Signs may be erected and maintained only when in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and all other ordinances and regulations of the borough relating to the erection, alteration or maintenance of signs.
(A) General.
(1) Signs shall not contain moving parts nor use flashing or intermittent illumination or any type of dynamic display except as specifically provided for in this chapter. The source of light shall be steady and stationary. Units which alternately display time and temperature shall be permitted.
(2) No sign shall be placed in such a position, or have such a source of illumination, that it will cause any danger to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
(3) No sign other than official traffic signs shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any street or extend over any street right-of-way.
(4) Every sign must be constructed of durable material and be kept in good condition. Any sign which is allowed to become dilapidated shall be removed at the expense of the owner or lessee. The Borough Zoning Officer shall make such determination as to state of repair.
(5) No sign shall be utilized in a manner which produces a light intensity greater than zero foot- candles beyond the lot lines. No direct beams of light shall be directed towards adjacent properties or roads.
(6) The distance from the ground to the highest part of any sign shall not exceed ten feet in residential districts. The distance from the ground to the highest part of any freestanding sign in a commercial or industrial district shall not exceed 25 feet. In commercial or industrial districts no portion of a sign which is attached to a building or supported by a building shall extend above the height of the building.
(7) No sign shall be erected or located as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any window, door or fire escape.
(B) Signs permitted in residential districts.
(1) Official traffic signs;
(2) Identification signs or bulletin or announcement boards for schools, churches, hospitals or similar institutions, and for clubs, lodges, estates or similar uses, provided that:
(a) No more than two such signs shall be erected on any frontage of anyone lot;
(b) The area on one side of any such sign shall not exceed 20 square feet; and
(c) No such sign may be closer than ten feet to the front lot line.
(3) Signs indicating the name, profession or activity of the occupant of a dwelling, provided:
(a) No side of any such sign shall exceed two square feet in area;
(b) No such sign shall be located within ten feet of the front lot line; and
(c) No more than one such sign shall be permitted for each permitted use or dwelling.
(4) Signs advertising the rental or sale of premises, provided that:
(a) The area on anyone side of any such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet;
(b) A sign shall be located on the lot to which it refers;
(c) No sign shall be located within ten feet of the front lot line; and
(d) Not more than one such sign shall be placed on any one street frontage.
(5) Temporary signs of contractors, architects and the like, provided that:
(a) Such signs shall be removed promptly upon completion of the work;
(b) The area of such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet on anyone side;
(c) Such signs shall be located on the lot which the work is being done; and
(d) Such signs shall be no closer than ten feet to the front lot line.
(6) Signs advertising a lawful nonresidential, nonconforming use, provided that:
(a) The area on one side of such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet;
(b) The sign shall be erected only on the lot on which such nonconforming use is located;
(c) No more than two such signs shall be erected on any one street frontage; and
(d) No sign shall be located within ten feet of the front lot line.
(7) Signs necessary for the identification and protection of public utility facilities, provided that the area of any one side of such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet;
(8) Signs within a residential subdivision to direct persons to a rental office or sample unit within that subdivision provided that the area on any one side of any such sign shall not exceed four square feet; and
(9) “No Trespassing” signs and signs indicating the private nature of premises. The area of anyone side of such signs shall not exceed two square feet.
(C) Signs in commercial, institutional-government and industrial districts. Signs may be erected and maintained, provided that:
(1) No more than one advertising sign and no more than two directional sign shall be permitted on a lot;
(2) The total area on one side of all signs placed on or facing any one street frontage of any one lot shall not exceed 200 square feet except in the case of a building housing more than one commercial or industrial use;
(3) The area on one side of a directional or advertising sign shall not exceed 20 square feet;
(4) No part of any sign shall be located within five feet of the front lot line;
(5) No more than one freestanding sign shall be allowed on any one lot;
(6) No more than three separate signs shall face any one street frontage on any one lot except in the case of a building housing more than one commercial or industrial use;
(7) In the case of a building housing more than one commercial or industrial use, one permanent identifying sign for the building, the area on one side of which shall not exceed 150 square feet, may be erected. In addition, for each commercial or industrial use located within that building, one sign, the area of which shall not exceed 50 square feet, may be attached to that portion of the building housing the use, provided that no such sign shall equal more than 20% of the total area of the wall to which it is attached; and
(8) Dynamic signs shall only be permitted as follows:
(a) Dynamic signs shall be permitted only in the C-1 and I-G Districts, as follows:
1. In excess of 100 feet from a residential district;
2. In place of two business identification signs otherwise permitted by this chapter or present as a pre-existing nonconformity; and
3. At 80% of the surface area of the otherwise permitted sign type.
(b) Dynamic signs shall not be illuminated in excess of zero foot-candles as measured at the property line.
(c) Dynamic signs shall be equipped with automatic day/night dimming software to reduce the illumination intensity from one hour after sunset to one hour prior to sunrise.
(d) Dynamic signs shall cease all illumination by the later of 11:00 p.m. or 30 minutes after business hours.
(e) The time interval used to change from one complete message, image or display to the next complete message, image or display shall be a maximum of one second.
(f) Dynamic sign messages, images or displays shall not change more than once every 15 seconds.
(g) Light level intensity and contrast shall remain constant throughout the sign face.
(Ord. passed 7-13-2015) Penalty, see § 154.999