A. Procedure. After the effective date of this Chapter and except as otherwise herein provided, no person shall erect any sign as defined herein without first obtaining a zoning/building permit therefor from the Zoning Officer.
(1) Application for
Permit. Application for the permit shall be made to the Zoning Officer, in writing, upon forms prescribed and provided by the Zoning Officer and shall contain the following information:
(a) Name, address and telephone number of applicant.
(b) Location of building, structure, or land to which or upon which the sign is to be erected.
(c) A detailed drawing or blueprint showing a description of the construction details of the sign and showing the lettering and/or pictorial matter composing the sign; position of lighting or other extraneous devices; a location plan showing the position of the sign on any building or land, and its position in relation to nearby buildings or structures and to any private or public street or highway.
(d) Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected, in the event the applicant is not the owner thereof.
(e) A copy of any required or necessary electrical permit issued for said sign or a copy of the application therefor.
(f) Such other pertinent information as the Zoning Officer may require to insure compliance with this Chapter.
B. Registration of Signs. All signs must be registered with the Township Zoning Office. Signs which are nonconforming under the present Chapter may continue to be displayed, or replaced and/or altered to conform with this Chapter. All signs erected after the promulgation of this Chapter must conform to it.
C. Violations. Any sign which has not been registered as nonconforming or which has not received a permit from the Township Zoning Office within one year of the effective date of this Chapter shall be deemed to be in violation of these regulations and subject to the enforcement provisions of
§ 27-707: Causes of Action and
§ 27-5041G.
D. Fees. Fees for sign permits shall be as determined from time to time by resolution of the Township Supervisors, Such fees shall cover the cost of enforcing this Section for compliance with the purpose of this Section as stated in regulations. See
Fee Schedule.
E. Issuance of Permit. It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer upon the filing of an application for a permit to erect a sign, to examine such plans, specifications and other data submitted to him with the application, and, if necessary, the building or premises upon which it is proposed to erect the sign or other advertising structure. If it shall appear that the proposed sign is in compliance with all the requirements of this Chapter and all other ordinances of the Township the Zoning Officer shall then, within 10 days, issue a permit for the erection of the proposed sign.
(1) Every sign shall bear a permit number issued by the Township, The number with text approximately one inch in height shall be permanently affixed to the structure thereof, Failure to affix the permit number shall constitute cause for revocation of the permit by the Zoning Officer in addition to any other penalties or remedies provided in this Chapter.
(2) If the sign authorized under any such permit has not been completed within six months from the date of the issuance of such permit, the permit shall become null and void, but may be renewed, within 30 days from the expiration thereof, for good cause shown upon payment of an additional fee established by the Township.
(3) The Zoning Officer shall require sign permits to be renewed every 12 months. Such renewal shall be granted following the receipt of annual renewal fees and reinspection of sign, and my be withheld only upon a determination by the Zoning Officer to the effect that such conditions as may have been prescribed by the Zoning Officer in conjunction with the issuance of the original permit have not been, or are being no longer, complied with. In such cases, a period of 60 days shall be granted the applicant for full compliance prior to the revocation of said permit.
(a) The re-inspection shall be performed on or about the anniversary of the expiration of the permit, At this time the Zoning Officer, or his designee, will determine if the sign is in conformance with the ordinance and is being properly maintained in accordance with requirements established from time to time by resolution of the Township Supervisors. If the sign is not in conformance, the Zoning Officer will not issue the annual permit and may remove or order the removal of the sign at the expense of the owner or lessor.
F. Permit Exceptions. The following operations shall not be considered as creating a sign and shall not require a sign permit:
(1) Replacing Copy. The changing of the advertising copy or message on an approved painted or printed sign or on a theater marquee and similar approved signs which are specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy, but replacing copy does not include the activities prohibited in
§ 27-5041N.
(2) Maintenance. Painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or a sign structure unless a structural change is made, but sign maintenance and repair of a sign does not include the activities prohibited in Subsection 1N hereof.
(3) Window signs and signs exempt under the definition of “signs” in this Chapter are also exempt from permit requirements.
(4) Real Estate Signs.
(a) Temporary non-illuminated real estate signs not exceeding six square feet in area advertising the sale, lease or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located and limited to one such sign for each street frontage of a lot, parcel or tract that is less than two acres in area. Temporary real estate directional signs for each home, lot, parcel, or tract being sold showing a directional arrow and located on property outside any street right-of-way may be permitted on approach routes to said premises. There shall be at least 50 feet between any two such directional signs. The top of such signs shall not exceed three feet in height.
(b) Temporary non-illuminated real estate signs not exceeding 24 square feet in area advertising the sale, lease or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located and limited to one such sign for each lot, parcel or tract that is greater than two acres in area. If the lot, parcel of tract has multiple street frontage, only one additional sign not exceeding 24 square feet in area may be permitted on the premises, provided that said second sign is placed facing the additional street frontage.
(c) Not more than two temporary non-illuminated subdivision identification signs located on the premises shall be permitted for a subdivision of six lots or more which has been approved by the Township, provided that each such sign does not exceed 24 square feet in area, Temporary subdivision identification signs will not be permitted after residences have been erected on 75% of the lots in the subdivision or after more than 75% of the lots have been sold by the developer.
(d) One temporary non-illuminated subdivision directional sign may be erected near each intersection of a collector or major street leading to the subdivision with a maximum of four such subdivision directional signs permissible for any one subdivision of six lots or more which has been approved by the Township. The content of such signs shall be restricted to the name of the subdivision, the name of the developer and/or agent and shall not be greater than four square feet in area. The top of such signs shall not exceed eight feet above grade. No illumination will be permitted and such signs shall not be less than 25 feet from the nearest street line and 200 feet from the nearest right-of-way intersection of any two streets.
(e) The realty company, agent or owner must annually submit the name and phone number of a contact person responsible for the placement and removal signage place within Smithfield Township.
G. Revocation of Permit. No sign, whether new or existing, shall hereafter be erected or altered, except in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter. However, notwithstanding any provisions contained herein, the sign must be kept clean, neatly maintained and free from all hazards, such as, but not limited to, faulty wiring, loose fastenings, and must be kept at all times in such safe condition so as not to be detrimental to the public health, welfare and/or safety.
(1) Any sign, whether existing on or erected after the effective date of this Chapter, which advertises a business no longer being conducted or a product no longer being offered for sale in or from the premises on which the sign is located or the sign indicates, shall be removed within 90 days upon the cessation of the business or sale of the product by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial interest in the building or premises on which the sign is located. If the Zoning Officer finds that any sign advertising a business no longer being conducted or a product no longer being offered for sale in or from the premises on which the sign is located has not been removed within 90 days upon the cessation of the business or sale of the product, the Zoning Officer shall give written notices to the owner, agent or person having the beneficial interest in the building or the premises on which the sign is located. The sign shall be removed within 10 days after receipt of the notice from the Zoning Officer. If the sign is not removed after the conclusion of the 10 days period, the Zoning Officer is hereby authorized to remove or cause the removal of the sign at the expense of the owner, agent or person having the beneficial interest in the building or premises on which the sign is located.
