[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Potter 10-11-1999 by Ord. No. 5-1999. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
Signs may be erected, altered and maintained only when in compliance
with the provisions of this chapter and any other appropriate Township
regulations.
B.
The purpose of this chapter is for regulating the form or manner
of display and is not meant as a restriction upon the content of the
advertisement.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall
be defined and applied as follows:
A single- or double-faced sign used on a temporary or permanent
basis, and more commonly known as a "sandwich board."
Boards which direct the motorist or pedestrian to a business
establishment or call the attention of motorists or pedestrians to
a product, place or activity that is available, exists or occurs at
a location other than the location upon which the board is erected.
Billboards are freestanding structures and are differentiated thereby
from wall signs which are attached to the wall of a building. "Billboard,"
as used herein, shall refer to a sign with a single-face area greater
than 32 square feet.
Signs or boards that are directly oriented to activities
that occur on the same premises as the sign or board. Such signs may
be either freestanding or attached to a wall of a building.
A sign supported vertically by one or more uprights placed
in or on the ground but designed to be movable. Such a sign advertises
products or items offered for sale or is directly related to the premises
upon which it is located, e.g., a business identification sign.
These facilities shall include outdoor activities such as
golf courses and country clubs, riding academies and commercial stables,
parks, tennis courts, skiing facilities, primitive tent campsites
and other similar uses.
Signs or boards directing attention to or promoting a particular
individual or group of persons running for office in a public election.
The area occupied by a single business, professional office
or other public enterprise or home. When more than one business, office
or home occupies a single building on the ground floor, each business
area shall be considered a separate premises. Businesses, homes or
other enterprises which occupy space on other floors shall be considered
separate premises.
Any sign erected and maintained on or above the roof of any
building.
The area of the smallest triangle, rectangle or circle which
can wholly enclose the surface area of a sign. All visible faces of
a multifaced sign shall be counted separately and then totaled in
calculating the sign area.
Flags, pennants, ground signs or special promotional devices
intended to be erected to call attention to a legally permissible
special event for a period of 30 days or less.
Signs attached to a wall or part of a wall of a building
or structure, not including billboards as defined above, which advertise
products sold or directly related to the premises on which they are
located, e.g., a business identification sign.
A.
When a regulation hereunder is nonspecific, i.e., when the terms
"reasonably necessary," "as appropriate," "noncommercial," etc., are
used, the Code Enforcement Officer shall decide any questions that
may arise as to the necessity, appropriateness or content of a sign
or signs hereunder.
B.
The following regulations shall apply to all permitted sign uses.
(1)
Signs permitted in all districts. Signs listed in this section shall
be permitted in all zoning districts, except where noted, and shall
require permits as noted. Where no specific regulation is given, such
signs shall conform to the general regulations for signs set forth
in the remainder of this chapter.
(a)
Name and address of resident; professional signs. Such signs
shall not include any commercial advertising and shall not be larger
than nine square feet in area per side or 18 square feet total for
a two- or three-dimensional sign. No more than three such signs are
permitted per premises, located on the premises. Such signs shall
include signs identifying a professional office such as doctor, dentist,
osteopath, lawyer, accountant, architect, surveyor, farms, farmettes,
camps or other licensed professionals. Such signs are not subject
to the permit provisions herein.
(b)
No trespassing signs. Included in this group shall also be other
similar signs regulating or warning of use of the property, such as
"No Hunting," "No Fishing," "No Camping," etc. Such signs may be not
more than two square feet in total area. There shall be no limit as
to the number of signs per premises. They must be located on the premises.
Commercial content is not permitted. Such signs are not subject to
the permit provisions herein.
(c)
Real estate signs. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet
in total area in residential zones and 20 square feet in total area
in all other zones. They shall be limited to statements advertising
that the premises are for sale, rental or lease and names and other
information for interested parties to contact. They shall be located
only upon the premises offered for sale, etc. Such signs shall be
removed within two weeks after the premises advertised has been sold,
rented or leased. No more than three such signs per premises may be
erected. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(d)
Bulletin boards for charitable or religious institutions. Such
signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in total area and shall be used
exclusively for noncommercial announcement. They shall be located
only on the premises of the church or other institution. No more than
one sign per premises. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions
herein.
(e)
Informational signs for on-premises direction. Such signs shall
not exceed five square feet in total area each and shall be used exclusively
for noncommercial direction, e.g., "Telephone," "No Parking," "Office
Entrance," "Lubrication and Lube Tune Up," etc. They shall be located
only on the premises. As many of such signs as are reasonably necessary
to accomplish the purposes of the signs may be erected. Such signs
are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(f)
Signs erected by a governing body. Such signs may be erected
as any governing body (federal, state, county or local) may direct.
