The following sign regulations apply to the areas described in each subsection.
(a) Convention Center Area.
(See Sign Regulations Area Map 1 for illustrative purposes only.)
(.1) Art Commission Approval.
No person may erect or maintain any sign within this area unless approved by the Art Commission. The Art Commission has 60 days to approve or disapprove the application, after which its approval will be presumed.
Buildings occupying fifty percent (50%) or more of the total area of the block and having fifty percent (50%) or more of their frontage on Broad Street are, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Zoning Code, permitted to erect a system of accessory signs, including building identification signs, directional signs, freestanding signs, and temporary signs, not to exceed a combined total of 15 sq. ft. of sign area for each lineal foot of frontage along a public street line.
(b) Center City Commercial Area.
(.1) Art Commission Approval.
No sign may be erected or maintained in the Center City Commercial Area (See Sign Regulations Area Map 1 for illustrative purposes only) unless approved by the Art Commission. The Art Commission has 60 days to approve or disapprove the application, after which its approval will be presumed.
(.2) Prohibited Signs.
(.a) Non-accessory signs are prohibited.
(.b) Animated illumination is prohibited. 401
(.c) Projecting signs are prohibited except on properties fronting Market Street between Front Street and 5th Street.
(c) Parkway Buffer Area.
(.1) Review.
No person may erect or maintain any sign in the Parkway Buffer Area (See Sign Regulations Area Map 1 for illustrative purposes only) unless the sign complies with all applicable requirements of this Zoning Code and any applicable regulations of the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and has been approved by the Art Commission. The Art Commission has 60 days to approve or disapprove the application, after which its approval will be presumed.
(.2) Repair and Maintenance.
No sign may be altered or moved in any substantial manner unless it is made to comply with all the requirements of this § 14-502(7)(c) (Parkway Buffer Area).
Allowable signs in the Vine Street Area are limited to the following (See Sign Regulations Area Map 1):
(.1) Wall Signs.
Accessory and non-commercial wall signs are permitted at a ratio of two sq. ft. of sign area per lineal foot of street frontage. The top of such wall signs may not extend above the bottom of the second floor of the building on which it is located.
(.2) Freestanding Signs.
Accessory and non-commercial freestanding signs are permitted at a height not to exceed 15 ft. Freestanding signs are permitted a maximum of two sign facings and a maximum of 16 sq. ft. for each sign facing.
(.3) Building Identification Signs.
Building identification signs and non-commercial signs that are located above the bottom of the second floor are permitted upon approval by the Art Commission. The Art Commission has 60 days to approve or disapprove the application, after which its approval will be presumed. The approval of the Art Commission must take into account the impact of the proposed signage on the skyline and view corridors of Center City and the visual aesthetics of the area. The Art Commission shall not approve any sign contrary to the goals and objectives of this Zoning Code.
(.4) Projecting Signs.
Within the area bounded by 9th Street, Winter Street, 11th Street, and Race Street projecting accessory and projecting non-commercial signs are permitted at a ratio of two sq. ft. of sign area per lineal foot of street frontage. Such signs are in addition to the signs permitted in § 14-502(7)(e)(.1) through § 14-502(7)(e)(.3) 404 and are subject to Art Commission approval. The Art Commission has 60 days to approve or disapprove the application, after which its approval will be presumed.
(.5) Temporary Signs.
Temporary non-commercial signs and real estate signs are permitted, so long as such signs do not exceed a total gross area of 25 sq. ft.
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(f) Washington Square Area.
No sign may be erected or maintained in the Washington Square Area unless approved by the Art Commission (See Sign Regulations Area Map 2 for illustrative purposes only). The Art Commission has 60 days to approve or disapprove the application, after which its approval will be presumed. This provision does not apply to signs lawfully and permanently in place before January 1, 1992.
(g) Independence Hall Area.
(.1) No sign or other advertising structure or device may be erected or maintained on or extending over any portion of a street that is contiguous to a lot located in the Independence Hall Area (See Sign Regulations Area Map 2 for illustrative purposes only). This provision does not apply to any sign placed on the front of any building giving in words and/or numerals the name and brief description of the nature of the business or businesses transacted in the building, provided that:
(.a) The sign does not exceed 10 sq. ft. in area and does not project more than 12 in. from the face of the building; or
(.b) It is expressly authorized by the Art Commission as not being inconsistent with the harmony, style, and architectural/historical character of the area.
(.2) No billboard, roof sign, or other advertising structure or device may be erected or maintained within 150 ft. of any portion of a street that is contiguous to a lot located in the Independence Hall Area unless L&I determines that the proposed sign:
(.a) Complies with all other applicable requirements of this Zoning Code, and
(.b) Has been approved by the Art Commission as complying with the intent of this subsection of insuring the preservation of the historical character of and spirit of this national shrine and a style in harmony with its buildings.
Temporary and permanent freestanding signs and sign with animated illumination or digital displays are prohibited within the Southwark National Historic District (see Sign Regulations Area Map 2 for illustrative purposes only).
(i) Chinatown Area, South.
Non-accessory signs are prohibited in the South Chinatown Area (See Sign Regulations Area Map 2 for illustrative purposes only).
No signs may be erected within the Rittenhouse Square Area (see Sign Regulations Area Map 2 for illustrative purposes only) unless approved by the Art Commission. This provision does not apply to signs in place before January 1, 1950.
(k) City Hall Sign Area.
No person shall erect or maintain any sign extending beyond the building line within the City Hall Sign Area (See Sign Regulations Area Map 2 for illustrative purposes only).
(l) Logan Square Area.
