Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the following requirements apply to all signs in the Borough:
(a) All signs, except temporary signs, shall be required to have a permit indicating compliance with this chapter. No sign, except temporary signs, shall be erected, altered or extended until such permit has been issued. Applicant must submit a shop drawing of any proposed sign showing a scaled layout of all text and graphics in the context of the building and/or window(s) where the sign(s) will be placed.
(b) Except as allowed in Section 1266.06(c)(2), a sign may include only the following information:
(1) The principal name of the business, proprietor or owner.
(2) A description of the principal goods, services, products or uses offered in trade, which description shall not exceed four words and the street address.
(3) A graphic logo or trademark symbol by which the business, proprietor or owner is identified.
(c) Sign placement should utilize the architectural details of a building, complement the visual continuity of adjacent building facades and relate directly to the entrance.
(d) No roof sign shall be permitted.
(e) Any sign that includes the word "open" can be displayed only when the business is open to customers.
(f) No sign, except those placed by an authorized governmental agency, shall be placed on a public right-of-way.
(g) No sign shall interfere with traffic, be confused with or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic sign, traffic signal or traffic marking or obstruct the sight distance of motorists or pedestrians.
(h) This chapter shall not apply to traffic control signs and directional signs, parking place designations and information signs located on off-street parking lots. Informational signs, such as "entrance," "exit," "no parking," "visitor's parking," "no trespassing," "keep off the grass" and the like on the same lot as the use to which the sign relates or the prohibition of the use to which the sign relates, are not regulated by this chapter provided that each said sign does not exceed two square feet in copy area. Multiple informational signs at any location must be uniform in appearance. In the RA, RB, and RC districts, such signs may not be located in the front yard setback, except for signs identifying the street address of the house or resident's name.
(i) No portable signs are allowed, except easel signs, which may be allowed by permit.
(j) No sign shall use flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving light or any technology that presents an illusion of movement. A constant level of light shall be maintained except for purposes of dimming at night.
(k) No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole.
(l) Wind or forced air actuated signs are prohibited.
(m) Fabric banners advertising events sponsored by public or nonprofit organizations within the Borough may be displayed in any district, except Residential Districts, for a maximum of one month or the duration of the event, whichever is greater.
(n) Permanent signs with removable letters are not allowed.
(o) All signs must be legible, well painted, in good repair, properly maintained and sturdy enough to permit persons working on the signs to do so safely.
(p) A sign identifying the business on the back wall of a building in a delivery area is allowed, provided that the sign area does not exceed ten square feet and that the sign is not illuminated
(q) External lights may be used to illuminate signs. Such lighting shall be installed such that the source of light and wiring is not visible, and all visible effects of lighting are indirect and minimize light spilled into the night sky. Such lights may not shine onto adjoining property or in the eyes of motorists or pedestrians.
(r) Internally lit signs are prohibited.
(s) Free-standing signs are permitted only in the TC Town Center District, IN-C Institutional Commercial District, IN Institutional District, AR Apartment Residential and PA Park District and only where the front yard is at least ten feet in depth and where the sign does not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular movement. The copy area of each side of such signs shall not exceed sixteen square feet in size or one square foot in size for every two linear feet of property frontage, whichever is less, and the total background area of the sign may not be more than twenty-four square feet in size or twice the square footage of the copy area, whichever is greater. The supporting structure of a free-standing sign that is clearly separate from the sign itself (e.g. stone base or posts) is not included in the allowable size limits for such signs. The maximum height for any free-standing sign shall be six feet from the ground or sidewalk to the top of the sign and shall be set back a minimum of four feet from the adjacent sidewalk.
(t) Electronic signs are permitted only in the TC Town Center District and IN-C Institutional Commercial District, with the following restrictions:
(1) Electronic signs will be allowed only as window signs and will count towards allowable area for an opaque window sign.
(2) One electronic sign is permitted per window and may be a maximum of four square feet in size measured by the smallest geometric figure that would encompass the entire sign.
(3) The sign display must remain static for a minimum of five seconds and require "instantaneous" change of display; e.g., no fading or scrolling in/out of the message.
(4) Electronic signs shall be positioned so as to avoid glare or reflection into any adjacent property, street, or alley.
(5) Display images and/or themes must directly relate to the business and the services and products it provides.
(6) Display is required to go dark if there is a malfunction.
(u) "For sale" or "for rent" signs, containing not over five square feet, may be erected or displayed only upon the premises referred to in such signs. Not more than one such sign shall be erected upon the premises at any given time, provided, however, that premises located on corner lots may have one such side on each street frontage and the premises shall, in fact, be for sale or for rent. The duration of continuous display of such sign shall be limited to 150 days, at the end of which period the sign shall be removed and not again displayed or replaced unless the Borough Manager, after an investigation and a finding that the owner has, in good faith, endeavored to sell or rent his or her premises at a fair, reasonable and market price or rental, grants an extension of time. The foregoing restriction shall not be affected by the substitution of a real estate broker's sign in place of the owner's or by the substitution of a different broker's sign, for whatever reason. "Sold" signs are allowed for a maximum of seven days. No "rented" signs are allowed.
(v) Signs relating to the performance of work on the premises by contractors and designers may be erected and maintained during the period such persons are performing work on the premises. If such work requires the granting of a permit, the signs may be erected upon receipt of the permit. Signs must be removed promptly upon completion of the work. Size and quantity restrictions for such signs may apply to certain districts, as set forth in this chapter.
(w) Existing signs, not in conformance with this chapter and that have been previously permitted, shall be brought into conformance when there is a change of tenant, use or owner, or when the sign is replaced or is substantially repaired or altered.
(x) Signs no longer in use must be removed by the owner. In making a determination as to abandonment, the enforcing official may consider, among other factors, the absence of a current occupational license, the current use or vacancy of the premises and the relocation of a business.
(y) All signs not specifically allowed are prohibited.
(Ord. 1068. Passed 5-11-15.)