They shall not be limited in size, type, number, location, design
or any other manner by anything contained herein. Such signs are not
subject to the permit provisions herein.
(g)
Memorial signs or tablets. Such signs shall not exceed such
dimension as is reasonably necessary to accomplish the purpose thereof
and shall be noncommercial in nature. They need not be located on
the premises referred to. Two such signs per premises may be erected.
The content shall be limited to date of erection of buildings or events
and short statements of historical circumstances, as appropriate.
Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(h)
The flag, pennant or insignia of any governmental body or of
any religious, charitable or fraternal organization. Such signs must
be located on the premises. Size, shape, number and other characteristics
may be as appropriate. Such signs shall have no commercial content.
Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(i)
Temporary signs advertising farm products, auctions, yard sales
and special events of charitable, public service or political groups.
Such signs shall be no larger than six square feet each. Location
(on or off premises) and number as appropriate. In the case of farm
products, products advertised must be produced on the premises. Such
signs are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(j)
Permanent residential, commercial and industrial development
signs and signs identifying country clubs and similar recreational
facilities. Such signs shall be located on the premises at the entrance(s)
of residential, industrial and commercial developments or on the premises
of any recreational facility. They shall be no larger than 32 square
feet total, per entrance, or no more than 32 square feet total for
recreational facilities. No more than two faces per entrance. No commercial
content is permitted. Such signs shall be subject to the permit provisions
herein.
(k)
Signs identifying places of worship. Location and number as
appropriate. Total size to be no greater than 20 square feet. No commercial
content permitted. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions
herein.
(l)
Political signs. Number, size and location as may be appropriate,
provided that the property owner has given permission for any signs
located on his property. No commercial content permitted. Failure
to remove political signs within 30 days after the election shall
constitute a violation hereunder and shall subject the candidate or
the local party affiliate or committee to a fine of $5 per sign. Such
signs are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(m)
Directional signs.
[1]
These signs may be erected along major roadways to direct motorists
to premises in locations far removed from the roadway. They shall
be ground pole signs with a total area of 32 square feet for a single-sided
sign or 64 square feet for a double-sided sign (Potter Township-based
business only).
[2]
Content shall be limited to the name of the establishment and
distance/direction information. They may be located in any district
except residential and only with the written permission of the landowner.
No more than two signs per single advertising establishment. Such
signs shall be subject to the permit provisions herein.
(n)
Real estate development signs.
[1]
Such signs may be erected only by developers or owners with
a minimum of six lots for sale in a single subdivision. Such signs
must be located on the premises which are for sale.
[2]
Content is limited to advertisement of the lots in the subdivision
on which the sign is located; the name of the development; and the
developer's, realtor's or landowner's names, addresses and telephone
numbers. Content shall not include reference to the sale of lots elsewhere
or the realtor's, developer's or landowner's business in general.
[3]
No more than two such signs per premises, located no closer
than 1,000 feet apart. Maximum total area for each single-faced sign
shall be 32 square feet and, for each double-faced sign, 64 square
feet. No sign shall be higher than 10 feet above grade or in excess
of 12 feet in any direction. Such signs shall be subject to the permit
provisions herein.
(o)
Shopping center signs. Such signs are limited to ground pole
signs located on the premises of the shopping center. One such sign
per premises is permitted. Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet
for a single-sided sign and 64 square feet for a double-sided sign.
No such sign shall be higher than 10 feet above grade or in excess
of 12 feet in any direction. Content shall be limited to the name
of the shopping center. Such signs shall be subject to the permit
provisions herein.
(p)
A-frame signs. One such sign per premises is permitted. Such
sign shall not exceed 32 square feet for single-sided sign and 64
square feet for a double-sided sign. Such signs shall be subject to
the permit provisions herein.
(2)
Billboards shall be permitted as a conditional use in the agriculture, open space, PCI, commercial, and industrial districts. Digital signs are not permitted except as provided for in § 163-3B(3). The conditional use application and hearing shall follow the rules and standards set forth for conditional uses in Chapter 220 pertaining to zoning.
[Added 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 04-2021]
(3)
On-premises and public service digital signs shall be permitted in the PCI and commercial districts as a conditional use. The conditional use application and hearing shall follow the rules and standards set forth for conditional uses in Chapter 220 pertaining to zoning.
