West Vincent Township
City Zoning Code

Promote the safety, comfort and well-being of the users of streets, roads and highways in the Township;

Reduce distractions and obstructions from signs which would adversely affect traffic safety and to alleviate hazards caused by signs projecting over or encroaching upon public ways;

Discourage excessive visual competition in signage and ensure that signs aid orientation and adequately identify uses and activities to the public; and

Preserve or enhance the rural and historic character of the Township by requiring new and replacement signage, which is:

Official traffic signs.

Home occupation, professional or nameplate signs, provided that:

Identification signs for subdivisions, planned residential developments, multifamily developments, mobile home parks, farms or estates, schools, churches and other permitted uses, provided that:

Real estate signs, provided that:

Development signs, provided that:

Trespassing signs, provided that the size of any such sign not exceed two square feet.

Artisan signs, provided that:

Bulletin board signs or directory signs, provided that the sign area does not exceed 12 square feet.

Temporary signs, provided that:

Business signs advertising the sale of farm products, provided the size of such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet.

Yard or garage sale signs not exceeding four square feet in area, and provided they are removed within 24 hours of the completion of the sale.

Public utility identification signs relating to the identification, operation or protection of any public utility or essential service.

Directional signs for conditional uses and uses by special exception, provided that each such sign shall not exceed two square feet in area.

Historical or memorial markers or tablets, provided that:

Any sign permitted in residential districts which relates to a use permitted in the Planned Commercial/Limited Industrial, Ludwigs Village Center Commercial, or Municipal District.

Real estate signs, provided that:

Business signs, provided that:

Directional signs, provided that each such sign shall not exceed four square feet in area.

Illuminated signs.

Temporary signs, provided that:

Digital signs.

Any sign permitted in residential districts which relates to a use permitted in the Birchrunville Village District.

Business signs, provided that:

Directional signs, provided that each such sign shall not exceed two square feet in area.

No sign shall be erected within any street right-of-way, except official traffic signs and similar regulatory notices or historical markers of a duly constituted governmental body.

No sign having a distracting effect on motorists on adjacent highways shall be permitted, including flashing signs and those which move, oscillate or rotate, and those which contain reflective elements which flutter or sparkle and convey the impression of movement.

No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct free and clear vision of any intersection, driveway, parking lot entrance or exit, or traffic control device.

No sign shall be erected which uses an artificial light or reflecting device which may be mistaken for a traffic signal or which contains red, green or amber illumination.

No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress and egress from any door, window or fire escape.

No sign shall be erected which emits smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor.

No sign shall be erected containing information which implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter.

No business sign shall be located nearer to a residence or a residential district line than permitted for buildings on the lot. If located nearer than 50 feet and facing into a residence or a residential district, it shall be designed so as not to shine or reflect light upon such residence or district.

Illuminated signs that are indirectly lit shall be illuminated by fixtures positioned above the sign. Said fixtures shall be shielded so that the source of light is not visible from any location off the subject property, and/or from any adjacent private or public street or vehicular accessway.

Projecting, freestanding, or wall signs shall have a minimum clearance of 10 feet from the finished grade of any sidewalk or 14 1/2 feet above any parking area or drive. Wall signs mounted flush to a building may be located less than 10 feet from the finished grade of any sidewalk or 14 1/2 feet above any parking area or drive.

No roof signs shall be permitted, and no part of any sign shall extend above the vertical building face or wall, such as the eaves line or the top of a parapet.

All signs shall be constructed of durable materials and kept in good condition and repair, safe from hazards, nuisances and collapse. When any sign becomes dilapidated, structurally unsafe or endangers the public safety, or the safety of a building or premises, the Township shall give written notice to the owner of the sign or the owner of the premises on which the sign is located that such sign be made safe or removed within 30 days. Should the remedy not occur within this time-frame, the Township shall remove the sign at the expense of the owner.

If a use ceases for a period of six months, signs advertising the ceased business or businesses must be removed by the owner of the property or the owner of the sign. Such signs may be removed by the Township at the expense of the owner if not removed within 30 days of written notice to the owner.

All signs shall be made a harmonious part of the architectural design and character of the buildings located on the same lot and of the district in which the sign is located.

All signs shall be securely mounted or fastened to the building upon which they are erected or, if freestanding, must be securely and safely installed in the ground.

No sign, except removable political signs and temporary removable yard or garage sale signs and trespassing signs, shall be placed on any tree, utility pole, or upon natural features.

Outdoor advertising billboards may be permitted in the PC/LI Planned Commercial/Limited Industrial District only as a special exception when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the standards of § 390-228 of this chapter and the following additional requirements:

Off-site directional signs shall be permitted in all districts, provided that the signs comply with the following requirements:

Banner signs shall be permitted only when erected for 15 days or less.

Prohibited signs.

Design guidelines. Although design and architectural style of signs are not specifically restricted, signs should observe the design guidelines contained in Appendix B of this chapter in order to maintain consistency with the surroundings and to ensure compatibility with the traditional rural character of the Township.[1]

Sign plan and schedule: as part of any subdivision or land development plan as defined by Chapter 315, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Township's Code, a sign plan and schedule shall be submitted and approved by the Board of Supervisors prior to final plan approval. If a sign plan or schedule has been revised after final plan approval or a sign is proposed which was not included as part of a sign plan or schedule, a new or revised sign plan and schedule shall be submitted to the Township and approved by the Zoning Officer prior to issuance of a sign permit.

Double-faced signs. In computing the area of a double-face sign, only one side shall be considered, provided that both faces are identical. In "V" type signs or structures, the interior angle of which exceeds 45°, both sides shall be considered in computing the sign area.

Distances. All distances provided for in this article shall be measured from the nearest edge of the sign or sign structure.

Window signs. Any sign which is painted or mounted onto a window, or which is hung directly inside the window, shall not exceed 30% of the window area in which it is displayed. Permanent signs hung inside windows shall be made of clear materials with lettering painted or affixed to them.

Freestanding signs. The height of freestanding signs shall be measured from the ground level to the topmost portion of the sign structure.

Permits. A sign permit shall be required for all signs, except those declared exempt in Subsection E below. Such signs shall be subject to annual inspection, unless otherwise provided. All illuminated signs shall be in accordance with the National Electrical Code. Applications for sign permits shall be filed in triplicate and on forms furnished by the Township and shall be accompanied by detailed plans and specifications and such other information deemed necessary by the Board of Supervisors to determine the location, details of construction, and illumination of such sign. All applications for sign permits shall be accompanied by the property owner's written consent if the property owner is not the owner of the sign.

Annual inspection. All signs for which a permit is required may be subject to annual inspection by the Board of Supervisors. The fees for annual inspection shall be as established by resolution by the Board of Supervisors, and a certificate of inspection issued upon payment of the same.

Temporary sign permits. A temporary sign permit may be reissued for not more than one successive three-month period. Display of temporary signs for more than three months will require conversion to permanent sign status or shall be removed by the owner or applicant. The site or building on which the sign was erected shall be restored to its original condition upon removal of the sign.

Permit fees. No permit to erect a sign shall be issued until the appropriate fee has been paid to the Township in such amount as the Board of Supervisors shall establish by resolution.

Exempt signs. No permit shall be required before erecting any of the following signs, provided they conform to all other provisions established in this article: