Sign area and height.
The following guidelines shall apply when interpreting area and height regulations in this article:
A. Area: The area of a sign shall be the area of the smallest rectangle, triangle, or circle that will encompass all elements of the sign, such as letters, figures, symbols, designs, or other display.
(1) When the sign is a separate unit, the area shall include any borders, framing, trim, decorative attachments, background, and space between elements; it shall not include any supporting structure unless that structure is illuminated, is in the form of a symbol, or contains advertising elements.
(2) When the sign is applied to a wall or otherwise has no definable edges, the area shall include all color, artwork, or other means used to differentiate the sign from the surface upon which it is placed.
(3) When a single sign structure has more than one face with the same message, and no two sign faces are more than three feet apart at any point, the area shall be computed by determining the greatest total area of all sign faces visible from any single location.
(4) Three-dimensional object signs will be measured for size by using the smallest cube box that the sign would fit inside. All four sides of the cube box (does not include top and bottom) will be added together. The sum of the four sides must be equal to or less than the maximum square footage allowed for a two-dimensional, two-sided sign in the applicable zone.
B. Height: The height of a sign shall be measured from the average ground level beneath the sign to the highest point of the sign. The ground level shall be the lower of the ground level existing at the time of construction or the ground level existing prior to construction and prior to any earth disturbance at the site. This prior ground level may be established by any reliable source, including, without limitation, existing topographic maps, aerial photographs, photographs of the site, or affidavits of people who are personally familiar with the site. No person(s) shall artificially increase the maximum height of a sign by altering the grade at the base of the sign by any means.
(1) No sign shall be higher than the height limitation of the zone in which it is located.
(2) The height of freestanding signs shall be controlled by the regulations in
§ 270-7.4: Specific regulations. In addition, where a freestanding sign or sign structure is mounted along a roadway that has a higher grade level as compared to the grade level directly below the freestanding sign or sign structure, then the freestanding sign or structure's height will be measured from the roadway grade level to the highest point of the freestanding sign or sign structure. Justification shall be provided as part of the permit application package. See illustration at
§ 270-7.2B(2).
(3) Wall signs may be at any height on the wall to which they are attached, except that they may not extend higher than five feet above the top of the wall.
(4) Roof signs may extend no more than five feet above the lowest point where they are attached to the building and may not extend above the highest point of the roof.
General regulations.
The following regulations shall apply to all signs, in addition to the specific regulations contained elsewhere in this article. Where the general regulations are contradicted by a specific regulation, the specific regulation shall control.
A. Sign exemptions - see
§ 270-7.3A for a complete list.
B. All signs shall be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and secured in a safe manner.
C. All signs and their structural components shall meet the most current version of Stormwater and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances, as amended, and the Building Code adopted by East Hempfield Township.
D. When a sign becomes unsafe, the Zoning Officer shall give written notice to the landowner of the lot on which the sign is located that the sign must be made safe or removed immediately.
E. The areas surrounding all signs shall be maintained in a neat, clean, and safe condition.
F. All signs shall be removed within three months if the purpose for which they were erected no longer exists.
G. Each lot that displays one or more permanent freestanding signs must prominently display the address on one permanent freestanding sign visible from the street. The address must include the street number; the street name is optional. The address must be of a size and design that is easily identifiable and legible from moving traffic in the street at a distance of 100 feet. The area taken up by the address does not count as part of the sign area; center signs are exempt from this requirement. The lettering on the sign shall meet the requirements of the current building code requirements.
H. No sign shall include mirrors.
I. No sign shall be placed within the clear sight triangle or clear sight stopping area of any motorized, nonmotorized, or pedestrian traffic using streets, parking areas, sidewalks, or trails. No sign within the clear sight triangle should obstruct vision between the heights of 30 inches and eight feet above the elevation of the centerline of the street.
J. No signs shall be painted, pasted, nailed, stapled, or otherwise attached to utility poles, trees, fences, fire hydrants, or in an unauthorized manner to walls or other signs, except insofar as such signs comply with generally applicable rules, regulations, or policies formally adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors.
