Westmont City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XI
Signs
§ 225-52 Permit required; fees.
[Amended 6-12-2001 by Ord. No. 754]
A building permit shall be required prior to the erection of any and all signs in the Borough of Westmont, including but not limited to commercial and/or other signs. Prior to the erection of any sign, the owner of the real estate upon which the sign is located shall complete a building permit application form showing the location with respect to property lines, size, height, the type of lighting, if any, and the type of material that is to be used. The application and permit fees shall be as set forth by current Westmont Borough Council resolution as kept on file at the Borough Office.
§ 225-53 Maintenance.
All signs shall be erected and maintained in a safe and orderly condition. The Zoning Officer may order the repair or removal of any sign which he has declared unsafe. In the event that the property owner fails to remove or repair an unsafe sign within 48 hours following such notification by the Zoning Officer, it may be removed by the Borough at the property owner's expense.
§ 225-54 Obstruction of vision.
All signs should be erected in a manner which will not obstruct vision or in any way impede the safe movement of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic. The Zoning Officer may order the removal of any sign which obstructs vision or in any way impedes the safe movement of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic. In the event that the property owner fails to remove the sign within 48 hours following such notification by the Zoning Officer, the sign may be removed by the Borough at the property owner's expense.
§ 225-55 Specific regulations.
[Amended 6-12-2001 by Ord. No. 754; 5-9-2023 by Ord. No. 854]
A.
In the Borough of Westmont, the following regulations shall apply to all signs proposed to be erected, including but not limited to commercial and/or other signs. The intent of this chapter is to regulate all signs within the Borough to ensure that they are appropriate for their respective uses, in keeping with the appearance of the affected property and surrounding environment, and protective of the public health, safety, and general welfare by:
(1)
Setting standards and providing uniform, scientifically based controls that permit reasonable use of signs and preserve the character of the Borough.
(2)
Prohibiting the erection of signs in such numbers, sizes, designs, illumination, and locations as may create a hazard to pedestrians and motorists.
(3)
Avoiding excessive conflicts from large or multiple signs, so that permitted signs provide adequate identification and direction while minimizing clutter, unsightliness, and confusion.
(4)
Ensuring sign design that builds on the traditional town image and visual environment the Borough seeks to promote.
B.
Residential district regulations.
(1)
All signs located in residential districts shall not exceed nine square feet.
(2)
Front, side and rear yard areas shall be maintained as set forth in the regulations for the residential district in which a sign is proposed to be constructed.
(3)
Each home occupation and/or family dwelling shall be restricted to one commercial or other identification sign, excepting temporary signs as regulated by § 225-56.
(4)
No sign in residential districts may be illuminated except those signs identifying special exception uses as permitted in the district in which it is proposed to be constructed, and then only after such sign has been reviewed and approved by the Westmont Borough Zoning Hearing Board.
(5)
The height of all signs located in residential districts shall not exceed 10 feet.
(6)
Freestanding signs for existing nonconforming uses and uses permitted by special exception shall be limited to a maximum of 12 square feet in size. Signs mounted on a building shall be limited to a maximum of 5% of the area of the wall surface including window and door areas, for any one wall.
C.
Commercial district regulations.
(1)
Freestanding signs.
(a)
Signs not attached to a building shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the front and side lot lines. Freestanding signs located on corner lots shall be located a minimum setback of 15 feet from the side lot lines along the side street.
(b)
The height of all proposed freestanding signs shall be limited to 20 feet.
(c)
Each separately owned commercial property located in the Borough of Westmont shall be limited to one freestanding sign.
(d)
The size of each freestanding sign shall be limited to 50 square feet for each face.
(2)
Signs attached to buildings.
(a)
Business or identification signs attached to buildings shall not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of building that faces the front lot line. Signs attached to sides of buildings shall not exceed 1/2 square foot for each linear foot of building that faces the side lot line.
(b)
A sign attached to a building shall not project more than 12 inches from the face of the building to which it is attached.
(c)
Signs attached to a building shall not project above the ridge line of a sloping roof nor above the ridge line of a flat roof.
(3)
Illumination. Signs located in commercial districts, for commercial uses, may be internally illuminated only. Any illuminated sign shall not reflect excess light onto neighboring residential districts.
D.
General sign regulations. The following restrictions shall apply to all permitted sign uses:
(1)
No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to traffic on a street by obscuring view.
(2)
No stringing of light bulbs, no animated sign, nor signs that revolve, swing or have movable parts or have flashing lights or reflectors shall be permitted after the effective date of this chapter, except when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board, and no advertising signs, banner, pennant balance, spinners or display constructed of cloth, canvas, wallboard or other like materials shall be erected, suspended or hung on any property except as follows. The Zoning Officer may permit the use of any such advertising signs, banners or displays constructed of cloth, light fabric or other like materials for a period of not more than 30 days in any one calendar year, provided that:
(a)
No such sign or display shall exceed in size the area permitted for permanent signs as provided for each zoning district.
(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)
No such sign or display shall be permitted within the lines of any public street or public sidewalk or shall be closer to a curb than 10 feet, unless specifically authorized by other ordinances and regulations of the Borough of Westmont.
(d)
No sign or display shall be permitted to be placed across a public street or highway.
(3)
No sign shall project over a public sidewalk, unless authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.
(4)
Each sign must be maintained in good condition and repair.
(5)
No commercial building, including multiple dwellings or apartments in any residential district, shall be illuminated on the exterior by floodlighting or spotlighting or similar-type lighting.
(6)
All signs shall be made a part of the architectural design of a new commercial construction or major alterations of existing buildings. Drawings submitted for sign permits shall show size, location and illumination in detail.
(7)
All nonconforming signs and billboards at the effective date of this chapter shall not be altered, expanded or enlarged without approval of the Zoning Hearing Board.
(8)
No sign, including but not limited to political, commercial and/or other signs, shall be erected in the Borough of Westmont on public property.
E.
Billboards. Billboards are specifically prohibited in the Borough of Westmont.
§ 225-56 Temporary signs.
A temporary sign shall mean a sign which is erected for a period of not more than 30 consecutive days. Erection of a temporary sign shall not occur more than twice in any calendar year.
B.
Five temporary signs are permitted per property to be displayed during any time period provided for in the chapter.
[Amended 5-9-2023 by Ord. No. 854]
C.
The property owner on whose property the temporary sign is erected shall remove said sign on or before the 30th day after it was erected. The date of erection of a temporary sign must be written indelible ink on the lower right-hand corner of the sign. In the event that the property owner fails to remove said temporary sign, it may be removed by the Borough at the property owner's expense.
[Added 5-9-2023 by Ord. No. 854]
D.
All temporary signs must be installed and maintained such that, in the opinion of the Borough Zoning Official or Code Enforcement Officer, they do not create a safety hazard. A sign installed in violation of this chapter may be removed by the Borough or property owner.
[Added 5-9-2023 by Ord. No. 854]
§ 225-56.1 (Reserved) [1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 225-56.1, Temporary signs for electioneering, added 6-12-2001 by Ord. No. 754, was repealed 5-9-2023 by Ord. No. 854.
§ 225-57 Violations and penalties.
If any person shall violate any provision of this Article, such person shall, upon conviction of such offense, pay fines or may be sentenced and committed to the county jail as per Article XVI of this chapter.