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Harris Township adopts new sign rules after debate over enforcement and political signs
Summary
The Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 365 to rewrite the township's sign rules, a revision prompted by court decisions on content-based regulation; board members pressed staff on enforcement, contractor signs, and campaign sign limits before passing the ordinance by voice vote.
Harris Township's Board of Supervisors voted June 10 to adopt Ordinance No. 365, a rewrite of chapter 12, article 14 of the township code that updates sign regulations after recent court rulings about content-based restrictions.
Staff said the revision aims to remove potentially unconstitutional language and modernize sign rules that had not been substantially changed in decades. The planning commission and the township solicitor worked on the draft, and the Center Region Planning Commission provided a letter supporting the update.
Supervisors raised questions about personal message signs and commercial contractor signs. Staff said contractor signs will not be allowed in the public right-of-way and that contractors may place signs on private property only if they obtain a temporary or permanent sign license. The temporary/permanent sign license process requires applicants to provide property and sign dimensions; staff said the temporary sign fee is nominal (staff noted $15 but board members referenced a 90-day vs. 6-month term during the discussion).
On enforcement, staff said ordinance violations are typically handled on a complaint basis. Inspectors will document violations, issue a warning letter and allow a period to comply before proceeding to the district justice with a nontraffic citation if necessary. For repeat offenders, the township's solicitor said a single annual notice could suffice if it clearly states it is the sole notification for the year.
The board acknowledged that political signs in a heavy election year could test the ordinance's limits (the draft limits personal message signs to three per property and restricts commercial advertising on those signs). The solicitor advised the board he felt prepared to defend the ordinance if challenged; the board said it would amend language if a court required changes.
The motion to adopt was made, seconded and carried by voice vote. The ordinance replaces the existing sign rules in the Harris Township code.
