# Sign Regulations in Alsace Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Alsace Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/alsace-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27438492#27438492)

## At a glance

Alsace Township, Pennsylvania regulates 20 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Real Estate/Development Signs in the Residential Zoning Districts (R-2, R-3, R-4) zoning district are capped at 12 sq ft, with a 10 ft from roadway edge for permanent installation setback (Sec. §255-36C(5)). Most commercial signs in Alsace Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-2, R-3, R-4) | 9 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts | 6 | — | 150 sq ft per side | — |
| Commercial Zoning District (C-1), Industrial Zoning District (I) | 2 | — | 100 sq ft per face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 2 ft | Up to 4 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Zoning Districts (R-2, R-3, R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Traffic or Road Name Sign | — | — | — | — | — | General public and roadway locations; exempted from setback rules | — | §255-36C(1), (2) |
| Name of Resident/Accessory Use Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway edge for permanent installation | — | At dwelling | — | §255-36C(3) |
| Identification Sign for Farms, Schools, Churches, Hospitals, Institutions, Recreation Area, Clubs and Similar Uses | — | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway edge for permanent installation | — | On-site | — | §255-36C(4) |
| Real Estate/Development Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway edge for permanent installation | 1 per property | On premises to which they relate | — | §255-36C(5) |
| Temporary Contractor/Architect/Mechanic/Artisan Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway edge for permanent installation | One per contractor per road frontage | On property where work is performed | — | §255-36C(6) |
| Trespassing or Private Road/Driveway/Fishing/Hunting Control Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway edge for permanent installation | — | On site controlled | — | §255-36C(7) |
| Directional/Informational/Public Service Sign (Non-commercial) | — | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway edge for permanent installation | — | — | — | §255-36C(8) |
| Temporary Political Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway edge for permanent installation | — | — | — | §255-36C(9) |

### Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Any Sign Permitted in Residential Districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §255-36D(1) |
| Temporary Political Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | — | 36 sq ft per face | — | — | — | — | — | §255-36D(2) |
| Business, Industry, or Other Permitted Use Sign | — | 100 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 sign per use | On site of business/use | — | §255-36D(3) |
| Shopping Center or Industrial Park Sign (Freestanding) | — | 150 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 freestanding sign per building or complex | On premises or in process of development; identifies industrial park only | — | §255-36D(4)(a)-(b) |
| Tenant Sign (Shopping Center/Industrial Park Building Attached) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 sign per tenant/building | On that portion of building housing tenant | — | §255-36D(4)(b) |
| Special Promotional Device, Sign or Spectacular Display | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §255-36D(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Sign Regulations | — | — | — | 15 ft from side property line or side yard requirement (whichever is less); 20 ft from center of cartway or outside right-of-way (whichever greater); 50 ft from road intersection (from ROW lines) | — | — | — | §255-36E(1)-(18) |
| Small Sign (Exempt) (General Regulations All Zones) | — | Up to 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §255-36A, §255-36E(18) |
| Tiny Sign (≤ 1 sq ft per face, ≤ 2 ft high) (General Regulations All Zones) | 2 ft | 1 sq ft per face | — | — | 2 per lot | Lot | — | §255-36E(18) |

## Prohibited signs in Alsace Township

- No sign, other than a traffic or road sign, shall be located within the lines of any road right-of-way or within 20 feet of the center of the cartway of any public road, whichever is greater.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position that will cause danger to traffic on a road by obscuring the view.
- No signs, except official traffic or road name signs, shall be permitted within 50 feet of a road intersection measured from the intersection of the road right-of-way lines.
- Signs are not allowed to become dilapidated; dilapidated signs may be removed by the Township at the owner's or lessee's expense.
- If any legal, nonconforming sign is removed, it may only be replaced within 30 days with a conforming sign; otherwise, it cannot be replaced.
- Except in the case of school warning signs, traffic control signs, signs giving time and temperature, and similar signs, signs shall not contain moving parts nor use flashing or intermittent illumination and the source of light shall be steady and stationary.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position, or have such a source of illumination, that it will cause any danger to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
- No sign shall be utilized in a manner which produces a noxious glare or light beyond the lot boundaries.
- No direct beams of light from a sign shall be directed toward adjacent properties or public roads, and all light sources shall be shielded from adjoining properties and roads.
- The distance from the ground to the highest part of any freestanding sign shall not exceed 15 feet in residential zoning districts and 25 feet in Commercial and Industrial Districts.
- No portion of a sign which is attached to a building, supported by a building or which projects from a building shall extend above the height of the building.
- No sign shall be erected or located as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any window, door or fire escape.
- No sign which emits smoke, visible vapors or particulates, sound or odor shall be permitted.
- No portion of any sign shall project over any lot line.
- Red, green or amber lights, except those contained within a school warning sign, traffic control sign or similar sign, shall not be so located that they could create a danger by being construed as traffic lights.
- The area immediately surrounding each sign shall be kept in a clean, sanitary and healthful condition. No accumulations of loose paper, bottles, cans, garbage or similar items shall be permitted.
- A sign shall be removed when the use to which it refers is terminated.
- All signs adjacent to roads under the control of PennDOT shall comply with all applicable PennDOT regulations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Alsace Township

- Official traffic or road name signs and other official federal, state, county or Township government signs are exempt from setback and location restrictions.
- Signs less than four square feet in area and not illuminated are exempt from permit requirements.
- School warning signs, traffic control signs, signs giving time and temperature, and similar signs are exempt from restrictions on moving parts and intermittent illumination.
- Red, green or amber lights are permitted in school warning signs, traffic control signs, or similar signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit shall be required and obtained from the Zoning Officer before any sign is erected, rebuilt, altered, relocated, or enlarged, except for signs less than four square feet in area and not illuminated.
- Permit applications must include a scaled drawing, intended location, method of affixing, description of construction and materials, consent/ownership documentation, and an agreement to comply with the plans and specifications.
- All sign permits remain valid for one year. If a significant portion of the work is not completed in that time, a new permit is necessary.
- No indication of a separate master sign plan or variance meeting requirement is found in this section; however, a right to appeal a permit denial to the Zoning Hearing Board exists.

## 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 4 zoning districts in Alsace Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Alsace+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-alsace-township

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