1Amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), entitled,
2as amended, "An act to empower cities of the second class A,
3and third class, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships of
4the first and second classes including those within a county
5of the second class and counties of the second through eighth
6classes, individually or jointly, to plan their development
7and to govern the same by zoning, subdivision and land
8development ordinances, planned residential development and
9other ordinances, by official maps, by the reservation of
10certain land for future public purpose and by the acquisition
11of such land; to promote the conservation of energy through
12the use of planning practices and to promote the effective
13utilization of renewable energy sources; providing for the
14establishment of planning commissions, planning departments,
15planning committees and zoning hearing boards, authorizing
16them to charge fees, make inspections and hold public
17hearings; providing for mediation; providing for transferable
18development rights; providing for appropriations, appeals to
19courts and penalties for violations; and repealing acts and
20parts of acts," in zoning, prohibiting the location of
21advertising signs in certain locations.

22The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
23hereby enacts as follows:

24Section 1. The act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known
25as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, reenacted and
26amended December 21, 1988 (P.L.1329, No.170), is amended by
27adding a section to read:

1Section 622. Prohibiting the Location of Advertising Signs
2in Certain Locations.--(a) Notwithstanding any other provision
3of law to the contrary and except as otherwise provided in
4subsection (b), an advertising sign may not be placed within
51,000 feet from the property line of an existing school, public
6playground, public park, residential housing area, child care
7facility, church, meetinghouse or other actual place of
8regularly stated religious worship.

9(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), an off-premises sign may
10be located less than 1,000 feet from the property line of an
11existing school, public playground, public park, residential
12housing area, child care facility, church, meetinghouse or other
13actual place of regularly stated religious worship if, by
14majority vote of the governing body for the municipality, the
15governing body gives necessary approvals.

16(c) At least 14 days prior to the governing body of a
17municipality voting on whether to allow an off-premises sign
18less than 1,000 feet from the property line of a school, public
19playground, public park, residential housing area, child care
20facility, church, meetinghouse or other actual place of
21regularly stated religious worship, one or more public hearings
22shall be held within the municipality following public notice.
23All owners of real property located within 1,000 feet of the
24proposed location shall be provided written notice of the public
25hearing at least 30 days before the hearing is convened.

26(d) As used in this section, the term "off-premises sign"
27shall mean:

28(1) a freestanding sign that:

29(i) is supported by one or more poles, uprights or
30braces;

1(ii) consists of 32 square feet or more of gross
2surface area; and

3(iii) is internally illuminated and visible from a
4public way that utilizes technology to permit the
5characters, letters or illustrations to be changed or
6rearranged by computer, electronically or mechanically,
7without altering the face of the sign; or

8(2) an outdoor, off-premises sign on which space is
9leased or rented by the owner of the sign to others for the
10purpose of conveying a commercial or noncommercial message.

11Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.