[Added 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 04-2021]
The following signs shall not be erected, permitted or maintained
in any district, notwithstanding anything else contained in this chapter
or elsewhere.
A.
Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving illumination
or with illumination which varies in intensity or color, and signs
which have any visible moving part, visible revolving parts or visible
mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement
achieved by electrical pulsations or by actions of normal wind currents,
except when not visible from motor vehicles traveling on public roadways.
Hanging signs which simply swing in the wind, clocks, time-and-temperature
signs and barber poles may be exempted, provided that they comply
with the other provisions hereunder. However, promotional and advertising
flags are prohibited.
B.
Light sources which cast light on signs shall be shielded by opaque
material so that the bulbs, floodlights or tubes are not visible off
the property or premises on which the signs are located.
C.
Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety
or public health.
D.
Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring or manner
of illumination obstruct the vision or impair the concentration of
drivers or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness
of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads.
E.
Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape,
door, window or other required exitway.
F.
Signs which make use of words such as "STOP," "LOOK," "ONE WAY,"
"DANGER," "YIELD" or any similar words, phrases, symbols, lights or
characters in such a manner as to interfere with, confuse or mislead
traffic.
G.
Any obsolete sign (including the structural members of the sign)
which advertises a business no longer being conducted or a product
no longer sold.
H.
Signs on public property or public right-of-way unless erected by
a governing body or unless required to be so located by order of a
governing body. No sign erected on public property or on a public
right-of-way shall contain any commercial content.
I.
Signs painted on, attached to or supported by a utility pole, tree, stone or rock outcropping or similar object, except temporary signs as permitted by § 163-3B(1)(i) above.
J.
String lights, other than temporary holiday decorations, which are
unshielded from off of the premises on which they are located.
K.
Searchlights, pennants, banners, spinners and streamers, except for
occasions such as grand openings and similar events and then only
through obtaining a temporary sign permit from the Code Enforcement
Officer. Use shall be limited to 15 days.
L.
Except as specifically permitted herein, the erection, placing and construction of ground pole signs, commonly known as billboards or advertising sign boards, and as defined in § 163-2 above, off of the premises where the product or service advertised is to be found, shall be prohibited in all districts. No alteration in either length, height or width shall be permitted nor shall any single-faced billboard be converted into a two-faced billboard.
These regulations shall apply to all signs, commercial and otherwise,
where such signs are not more specifically regulated herein. In the
case of conflict between any two provisions of this chapter, the more
stringent shall apply.
A.
Signs in historic areas. These regulations shall apply to any property
listed on the National Register of Historic Places or to any property
or portion thereof within 500 feet of such historic property:
B.
Height of signs. No sign or any part thereof shall exceed a height
of 15 feet as measured from grade level directly below the face of
the sign to the highest part of the sign.
C.
Location. Signs must be located on the premises which they advertise,
except as specifically permitted herein. When located off the premises,
written permission of the property owner must be obtained. Signs may
not be placed within a public or private right-of-way or driveway.
D.
Area.
(1)
The total area of signs erected hereunder shall not exceed 32 square
feet on a single-sided sign or 64 square feet on a double-sided sign,
per sign.
(2)
The total area of all signs that may be erected or maintained on
any single premises shall not be greater than 96 square feet. The
total area of all signs that may be erected or maintained by any person
or single business or corporate entity off the premises shall not
exceed an additional 96 square feet.
E.
Number. No more than four signs may be erected or maintained on any
one premises at any one time. No more than three additional signs
may be erected or maintained off the premises.
F.
Licensing. All signs shall be subject to the permit provisions of
this chapter unless otherwise noted.
G.
Projection signs. No projecting sign shall project more than five
feet beyond the building line in the direction of the street. No portion
of any projecting sign shall be any lower than 10 feet above grade
level. No single face of any projecting sign shall exceed 15 square
feet in sign area. No projecting sign shall exceed 15 square feet
in sign area. No projecting sign shall have a vertical dimension greater
than five feet. No more than one projecting sign is permitted per
premises, unless said premises is located on a corner lot; in which
case two projecting signs shall be permitted, one erected for and
towards each public way.
H.
Wall signs. No wall sign shall project above the top or to the left
or to the right of the wall to which it is attached. No wall sign
or any part thereof shall project more than one foot from the wall
on which it is mounted. If external lighting is used, reflectors must
be not less than 10 feet above grade, and no part may extend further
than two feet from the wall of the building. Reflectors must be shielded
to prevent glare from leaving the premises or interfering with motorists.
