Source: https://ecode360.com/14513222
Timestamp: 2019-08-21 04:57:08
Document Index: 394123210

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 350', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 350', '§ 350', '§ 350', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263', '§ 263']

Township of Upper Moreland, PA Signs
§ 263-2 Permit required.
§ 263-3 Application for permit to erect sign.
§ 263-4 Illuminated signs.
§ 263-5 Permit issued, term.
§ 263-6 Insurance and bond requirements.
§ 263-7 Permit fee.
§ 263-8 Permit revocable at any time.
§ 263-9 Unsafe and unlawful signs.
§ 263-10 Number, date and voltage to be shown on sign.
§ 263-11 Painting required every two years.
§ 263-12 Wind pressure and dead load requirements.
§ 263-13 Removal of certain signs.
§ 263-14 Exemptions.
§ 263-15 Obstructions to doors, windows or fire escapes.
§ 263-16 Signs not to constitute traffic hazard.
§ 263-17 Face of sign shall be smooth.
§ 263-18 Goose-neck reflectors.
§ 263-19 Spotlights and floodlights prohibited.
§ 263-20 Obscene matter prohibited.
§ 263-21 Ground signs.
§ 263-22 Wall signs.
§ 263-23 Roof signs.
§ 263-24 Projecting signs.
§ 263-25 Temporary signs.
§ 263-26 Marquees.
§ 263-27 Street clocks.
§ 263-28 Plastic signs.
§ 263-29 Nonconforming signs.
§ 263-30 Revocation of permits.
§ 263-31 Violations and penalties.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Upper Moreland Township as Title 3, Ch. 3, of the 1977 Code.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
Traffic control signals — See Ch. 316.
Zoning provisions — See Ch. 350, § 350-179.
Editor's Note: This chapter was adopted 9-8-1959 by Ord. No. 394 and amended 12-30-1977; reenacted 1-13-1992 by Ord. No. 1273; and amended by Ord. No. 969; 1-5-1987 by Ord. No. 1122; 9-6-1988 by Ord. No. 1165; and 6-3-1991 by Ord. No. 1253.
Any material which will not ignite at or below a temperature of 1200° F. and will not continue to burn or glow at the temperature, except as approved by Underwriters' Laboratories.
As used in this chapter, shall mean any marquee, canopy, awning or street clock as further defined herein.
Includes every sign, billboard, ground sign, wall sign, roof sign, illuminated sign, projecting sign, temporary sign, marquee, and street clock, and shall include any announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration or insignia used to advertise or promote the interests of any person when the same is placed out of doors in view of the general public.
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, repair, alter, relocate or maintain within the Township of Upper Moreland any sign or other advertising structure, as defined in this chapter, without first obtaining an erection permit from the Building Inspector and making payment of the fee required by § 263-7 hereof.
Copy of stress sheets and calculations showing the structure is designed for dead load and wind pressure in any direction in the amount required by this and all other laws and ordinances of the Township of Upper Moreland.
Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land to which or on which the structure is to be erected or his authorized agent.
Insurance policy or bond as required by § 263-6.
Such other information as the Building Inspector shall require to show full compliance with this and all other laws and ordinances of the Township.
Any sign or other advertising structure which is internally illuminated or in which electrical wiring and connections are to be used shall conform to the provisions of the National Electrical Code currently in effect in the Township.[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 115, Art. III, Electrical Standards.
It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector, upon the filing of an application for an erection permit, to examine such plans and specifications and other data and the premises upon which it is proposed to erect the sign or other advertising structure, and if it shall appear that the proposed structure is in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter and all other laws and ordinances of the Township of Upper Moreland, he shall then issue the erection permit. If the work authorized under an erection permit has not been completed within six months after the date of issuance, the said permit shall become null and void.
Every applicant for a permit referred to herein shall, before a permit is granted, present to the Building Inspector the following insurance certificate in a form satisfactory to the Township: public liability in the amount of $25,000, $50,000; property damage, $5,000.
Every applicant for a permit referred to herein shall, before the permit is granted, file with the Building Inspector a continuing bond in the penal sum of $1,000, executed by the applicant and a surety company to be approved by the Township Manager and conditioned for the faithful observance of the provisions of this chapter and all amendments thereto and of all laws and ordinances relating to signs and other advertising structures, and which shall indemnify and save harmless the Township of Upper Moreland from any and all damages, judgments, costs or expenses which the said Township may incur or suffer by reason of the granting of said permit.
