# Sign Regulations in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Allentown, Pennsylvania, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Allentown, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/allentown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/36440900#36440900)

## At a glance

Allentown, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential Districts, Park District, I-G District zoning district are capped at 8 feet (freestanding signs per 660-68A); 6 feet for apartment development ID sign (660-68E) tall and 8 square feet for sale/rent signs; 20 square feet for institutional ID signs (per sign); up to 50 square feet for large lot (Sec. §660-68A, §660-68C, §660-68E). Most commercial signs in Allentown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts, Park District, I-G District | 5 | 8 feet (freestanding signs per 660-68A); 6 feet for apartment development ID sign (660-68E) | 20 square feet total institutional/public/semipublic; Apartment ID signs: up to 50 sq ft (>12 units), 20 sq ft (5-11 units) | — |
| R-H District | 2 | 25 feet (other permitted signs); signage cannot project more than 6 feet from setback or building | 40 square feet (total sign area) | — |
| B-1/R District | 3 | 10 feet | Max 40 square feet per street frontage | — |
| B-2 District, Riverfront Redevelopment Overlay District (RRO District) | 4 | 8 feet | 1,000 square feet (total for both signs) | — |
| B-3 District | 4 | 30 feet (or 25 feet above interstate) | 300 square feet per side (except up to 672 sq ft near I-78/US 22); max 2 sides | — |
| B-4 District | 3 | 40 feet | 300 square feet each side (1 per street frontage) | — |
| B-5 District, B/IWD District, B/LI District | 3 | 15 feet | 20 sq ft if only one principal use; +20 sq ft per additional for up to 140 sq ft per frontage | — |
| I-2 District, I-3 District | 3 | 20 feet (cannot extend above 20 ft of street center line) | 150 square feet | — |
| Hamilton Street Overlay District (HS Overlay District) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Industrial Districts, Business Districts, Commercial Districts, Nonresidential Zoning Districts | 2 | 6 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 30 inches | 40 sq ft (general); 130 sq ft if construction value > $2,000,000 | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Residential Districts, Park District, I-G District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet (freestanding signs per 660-68A); 6 feet for apartment development ID sign (660-68E) | 8 square feet for sale/rent signs; 20 square feet for institutional ID signs (per sign); up to 50 square feet for large lot | — | — | See above; generally one per street frontage except as noted. | Within property lines | — | §660-68A, §660-68C, §660-68E |
| Wall Sign | — | 20 square feet total institutional/public/semipublic; Apartment ID signs: up to 50 sq ft (>12 units), 20 sq ft (5-11 units) | — | — | No maximum number for institutional/public uses; for apartment developments, one per street frontage | On building wall/facade | — | §660-68C, §660-68E |
| On-site Informational Sign | — | 6 square feet each | — | — | No maximum | On site | — | §660-68K |
| Routine Nonadvertising Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On site | — | §660-68B |
| Directional Sign (Off-premises) | — | 2 square feet each | — | — | — | Off-premises to direct to allowable destinations | — | §660-68H |

### B-2 District, Riverfront Redevelopment Overlay District (RRO District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign, Awning Sign, Projecting Sign | — | Lesser of 3 sq ft per 1 ft of street frontage or 300 sq ft per street frontage; 1 sq ft per 1 ft of linear wall frontage up to 100 sq ft (for entrance facades/alley walls) | — | — | — | On lot, per street/entrance/alley wall as applicable | — | §660-70B(1), §660-70F |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — | — | One per lot | On lot (cannot extend into ROW) | — | §660-70B(2) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet per side (max two faces) | — | — | One per building | Against building or curb, 5 ft sidewalk clear | — | §660-70B(4) |
| Digital Sign - Entertainment Venue Option | — | 1,000 square feet (total for both signs) | — | — | Max 2 per qualifying building | On bldg wall/roof, primarily facing Hamilton Street | — | §660-70B(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 30 inches | 30 inches high x 24 inches wide (Article 505) | 24 inches | — | — | Various restrictions—may not be on city property, trees, traffic devices, etc. | — | §505-2, §505-3, §505-5 |
| Sale or Rent Sign | — | 8 sq ft (Residential, Park, I-G); 32 sq ft (other districts) | — | — | — | Within property lines | — | §660-66G |
| Political/Nonprofit Temporary Sign, Banner, or Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft visible from a point for portable signs; 64 sq ft for banners attached to/suspended from a building | — | — | — | Only on nonresidential principal use lot or vacant lot in nonres zone, except political signs allowed anywhere per regs | — | §660-66K |
| Construction Sign (Residential District) | — | 8 sq ft (general); 40 sq ft (new principal buildings) | — | — | — | On site under construction | — | §660-66L(1) |
| Construction Sign (Nonresidential District) | — | 40 sq ft (general); 130 sq ft if construction value > $2,000,000 | — | — | — | On site under construction | — | §660-66L(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Allentown

