[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Shaler 4-9-2013 by Ord. No. 1916.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 225.
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter also superseded former Ch. 183, Signs, adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Shaler.
This chapter is intended to:
A. 
Encourage sound practices with respect to size, spacing, lighting, type and placement of signs for the purpose of safeguarding and enhancing properties in each of the various types of zoning districts;
B. 
Provide an environment which will promote the orderly growth and development of business and industry in the Township;
C. 
Protect public investment in public structures, open spaces and thoroughfares; and
D. 
Promote the safety and welfare of the community.
The regulations of this chapter shall govern and control the erection, rehabilitation, enlargement, illumination, animation and maintenance of all signs that are visible from the public right-of-way or from property other than that on which the subject sign is located. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of the provisions of any other ordinance or regulation applicable to signs.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED SIGN
A sign which has not been utilized for a period of 180 days or more, or a sign, the content of which no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner, product or activity; or a sign, the contents of which pertains to a place, time, event or purpose which no longer exists or applies or which has occurred.
ADVERTISING SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered only elsewhere than upon the premises where the sign is displayed.
AREA OF SIGN
The entire area within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem or any figure or similar character, together with any frame or other materials or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign from the background against which it is placed (excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign is placed or apron designed to cover such uprights or work board installed to provide a safe area for servicing such sign). Where a sign has two or more faces on the same side, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that in the case of back-to-back signs or V-type signs, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face if two faces are of equal area or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal area.
AWNING SIGN or CANOPY SIGN
Any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
BACKLIGHT or BACKLIGHTING
A type of light that illuminates a subject or letters from behind.
BANNER
A sign intended to be hung either with or without a frame, possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied to paper, plastic or fabric of any kind, excluding flags, emblems and insignias of political, professional, religious or educational organizations displayed for noncommercial purposes.
BEACON
Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same lot or site as the light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BILLBOARD
An off-premises advertising sign with a changeable message or display that pertains to a business, organization, event, person, place, service or product not principally located or sold on the premises upon which said sign is located. See "off-premises advertising sign."
BUILDING
Any structure having enclosing walls and roofs and requiring a permanent location on the land.
BUILDING FACADE
See "facade, building."
BUILDING FACADE, FRONT
The facade that includes the primary entrance is the front facade.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
A sign used to identify or list:
A. 
The names of the individual or organization occupying, leasing or owning the premises and/or the profession of the occupants; or
B. 
The name and/or management of the building for which the sign is displayed or the name of the major enterprise or principal product or service on the premises.
BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT
Any business, trade, occupation, work, commerce or profession conducted for profit or benefit, either directly or indirectly, on any commercial property in the Township.
BUSINESS SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a business, profession or industry located upon the premises where the sign is displayed; to the type of products sold, manufactured or assembled; and/or to the service or entertainment offered on such premises, and includes electronic signs, projecting signs, supplemental signs and temporary signs.
CANDIDATE
One who seeks or offers himself or herself or is put forth by others for an office, privilege or honor, by election or appointment.
CANOPY SIGN
See "awning sign."
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Township of Shaler.
COMMUNITY SPECIAL EVENT SIGN
A temporary sign, either portable or nonportable, displayed for a limited time, which carries information about a special event or activity, such as an auction, flea market, festival, carnival, meal, charitable or educational activities or fund-raising event of interest to the general public.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN or DIRECTIONAL INCIDENTAL SIGN
A sign generally informational that has a purpose secondary to the use of the lot or site on which it is located, such as "No Parking," "Entrance," "Exit," "One Way," "Loading Only," "Telephone," and other similar directives, and provided that such sign does not exceed three square feet. Directional, incidental signs shall be located only in conjunction with site drive entrances and/or internal traffic drive aisles.
DWELL TIME
The interval of change between each individual static message, and which shall be at least 10 seconds, and a change of which must be completed within one second or less. The dwell time shall not include the one second or less required to change a message. There shall be no special effects between messages.
ELECTRONIC SIGN
Any sign, video display, projected image, or similar device or portions thereof with text, images or graphics generated by solid state electronic components. Electronic signs include, but are not limited to, signs that use light-emitting diodes (LED), plasma displays, fiber optics, or other technology that results in bright, high-resolution text, images and graphics. See "off-premises advertising sign." See also "business sign."
ENFORCEMENT NOTICE
A notice as provided in § 616.1 of the Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10616.1, sent by the Township to the owner or occupant of record of a parcel on which a violation of this chapter has occurred, to any person who has filed a written request to receive enforcement notices regarding that parcel, and to any other person requested in writing by the owner or occupant of record, the purpose of which is to initiate enforcement proceedings.
FACADE, BUILDING
That portion of any exterior elevation on the building extending from finished grade to top of the parapet, wall or eaves and the entire width of the building elevation as determined by the Code Enforcement Officer. For example, the front facade of a building would include all of the wall area that would be shown on the front elevation of the building plans.
FLAG
Any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision, or a religious, educational or corporate organization, provided that such flags are displayed for noncommercial purposes.
FLASHING SIGN
A sign, the illumination of which is intermittently on and off so as to flash or blink or the intensity of which varies so as to appear to flash or blink. Such signs are prohibited.
GROUND SIGN
A two-sided, freestanding business sign or business directory sign that is not attached to any building and that is supported by upright structural members anchored into the ground. The height of a ground sign shall be measured from the ground elevation nearest to the sign to the highest elevation of the sign structure, and the overall height of the sign shall not exceed a height of 25 feet.
HEIGHT
In the case of buildings, the vertical distance from the mean level of the ground surrounding the building to the top of the highest roof beams of a flat roof or the mean level of the highest gable or slope of a hip roof. When the building faces on more than one street, the height shall be measured from the average of the grades at the center of each street front. In case of other structures, the height shall be the vertical distance from the mean level of the ground surrounding the structure to the highest point of the structure.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign used to identify:
A. 
The name of the individual or organization occupying, leasing or owning the premises and/or the profession of the occupant; or
B. 
The name and/or management of the building on which the sign is displayed or the name of the major enterprise or principal product or service on the premises.
ILLEGAL SIGN
Any sign erected, altered, moved, repaired, maintained or replaced in violation of this chapter.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign that has characters, letters, figures, designs or outlines illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a part of the sign:
A. 
Backlighting: Illumination of an outside area or object by any man-made device that shines from behind the object or area.
B. 
Internal lighting: Illumination of an outside area or object by any man-made device that shines from within the object or area.
C. 
External lighting: Illumination of an outside area or object by any man-made device that shines onto or reflects from said area or object.
D. 
Hours of illumination: No billboard or electronic off-premises advertising sign shall be illuminated between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m., prevailing time.
INSTITUTIONAL IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign or bulletin board which identifies the name and other characteristics of a public, semipublic or private institution on the site where the sign is located. Institutions shall include churches, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other nonprofit and charitable organizations.
INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATIONAL SIGN
Any sign giving information to employees, visitors or delivery vehicles to an institution but containing no advertising. Such signs may include the name of the institution but must predominantly represent a directional or informational message.
LARGE VIDEO DISPLAY
An electronic sign that features real-time, full-motion or pictorial imagery of television quality or better.
LCD
A liquid crystal display, electronic visual display or video display that uses light-modulating properties of liquid crystals.
LED
Light-emitting diode. A type of LCD screen; how the LCD screen is backlit.
LUMINANCE
The photometric quantity most closely associated with the perception of brightness. Luminance is measured in candelas per square meters or "nits."
MARQUEE
Any permanent, roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather, and which provides an area for manual or electronic changeable copy.
MOTION
The depiction of movement or change of position of text, images or graphics. Motion shall include, but not be limited to, visual effects such as dissolving and fading text and images, running sequential text, graphic bursts, lighting that resembles zooming, twinkling or sparkling, changes in light or color, transitory bursts of light intensity, moving patterns or bands of light, expanding or contracting shapes, and similar actions.
NITS
Nits are a unit of measure of brightness or luminance. One nit is equal to one candela/square meter.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
A sign, lawfully existing on the effective date of this chapter or subsequent amendment hereto, which does not completely conform to the sign regulations applicable in the district in which it is located. An illegal sign is not a nonconforming sign.
OFF-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN or OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered only elsewhere than upon the premises where the sign is displayed and shall include billboards and electronic signs.
PENNANT
Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire or string, usually in a series, designed to move in the wind.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A- or T-frames; sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.
PROJECTING SIGN
A two-sided sign attached perpendicular to the building face. See "business sign."
RESIDENTIAL IDENTIFICATION SIGN
Any on-site noncommercial sign located in a district zoned for residential uses that contains no commercial message and intended to identify the name of the resident and/or the street number or apartment number of the dwelling unit.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the roof of a building, supported by the roof structure and extending vertically above the top walk or edge of a flat roof, the eaves line of a building with a gambrel, gable or hip roof or the deckline of a building with a mansard roof.
SIGN
Any device, fixture, placard or structure that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol or writing to identify and communicate, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind to the public.
SIGNAGE
Signs considered as a group; the design or use of signs.
SIGN, CHANGEABLE COPY
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a time-and-temperature portion of a sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this chapter.
STREAMER
A long narrow flag, banner or pennant suspended from one or more corners, used to draw attention to a business or its signs.
SUPPLEMENTAL SIGN
Any sign identifying special features or services of a trade or business, including additional corporate or business logos, entrance or exit signs, or signs identifying functions such as showroom, sales, service or repairs. See "business sign."
TEMPORARY POLITICAL SIGNS
A sign, placard or sticker which announces a political candidate seeking office, political parties and/or political and public issues, contained on an election ballot and includes, but is not limited to, structures or devices upon which lettered, pictorial or other visual information is painted, including paper, plastic or cloth banners, pennants, balloons or other devices designed to attract attention.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A wall, window, awning, projecting or ground sign that provides decoration and/or identifies advertising or nonadvertising information, such as a business name, business address, owner, logo and/or building name, relating to brief activity, the erection or display of which is not to exceed a period of 30 days in any calendar year and which takes place not more than one time a year. A temporary sign includes a banner, cloth, pennant, streamer or other flexible material suspended from a building, structure or pole. A business establishment may erect or display only one temporary sign on a lot in any calendar year. See "business sign."
TOTAL SIGNAGE AREA
The area of a sign shall include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or building against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework and bracing that are incidental to the display itself.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Shaler.
TOWNSHIP MANAGER
The Manager of the Township of Shaler.
TWIRL TIME
The time it takes for static text, images and graphics on an electronic sign to change to a different text, images or graphics on a subsequent sign face.
VEHICULAR SIGN
Any sign displayed on a parked vehicle, where the primary purpose of the vehicle is to advertise a product or business or to direct people to a business or activity during all or part of the day. For the purposes of this chapter, vehicular signs shall not include business logos, identification, or advertising on vehicles primarily used for other business purposes.
WALL SIGN
Any sign painted on, attached or erected against the wall of a building, the front or sides of a marquee or canopy with the exposed face of the sign in a place parallel to the plane of the wall or the marquee or canopy so that only one side is visible.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign, picture, symbol or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale or service, that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.
All signs not expressly authorized under this article or exempt from regulation hereunder in accordance with the subsequent sections are prohibited in the Township. Prohibited signs shall include, but are not limited to:
A. 
All illegal signs and all signs not in compliance with this chapter or any other ordinance or regulation of the Township.
B. 
Signs not in good repair.
C. 
Signs interfering with or impeding drivers' vision including line of sight or vehicular traffic or safety signs.
D. 
Any sign erected closer than five feet to any underground utility line.
E. 
Obsolete signs and abandoned signs. Each sign shall be promptly removed when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
F. 
Beacons.
G. 
Flashing signs.
H. 
Roof signs.
I. 
Pennants.
J. 
Banners.
K. 
Vehicular signs.
L. 
Portable signs.
The following types of signs are permitted in all districts:
A. 
"For sale" and "for rent" signs as hereinafter specially regulated in each district.
B. 
Political posters and placards, which shall be removed by the person erecting such sign, the person responsible for the land on which it is erected, or the candidate or party upon whose behalf the posters and placards are erected, within seven days after the election.