I.
Ground pole signs.
(1)
All ground pole signs and all parts, braces and supports thereof
shall be located entirely behind the property line and any appropriate
setback lines and shall not project over any setback line, property
line, public right-of-way or adjoining land.
(2)
No ground pole sign shall be larger than 32 square feet in area on
a single-faced sign or 64 square feet in combined area for both sides
on a double-faced sign. No ground pole sign shall exceed 12 feet in
any dimension of the sign face.
(3)
A premises may erect one ground pole sign or one projecting sign,
but not both. No individual business or other enterprise within a
planned retail, commercial or industrial development hereunder may
erect or maintain a ground pole sign except off of the premises of
the development.
J.
Roof signs. No more than one roof sign per premises.
K.
Indoor signs. No indoor sign shall be considered a sign for purpose
of this chapter, nor shall any indoor sign be subject to the regulations
hereunder.
L.
Outdoor recreational facilities. Signage on outdoor recreational
facilities shall be removed and stored between November 1 and April
1 of each year. Each placard or advertisement shall have its own permit.
A permit shall be obtained for a new placard or advertisement erected,
and a new permit shall be obtained for any change or alteration to
an existing placard or advertisement.
All signs shall be classified as either temporary or permanent
and shall be subject to the following regulations.
A.
Permanent signs; general provisions.
(1)
Prior to placing a sign not otherwise exempt hereunder, an application
shall be submitted to the Township Code Enforcement Officer on a form
provided by the Township. If the application is approved, the applicant
shall pay a permit fee as set forth below and may place or erect his
sign.
(2)
Any sign altered structurally or moved will be considered a new sign
and will be subject to the application and permit requirements hereof.
(3)
Permit fees hereunder shall be set by resolution of the Potter Township
Board of Supervisors from time to time.
(4)
An
annual fee will be set by the Board of Supervisors as part of the
annual fee schedule for off-premise commercial advertising.
[Added 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 04-2021]
B.
Temporary signs; general provisions.
(1)
Prior to placing a sign not otherwise exempt hereunder, an application
shall be submitted to the Township Code Enforcement Officer on a form
provided by the Township. If the application is approved, the applicant
shall pay a permit fee as set forth below and may place or erect his
sign.
(2)
After the sign is in place, the Code Enforcement Officer shall inspect
the sign and, if it complies with all applicable Township rules, regulations
and ordinances, will prepare a sign permit. The sign permit fee shall
then be paid and the permit will be issued for a thirty-day period.
The permit can be renewed thereafter upon payment of permit fee, but
in no case shall renewal be granted more than three times.
(3)
Size, content and location of a temporary sign may be varied at any
time so long as the variations remain within the restrictions of this
chapter.
(4)
Permit fees hereunder shall be set by resolution of the Potter Township
Supervisors from time to time.
C.
County and state regulation. All applicable provisions of county
and state regulations and ordinances must be adhered to. The applicant
should be aware of the restrictions imposed by the Pennsylvania Outdoor
Advertising Act of 1971.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 36 P.S. § 2718.101 et seq., for
the "Outdoor Advertising Control Act of 1971."
Every sign and all parts thereof, including framework, supports,
background, anchors and wiring systems, shall be constructed and maintained
in compliance with the Building, Electrical and Fire Prevention Codes,
as they now exist or may hereafter exist. All signs and all parts
thereof shall be kept in good repair and maintenance.
A.
Enforcement.
(1)
The Code Enforcement Officer shall examine all applications for permits
for erection of new signs and issue permits for new signs.
(2)
The Code Enforcement Officer shall make an annual inspection of all
signs in the Township and make such report to the Supervisors as may
be necessary or as they may require. An inventory of all nonconforming
signs may be made by the Code Enforcement Officer and, if able, a
copy submitted to the Township Secretary.
(3)
The Code Enforcement Officer shall record and file all applications
for sign permits with any accompanying plans or documents.
(4)
Violations and penalties.
(a)
Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer determines that there
has been a violation of any provision of the chapter, the Officer
shall initiate enforcement proceedings by sending a written notice
stating the alleged violation and the location of the property. When
such notice has been served by the Code Enforcement Officer, the violation
shall be discontinued immediately.
B.
Waivers and exceptions. An appeal board, which shall be made up of
the current members of the Zoning Hearing Board, may, but is in no
manner whatsoever obliged to, grant waivers or exceptions to the regulations
herein. The procedure shall be as follows:
