§ 184-149. Applicability; general provisions., Article XVII. Signs, Part 3. Zoning, Chapter 184. Land Use, Part II. General Legislation, Code of Ordinances, Fanwood

Permit required. No person shall erect, repair, replace or alter any sign, fixed awning, canopy, projecting object or other advertising structure, except those exempted under this article, without first obtaining a zoning permit and a building permit and making payment of the fee required by the Code of the Borough of Fanwood. The erection or relocation of a freestanding sign shall require site plan submission prior to issuance of any permit.

Each application shall be accompanied by plans showing the area of the sign: size, composition and character; the method of illumination, if any; the method of attachment; the exact location proposed for such sign; adjacent streets, all structures on the lot, proposed inscriptions, details of its support, its overall height above the normal ground level; and in the case of a projecting sign, the proposed method of fastening such sign to the building structure, the horizontal distance between such sign and building structure, the horizontal distance between such sign and the curb and the distance between such sign and the right-of-way.

Computation of sign area. The Borough of Fanwood has determined the appropriate size and location of signs within the Borough. The area of a sign as set forth below is computed based on the area of an individual sign and not the total for all signs on a premise. The maximum permitted area of such sign shall be the size of one side only, except as provided otherwise herein. The area of the sign shall include each and every part of the sign, including moldings and frames. Where the sign is supported by a post or pylon the surface of which is being used for advertising purposes, the area of the post, pylon or other supporting member shall be considered as part of the total allowable sign area. Wherever the name or advertising message on a sign is divided between a number of panels or parts, all of the panels or parts shall be considered as the total area of the smallest rectangle which can enclose all of the letters or numbers.

Signs erected flat against the side of a building shall not extend above the height or beyond the sides of the vertical wall or cornice to which they are attached. Such facade sign shall not extend from the face of the wall on which it is attached more than eight inches.

No sign or any part thereof shall be located closer than 15 feet to any lot line or closer than the distance any existing wall of the principal structure on the lot is to the lot line, whichever is closer to the lot line, except as provided herein.

Any sign erected in conjunction with a specific use will be removed upon the discontinuation or removal of that use. Signs that fall into disrepair or are no longer properly supported shall be deemed to be abandoned.

No existing conforming sign shall be enlarged, rebuilt, structurally altered or relocated except in accordance with the provisions of this article and until a permit has been issued. The issuance of a permit shall not relieve the owner or lessee of the premises from the duty of maintaining safely any such signs.

Nonconforming signs may be continued in use but may not be enlarged, relocated, altered, rebuilt, extended nor made less conforming. In the event that there is a cessation of use of any nonconforming sign for a period of 30 consecutive days the same shall be presumed an abandonment of any nonconforming sign. Signs which fall into disrepair or are no longer properly supported shall be deemed to be abandoned. Signs associated with a business enterprise on a premises which vacates this premises or ceases doing business shall be considered to be abandoned after the passage of 30 consecutive days from such vacation or ceasing of business.

Any sign located within a building or structure visible from the exterior and within three feet of the window or door through which it is visible shall not be neon or internally illuminated.

[Amended 7-8-2003 by Ord. No. 03-14R]

Motor vehicles used as signs. No unregistered, uninsured or inoperable motor vehicle with advertising signage of any type nor any motor vehicle with the sole purpose to be used as advertising signage of any type shall be parked on any portion of a lot visible from a public street in any commercial or industrial zone.

At the termination of any professional, business or use of any premises, the permission to display signs associated with such use of the premises shall forthwith terminate, and all such signs shall be removed or obliterated from the premises within 30 days from the date of termination of such use.