Any person lawfully maintaining a sign or other advertising structure regulated by this chapter at the time of the enactment of this chapter shall, within 30 days after said enactment, comply with all the provisions set forth in this section. A liability insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Pennsylvania, conforming to this section, may be permitted in lieu of a bond.
Every applicant, before being granted a permit hereunder, shall pay to the Township a permit fee as set forth in Chapter 140, Fees, Rates and Permits, of the Upper Moreland Township Code.[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 1.08, which immediately followed this section, was deleted 6-3-1991 by Ord. No. 1253.
All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this chapter, or any amendment thereto, are mere licenses revocable for cause or violation of this chapter at any time by the Township of Upper Moreland, and all such permits shall contain this provision. Every permit issued hereunder shall be renewed on or before January 1 of each year.
If the Building Inspector shall find that any sign or other advertising structure regulated herein is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, he shall give written notice to the permittee thereof. If the permittee fails to remove or alter the structure so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within 10 days after such notice, such sign or other advertising structure may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Inspector at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which it is located. The Building Inspector shall refuse to issue a permit to any permittee or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The Building Inspector may cause any sign or other advertising structure which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
Every sign or other advertising structure hereafter erected shall have painted in a conspicuous place thereon, in letters not less than one inch in height, the date of erection and the permit number.
The owner of any sign, as defined and regulated by this chapter, shall be required to have properly painted at least once every two years all parts and supports of the said sign, unless the same are galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent rust.
For the purpose of determining wind pressures, all signs shall be classified as either open or solid. Signs in which the projected area exposed to wind consists of 70% or more of the gross area as determined by the overall dimensions shall be classed as solid signs; those in which the projected exposed area is derived from open letters, figures, strips, and structural framing members, the aggregate total area of which is less than 70% of the gross area so determined, shall be classed as open signs.
All signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand wind pressure applied to the projected exposed area, allowing for wind in any direction, in accordance with the following table:
Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure upon which such sign may be found within 10 days after written notification from the Building Inspector, and upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building or structure to which the sign is attached.
The provisions and regulations of this chapter shall not apply to the following signs; provided, however, said signs shall be subject to the provisions of § 263-9.
Real estate signs not exceeding nine square feet in area, which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are located only.
Signs painted on the exterior surface of a building or structure shall not be permitted.
Bulletin boards not over 25 square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions, when the same are located on the premises of said institutions.
Temporary signs denoting the architect, engineer or contractor, when placed upon work under construction, and not exceeding 16 square feet in area.
Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building, public institutional building or dwelling house, and not exceeding two square feet in area.
Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger, and such temporary, emergency or nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the Board of Commissioners.
No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
No sign or other advertising structure, as regulated by this chapter, shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or which makes use of the words "stop," "look," "drive in," "danger" or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
All signs or other advertising structures which are constructed on street lines, or within five feet thereof, shall have a smooth surface and no nails, tacks or wires shall be permitted to protrude therefrom, except electrical reflectors and devices which may extend over the top and in front of the advertising structures.
Gooseneck reflectors and lights shall be permitted on ground signs, roof signs, and wall signs; provided, however, the reflectors shall be provided with proper glass lenses concentrating the illumination upon the area of the sign so as to prevent glare upon the street or adjacent property.
Definition. Ground signs, as regulated by this chapter, shall include any sign supported by uprights or braces placed upon the ground and not attached to any building.
Letters, etc., to be secured. All letters, figures, characters or representations in cut-out or irregular form, maintained in conjunction with, attached to, or superimposed upon any sign, shall be safely and securely built or attached to the sign structure and shall comply with all requirements in § 263-18.
Height limitation. Except by special exception of the Zoning Hearing Board, it shall be unlawful to erect any ground sign whose total height is greater than 20 feet above the level of the street upon which the sign faces or above the adjoining ground level, if such ground level is above the street level.
Space between sign and ground and other signs and structures. Ground signs shall have an open space not less than two feet between the base line of said sign and the ground level. This open space may be filled in with a platform or decorative lattice work which does not close off more than 1/2 of any square footage of such open space. No ground sign shall be nearer than two feet to any other sign, building or structure nor have a surface or facing exceeding 200 square feet.
Not to mislead, interfere with or confuse traffic. All ground signs shall conform to the provisions of § 263-16.
Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All ground signs shall conform to the requirements of § 263-12.