K. No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any door, stairway, window, fire escape, or other means of egress or ingress.
L. (Reserved)
M. No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct ventilation or light into a building.
N. Overhead signs: No overhead sign shall have a clearance of:
(1) Less than eight feet between any pedestrian walk and the lowest part of the sign; and
(2) Less than 17 feet six inches (or PennDOT required height) between any street and the lowest part of the sign.
O. No sign shall have lights or other illuminating devices that constitute a public safety or traffic hazard and shall not exceed 0.2 lumens at the lot line.
P. No sign shall be permitted that imitates or that might be confused with an official traffic sign or signal, such as containing the words "Stop" or "Danger" or including red, green, or yellow lights.
Q. No sign or window display shall include a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling an emergency vehicle or facility.
R. No sign shall advertise activities or products that are illegal under federal, state or local laws or regulations; nor shall any sign include statements, words or pictures that are considered to be vulgar, obscene or pornographic.
S. No flashing, rotating or oscillating signs shall be permitted except for time and temperature signs.
T. Electronically changing messages, including digital signs and digital billboards, that do not flash are permitted and are subject to the requirements of this article.
U. No sign shall emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound or odor.
V. No sign shall be placed on an automobile, truck or other vehicle if that vehicle is being used primarily for displaying such sign.
W. Inflatable signs and person assisted signs shall be permitted, subject to the requirements of this article (including but not limited to temporary sign regulations); this does not include inflatable items in residential areas that are used to celebrate sporting events, birthdays, graduations, etc.
X. Mobile advertising signs or displays mounted on trucks or trailers shall be permitted as a temporary sign and follow those regulations; this does not include mobile message boards.
Y. No open flames shall be permitted as part of a sign, or in any other way to attract attention.
Z. Advertising painted or displayed upon a barn or other structure shall be considered a sign, and shall comply with the regulations of this article.
AA. Any sign that has been authenticated as historically significant and accurate for its specific location, whether original or a replica, may be exempted from the regulations of this article by the East Hempfield Township Zoning Officer.
BB. Lighted signs.
(1) Signs may be interior-lighted with nonglaring lights;
(2) Signs may be externally lighted by lights that are shielded so there is no direct light transmitted to other lots or public rights-of-way;
(3) The light from any illuminated sign shall not adversely affect:
(a) The safe vision of operators of vehicles moving on public or private streets or parking areas;
(b) Any residential zone; or
(c) Any part of a building or lot used for residential purposes.
(4) No lighting shall be permitted to outline buildings or structures, or parts thereof, through the use of exposed neon tubing, strings of lights or other means, with the exception of customary holiday decorations, which may be installed 30 days prior to, and removed no later than 21 days after, the holiday; and
(5) All electrically illuminated signs shall be constructed to the standards/listing of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and the latest edition of the National Electrical Code.
CC. Digital signs.
(1) These signs shall have lighting levels of no more than 0.2 footcandle above the level of surrounding ambient light conditions measured at the lot line;
(2) The minimum message duration, or dwell time, shall be based on sign visibility and the posted speed limit. The method for calculating the minimum allowable dwell time is outlined below:
(a) Determine the greatest distance (feet) from which the sign becomes visible on the road that the sign is primarily intended to be seen. If multiple roads are involved, the lower speed limited of the subject roads shall be used.
(b) Multiply the road's posted speed limit (MPH) by 5,280 (feet/mile), and then divide the result by 3,600 (seconds/minute) to obtain the speed limit in feet per second.
(c) Divide the visibility distance (feet) by the speed limit (feet/second).
(d) Add an additional 10% of the total found in Step 3 to the total value from Step 3.
(e) The resulting value is the minimum dwell time, except where the value is less than 10 seconds, in which case the minimum dwell time shall be no less than 10 seconds for any digital sign.
[1] Example: 35 mph posted speed limit.
[a] Step 1. Identify the greatest distance the sign is fully visible: 500 feet (for example).
