# Sign Regulations in Bern Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bern Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/bern-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6621209#6621209)

## At a glance

Bern Township, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Projecting Sign (General)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 30 sq ft, with a May not project within 10 ft of right-of-way. setback (Sec. § 184-143A). Most commercial signs in Bern Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 7 | Not higher than one of the buildings it advertises (multifamily only) | 48 sq ft | — |
| OR District, LI District, GI District, LC District, ASU District | 5 | — | 120 sq ft | — |
| SC District | 3 | 12 ft | 480 sq ft | — |
| AB District, LC District, NC District, HC District | 4 | — | AB: 60 sq ft; LC, NC, HC: 120 sq ft | — |
| IR District | 4 | — | 48 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (General) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | As needed for on-premises. Only one off-premises directional per intersection. | Erected within the project itself or as described in district-specific regulations. | — | § 184-143A; § 184-142A |
| Temporary Sign (General On-Lot) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel at a given time | On the premises pertaining to the business or activity conducted. | — | § 184-143E; § 184-135E |
| Changeable Message Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §184-141K |
| Projecting Sign (General) | — | 30 sq ft | — | May not project within 10 ft of right-of-way. | 1 per frontage, in lieu of a freestanding ground sign | May be erected in lieu of freestanding ground sign in commercial/industrial/office districts. | — | § 184-143A |
| Wall or Fascia Sign (General) | — | 2 sq ft per 1 linear foot of horizontal wall facade, max 240 sq ft (max 120 sq ft for certain commercial zones, see district rules) | — | — | 1 per permitted use (per wall) | Affixed to exterior wall or permitted architectural projections. | — | §184-143A |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (General) | — | — | — | — | — | As principal identifying sign; limits per zoning district. | — | §184-143 |

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dwelling Occupant Name/Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Dwelling exterior. | — | §184-135A |
| Real Estate (Sale or Rental) Sign | Not higher than one of the buildings it advertises (multifamily only) | 4 sq ft (Residential); 48 sq ft for multifamily dwellings | — | — | 1 per lot street frontage | Front yard of property for sale or rent. | — | §184-135B; §184-143D(1) |
| Temporary Contractor/Developer/Architect/Builder Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lots where construction is taking place. | — | §184-135C |
| Trespassing/Private Road/Fishing-Hunting Control Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On applicable premises. | — | §184-135D |
| Temporary Civic/Philanthropic/Educational/Religious Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises where event pertains. | — | §184-135E |
| Directional Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | As needed for direction/facility | Within multifamily residential projects. | — | §184-143D(2) |
| Permanent Project Identifying Sign (Multifamily) | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 freestanding and 1 wall per project; building id signs per building | At entrance or on building; identifying project or individual buildings. | — | §184-143D(3) |

### OR District, LI District, GI District, LC District, ASU District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | — | 120 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per lot side that fronts a street. | — | §184-143A; §184-142B |
| Wall or Fascia Sign | — | 2 sq ft per 1 linear foot of horizontal wall facade; max 240 sq ft | — | — | 1 per permitted use, per wall | Attached to building wall. | — | §184-143A |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | As needed | Within the project itself. | — | §184-143A |
| Projecting Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | May not project within 10 ft of right-of-way. | 1 per frontage if chosen in lieu of ground sign | Projecting from building wall. | — | §184-143A |
| Overall Identifying Sign with Directory | — | 120 sq ft | — | — | — | At principal entrance or designated area per site plan. | — | §184-142B |

## Prohibited signs in Bern Township

- No sign shall be erected, placed or maintained upon any public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected, placed or maintained so that it impedes, interferes with, or distracts from the operation of any traffic control light or sign, official traffic directional sign, other traffic safety or control device, or general traffic safety.
- No sign of the colors red, yellow or green shall be placed in such a position that it would produce a background into which the traffic signal might blend, thereby interfering with vehicular vision of the signal.
- No sign shall be located so as to obscure a motorist's view of roadway, intersections, railway crossings, traffic signals, stop signs, or other warning devices.
- All signs shall be erected in conformance with the Federal Highway Beautification Act.
- No sign shall be located within 100 feet of the right-of-way line of a limited access highway except as specifically listed.
- No lighted signs of intermittent flashing, animated, or rotating types shall be permitted.
- No sign other than those specifically permitted shall be erected or maintained.
- All signs pertaining to a terminated or abandoned use must be removed within 60 days of said termination or abandonment.
- No sign shall be mounted, erected, or maintained on a tree, other natural vegetation, or utility pole.
- No sign shall be mounted or located in such a manner as to block or restrict the operation of any door or window or to block or restrict movement into or out of any exit or entrance of a building or driveway.
- All signs, except temporary signs, shall be constructed of durable material and kept in good condition and repair. Dilapidated and deteriorated signs must be repaired or removed at the owner's expense within 30 days after notice.
- No sign shall exceed a height equal to the height permitted for the building to which it is accessory. If the building exceeds the height limit by variance, the height limit of the schedule governs the sign.
- No sign shall project more than six inches above the primary roofline nor more than 12 inches out from the wall to which it is attached. Signs not exceeding six square feet in area may be placed perpendicular to a building if attached to/below a canopy projection.
- No sign shall be located within 10 feet of any right-of-way line, nor within 20 feet of any adjoining property or lot line.
- A sign affixed to any vehicle or other object in such a manner that the carrying of such sign or signs is no longer incidental to the primary purpose of the vehicle or object but becomes a primary purpose in itself is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bern Township

- A sign displaying the name and address of the occupant of a dwelling, not exceeding two square feet and not more than one per dwelling.
- One sign advertising the sale or rental of real property, not exceeding four square feet, removed within seven days after final settlement or renting of the property.
- One temporary contractor's, developer's, architect's, or builder's sign, not exceeding 32 square feet, removed within seven days after completion of the work or 18 months after erection, whichever comes first.
- Trespassing signs, signs indicating private nature of a road, driveway, or premises, and signs controlling fishing or hunting on the premises, not exceeding four square feet.
- Temporary signs announcing an event of a civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organization or a drive or campaign (other than political election signs), not exceeding 32 square feet, removed within seven days after completion of the campaign, drive, or event.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Every application for the issuance of a sign permit must be accompanied by a plot plan and/or elevation drawing indicating the location of the proposed sign, a sketch of the proposed sign, and the required application fee.
- Sign permits are required for all signs unless otherwise exempted.
- Nonconforming signs, when brought into conformity, require obtaining a permit.
- Temporary on-lot signs require application to the Township at least seven days before erection, including application pursuant to permit requirements.

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

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