Premises to be kept free of weeds, etc. All ground signs and the premises surrounding the same shall be maintained by the owner thereof in a clean, sanitary, and inoffensive condition, and free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish and weeds.
Definition. Wall signs, as regulated by this chapter, shall include all flat signs of solid face construction which are placed against a building or other structure and attached to the exterior front, rear or side wall of any building or other structure.
Materials required. All wall signs for which a permit is required under this chapter shall have a surface or facing of incombustible material; provided, however, that combustible structural trim may be used thereon.
Limitation on placement and area. Except by special exception of the Zoning Hearing Board, no wall sign shall cover, wholly or partially, any wall opening, nor project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which it is attached, and any one wall sign shall not exceed an area of 25% of the frontal area on which the sign is affixed.
Projection above sidewalk and setback line. No wall sign shall be permitted to extend more than six inches beyond the building line and shall not be attached to a wall at a height of less than 10 feet above the sidewalk or ground.
Obstructions to door, windows or fire escapes. No wall sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
Supports and attachment. All wall signs shall be safely and securely attached to the building wall by means of noncorrosive metal anchors, bolts or expansion screws of not less than 3/8 inch in diameter embedded in said wall at least five inches; provided, however, that such signs may rest in or be bolted to strong, heavy metal brackets or saddles set not over six feet apart, each of which shall be securely fixed to the wall as hereinbefore provided. In no case shall any wall sign be secured with wire, strips of wood or nails.
Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All wall signs shall conform to the requirements of § 263-12.
Definition. Roof signs, as regulated by this chapter, shall mean any sign erected, constructed and maintained wholly upon or over the roof of any building with the principal support on the roof structure. Roof signs shall be permitted only by a special exception of the Zoning Hearing Board.
Materials required. Every roof sign, including the upright supports and braces thereof, shall be constructed entirely of incombustible materials; provided, however, that combustible structural trim may be used thereon.
Height and area limitations. No roof sign shall have a surface or facing exceeding 25% of the frontal area, nor have its highest point extended more than 20 feet above the roof level.
Space between sign and roof. All roof signs shall have a space at least five feet in height between the base of the sign and the roof level and have at least five feet of clearance between the vertical supports thereof.
Prohibited obstructions. No roof sign shall be placed on the roof of any building or structure in such manner as to prevent free passage from one part of said roof to any other part hereof or interfere with openings in said roof and shall comply with § 263-15 hereof.
Bracing, anchorage and supports. Every roof sign shall be thoroughly secured to the building by noncorrosive iron or other metal anchors, bolts, supports, rods or braces. When erected upon buildings which are not constructed entirely of fireproof material, the bearing plates of said sign shall bear directly upon masonry walls and intermediate steel columns in the building. No roof sign shall be supported or anchored to the wooden framework of a building.
Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All roof signs shall conform to the requirements of § 263-12 of this chapter.
Projecting signs, as regulated by this chapter, shall include any sign which is attached to a building or other structure and extends beyond the line of said building or structure or beyond the surface of that portion of the building or structure to which it is attached. All projecting signs shall be illuminated signs, as defined by this chapter.
"Horizontal projecting sign" means any sign which is greater in width than in height.
"Vertical projecting sign" means any sign which is greater in height than in width.
Every projecting sign, including the frames, braces and supports thereof, shall be designed by a structural engineer or manufacturer; and shall be approved by the Building Inspector as in compliance with the Building Code of the Township of Upper Moreland and by the Electrical Inspector as in compliance with the Electrical Code of the Underwriters' Laboratories; shall be constructed of incombustible materials; shall be illuminated; and shall be two-faced.
Illumination. The reflectors shall be provided with the proper glass lenses concentrating the illumination upon the area of the sign and preventing glare upon the street or adjacent property, and no floodlight or spotlight nor reflectors of the gooseneck-type shall be permitted on projecting signs.
Limitation of glass. The lettering or advertising designs to be illuminated may be composed of glass or other transparent or semitransparent incombustible material. Any glass forming a part of any sign shall be safety glass or plate glass at least one-fourth-inch thick, and in case any single piece or pane of glass has an area exceeding three square feet, it shall be wired glass. One section, not exceeding three square feet in area, constructed of wire glass or safety glass, shall be permitted on each side of a sign.
Area limitations. Except by special exception of the Zoning Hearing Board, projecting signs shall be limited in area as follows:
Horizontal projecting signs 50 square feet each side.
