. Temporary bunting, pennants, and similar materials announcing the opening of a new business or industry, and must be removed after 14 days of the opening day or the first day of business.

Official and governmental signs including safety signs, indicating points of interest, signs identifying official Township buildings and facilities. Signs identifying Township buildings, police stations, or other Township facilities may be illuminated by exterior lights focused on the sign.

Temporary signs not exceeding four square feet advertising a garage or yard sale conducted in accordance with this chapter, provided that signs may be posted only on the property where such sale is taking place and only for the duration of the sale itself.

Political signs advertising the candidacy of a person for elected office are permitted, provided that such signs shall be removed within 72 hours after the election and provided that the property owner on which the sign is placed has given his approval. No sign shall be erected more than 30 days prior to an election. No political signs shall be placed on trees or utility poles, Township property, state property, county property, or within the legal right-of-way of any street. Such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet.

Signs announcing "no trespassing," signs indicating the private nature of the road, driveway or premises, and signs controlling fishing or hunting on the premises not exceeding an area of two square feet.

Temporary signs announcing a nonpolitical campaign, drive or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization. Such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be removed immediately upon completion of the campaign, drive or event.

Temporary "for sale" or "for rent" signs not exceeding six square feet in area.

Interior signs, which are signs placed within a building and are placed more than 12 inches from the interior surface of a window.

Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 450-2007, 450-2008, 450-2009, and 450-2111, electronic signs shall be permitted along Ridge Road, Bethlehem Pike, State Road (PA 152), on Washington Avenue, and on Lawn Avenue between Farmer's Lane and Ridge Road in the following zoning districts: SR, VC, VR, PC, PC-2, PI, and IS. Electronic signs shall only be permitted in the SR, VC, VR, PC, PC-2, and IS Zoning Districts along the above-mentioned roadways and not at other locations in those above-mentioned zoning districts nor shall electric signs be permitted along the above-mentioned roadways unless the electronic sign is also in the SR, VC, VR, PC, PC-2, or IS Zoning District.

All electronic signs shall be permanent freestanding ground signs. No electronic signs shall be erected upon, applied to, or supported by a building, vehicle, or other structure.

Electronic signs shall advertise only the business or use on the property on which the electronic sign is located.

Copy on electronic signs shall change no more frequently than every 30 seconds.

No electronic sign shall be located on or within any protected natural resource.

All electronic signs shall comply with all the regulations for signs within the district in which the sign is located (see §§ 450-2007, 450-2008, 450-2009, and 450-2010). The square footage of the electronic sign shall count toward the maximum square footage allowed for signage in the applicable district. No electronic sign shall exceed the maximum square footage permitted for a freestanding signs in the zoning district in which the electronic sign is located.

All lighting shall be aimed, located, designed, fitted, and maintained so as not to present a hazard to drivers or pedestrians by impairing their ability to safely traverse the community and so as not to create a nuisance by projecting or reflecting objectionable light onto a neighboring use or property.

The following buffer plants shall be planted adjacent to all electronic signs. The size and species of these plants shall comply with the requirements listed in Chapter 365, Subdivision and Land Development.

All electronic signs shall be maintained in good condition. The structural components of the sign shall be maintained to ensure their integrity and to prevent the possible collapse of the sign. Any damage to the structural components shall be repaired within 24 hours. Signs which are not in operation or maintained in good condition for a period of 90 days shall be removed at the owner's expense.

Prohibitions.

Signs displaying the street number or the name of the occupant on the premises or both, provided that they are on any one side of any such sign and shall not exceed two square feet.

One identification sign for a permitted nonresidential building or use, provided that the area on any one side of any such sign shall not exceed 20 square feet.

One sign in connection with a lawfully maintained nonconforming use, provided that the area on any one side of any such sign shall not exceed 20 square feet.

Temporary contractors, developers, architects, or builders sign, provided that the area on any one side of such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet. Such signs shall be maintained on the premises to which they relate and shall be removed upon completion of the work.

Signs advertising the sale or the development of the premises when erected in connection with the development of the premises by a builder, developer, contractor or other person interested in such sales or development, provided that the size of such sign is not in excess of 24 square feet. Not more than one such sign shall be placed on any property held in single and separate ownership, unless the property fronts on more than one street, in which event not more than one sign may be erected on each street frontage. Sign shall be removed within 20 days after sale of the property.

Identification signs for schools, churches, nursing homes, life care facility, full care facility or similar institutions, clubs, golf courses, or farms, provided that the maximum size is less than 20 square feet and the use to which it refers is permitted in the RA, RC, SR, VR, REC, and MHP district in which the use is located. Such signs may be indirectly illuminated.

Professional, home occupation, or name signs indicating the profession and/or activity and/or the name of the occupant of the dwelling, provided that the maximum sign size is two square feet per side, is not illuminated by any means, and no more than one sign is erected for each permitted use or dwelling unit.

A development sign designed to identify a subdivision or planned residential development or section thereof, provided that it complies with the following regulations:

Temporary signs advertising the sale of agricultural or horticultural products, meeting the following requirements:

Sign types permitted are freestanding and building wall sign. No freestanding sign in these districts shall exceed a height of six feet.

Off-premises signs shall not be permitted except for temporary signs advertising a yard or garage sale or the sale of agricultural or horticultural products.

All signs permitted in § 450-2007 at the standards prescribed for it in that section, provided the use to which it refers is permitted in the PC, PC-2, PI, and EXT Districts.

Signs advertising permitted individual nonresidential uses on an individual lot that does not share occupancy of a lot with any other use and which does not share a common building entrance with any other use may be erected in accordance with the following:

Signs for joint use of a lot. Signs for a combination of individual uses which share occupancy of a lot or combination of lots with other establishments or uses are permitted in accordance with the following.

