Sign permit required; fee.
A. No sign or sign structure shall be erected, displayed, moved, relocated or altered, unless specifically exempted pursuant to §§
155-25,
155-26, until an application has been filed, a permit fee has been paid and a sign permit issued by the Zoning Officer pursuant to this article. The permit fee shall be established by the Board of Supervisors by resolution.
B. A sign application must be made if a transfer of ownership, or dismantling or removal of sign occurs and a new sign is replaced in the same location.
Sign alterations, replacement or repairs exempt from permit requirement.
A permit is not required prior to engaging in sign alterations, replacement or repairs if such alterations, replacement or repairs do not involve an increase in size and involve only:
A. The changing of copy on a lawfully existing changeable-copy sign.
B. The repainting or refinishing of a lawfully existing sign.
Identification of new freestanding sign locations.
The location for a new freestanding sign shall be clearly identified by a white stake(s) visible above ground line at each location at which a support pole will be embedded in the ground.
Application for sign permit.
A complete application for a sign permit shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer on a form supplied by and in a manner acceptable to the Township. Applicant is responsible to comply with any pertinent state or federal requirements.
Issuance and contents of permit.
A. Upon compliance with the provisions of this article, the Zoning Officer shall make a decision to issue, deny or issue with conditions a permit for such sign or sign structure within 10 business days of receipt of a complete permit application.
B. The Zoning Officer may revoke a sign permit at any time if the application submitted contains false or misleading information or if the work being done on the premises differs from the contents of the application or if the application and/or actual installation of the sign is otherwise inconsistent with the Zoning Ordinance.
Expiration of sign permit.
A sign permit shall authorize construction of the sign for a period of 90 days from the date of its issuance, as noted on the permit. Unless a thirty-day extension is granted by the Zoning Officer for good cause, failure to erect or complete the otherwise approved work related to the permitted sign within such ninety-day period shall result in the expiration of such permit.
Sign inspection; fees.
Within 10 working days of completion of the approved work related to a permitted sign, the permittee and/or sign contractor shall notify the Zoning Officer, in writing, that such sign is ready for a final inspection. The Zoning Officer shall conduct the final inspection within 10 business days for the purpose of verifying that the sign is in compliance with the requirements of the permit and all other provisions of this article. In the event that such final inspection indicates noncompliance and an additional final inspection is required, the fee for each such additional final inspection shall be as set from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
Display of permit.
A. Display of permit tag. Following completion of satisfactory final inspection, the Zoning Officer shall issue and affix a permit tag to the sign.
B. Relocation of permit tag or sign. Under no circumstances may the permit tag be moved from one sign to another, nor may the sign to which it is attached be relocated to another location without the consent of the Zoning Officer and, if appropriate, the filing of a new permit application.
C. Transfer of ownership; dismantling or removal of sign. In the case of ownership transfer, provided that no changes are made to the sign, or if a permitted sign is dismantled or removed, the Zoning Officer shall be notified.
D. Lost or illegible permit tag. If a permit tag is defaced, destroyed or otherwise becomes illegible through normal wear or an act of vandalism, a replacement application shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer and a replacement permit issued at no cost to the applicant.