Vertical projecting signs 100 square feet each side.
Projection over public property. Every projecting sign shall be placed at least 10 feet above the public sidewalk over which it is erected and a distance not greater than two feet from the face of the wall to which it is attached, measuring from the point of sign nearest thereto, nor shall any sign or part thereof extend nearer the curbline than one foot. Every projecting sign erected over public driveways, alleys and thoroughfares shall be placed not less than 15 feet above the level of same.
Obstructions and traffic hazards. Every projecting sign shall be erected in full compliance with §§ 263-15 and 263-16 of this chapter.
Bracing, anchorage and supports. Projecting signs exceeding 10 square feet in area or 50 pounds in weight shall not be attached to nor supported by frame buildings nor the wooden framework of a building. Said signs shall be attached to masonry walls with galvanized expansion bolts at least 3/8 inch in diameter and shall be fixed in the wall by means of bolts extending through the wall, shall contain proper-size metal washer or plate on the inside of the wall, and shall comply with § 263-12 hereof.
Illumination at night required. Every projecting sign shall be illuminated between sunset and 12:00 midnight every night, Monday through Saturday, on each side thereof, by at least five watts per square foot of sign surface, but in no case less than 60 watts for each sign surface.
Definitions. Temporary signs, as regulated by this chapter, shall include any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard or other light materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a short period of time only.
Materials and area limitations. No temporary sign of combustible material shall exceed four feet in one of its dimensions or 100 square feet in area, provided such signs in excess of 60 square feet shall be made of rigid materials, that is, of wallboard or other light materials with frames.
Weight limitation. Every temporary sign weighing in excess of 50 pounds must be approved by the Building Inspector of the Township of Upper Moreland.
Projection from wall and over public property. No temporary sign shall extend over or into any street, alley, sidewalk or other public thoroughfare a distance greater than four inches from the wall upon which it is erected and shall not be placed or project over any wall opening.
Duration of permits. Except as provided in Chapter 350, Zoning, Article XXIV, § 350-179B(1)(e), permits for temporary signs shall authorize the erection of said signs and their maintenance for a period not exceeding 30 days. Applicants desiring to maintain a temporary sign for a longer period must make application before the initial thirty-day period has expired.
Advertising permitted. Except as hereinafter provided, the advertisement contained on any temporary sign shall pertain only to the business, industry or pursuit conducted on or within the premises on which such sign is erected or maintained.
This subsection shall not apply to political or other temporary signs in § 350-179B(1)(e) of Chapter 350, Article XXIV.
This subsection shall not apply to temporary signs of a civic or religious nature or to temporary signs to advertise yard and garage sales, provided not more than four signs are erected.
Bond or insurance requirements. Except as provided in Chapter 350, Article XXIV, § 350-179B(1)(e), bond or insurance requirements on temporary signs shall be as provided in § 263-6.
Definition. Marquees, as regulated by this chapter, shall include any hood or awning of permanent construction projecting from the wall of a building above an entrance and extending over a thoroughfare.
Materials required. All marquees, including the anchors, bolts, supports, rods and braces thereof, shall be constructed of incombustible materials, shall be designed by a structural engineer and approved by the Building Inspector as in compliance with the Building Code of the Township of Upper Moreland and by the Underwriters' Laboratories as in compliance with the Electrical Code, and shall be illuminated.
Roof use, glass or transparent substance. The roofs of all marquees shall be used for no other purpose than to form and constitute a roof, and at least 25% of the area of the roof of every marquee shall be of glass or other incombustible transparent substance.
Width. No marquee shall be wider than the entrance or entrances of the building, plus five feet on each side thereof; provided, however, that where the entrances to a building are not more than 20 feet apart a marquee may be made a continuous single structure between said entrances.
Roof live load requirement. The roof of any marquee, except glass area required, shall be designed and constructed to support a live load of not less than 100 pounds per square foot. The wind pressure requirements shall be those stated in § 263-12.
Anchorage to wood structure prohibited. No marquee shall be erected on any building of wood-frame construction unless attached to the masonry, concrete or steel supports of the building.
Signs attached to marquee. Signs attached to or hung from a marquee shall be completely within the borderline of the marquee's outer edge and shall in no instance be lower than 10 feet above the sidewalk or public thoroughfare. No sign or advertising material shall exceed five feet in height exclusive of the name of the establishment exhibiting such marquee. No advertising material shall be placed upon the roof of any marquee.