Exterior temporary signs, including all moveable signs such as those advertising commercial sales, when located on the site where such use is conducted may be permitted for a period not to exceed 30 days in any one calendar year for any one premises or commercial use.

A row or series of adjoining building signs to be placed upon a wall surface having a common roofline shall be of the same size, shape, general design, and material so as to create uniformity among the series of signs.

Directional signs. A directional signs of two square feet or less is permitted for traffic control purposes at each driveway to the lot, provided such signs do not contain advertising copy.

All signs permitted in § 450-2007 at the standards prescribed for it in that section, provided the use to which it refers is permitted in the IS district.

Signs advertising permitted individual nonresidential uses on an individual lot that does not share occupancy of a lot with any other use and which does not share a common building entrance with any other use may be erected in accordance with the following:

Signs for joint use of a lot. Signs for a combination of individual uses which share occupancy of a lot or combination of lots with other establishments or uses are permitted in accordance with the following.

Directional signs. A directional signs of two square feet or less is permitted for traffic control purposes at each driveway to the lot, provided such signs do not contain advertising copy.

All signs permitted in § 450-2007 at the standards prescribed for it in that section.

Signs in the VC District may be unilluminated or illuminated in accordance with the regulations set forth in § 450-2005.

Signs advertising a permitted nonresidential use, such as a business, office or other permitted use, may erect one freestanding and one building sign, in accordance with the following regulations.

Signs for joint use of a lot. Signs for a combination of individual uses which share occupancy of a lot or combination of lots with other establishments or uses are permitted in accordance with the following.

Directional signs. A directional sign of two square feet or less is permitted for traffic control purposes at each driveway to the lot, provided such signs do not contain advertising copy.

Exterior temporary signs, including all moveable signs such as those advertising commercial sales, when located on the site where such use is conducted may be permitted for a period not to exceed 30 days in any one calendar year for any one premises or commercial use.

Decorative flags. Flags which are decorative and contain designs marking seasons, holidays, or the general nature of a business are permitted in addition to permitted signs. If the flag contains advertising, company or business logos, or names of businesses, then the area of the flag shall be considered a sign and shall be counted toward the total area of signage permitted on a property.

Off-premises signs (Use E28) shall be located only along the Bethlehem Pike in the PC-2 Zoning District and the Route 309 Bypass in all zoning districts, excluding the SR, VR, and VC districts. Such signs may be only permitted as a special exception. Off-premises signs for temporary advertising of the sale of agricultural or horticultural products must meet the requirements of § 450-2007I and are exempted from the requirements of § 450-2011.

All off-premises signs shall be erected upon land which is leased or purchased for the exclusive business purpose of advertising by sign. Only one such sign may be erected per parcel. Off-premises signs shall not be erected upon or within any protected natural resource.

All off-premises signs shall be permanent freestanding signs erected upon the ground. No off-premises sign shall be erected upon, painted on, applied to, attached to, and/or supported by a building, vehicle, or other structure.

Setbacks.

No off-premises sign shall be permitted to exceed a maximum area of 160 square feet, including border and trim but excluding supports. A sign having two sides back-to-back or a V-shaped sign with a horizontal angle not greater than 45° is permitted to have 100 square feet on each side for a total maximum area of 200 square feet.

No off-premises sign or any part thereof shall be taller than 20 feet in height measured from the nearest shoulder of the road to the highest point of the proposed sign or taller than 25 feet in height measured from lowest point of the undisturbed surface of the ground underneath the sign. No off-premises sign shall be erected upon a berm or other artificial/man-made structure designed to increase the height of the sign.

An off-premises sign structure may contain only one sign or advertisement per face.

Off-premises signs shall not be artificially lit in any fashion. No revolving or electronic off-premises signs including, but not limited to, flashing signs, signs with intermittent illumination, or signs with mechanically or electronically changing messages, shall be permitted. No mobile off-premises signs shall be permitted.

The following buffer plants shall be planted adjacent to all off-premises signs. The size and species of these plants shall comply with the requirements listed in Article V, General Design Standards, of Chapter 365, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of West Rockhill.

All off-premises signs and required landscaping shall be maintained in good condition. The structural components of the sign shall be maintained to ensure their integrity and to prevent the possible collapse of the sign. Any damage to the structural components shall be repaired within 24 hours. The face of the sign shall be blank or shall show the full advertisement. Signs having ripped, defaced (including graffiti), or partial advertisements shall be immediately repaired by having the advertisement restored to its original condition, removed, or covered. Damaged, diseased, or dead landscaping vegetation shall be immediately replaced.

Permit required. It shall be unlawful to erect, construct, or alter any sign not included as an "exempt" sign under § 450-2006 without first filing with the Zoning Officer an application in writing and obtaining a formal permit. Normal sign maintenance shall not require a permit.

Application form. An application for a permit for the erection, construction, or alteration of a sign shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the Township. The application shall contain the full names and addresses of the applicant, the owner of the premises where a sign is to be erected, constructed or altered, and the person or firm engaged to erect, construct, or alter the sign. The application shall contain the affidavits of the owner of the premises authorizing the application and a description of the work to be completed.

Plans to accompany application. Applications for permits for the erection, construction, or alteration of signs shall be accompanied by drawings of the proposed work showing the structural details of the sign and other details the Zoning Officer may require.

Fees. All applicants for permits for the erection, construction, or alteration of signs shall, at the time of making such application, pay a fee to the Township in accordance with the effective Fee Schedule adopted by annual resolution of the Board of Supervisors.