1375.02 CONFORMANCE.

   Any sign hereafter erected or maintained shall conform with the provisions of this article and any other ordinance or regulations of the Borough not inconsistent herewith.

(Ord. 2717.  Passed 2-10-86.)

1375.03 DEFINITION OF A SIGN.

   "Sign" means any permanent or temporary structure or part thereof or any device attached, painted or represented directly or indirectly on a structure or other surface that displays or includes any letter, work, insignia, flag or representation used as or which is in the nature of an advertisement, announcement, visual communication, direction or is designed to attract the eye or bring the subject to the attention of the public.
(Ord. 2717.  Passed 2-10-86.)

1375.04 AREA OF SIGNS.

   (a)   The area of a sign shall be construed to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, but not including any supporting framework and bracing incidental to the display itself.

   (b)   Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to a building, wall or window, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other regular geometric shape which encompasses all of the letters and symbols.

   (c)   In computing square foot area of a double-face sign, only one side shall be considered, provided both faces are identical.  If the interior angle formed by the two faces of the double-faced sign is greater than forty-five degrees, then both sides of such sign shall be considered in calculating the sign area.

(Ord. 2717.  Passed 2-10-86.)

1375.05 ILLUMINATION OF SIGNS DEFINED.

   (a)   "Directly illuminated sign" means a sign designed to give forth artificial light directly or through transparent or translucent material, from a source of light within such sign, including but not limited to, neon and exposed lamp signs.  No directly illuminated sign shall violate the provisions of Section 1371.15(h).

      (1)   "Festoon lighting" means a directly illuminated sign comprised of a group of incandescent bulbs hung or strung overhead or used to outline a structure or any part thereof.

   (b)   "Indirectly illuminated sign" means a sign illuminated with a light so shielded that no direct rays therefrom are visible elsewhere on the lot where such illumination occurs.  If such shielding device is defective, such sign shall be deemed to be a directly illuminated sign.

   (c)   "Flashing sign" means an illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary or constant in intensity and color at all times when in use.

   (d)   "Nonilluminated sign" means a sign which in not illuminated either directly or indirectly.

(Ord. 2717.  Passed 2-10-86.)

1375.06 PLACEMENT OF SIGNS; DEFINITIONS.

   (a)   "On-premises sign" means a sign which directs attention to an activity conducted on the same lot.

   (b)   "Off-premises sign" means a sign which directs attention to an activity not conducted on the same lot.

   (c)   "Advertising sign" means an off-premises sign which advertises or otherwise directs attention to a commodity, business, industry, home occupation or other similar activity which is sold, offered or conducted elsewhere than on the lot on which such sign is located.

   (d)   "Business sign" means an on-premises sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, industry or other activity which is sold, offered or conducted other than incidentally on the premises on which such sign is located or to which it is affixed.

   (e)   "Official sign" means a sign erected or installed by the State, County or Borough.

(Ord. 2717.  Passed 2-10-86.)

1375.07 TYPES OF SIGNS DEFINED.

   (a)   "Freestanding sign" means a self-supporting sign resting on the ground or supported by means of poles or standards in the ground.  The height of freestanding signs shall be measured from the official street grade to the top of the sign.

   (b)   "Parallel sign" means a sign mounted parallel to a wall or other vertical building surface.  Parallel signs shall not extend beyond the edge of any wall or other surface to which they are mounted or shall not project more that eight inches from it surface.

   (c)   "Projecting sign" means any sign mounted to a wall or other vertical building surface other than a parallel sign.  Projecting signs shall not extend beyond the edge of any wall or other surface to which they are mounted or in any way interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

   (d)   "Roof sign" means a sign erected on or above a roof or parapet of a building. 
(Ord. 2717.  Passed 2-10-86.)

1375.08 GENERAL REGULATIONS.

   (a)   Holiday Decorations.  Holiday decorations displayed for recognized federal or state holidays shall be exempted from the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance except as they may interfere with glare, traffic safety or in any other way become a public safety hazard.

   (b)   Maintenance.  All signs must be constructed of durable materials and must be kept in good condition and repair at all times.  Any sign which is allowed to become dilapidated shall be removed by the Borough at the expense of the owner of the property on which it is located.

   (c)   Nonconforming Sign.  Any sign existing at the time of the passage of this Zoning Ordinance that does not conform in use, location, height or size with the regulations of the district in which such sign is located shall be considered a nonconforming use and may continue in such use in its present location until replacement or rebuilding becomes necessary, at which time a zoning permit will be required and the sign brought into conformity with this Zoning Ordinance.

   (d)   Obstruction.  No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger on the street by obscuring the view.

   (e)   Official Signs.  No signs except those of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices, shall be allowed within street lines. 

   (f)   Permit Required. Except for official signs, all on-premises signs over six square feet in area and all off-premises signs regardless of size shall require the issuance of a building permit before erection or replacement.  All signs must comply with all of the regulations contained herein, regardless of whether a permit is required.

   (g)   Posting of Signs. No person shall paint, paste, brand, stamp or in any manner whatsoever place on or attach to any tree, telegraph, electric light or other pole on any street in the Borough any written, printed, painted or other advertisement, bill, notice, sign, card or poster.

   (h)   Prohibition.  Roof signs, flashing signs and festoon lighting shall not be permitted in any district.

   (i)   Separate Frontage.  If an establishment has walls fronting on two or more streets, the sign area for each street may be computed separately.

   (j)   Unsafe and Unlawful Signs.  If the Building Inspector finds that any sign regulated herein is unsafe or insecure or is a menace to the public or had been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance, he shall give written notice to the permittee thereof.  If the permittee fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within ten days after such notice, such sign may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Inspector at the expense of the owner of the property on which it is located.  The Building Inspector may cause any sign or other advertising structure which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.

   (k)   Vehicular Signs.  Any vehicle to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the carrying of such sign or signs is no longer incidental to the vehicle's primary purpose, but becomes a primary purpose in itself, shall be considered a freestanding sign and, as such, be subject to the provisions regarding freestanding signs in the district in which such vehicle is located.
(Ord. 2717.  Passed 2-10-86.)

   (l)   Yard Requirements.  Any freestanding sign which has a clearance between the bottom edge of the sign face and the adjacent ground level of less than seven feet shall be located so that no part of the sign face is less than fifteen feet from the edge of the curb, or if there is no curb, from the edge of paving of any public or private street.  Such signs shall be located a minimum of fifteen feet from any other property line.

   All freestanding signs which have a clearance between the bottom edge of the sign face and the adjacent ground level of more than seven feet shall be located a minimum of ten feet from the curb, or if there is no curb, from the edge of paving of any public or private street and shall be located a minimum of ten feet from any other property line.

(Ord. 2942.  Passed 7-19-93.)

   (m)   Zoning Information.  No sign shall be erected containing information on which it states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance in the zoning district in which the property to which the sign relates is located. 
(Ord. 2717.  Passed 2-10-86.)