No person shall erect or maintain any sign extending beyond the building line within the Logan Square Area (See Sign Regulations Area Map 2 for illustrative purposes only).
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Notwithstanding the provisions of Table 14-904-1, the provisions of this § 14-502(7)(m) shall apply to accessory wall signs, accessory projecting signs, and accessory marquee signs in the Market Street East Retail Area, North, unless otherwise permitted by § 14-906 (Market Street East Sign Regulations).
(.1) Sign Area.
The maximum sign area for a building or several interconnected buildings shall be determined based on the frontage of the building or interconnected buildings. The area of signage allowed for a building or interconnected buildings may be combined and placed on a single frontage or multiple frontages provided:
(.a) The maximum sign area for the ground floor shall be 2 sq. ft. per linear foot of ground floor frontage.
(.b) The maximum sign area for the 2nd floor shall be 0.5 sq. ft. per linear foot of ground floor frontage, provided:
(i) Signs shall only be along the Market Street frontage or within 80 ft. of the street line of Market Street and;
(ii) Signs shall only be above a window and shall not exceed the width of the window by more than 1 ft. on either or both sides.
(.c) The maximum sign area above the 2nd floor shall be 2 sq. ft. per linear foot of ground floor frontage, provided that no portion of any sign shall be more than 50 ft. from the nearest intersection of two streets, except that:
(i) Signs along the frontage of Market Street between 9th Street and 10th Street may be located up to 200 ft. from 9th Street if an edge of each sign is no more than 100 ft. from 9th Street; and may be located up to 125 ft. from 10th Street, if an edge of each sign is no more than 20 ft. from 10th Street; and
(ii) Signs along the frontage of Market Street between 8th Street and 9th Street may be located up to 100 ft. from 9th Street.
(.2) Sign Height.
(.a) The maximum height of any sign on the ground floor shall be the 2nd floor window sill of the respective building frontage (or no more than 3 ft. above the floor line of the 2nd floor if there is no window) provided no sign shall extend above the roof line. Any sign below the 2nd floor window sill (or less than 3 ft. above the floor line of the 2nd floor if there is no window) shall be considered a ground floor sign.
(.b) The maximum height of any sign on the 2nd floor shall be the 3rd floor window sill of the respective building frontage (or no more than 3 ft. above the floor line of the 3rd floor if there is no window) provided no sign shall extend above the roof line. Any sign below the 3rd floor window sill (or less than 3 ft. above the floor line of the 3rd floor if there is no window) shall be considered a 2nd floor sign.
(.c) The maximum height of any sign above the 2nd floor shall not extend above the roof line of the respective building frontage.
(.3) Sign Size.
(.a) The maximum size of each sign located on the ground floor or 2nd floor shall be 150 sq. ft.
(.b) The maximum size of each sign above the 2nd floor shall be 500 sq. ft, except one 600 sq. ft. sign may be permitted along the frontage of Market Street between 9th Street and 10th Street.
(.4) Signs on Portions of a Building over a Street.
Signs may be located on any frontage of a portion of a building that is located over a street, provided signs meet all other applicable sign requirements of the respective floor to which that portion of the building connects. Such signs shall count toward the maximum sign area for that respective floor as provided in § 14-502(7)(m)(.1) (Sign Area). This subsection does not eliminate the need for any applicable sign approval, including an authorizing ordinance, that is otherwise required to authorize a projection or encroachment over a street on the City Plan.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Table 14-904-1, the provisions of this § 14-502(7)(n) shall apply to 2nd floor accessory wall signs, accessory projecting signs, and accessory marquee signs in the Market Street East Retail Area, South, unless otherwise permitted by § 14-906 (Market Street East Sign Regulations).
(.1) Signs shall be permitted on the 2nd floor, provided:
(.a) The maximum sign area for the 2nd floor shall be 2 sq. ft. per linear foot of ground floor frontage, but no single sign shall exceed 75 sq. ft.
(.b) The maximum height of any sign on the 2nd floor shall be the 3rd floor window sill of the respective building frontage (or no more than 3 ft. above the floor line of the 3rd floor if there is no window), provided no sign shall extend above the roof line.
(.c) No sign on the 2nd floor shall extend more than 3 ft. below the floor line of the 2nd floor.
(.1) Art Commission Approval.
No sign shall be erected or maintained in the Society Hill Area unless approved by the Art Commission. The Art Commission has 60 days to approve or disapprove the application, after which its approval will be presumed.
(.2) Prohibited Signs.
In addition to the requirements of Chapter 14-900 (Signs), the following signs shall be prohibited in the Society Hill Area:
(.a) Signs with internal illumination, including signs on awnings;
(.b) Signs with animated illuminations;
(.c) Freestanding signs;
(.d) Non-accessory signs;
(.e) Projecting signs; and
(.f) Mechanical Movement Signs.
(.3) Regulations.
(.a) The maximum area of signs shall be either 30 sq. ft. per building frontage or the maximum area allowed in Table 14-904-1 (Accessory Sign Controls for Specific Zoning Districts), whichever is more restrictive;
(.b) No more than one sign shall be permitted per building frontage; and
(.c) No signs shall extend above the bottom of the second-floor window sill.
Notes
| 400 | Amended, Bill No. 120430-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 401 | Amended, Bill No. 120430-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 402 | Deleted, Bill No. 120430-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 403 | Amended, Bill No. 120430-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 404 | |
| 405 | Amended, Bill No. 120430-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 406 | Amended, Bill No. 120430-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 407 | Amended, Bill No. 120430-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 408 | |
| 409 | Added, Bill No. 180911 (approved January 3, 2019). |
| 410 | Added, Bill No. 200094 (became law October 22, 2020). |