(A) The following signs shall be permitted by right within all zoning districts within the following regulations, and shall not be required to have a permit under this subchapter.
(B) See footnotes at the end of the table.
Type and Definition of Signs Not Requiring Permits | Max. No. of Signs per Lot | Max. Sign Area per Sign* on a Lot, Other than a Nonresidential Lot (Sq. Ft.) | Max. Sign Area per Sign* on a Nonresidential Lot** (Sq. Ft.) | Other Requirements |
Type and Definition of Signs Not Requiring Permits | Max. No. of Signs per Lot | Max. Sign Area per Sign* on a Lot, Other than a Nonresidential Lot (Sq. Ft.) | Max. Sign Area per Sign* on a Nonresidential Lot** (Sq. Ft.) | Other Requirements |
Charitable event sign - advertises a special event held a max. of 9 days in any calendar year that primarily is held to benefit a U.S. Internal Revenue Service certified tax-exempt nonprofit organization | 1 per company working on the site | 8 | 40 | Shall only be permitted while such work is actively and clearly underway and a max. of 10 days afterward; such signs shall not be place on the lot for more than 1 year; shall not be illuminated |
Christmas tree sign - advertises the seasonal sale of Christmas trees | 2 | 8 | 30 | Shall only be posted during seasons when such products are actively offered for sale |
Directional sign - provides information indicating traffic direction, entry or exit, loading or service area, directions to apartment numbers or parking courts in a development, fire lanes, parking or closely similar information regarding the same lot as the sign is on, and that does not include advertising | Non max. | 3, in addition to signs painted on pavement | 3, in addition to signs painted on pavement | Directional signs within a residential development shall not be illuminated |
Flag - a banner or pennant made of fabric or materials with a similar appearance that is hung in such a way to flow in the wind and that includes some type of commercial message | 2 | 20 | 50 | Governmental flags and flags without an advertising message are not regulated by this subchapter |
Garage sale sign - advertises an occasional garage sale/porch sale or auction | 2 per event | 2 per sign | 2 per sign | Shall be placed a max. of 48 hrs. before permitted garage sale or auction begins, and be removed max. of 24 hrs. after event ends |
Home occupation sign - advertises a permitted home occupation | 1 | 2 | 8 | Shall not be illuminated if within a residential district; shall be setback a min. of ten feet from the street right-of-way, unless printed on a mailbox. may be freestanding, attached flat on a building wall or within a window; max. total height of 8 ft. |
Identification sign - only identifies the name and/or occupation of the resident and/or the name, street address and/or use of a lot, but that does not include advertising | 1 | 1, except 2 for a principal nonresidential use | 6 | Max. height of 8 ft. |
Open house sign - advertises the temporary and periodic open house of a property for sale or rent | 2 per event | 4 | 4 | Shall be placed max. of 5 days before open house begins, and be removed max. of 24 hrs. after open house ends; such sign shall not be posted more than five consecutive days |
Political sign - advertises a person or party seeking political office or a political cause or opinion on a referendum or matter of political concern | No max. | 6 per sign | Max. total of 60 | Shall be placed a max. of 60 days prior to any election or scheduled vote or referendum to which the sign may relate, and removed a max. of 7 days after such election, vote or referendum; persons posting political signs shall maintain a written list of locations of such signs, unless posting signs on their own property; political signs shall not be placed on property without the prior consent of the owner; if a political sign does not meet these requirements, then it shall be regulated as an “off-premises sign” |
Public services sign - advertises the availability of restrooms, telephone or other similar public convenience | No max. | 2 | 2 | |
Real estate sign - advertises the availability of property on which the sign is located for sale, rent or lease | 1 per street the lot abuts | 6 | 30 | Shall only be placed on the property while it is actively for sale, lease or rent, and shall be removed a max. of 7 days after settlement or start of lease |
Service organization/place of worship sign - an off-premises sign stating name of a recognized incorporated service organization or place of worship and that states the place and times of meetings or services and/or an arrow directing persons to such location | 2 | 2 | 2 | Max. of 2 such signs per such organization or place of worship |
Special sale signs - temporary banners, flags and other signs that advertise a special sales event or grand opening at a lawful principal commercial business; a portable sign may be used under this provision | 5 per lot | Not permitted | Total of 60 sq. ft. for all such banners, flags and other temporary signs. No one banner, flag or sign shall exceed 40 sq. ft. | Shall be displayed a max. of 7 consecutive days per event, and a max. of 5 events per year; such signs shall not flash, be internally illuminated, nor obstruct safe sight distances |
Time and temperature sign - with a sole purpose to announce the current time and temperature any nonprofit public service messages | 1 | Not permitted | 30 | |
Trespassing sign - indicating that a road is private, that trespassing is prohibited on a lot, or controlling certain activities such as hunting and fishing on the lot | No max. | 2 | 4 | |
Abbreviations: “max”. = maximum; “min”. = minimum; “hrs”. = hours. | ||||
* Max. sign areas are for each of 2 sides of each permitted sign, measured in sq. ft. | ||||
** A “nonresidential lot” shall be considered a lot occupied by a principal commercial, industrial or institutional use” | ||||
(C) In addition, the following types of signs are not regulated by this subchapter:
(1) Historic sign. Memorializes an important historic place, event or person and that is specifically authorized by the borough or a county, state or federal agency;
(2) Holiday decorations. Commemorates a holiday recognized by the borough, county, state or federal government and that does not include advertising;
(3) Not readable sign. Not readable from any public street or any exterior lot line;
(4) Official sign. Erected by the state, county, borough or other legally constituted governmental body, or specifically authorized by borough ordinance or resolution, and which exists for public purposes;
(5) Required sign. Only includes information required to be posted outdoors by a government agency or the borough; and
(6) Right-of-way sign. Posted within the existing right-of-way of a public street and officially authorized by the borough or PennDOT.
(2006 Code, § 27-703) (Ord. 12/18/2003, passed 12-18-2003, § 703)