C. 
Public service signs of such size and type and in such locations as required to satisfy the public need in any district, including:
(1) 
Convenience signs identifying location of rest rooms, freight entrances and parking areas.
(2) 
Government signs for the control of traffic and other regulatory purposes.
(3) 
Public transit service signs.
(4) 
Public utility information signs and community special event signs.
(5) 
Safety signs.
(6) 
Signs erected by a public agency in the performance of a public duty.
(7) 
Signs indicating scenic or historic points of interest.
(8) 
Street signs.
(9) 
"No trespassing" signs and "no hunting" signs.
(10) 
Directional signs without advertising as may be deemed necessary for the preservation of the public health or safety.
(11) 
Directional signs with advertising and having a maximum size of no more than three square feet per entrance or exit.
The following types of signs are permitted in residential districts:
A. 
Residential identification signs on residential structures:
(1) 
Maximum number of signs per building is one sign, or two if building is on a corner lot.
(2) 
Maximum size per sign is 1 1/2 square feet.
B. 
"For sale" and "for rent" signs:
(1) 
Maximum number of signs per building is one sign, or two if building is on a corner lot.
(2) 
Maximum size per sign is 10 square feet.
(3) 
Minimum distance of the sign from another lot is 15 feet.
C. 
Institutional identification signs on institutional or public buildings:
(1) 
Maximum number of identification signs per building is two signs.
(2) 
Maximum total area of signs is 32 square feet.
D. 
Institutional directional and informational signs on institutional or public buildings:
(1) 
Unlimited number of signs.
(2) 
Maximum size of each sign is three square feet.
E. 
There shall be not more than two identification signs erected by churches, schools or other similar institutions, each of which shall be located on the premises and shall not exceed 32 square feet in area. Additional directional and informational signs may be erected on such premises as necessary, each of which shall not exceed three square feet in area.
A. 
For all uses within nonresidential districts along these corridors, each business establishment is permitted to have one of the following combinations of signage:
(1) 
One ground sign and one projecting sign with a total area of 100 square feet.
(2) 
One ground sign and one awning sign with a total area of 100 square feet.
(3) 
One wall sign and one projecting sign with a total area of 100 square feet.
(4) 
One wall sign and one awning sign with a total area of 100 square feet.
(5) 
One wall sign and one ground sign with a total area of 80 square feet.
(6) 
If granted a special exception for an electronic sign, one electronic sign and one wall sign with a total maximum area of 80 square feet for all sign faces.
B. 
The maximum size of each sign is 50 square feet.
C. 
Including additional signs and electronic signs, but excluding supplemental signs, the maximum total signage area of all signs for each business establishment along these corridors is 100 square feet for all sign faces.
D. 
Ground signs must comply with all bufferyard requirements.
E. 
The maximum height of any sign attached to a building is one foot above the roofline of the building to which it is attached.
F. 
The maximum height of any permitted sign not attached to a building is 25 feet above the level of the ground.
G. 
Supplemental wall signs with a maximum size of six square feet are permitted.
H. 
Electronic signs are not permitted except by special exception.
I. 
For a contiguous group of more than five business establishments, one additional ground sign is permitted for the group.
(1) 
The maximum size of the additional ground sign is 50 square feet.
(2) 
The maximum height of the sign is 25 feet from the level of the ground.
J. 
Temporary signs:
(1) 
The maximum number of temporary signs permitted per business establishment is one temporary sign within a calendar year.
(2) 
The maximum size of any temporary sign erected within any calendar year is 12 square feet.
(3) 
The maximum length of time a temporary sign may be displayed per business establishment is 30 days within any calendar year, and the temporary sign shall be removed within two days following the last day of the event.
(4) 
Window signs affixed to the inside of windows are not considered temporary signs.
K. 
The minimum distance of any sign from a paved portion of the public right-of-way, except for a wall sign, is 15 feet.
L. 
The minimum distance of any sign from a residential lot is 40 feet.
M. 
"For sale" and "for rent" signs:
(1) 
Maximum number of signs per lot is one sign, or two signs on a corner lot.
(2) 
Maximum size is 50 square feet.
(3) 
Minimum distance from the paved portion of a public right-of-way is 15 feet.
(4) 
The signs may not be illuminated.
(5) 
The sign shall be erected only upon the property for sale or being rented.
A. 
For all uses within nonresidential districts along these corridors, each business establishment is permitted to have one of the following combinations of signage:
(1) 
One ground sign and one projecting sign with a maximum total signage area of 125 square feet for all sign faces.
(2) 
One ground sign and one awning sign with a maximum total signage area of 125 square feet for all sign faces.
(3) 
One wall sign and one projecting sign with a maximum total signage area of 125 square feet for all sign faces.
(4) 
One wall sign and one ground sign with a maximum total signage area of 125 square feet for all sign faces.
(5) 
One wall sign and one electronic sign with a maximum total signage area of 125 square feet for all sign faces.
(6) 
The maximum size of each sign is 100 square feet.
B. 
Ground signs must comply with all bufferyard requirements.
C. 
The maximum height of any sign attached to a building is one foot above the roofline of the building to which it is attached.
D. 
The maximum height of any permitted sign not attached to a building, excluding billboards, is 25 feet above the level of the ground.
E. 
Additional sign. For a contiguous group of more than five business establishments, one additional ground sign is permitted for the group.
(1) 
The maximum size of the additional ground sign is 50 square feet.
(2) 
The maximum height of the sign is 25 feet from the level of the ground.
F. 
Including additional signs and electronic signs but excluding supplemental signs, the maximum total signage area of all signs for each business establishment along these corridors is 125 square feet for all sign faces.
G. 
Supplemental wall signs with a maximum size of six square feet are permitted.
H. 
Electronic signs complying with this chapter are permitted.
I. 
Temporary signs.
(1) 
The maximum number of temporary signs permitted per business establishment is one temporary sign within a calendar year.
(2) 
The maximum size of any temporary sign erected within any calendar year is 12 square feet.
(3) 
The maximum length of time a temporary sign may be displayed per business establishment is 30 days within any calendar year and the temporary sign shall be removed within two days following the last day of the event.
(4) 
Window signs affixed to the inside of windows are not considered temporary signs.
J. 
The minimum distance of any sign from a paved portion of the public right-of-way, except for a wall sign, is 15 feet.
K. 
The minimum distance of any sign from a residential lot is 40 feet.
L. 
"For sale" and "for rent" signs:
(1) 
Maximum number of signs per lot is one sign, or two signs on a corner lot.
(2) 
Maximum size is 50 square feet.
(3) 
Minimum distance from the paved portion of a public right-of-way is 15 feet.
(4) 
The signs may not be illuminated.
(5) 
The sign shall be erected only upon the property for sale or being rented.
A. 
For all uses within nonresidential districts along this corridor, each business establishment is permitted to have one of the following combinations of signage:
(1) 
Wall signs.
(a) 
Maximum number of wall signs is two.
(b) 
Maximum distance a wall sign projects from the wall to which it is attached is one foot.
(c) 
A wall sign may not exceed the width of the occupied premises or building in length.
(2) 
Supplemental wall signs with a maximum size of six square feet are permitted.
(3) 
One ground sign and one projecting sign with a total maximum signage area of 150 square feet for all sign faces.
(4) 
One ground sign and one awning sign with a total maximum signage area of 150 square feet for all sign faces.
(5) 
One wall sign and one projecting sign with a total maximum signage area of 150 square feet for all sign faces.
(6) 
One wall sign and one ground sign with a total maximum signage area of 150 square feet for all sign faces.
(7) 
One wall sign and one electronic sign with a maximum total area of 150 square feet for all sign faces.
(8) 
The maximum size of each sign is 100 square feet.
(9) 
For a building on a corner lot, either frontage may be used for calculation, but the frontage selected will be the front where the sign is erected.
B. 
Ground signs must comply with all bufferyard requirements.
C. 
The maximum height of any sign attached to a building is one foot above the roofline of the building to which it is attached.
D. 
The maximum height of any permitted sign not attached to a building, excluding billboards, is 25 feet above the level of the ground.
E. 
Additional sign. For a contiguous group of more than five business establishments, one additional ground sign is permitted for the group.
(1) 
The maximum size of the additional ground sign is 50 square feet.
(2) 
The maximum height of the sign is 25 feet from the level of the ground.
F. 
Including additional signs and electronic signs, but excluding supplemental signs, the maximum total signage area of all signs for each business establishment along these corridors is 150 square feet for all sign faces.
G. 
Lots without buildings are permitted one ground sign with a maximum size of 50 square feet.
H. 
Ground signs must comply with all bufferyard requirements.
I. 
Temporary signs.
(1) 
The maximum number of temporary signs permitted per business establishment is one temporary sign within a calendar year.
(2) 
The maximum size of any temporary sign erected within any calendar year is 12 square feet.
(3) 
The maximum length of time a temporary sign may be displayed per business establishment is 30 days within any calendar year, and the temporary sign shall be removed within two days following the last day of the event.
(4) 
Window signs affixed to the inside of windows are not considered temporary signs.
J. 
Electronic signs complying with this chapter are permitted.
K. 
Billboards complying with this chapter are permitted.
(1) 
All billboards must be:
(a) 
The principal use on a lot.
(b) 
Mounted on a permanent structure but not on a motor vehicle, fence or a retaining wall.
(2) 
The face of the sign may not be visible within a ground-level sight distance of 350 feet of property zoned residential, cemetery or professional; a public park or playground of 1/4 acre or more; or a cultural and/or recreation center.
(3) 
The billboard must be within the lot where the base is erected.
(4) 
Minimum distance from a public right-of-way is 15 feet.
(5) 
Maximum height of a billboard sign is 40 feet.
(6) 
Only one billboard is permitted per lot, but one sign may have a maximum of two faces arranged back-to-back or deck style.
(7) 
Maximum size: 240 square feet.
L. 
Location requirements.
(1) 
Minimum distance from a ground sign to the paved area of a public right-of-way is 15 feet.
(2) 
Projecting signs must be attached directly to the structural framework of the building.
(3) 
Minimum distance from any sign to a residential lot is 100 feet.
M. 
"For sale" and "for rent" signs.
(1) 
Maximum number of signs per lot is one sign, or two signs on a corner lot.
(2) 
Maximum size is 50 square feet.
(3) 
Minimum distance from the paved portion of a public right-of-way is 15 feet.
(4) 
The signs may not be illuminated.
(5) 
The sign shall be erected only upon the property for sale or being rented.
A. 
Uses within a professional district outside of a signage corridor will use the signage standards for nonresidential uses in the most restrictive directly adjacent district or corridor.
B. 
All other nonresidential uses outside of a signage corridor shall use the standards for the Babcock Boulevard/Evergreen Road corridors.
A. 
Illuminated signs complying with this chapter are permitted in each nonresidential zoning district.
B. 
All signs may be illuminated with back-, internal or external lighting. Each sign that is lit entirely by backlighting or external lighting is permitted to increase the total permitted signage area by 5%. Backlighting does not include internal lighting.
C. 
All illumination must be cutoff lighting. All lighting must be limited to a maximum candlepower of 2 1/2% of the total lamp lumens at an angle of 90° above horizontal and a maximum candlepower of 10% at an angle of 80° above horizontal for any lateral angle around the light.
D. 
No illuminated off-premises advertising sign shall be illuminated between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m., prevailing time.
A. 
Electronic signs complying with the requirements of this chapter may be approved by the Code Enforcement Officer in the Route 8 and East Ohio Street corridors and the Babcock Boulevard and Evergreen Road corridors in the Township.
B. 
Electronic signs complying with the requirements of this chapter are permitted as a special exception in the Mt. Royal Boulevard and Seavey Road corridors of the Township.
C. 
All electronic signs in the Township are subject to the following criteria:
(1) 
No electronic off-premises advertising sign shall be illuminated between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m., prevailing time.
(2) 
Electronic signs with large video display are permitted in the Route 8 and East Ohio Street corridors and the Babcock Boulevard and Evergreen Road corridors in the Township.
(3) 
Dwell time. The text, image or display on an electronic sign may not change more than once every 10 seconds. Twirl time between subsequent text, images or display shall not exceed 0.25 second.
(4) 
Brightness. During daylight hours between sunrise and sunset, luminance shall be no greater than 5,000 nits. At all other times, luminance shall be no greater than 500 nits.
(5) 
Location. No electronic sign may be erected except as authorized herein.
(6) 
Interference. No electronic sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise physically interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or to obstruct or physically interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
(7) 
Controls; testing; annual certification.
(a) 
All electronic signs shall be equipped with an automatic dimmer control or other mechanism that automatically controls the sign's brightness as provided above.
(b) 
Prior to approval of any permit to operate an electronic sign, the applicant shall certify that the sign has been tested and complies with the motion, dwell time, brightness and other requirements herein.
(c) 
The owner and/or operator of an electronic sign shall submit an annual report to the Township, certifying that the sign complies with the motion, dwell time, brightness and other requirements herein.
(8) 
Maintenance. Routine maintenance of electronic signs is permitted, including the replacement of solid-state electronic components, subject to compliance with regulations set forth herein relating to motion, brightness and dwell time.
A. 
No sign shall be erected until the owner, occupier or applicant has received a permit for the erection of the sign and pays to the Township a fee in such amount as the Board of Commissioners may from time to time set by resolution.
B. 
A separate permit is required for the erection of each individual sign.
C. 
No permit is required for signs with an area of 12 square feet or less.
D. 
No permit is required for "for sale" or "for rent" signs.
All nonconforming signs in existence prior to the effective date of this chapter are permitted to continue, provided that no such sign shall be:
A. 
Changed, altered or expanded in any way which increases the sign's nonconformity; or replaced by another nonconforming sign, except that copy may be changed on an existing sign.
B. 
Relocated, except in conformance with the requirements of this chapter.
C. 
Reestablished after it has been removed or is an abandoned sign.
Where a ground sign is permitted and the width of the sign at its base would extend beyond the bounds of an established or proposed bufferyard, the bufferyard must be expanded in a "cut out" so that the entire base of the sign is within a contiguous landscaped area with a minimum distance of two feet from the edge of the base of the sign to the edge of the landscaped bufferyard area. The cut out must be circular or semicircular in shape unless the lot shape and/or public right-of-way do not allow for this shape, in which case, the cut out should be rounded in shape.
The following signs shall be exempt from regulations under this chapter:
A. 
Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance.
B. 
Any sign inside a structure not attached to a window or door that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the lot or site on which such sign is located.
C. 
Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
D. 
Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, but only from November through January.
E. 
Memorial signs or tablets denoting the date of erection of a building.
F. 
Auctions, garage or yard sale signs, provided that they do not exceed five square feet and are removed as soon as the event or activity has occurred, and provided that they shall not be permitted to be erected more than seven days prior to the event and only permitted at the site at which the event will take place and removed within 48 hours of the conclusion of the event.
G. 
Signs and banners erected by a governmental body or under the direction of such body.
H. 
Community special event signs announcing a nonprofit event of a civic organization for noncommercial purposes, where such sign does not exceed four square feet in area and banners no more than 60 square feet in area, for a period not to exceed 30 days prior to the start of the event, and removed within three days after the conclusion of the event.
If it appears to the Township that a violation of any provision of this chapter has occurred, the Township shall initiate enforcement proceedings by sending an enforcement notice as provided by 53 P.S. § 10616.1.
A. 
Any person, partnership or corporation who or which has violated or permitted the violation of the provisions of this article shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township, pay a judgment of not more than $500 plus all court costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Township as a result thereof. No judgment shall commence or be imposed, levied or payable until the date of the determination of a violation by the Magisterial District Judge. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation, unless the Magisterial District Judge determining that there has been a violation further determines that there was a good faith basis for the person, partnership or corporation violating the ordinance to have believed that there was no such violation, in which event there shall be deemed to have been only one such violation until the fifth day following the date of the determination of a violation by the Magisterial District Judge, and thereafter each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation. All judgments, costs and reasonable attorneys' fees collected for the violation of the article shall be paid over to the Township.
B. 
The court of common pleas, upon petition, may grant an order of stay, upon cause shown, tolling the per diem fine, pending a final adjudication of the violation and judgment.
C. 
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed or interpreted to grant to any person or entity other than the Township the right to commence any action for enforcement pursuant to this section.
A. 
With general police powers. If any person, persons, firms or corporations or other organization carries on any activity within the Township in violation of the provisions of this chapter, then the Township, in addition to any other remedies, may institute any legal action to prevent, restrain or abate any act constituting a violation of this chapter and to require compliance with its provisions.
B. 
Discrepancy between text and exhibit. Where a discrepancy exists between any exhibit attached to this chapter and that which is described in the text of this chapter, the text of the chapter controls and shall be the final authority.
A. 
Variances. The Township Zoning Hearing Board may approve variances from the requirements of this chapter. Requests for variances from the requirements of this chapter shall be subject to the application and approval procedures, requirements and standards for variances under Article XIV of Chapter 225, Zoning, of the Shaler Township Code, as amended.
B. 
Special exceptions. The Township Zoning Hearing Board may approve special exceptions under this chapter if the express standards and criteria established by this chapter are met. Requests for special exceptions shall be subject to the application and approval procedures, requirements and standards for special exceptions under Article XVIII of Chapter 225, Zoning, of the Shaler Township Code, as amended.
In addition to those purposes stated in Article I, this article is adopted for the following additional purposes:
A. 
The Township desires to regulate the placement of temporary political signs within the Township in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the community in accordance with the provisions of the First Class Township Code.
B. 
The Township desires to regulate the placement of temporary political signs in order to protect automobile drivers from unnecessarily dangerous distractions, to uphold the property values of the community by prohibiting unnecessarily obtrusive political signs, and to uphold the dignity and impartial, nonpartisan manner of public institutions.
C. 
The Township desires to reasonably regulate the placement of temporary political signs in order to assure that means will remain open for political communication within the Township.
Temporary political signs posted or erected on public property located within the Township are subject to the following general requirements:
A. 
Number of signs. No more than one temporary political sign shall be placed on public property on each leg of the intersection of roads or streets for any one candidate.
B. 
Area. Temporary political signs on public property shall not exceed an aggregate gross surface area of 12 square feet per sign.
C. 
Height. Temporary political signs shall not project higher than four feet, as measured from the base of the sign or grade of the nearest adjacent roadway, whichever is higher.
D. 
Timing. Temporary political signs may be erected or maintained for a period not to exceed 30 days prior to the date of the election to which such signs are applicable and shall be removed within seven days following the termination of the election.
E. 
Illumination. No temporary political sign shall be illuminated in any manner.
F. 
Required consent. The Township reserves the right to deny a request to post any temporary political sign on public property and to require the removal of any temporary political sign at any time whatsoever whenever such temporary political sign poses a threat to the public's safety, health and welfare, specific prohibitions include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) 
Temporary political signs shall be prohibited within five feet of the edge of the paved surface of any road or street within the Township.
(2) 
Temporary political signs shall be prohibited along any road or street within the Township where it would obstruct the clear sight distance of traffic, and no temporary political sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to traffic on a street by obstructing the view.
(3) 
No temporary political sign or sticker shall be posted, nailed, wired, attached or affixed to any public property, including, but not limited to, traffic signs, structures or devices, traffic control boxes, guardrails, telephone poles, utility posts or Township street signs.
No temporary political sign shall be placed or erected on any private property without first obtaining permission from such property owner.
Every prohibited temporary political sign is declared to be a public nuisance, and the person or persons having authority over the public or private property may remove the same or cause it to be removed immediately at the reasonable expense of the person placing, maintaining or erecting the temporary political sign.
Any person, firm, partnership, corporation or organization who or which violates any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, be fined not less than $300 and, in default of the payment of the fine and costs, shall be committed to the Allegheny County Jail for a period not to exceed 30 days. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to preclude the Township to seek other relief or avail itself of any remedy that may be at law or in equity to prevent continuing violations of the terms of this article.