[b] Step 2. Multiply the appliable speed limit (MPH) by 5,280 (feet/mile), then divide by 3,600 (feet/second):
35 MPH (posted speed limit) x 5,280 = 51.33 feet/second
3,600
[c] Step 3. Divide the visibility distance found in Step 1 by the value found in Step 2: 500 feet/51.33 feet/second = 9.74 seconds.
[d] Step 4. Add a 10% factor of safety to the value obtained in Step 3: 9.74 seconds * 0.10 = 0.974, 9.74+0.974 = 10.714 seconds.
[e] Step 5. The minimum message duration for this sign is 10.7 seconds.
[2] Example: 55 mph posted speed limit.
[a] Step 1. Identify the greatest distance the sign is fully visible: 500 feet (for example).
[b] Step 2. Multiply the appliable speed limit (MPH) by 5,280 (feet/mile), then divide by 3,600 (feet/second):
55 MPH (posted speed limit) = 80.66 feet/second
3,600
[c] Step 3. Divide the visibility distance found in Step 1 by the value found in Step 2: 500 feet/80.66 feet/second = 6.20 seconds.
[d] Step 4. Add a 10% factor of safety to the value obtained in Step 3: 6.20 seconds * 0.10 = 0.62, 6.20+0.62 = 6.82 seconds.
[e] Step 5. The minimum message duration for this sign is 6.82 seconds, however the minimum dwell time for a digital sign is 10 seconds (as outlined above), therefore the minimum duration for this sign is 10 seconds.
(3) All digital signs shall be placed so that the viewable face(s) of the sign are perpendicular (not parallel) to the street from which they are visible;
(4) No sign shall display animated messages, including flashing, blinking, fading, rolling, shading, dissolving, or any other effect that gives the appearance of movement;
(5) No sign shall include any audio message;
(6) Each sign message shall be complete in itself and shall not continue on a subsequent sign message and the content must transition by changing instantly with no transition graphics;
(7) All signs shall contain a default mechanism that will cause the sign to revert immediately to a black screen if the sign malfunctions;
(8) Digital signs shall not be permitted within the Low-Density Residential Zone (RL) or the Medium-Density Residential Zone (RM);
(9) All digital signs shall be freestanding signs and all digital signs shall be on-premise signs, unless otherwise permitted by this article;
(10) The digital sign display shall not exceed 50% of the total sign area permitted on the lot;
(11) These signs shall be equipped with an "auto-dimming" capability, which will automatically adjust the display brightness as the natural ambient lighting conditions change, as well as a manual setting option. The brightness limitations for digital signs shall be as follows:
(a) Daytime: 7,500 nits.
(b) Nighttime: 300 nits.
(12) Prior to the issuance of a sign permit, the owner/applicant of a digital sign shall provide a certification, by a qualified third party, stating compliance with the technical requirements listed above;
(13) The addition of a digital sign to an existing nonconforming sign is prohibited.
DD. Integrated message boards. These are permitted when incorporated into a freestanding or temporary sign and will count as part of the sign face for size.
EE. Portable signs.
(1) Portable signs that are used on one lot shall be allowed;
(2) The most common signs are sandwich board signs and trailer/wheel-mounted, changeable message boards: these signs will count against the square footage of signage allowed for the use;
(3) Only one portable sign shall be allowed per lot or, in the case of a land development, one for the entire lot regardless of the number of tenant spaces;
(4) Portable signs cannot exceed more than 30% of the total square footage of signs allowed for a lot or tenant space; in no case shall these signs be placed in the right-of-way or block clear sight for traffic.
FF. Architectural signs. Permits will not be required for signs which are a permanent architectural feature of a building or structure, such as a cornerstone; or identifying letters carved into or embossed on a building, provided the letters are not made of a reflective material nor contrast in color with the building. Such features will not count toward the allowed number and area of signs according to this section.
GG. Light trespass. The light for any signage shall not exceed 0.2 footcandle measured at the lot line.
Specific regulations.
