§ 184-157. Permitted signs.

A. 

Residential zone districts. In any residential zone, the following signs shall be permitted:

(1) 

A name or announcement sign accessory to a church or other place of worship, a public or quasi-public building and any permitted institutional or similar conditional use not to exceed 10 square feet in area. Not more than one such sign shall be permitted on a lot. Directional signs shall be permitted in such quantities and in such locations as deemed necessary for the information, guidance, convenience or safety of the general public, including but not limited to "entrance," "exit," "parking," "public telephone," "public rest rooms," "no trespassing" "no soliciting" and/or other words or directions of similar import. Each such individual sign shall not exceed two square feet in area and, where appropriate, two or three signs may be combined within a single sign structure with not more than two square feet in area for each sign. The upper edge of all freestanding directional signs shall be not more than three feet above the ground surface.

(2) 

Official signs of the federal government and the state or any of their agencies, the county and the Borough.

(3) 

Signs showing the name and/or street number of the owner or tenant of the residential premises which shall not exceed one square foot in size in the aggregate of all such signs.

(4) 

One nonilluminated temporary sign identifying the owner, architect, builder, realtor and contractor on premises on which a building is being constructed, altered or repaired. Such a sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in area. It may be displayed on the premises affected for the time required for such construction, alteration or repair or for one year, whichever period is less. Unless the sign is affixed to a building, it shall be set back from the street curb line a distance of not less than 24 feet. Only one sign may be used to identify all of the above persons who are performing services with respect to the premises. The temporary sign shall be removed within seven days after completion of the construction.

[Amended 5-9-2006 by Ord. No. 06-06R]

(5) 

One freestanding sign on a subdivision which has been approved by the Planning Board. Such a sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in area and shall be removed after residences have been constructed on 95% of the lots in the subdivision or after 95% of lots have been sold by the developer, whichever period is less. In no case shall any such subdivision sign be permitted after two years have lapsed from the time when the first sign was so erected. The sign shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street sideline.

(6) 

One sign announcing that a building or lot is available for sale or rental is permitted, subject to the following conditions:

(a) 

Such sign shall not exceed four square feet in area, which shall include the area of the support in the same plane as the sign.

(b) 

Such sign and its supports shall be constructed exclusively of wood and/or metal and/or plastic.

(c) 

The top of such sign shall be no higher than three feet above the surface of the ground and the bottom of the sign no closer than six inches to the surface of the ground.

(d) 

Such sign may contain a message on both sides and may be erected perpendicular or parallel to the roadway which the property fronts.

(e) 

Such sign shall not be illuminated in any manner.

(f) 

Such sign shall be located only in the front yard and shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street curbline. For purposes of this subsection the street sidelines shall be the curbline on streets with curbs or the edge of the gravel or dirt shoulder where it abuts grass or other vegetation on streets without curbs. For premises which have a front yard of less than 20 feet, such sign shall be affixed to the building or erected within six inches of the front of the building.

(g) 

Such sign shall not remain on the premises after the property is sold. For the purpose of administering this subsection, the premises shall be deemed to be sold when a contract has been signed and the property withdrawn from the market.

(h) 

Such sign is located only on the premises of the building or lot for sale or lease. Signs on other premises or at intersections directing persons to buildings or lots for sale or lease are prohibited.

(7) 

All signs located in the residential districts may be freestanding, but no sign shall be internally illuminated.

(8) 

Signs for home-based occupations shall comply with the requirements of § 184-141C.

B. 

All zones, except residential zone districts. In all zones except the R-75, R-150, MAH, TAH and LGAH, the following regulations apply:

(1) 

A permanent sign or rigid awning sign shall be mounted above the front entrance. Such sign must indicate the trade name of the establishment. Office buildings may include a directory of all tenants as per § 184-157B(6). Businesses must have a street number on the front of the building visible from the street. A sign mounted above the front entrance shall not exceed a height of 36 inches nor an area equal to 1.5 square feet per linear foot of building width, with a maximum of 50 square feet. No sign mounted above the front entrance shall be closer than 2 1/2 feet to the end of the front wall to which it is attached. A rigid awning may extend the entire front of the building, but no signage on the awning shall be within 2 1/2 feet of each end of the awning or 20 feet, whichever shall be the lesser.

[Amended 5-8-2007 by Ord. No. 07-08R]

(2) 

In addition to a sign or rigid awning sign on the front facade of a building, a sign on each other side of a building visible from a public street is permitted. Such sign shall not be larger than 12 1/2 square feet, unless there is an entrance accessible from a rear parking lot, in which case such sign shall comply with the requirements of § 184-157B(3).

(3) 

A sign centered above the rear entrance door is permitted on any building with an entrance accessible from a rear parking lot intended for patron parking. Such sign shall not be larger than 4 feet wide and 1 1/2 feet high.

(4) 

One nonflashing sign of neon tubing stating only the word "open" is permitted in a window near the principal entrance. The word "open" may be enclosed in a border of neon tubing. Such sign, including any border, shall not exceed six inches high by 12 inches wide.

(5) 

Any office building is permitted to display a directory sign visible from the road way listing the names and/or types of business of all tenants. Each tenant listing shall be not more than three inches high.

(6) 

A directory sign bearing the name and/or type of business of the principal tenants renting space in the rear or the upper floors of the building may be located at the principal entrance of such rented areas. The area of such sign devoted to each such tenant shall not exceed 72 square inches, and the total area of such sign shall not exceed five square feet.

(7) 

Credit card signs and trading stamp signs may be displayed on windows, provided that the total area of all such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area.