- No temporary sign shall be affixed to any utility pole or streetlight standard by means of nails, tacks, staples, or any other metal or hard substance or so as to cover the identifying label of the pole.
- No temporary sign affixed to any utility pole or streetlight standard shall have a glue, gum-backing or other adhesive-backing.
- No temporary sign shall exceed 30 inches in height or 24 inches in width.
- No temporary sign shall be affixed in any manner to any tree or shrub in the public right-of-way.
- No temporary sign shall be posted on the Hamilton Mall or on any other City property.
- No temporary sign shall be so posted or constructed as to impair, impede, or otherwise obstruct the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic along a public right-of-way or to obstruct the clear view of the entire public right-of-way by any pedestrian or vehicle operator.
- No temporary sign shall be posted on any traffic control device.
- No yard or garage sale sign which does not include the address and date of the sale may be posted.
- No sign shall state or imply that a property may be used for a purpose prohibited by this chapter.
- Signs advertising a use no longer in existence or a product no longer available shall be removed or changed to advertise the new use or changed to a blank face or a for sale or lease sign within 12 months after cessation of the original use.
- No sign (except official signs) shall be erected with a sign post within a public street right-of-way unless specifically authorized by another ordinance or regulation of the City or approved by the City Traffic Engineer.
- No sign (except permitted official sign, awning sign or projecting sign) shall be permitted to have any portion extending into the public right-of-way in excess of 36 inches.
- Wall and projecting signs shall not exceed the height of the structure upon which they are attached. Signs may be placed on a parapet wall that is an architectural extension of the facade, provided the sign does not extend more than five feet above the roofline of the structure and any support structures are not visible.
- Portable signs cannot be located within the public right-of-way, a clear sight triangle as stipulated, or on required parking spaces.
- Portable signs shall not exceed six feet in height, measured from grade. The maximum sign area per sign face shall be 32 square feet on each of two sides.
- Portable signs must be constructed of durable material and weighted or anchored to provide stability.
- Any electrically operated sign and related wiring shall conform with the City Electrical and Building Codes.
- Banners must be attached to a building or suspended from some part of a building and not exceed 64 square feet in area.
- Banners shall be kept in good condition and not allowed to become torn, tattered or in disrepair.
- Signs are prohibited which simulate official, directional or warning signs erected or maintained by government agencies or utilities concerned with protection of public health or safety.
- No sign, except required directional devices, shall be placed, inscribed or supported upon the roof or upon any structure which extends above the roof of any building.
- Flashing, blinking, mechanically moving, twinkling or animated signs of any type are prohibited (except as otherwise permitted for certain entertainment venues and signs with electronically changing messages that do not flash).
- Off-premises signs are prohibited, except as specifically permitted by this chapter.
- Spinners, pennants or any moving object used for commercial advertising purposes are prohibited except pennants are allowed in legally permitted outdoor automobile sales areas.
- No person may place any sign, poster, placard, device, graphic display, or other form of advertising that advertises alcoholic beverages in a publicly visible location within 500 feet from the property line of schools, playgrounds, youth athletic fields, day-care centers, amusement arcades and youth centers (with listed exceptions).
- No person may place any sign, poster, placard, device, graphic display, or other form of advertising that advertises tobacco products in a publicly visible location within 500 feet from the property line of schools, playgrounds, youth athletic fields, day-care centers, amusement arcades and youth centers (with listed exceptions).

## Signs exempt from permit in Allentown

- Signs which are not readable from a public right-of-way or an adjoining property.
- Official notices of any court or public office and legal notices posted pursuant to a statute or ordinance.
- Cornerstones or tablets built into or attached to the wall of a building providing customary information on building erection or commemorating a person or event.
- Signs that are necessary to warn persons of significant threats on the premises to their physical safety.
- Flags of a level of government are not regulated by this chapter.
- Signs required by law to be exhibited outdoors by the owner of the premises.
- This chapter shall not be construed to grant permission to use any utility pole or other property for the posting of signs nor imply the consent of the owner thereof.
- This chapter shall not be in conflict with the Building Code and Chapter 660, Zoning.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For 10 or more temporary signs to be posted, a permit must be obtained in the Zoning Office stating the applicant's name, address, telephone number and the purpose of the sign.
- No person, other than the property owner of the property posted, shall post a temporary sign without first registering the name and mailing address of the sponsor of said sign in the Zoning Office.
- The Planning Commission may approve modifications to sign provisions in the RRO Riverfront Redevelopment Overlay District in response to a written request from the applicant under the PRD provisions.
- Signs shall only be erected, posted, extended, enlarged, or moved in compliance with the provisions of this article and other applicable regulations.
- Encroachment permits are required for sandwich board signs placed within the street right-of-way.
- All signs regulated by the International Building Code require a permit and associated sign erector fee.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 11 zoning districts in Allentown — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Allentown+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-allentown

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