Illumination required. Every marquee projecting over public property shall be illuminated by at least 16 candlepower of illumination for each 50 square feet or fraction thereof of area from sunset to 12:00 midnight every night, Monday through Saturday of each week.
Definition. Street clock, as regulated by this chapter, shall mean any timepiece erected upon a standard sidewalk or on the exterior of any building or structure for the convenience of the public and placed and maintained by some person for the purpose of advertising his or her place of business.
Materials required. All street clocks, as herein defined, shall be constructed of incombustible material, including the frames, braces and supports thereof.
Requirements on glass. Any glass forming a part of a clock or the sign thereon shall be safety glass or plate glass at least one-fourth-inch thick, and in case any single piece or pane of glass has an area exceeding three square feet, it shall be constructed of wired glass securely held in place.
Movable parts to be secured. Any movable part of a street clock, that is, a cover or service opening, shall be securely fastened by metal hinges.
Clocks erected on walls. Clocks supported on the corner of any building or structure at the intersection of two streets shall not be less than 15 feet or more than 20 feet above the sidewalk and shall not project from the face or wall of the building or structure in any direction more than five feet.
Clocks erected on sidewalk. Every clock erected on the sidewalk shall be supported upon a post of ornamental design, the total height of which shall be not less than 15 feet; shall be not more than 20 inches from the outer edge of the curb; and shall be at least 20 feet from the point of intersection of the lines of any street measured parallel with the street.
Clocks erected on walls. All clocks erected on the exterior of any building or structure shall comply with the requirements set forth in § 263-22 regulating wall signs or § 263-24 regulating projecting signs in all respects concerning erection, whichever applies.
Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All street clocks, whether erected on exterior walls or on the sidewalk, shall comply with the requirements of § 263-12 of this chapter.
Limitation on permits, clocks on sidewalks. Any person erecting a street clock on any public sidewalk shall obtain the special written permission of the Zoning Hearing Board in addition to all other permits required hereunder.
Limitation on permits, general. No person shall be permitted to erect more than one street clock, as herein defined, for any place of business at any one location.
Advertising permitted. Only the name of the owner, proprietor or manager of the place of business at any one location, erecting and maintaining such clock, shall be permitted as advertising matter on said clock.
Must keep accurate time. Such clock shall keep accurate time, and if this condition is not complied with, the clock shall be promptly repaired or removed.
Construction methods required for plastic signs. Flat materials may be used where the smallest dimension of a continuous plastic sign face area is less than 30 inches and not greater.
Where the smallest area is 18 inches or less, one-eighth-inch-thick approved plastic material may be used.
Where the area is greater than 18 inches but not greater than 30 inches, flat approved plastic material may be used if the thickness is three-sixteenths-inch or greater.
Where the plastic face area of a sign is greater than 30 inches at the smallest dimension, formed or corrugated plastic must be used for rigidity.
In all area over 48 inches wide at the smallest dimension, the material must be corrugated a minimum of three-sixteenths-inch thick.
In areas where the continuous plastic sign face is over 60 inches, only individual coffers, modular panes or Plexiglas® channels may be used. These channels may not have a surface or face area in width greater than 30 inches and must have returns a minimum of 1 1/2 inches.
These channels must be supported and mounted on continuous metal mounting studs, the entire length of the channel being an approved method as outlined in manuals supplied by Plexiglas® manufacturer.
All plastic signs must have air holes in the bottom of the sign body, one square inch for every 15 cubic feet of area on the interior of the sign body.
These holes must be covered with a noncorrosive small mesh screen.
All plastic signs employing a track-type construction must have a track of a noncorrosive material of 24 gauge or heavier and not less than 1 1/2 inch in depth around the entire perimeter of the plastic face or sign display area. The plastic to be contained within the track 1 1/4 inches. In the event individual letters are used, they are not to be attached with adhesive materials but with noncorrosive studs to a depth of 3/4 inch in masonry or one inch thick in wood or combustible materials. A minimum of three such fasteners to be used per piece or section.
Signs constructed which do not coincide with these specifications must be planned and approved by a registered engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Every sign or other advertising structure in lawful existence on adoption of this chapter which violates or does not conform to the provisions hereof shall be maintained but shall not be repaired, altered or replaced unless it is made to comply with the provisions of this chapter. The requirements of § 263-6 shall be complied with in all cases.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding five days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder.