[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Ridley 11-25-1998 by Ord. No. 1791. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 325.
The following words shall have the following
meanings, unless otherwise clearly indicated by the context:
Any sign, intended to be hung either with or without frames,
made of paper, plastic, fabric or some similar material. National
flags, flags of any political subdivision and symbolic flags of any
institution or business shall not be considered banners for the purposes
of this chapter.
Any sign located on any part of a bench or seat placed outside
of a public right-of-way.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 1848]
An off-premises sign which advertises a business, organization,
event, person, place, or thing. Each face of a billboard shall constitute
a separate sign.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 1848]
Any sign located on a canopy or awning of a building.
A sign identifying individuals or companies involved in design,
construction, financing, wrecking or development when placed upon
the premises where work is under construction but only for the duration
of construction or wrecking.
A sign with a fixed or changing message composed of a series
of lights that may be changed through electronic means.
[Added 6-27-2007 by Ord. No. 1922]
A self-supporting sign resting on the ground or supported
by means of poles or standards in the ground.[1]
Any sign illuminated in any manner by an artificial light
source.
Any sign which is suspended over a public thoroughfare, including
streets, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, or similar locations.
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, designated to move in the wind.
[Added 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 1848]
A sign which is used to offer for sale, lease or rent that
premises upon which the sign is placed.
A sign erected or constructed wholly upon and over the roof
of any building and supported solely on the roof structure.
Any permanent or temporary structure, surface, fabric, device,
or display or part thereof or any device attached, painted, or represented
on a structure or other surface that displays or includes any letter,
word, insignia, flag, or representation used as or in the nature of
any advertisement, announcement, visual communication, direction,
or is designed to attract the eye or bring the subject to the attention
of the public.
Any sign painted on or attached to and erected parallel to
the face of or erected and confined within the limits of the outside
wall of any building and supported by such wall or building and which
displays only one advertising surface. Signs on businesses in a mall
or other building that has a common area for the public to congregate
shall be included in this definition.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 1848]
Any sign placed inside or upon a window or door facing the
outside and which is intended to be seen from the exterior. Signs
on businesses in a mall or other building that has a common area for
the public to congregate shall be included in this definition.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 1848]
[1]
Editor's Note: The definition of "gross surface
area," which originally followed this definition, was repealed 12-17-2003
by Ord. No. 1848.
A.
No owner or occupier of any land, structure or building
shall erect, alter, repair, enlarge remove or maintain any sign as
defined herein within the Township of Ridley unless a sign license
is obtained from the Township of Ridley.
B.
The term of all such licenses shall be from January
1 until December 31 with no proration for a partial year. Sign licenses
must be renewed annually.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 1848]
E.
The following signs shall require a sign license but
shall not be required to pay a fee for such license:
[Added 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 1848]
(1)
A sign of up to 32 square feet erected by a nonprofit
or entirely charitable entity denoting a special event, provided that
it is erected no more than 45 days total, which includes both before
and after the event.
No sign license shall be issued until the application
for such license permit shall first be filed in duplicate with the
Township Secretary, on a form provided by the Township. A separate
application form will be required for each sign. The application form
shall consist of:
A.
The name and address of the owner of the lot upon
which the sign is located, and the owner of the sign itself, if different.
B.
If a new sign, the plan and specifications for the
sign, including dimensions, material and details of construction of
said sign, showing its location and the distance from the side or
roof of a building.
C.
If an existing, sign, the dimensions of the sign,
and any changes to the sign since the last license and/or permit was
issued for the sign.
D.
The written consent of the owner of the property on
which such sign is to be erected, altered, repaired, enlarged, removed
or maintained.
E.
A diagram of the lot, showing the exact location on
the lot where the sign will be located.
The application for such license or permit must
be accompanied by a certificate of liability insurance in such sum
as, in the judgment of the Township Manager, is necessary under all
the circumstances of the case, conditioned for the indemnification
of the Township of Ridley from any and all damages, liabilities, claims,
demands, costs and expenses that the Township may have to pay to any
person arising and growing out of the negligent erection, construction
or maintenance of any such sign. If the applicant is not satisfied
with the amount of insurance as fixed by the Township Manager, the
applicant may appeal to the Board of Township Commissioners, whose
action in fixing the amount of the insurance shall be final.
No such license shall be issued unless the application
shall be accompanied by a fee to be established by resolution of the
Board of Commissioners.
[Amended 10-22-2014 by Ord. No. 2011]
No application for such license under this chapter shall be
approved by the Code Enforcement Department unless, in the opinion
of the Township Manager, the same does not interfere with the health,
safety or welfare of the community. In addition, the Township Manager
shall decide if the sign content is offensive or objectionable to
members of the public and that the sign utilizes colors and designs
that blend with the building and adjacent buildings.
Nothing in this chapter shall require the removal
or discontinuance of signs constructed or maintained prior to the
passage of this chapter, provided that the license is applied for
within 30 days of the passage of this chapter.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 1848]
No license under this chapter shall be issued
unless it is established, to the satisfaction of the Code Enforcement
Department, that the sign is in conformity with all state, federal
and local laws and regulations, as well as any laws, regulations,
or other minimum standards established for the proper construction,
placement, repair, enlargement, illumination, stability or grounding
of signs and/or billboards. Furthermore, no sign other than a canopy
or awning sign or overhang sign shall be placed within the public
right-of-way except for signs in bus shelters which are included within
the Township's Bus Shelter Agreement.
[Amended 7-25-2001 by Ord. No. 1813]
C.
Violations and penalties. Any person who violates
any provisions of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be
sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $1,000, plus costs of prosecution,
and in default of payment of such fine and costs shall be imprisoned
for a period not to exceed 30 days. A separate offense shall be deemed
committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
If a license is not applied for and issued in accordance with the terms of this chapter or if the license fee is not paid as provided above, the sign shall be taken down and removed after notice has been given by the Code Enforcement Department. If not done after notice, the Township, in addition to the penalties listed in § 249-12, shall have the authority to require the removal of the sign by the owner or occupier of the grounds and/or the owner of the sign, in default of which the Township may cause the removal and collect the cost thereof, together with a penalty of 10%, in the manner provided by law for the collection of municipal claims or by action in assumpsit without the filing of a claim, or may seek relief by a bill in equity.
It shall be the duty of the Code Enforcement Department to inspect every sign, and if the same is in a condition hazardous to the public safety, to not the person, firm or corporation owning, controlling or maintaining the sign to remedy this condition. If not done after notice, the Township, in addition to the to the penalties listed in § 249-12, shall have the authority to require the removal of the sign by the owner or occupier of the grounds and/or the owner of the sign, in default of which the Township may cause the removal and collect the cost thereof, together with a penalty of 10%, in the manner provided by law for the collection of municipal claims or by action in assumpsit without the filing of a claim, or may seek relief by a bill in equity.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions
of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof by any District Justice,
be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000, together with
the costs, and each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate
offense. Where there are multiple locations being operated and the
same violation occurs at each location, then each violation shall
constitute a separate offense. In default of the payment of the fine,
the defendant shall be sentenced to jail for a period not exceeding
30 days.
