(a) Any sign hereafter erected or maintained shall conform with the provisions of this chapter and any other ordinance or regulations of the township relating thereto. Any sign not specifically authorized by the provisions of this chapter shall not be erected or maintained in the township.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or individual to erect and maintain signs, ground signboards, roof signboards, wall bulletins, projecting signs, marquees and marquee signs without first obtaining a permit from the township, except those listed specifically in § 1282.06.
(c) No sign shall hereafter be erected or attached to, suspended from or supported on a building or structure, and no display sign shall hereafter be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated until a permit for the same has been obtained, except those listed specifically hereafter in § 1282.06.
(d) Application for such permits shall be made in writing to the township in accordance with § 1282.08 and shall present full particulars as to size, shape, material, supports, location and height above the sidewalk or ground, together with the written consent of the owner of the property on which the sign is to be located. All applications shall be accompanied by a plan drawn to scale, showing the sign, its size, and its location with respect to the building and to the boundaries of the lot upon which it is situated.
(e) Signs and their respective illumination existing at the time of the passage of this Zoning Code and which do not conform to the requirements of this chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs and once discontinued for 60 days, or damaged more than 50% of its market value, or removed for any reason, shall be replaced with conforming signs. Nonconforming signs may be painted, repaired (including lighting), and altered in their wording, provided such modifications do not exceed the dimensions of the existing signs.
(f) No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises owned or controlled by him or her, a sign which has been abandoned. An
ABANDONED SIGN, for the purpose of this chapter is a sign erected on and/or related to the use of a property which becomes vacant and unoccupied for a period of 60 days or more; or any sign which was erected for a prior occupant or business; or any sign which relates to a time or event or purpose which is past. Any such abandoned sign shall be removed by the landowner or person controlling the property within ten days of the abandonment as described above.
(g) The Building Inspector is hereby authorized and empowered to revoke any permit issued by the township, upon failure of the holder thereof to comply with any provision of this chapter.
(h) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply where signage is erected and maintained by the township for township purposes, provided that all other required governmental permits are obtained by the township prior to such township use.
(Ord. 896, passed 12-21-2011)