(8) 

Signs required by law to be exhibited by the occupant of the premises may be displayed, provided that the same do not exceed six square feet in total area.

(9) 

Special signs indicating public conveniences, such as "notary public," "public telephone," "public rest rooms" or words or directions of similar import may be displayed, provided that each such sign does not exceed 72 square inches in total area and only one sign of each type is displayed.

(10) 

Nonilluminated signs displayed on the interior of windows to give notice of sales or special functions shall be permitted. No more 25% of the total area of window on which such signs are displayed shall be covered. Such temporary signs shall be removed after 30 days.

(11) 

On parking lots or parking facilities which are not adjacent to the business or commercial buildings or structures which they serve, a freestanding sign for the entrance to the separate parking lot or parking facility, which shall not exceed eight square feet in area. In no case shall the base of such sign be less than eight feet from ground level, and in no case shall the top of such sign be greater than 11 feet from ground level. The purpose of this sign shall be to show that the parking lot or parking facility is available for use by the patrons or employees of the business or commercial enterprise so identified.

(12) 

Gasoline stations. A gasoline station may have one freestanding, stationary, illuminated or nonilluminated sign identifying only the company name or brand name of the gasoline sold, including any associated insignia or emblem, provided that such sign shall not exceed 45 square feet in area, that the top of such sign shall not be more than 17 feet above the ground surface. Such sign may not be internally illuminated, but may be two-sided. Signs affixed to the exterior surfaces of gasoline pumps shall be permitted, limited to identification of the company name or brand name of the gasoline sold, including any associated insignia or emblem, gasoline type and/or grade and such other information as may be required by law. Such signs shall not extend or project beyond the surfaces on which affixed more than 15 inches. In addition, price indicator signs not exceeding 150 square inches in area may be attached to, supported by or suspended from each gasoline pump.

(13) 

No sexually oriented business shall display more than two exterior signs, consisting of one identification sign, which shall not be more than one square foot and one sign giving notice that the premises are off limits to minors, which shall be at least two square feet.

(14) 

Painted window signs. Signs may be permanently painted on windows so long as the letters are not painted on any background and no more than 25% of the window surface consists of the painted sign.

C. 

All property along South Avenue in the Commercial or Light Industrial Zones and in the General Commercial Zone on North Avenue. For all properties along South Avenue in the Commercial or Light Industrial Zones and in the General Commercial Zone on North Avenue, the following additional regulations shall apply:

[Amended 7-9-2002 by Ord. No. 02-16R]

(1) 

Except for gasoline stations, one freestanding sign is permitted as an alternative to a sign or rigid awning sign mounted above the front entrance or permitted signs that could be mounted on the walls visible from a public street so long as the building which the freestanding sign serves is set back 30 feet or more from the front lot line. Such freestanding sign shall not be larger than 16 square feet, a maximum height of eight feet measured from the ground to the top of the sign and no dimension shall exceed five feet. Such freestanding signs shall not be closer than 10 feet to any lot line. Such sign shall not be internally illuminated. The sign may be perpendicular or parallel to the street to which the building fronts and lettering shall not be larger than 10 inches.

(2) 

Exit and enter signs. Notwithstanding anything in this article to the contrary, exit and enter signs for driveways may be not larger than two feet wide and two feet high. The signs may include a corporate logo and the words "Enter" or "Exit."

D. 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in §§ 184-148 through 184-157, sidewalk or sandwich board signs shall be allowed by permit for retail businesses on South Martine Avenue and South Avenue in the Central Commercial, Central Commercial-2, General Commercial and Light Industrial Zones subject to the following regulations:

[Added 10-12-2010 by Ord. No. 10-13R]

(1) 

Shall not exceed 30 inches in height; the overall height, including a support frame, shall not exceed 60 inches; and the maximum width shall be 24 inches.

(2) 

Constructed of only the following materials: painted wood, painted metal (with professional quality painted message), chalkboard or dry-erase board.

(3) 

Constructed only as follows: two sandwich boards that support each other (A-frame) or easel-type frame.

(4) 

Displayed only within the property lines, as extended within the right-of-way, of the business premises.

(5) 

Advertising only retail business(es) located on the property.

(6) 

In buildings with multiple retail businesses, a maximum of one such sign no matter how many businesses may be located in the applicable building.

(7) 

Displayed only during hours when the business(es) is(are) actually in operation, with such signs displayed inside the property when the business(es) is(are) not in operation; but in no event shall such a sign be displayed after 8:00 p.m.

(8) 

Displayed at the following locations only: adjacent to the building, in an entrance alcove or adjacent to the curb.

(9) 

No such sign shall block the five-foot passage required by the Americans With Disabilities Act for pedestrians.

(10) 

No such sign shall block access to benches, parking meters, motor vehicles or pose sight/view obstructions to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.

(11) 

The Zoning Officer may direct that any sign which, in the discretion of the Zoning Officer, violates this section or creates a safety hazard be removed, modified or relocated.

(12) 

The Police may direct that any sign which, in the discretion of the Police, creates a safety hazard or causes a sight obstruction to pedestrians or vehicular traffic be removed, modified or relocated.

Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsections D through F as Subsections E through G, respectively.

E. 

Prohibited signs. Any signs not specifically permitted are hereby prohibited.

F. 

Illumination. Illumination devices, such as but not limited to flood or spotlights, shall be so placed and so shielded so as to prevent the rays of illumination thereof from being cast into residential properties off the subject premises or onto a public right-of-way.

G. 

Traffic control on private property. Signs controlling traffic entering and leaving any property, excluding enter and exit signs, shall conform to the designs recommended in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.