(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.
Type and Definition of Signs Not Requiring Permits | Max. No. Of Signs per Lot | Max. Sign Area per Sign* on Residential Lots**(Sq. Ft.) | Max. Sign Area per Sign* on Nonresidential Lots (Sq. Ft.) | Other Requirements |
Type and Definition of Signs Not Requiring Permits | Max. No. Of Signs per Lot | Max. Sign Area per Sign* on Residential Lots**(Sq. Ft.) | Max. Sign Area per Sign* on Nonresidential Lots (Sq. Ft.) | Other Requirements |
Agricultural Sales or Christmas Tree Sign - Advertises the seasonal sale of agricultural commodities or Christmas trees | 2 | 8 | 24 | Shall only be posted during seasons when such products are actively offered for sale |
Charitable Event Sign - Advertises a special event held a maximum of 9 days in any calendar year that primarily is held to benefit a legitimate tax-exempt nonprofit organization or charity | 2 | 4 | 40 | Shall be placed a max. of 30 days prior to event and removed a max. of 7 days after event |
Contractor’s Sign - advertises a building tradesperson, engineer or architect who is actively conducting significant work on a particular lot that is not such person’s place of business, or a bank or agency that is financing an on-site construction project | 1 per contractor | 12 | 32 (or 1 sign of 60 square feet maximum may be used if the sign is shared by multiple entities) | Shall only be permitted while such work is actively and clearly underway and a max. of 7 days afterward; such signs shall not be placed on the lot for more than 1 year, unless a 1 year extension is granted by the Zoning Officer; shall not be illuminated |
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 | No 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 pennant made of fabric or materials with a similar appearance that is hung in such a way to flow in the wind. See also “Special Sale Signs” below. | 1 | 20 | 20 | Flags of governments and flags that simply include colors or patterns are not regulated by this chapter |
Garage Sale Sign - advertises an occasional garage sale/porch sale or auction. | 2 per event | 4 per sign | 4 per sign | Such signs shall be posted not more than 3 days before the sale starts, and shall be removed within 1 day after the sale ends; no sign shall be posted for more than 6 days |
Home Occupation Sign - advertises a permitted home occupation | 1 | 1 | 2 | Shall not be illuminated, except a sign of a medical doctor may be externally lit; shall be setback a minimum of 10 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 |
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 | Maximum height of 8 feet |
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 5 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 and which relates to a scheduled election or matter of upcoming vote by a governmental body Political signs shall not obstruct safe sight distances at intersections | Maximum of 2 sign faces per issue or candidate per street per lot | Maximum of 10 sq. ft. per issue or candidate per street frontage | Maximum of 20 sq. ft. per issue or candidate per street frontage | Shall be removed a max. of 5 days after an election, vote or referendum, if the sign pertains to such; 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 private 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 | 12 | 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 | Maximum of 2 such signs per such organization or place of worship |
Special Sale Signs/Banners - temporary banners or flags that advertise a special sales event at a lawful principal commercial business | 5 per lot | Not permitted | Total of 60 sq. ft. for all such banners, flags and other temporary signs | Shall be displayed a maximum of 90 total days per year. Such signs shall not flash, be internally illuminated, nor obstruct safe sight distance |
Time and Temperature Sign - with a sole purpose to announce the current time and temperature and 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 | |
* Maximum sign areas are for each of 2 sides of each permitted sign, measured in square feet | ||||
** For the purposes of this section, a RESIDENTIAL LOT shall mean a lot occupied by a primarily residential use, or an undeveloped lot in a residential district | ||||
(B) In addition, the following are not regulated by this chapter:
(1) Historic sign. Memorializes an important historic place, event or person and that is specifically authorized by the township or a county, state or federal agency;
(2) Holiday decorations. Commemorates a holiday recognized by the township, 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, township or other legally constituted governmental body, or specifically authorized by township 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 township;
(6) Right-of-way sign. Posted within the existing right-of-way of a public street and officially authorized by the township or PennDOT, including but not limited to decorative banners hung from street lights that are authorized by the township; and
(7) Small signs. Signs of one square feet or less of sign area that are displayed independently of other signs.
(Ord. 126, passed 3-18-2010; Ord. 170, passed - -2023)