# Sign Regulations in Bethel Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bethel Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/bethel-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14418661#14418661)

## At a glance

Bethel Township, Pennsylvania regulates 30 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Feather Flag Signs in the C-2 zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 2 ft wide, with a At least 10 ft from front property line, 20 ft apart from each other setback (Sec. §480-116C(8)). Most commercial signs in Bethel Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-3, Apartment, Townhouse, Mobile Home, Planned Residential Development Districts) | 3 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts | 7 | 25 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts | 5 | 35 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| Limited Industrial Districts | 5 | 35 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| C-1 | 3 | 12 ft | — | — |
| C-2 | 5 | 35 ft | 200 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (<= 6 sq ft) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot, or 1 per street frontage | On the premises or lot advertised. One per street frontage if lot fronts on more than one street. | — | §480-115A |
| Real Estate Sign (>6 sq ft up to 20 sq ft) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot, or 1 per street frontage | On the premises or lot advertised. One per street frontage if lot fronts on more than one street. | — | §480-115A(5) |
| Name/Address/Occupant Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On property | — | §480-115D |
| Temporary Event Sign (Public/Educational/Charitable/Civic/Religious) | — | 8 sq ft | — | No closer than 5 feet to right-of-way unless approved. | — | Not within right-of-way unless approved. No closer than 5 feet to right-of-way unless approved. | — | §480-115F |
| Contractor Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises where work is being performed. | — | §480-115J |
| Farm Product Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises where products are sold. One per street frontage. | — | §480-115K |
| Informational Sign (No Parking, No Trespassing, etc.) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On lot to which the sign relates. | — | §480-115L |
| Temporary Political Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Not on public property except on election day if public property is a polling place. | — | §480-116A |

### Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Detached buildings w/ ≤9 establishments) | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building/group, with one additional for corner/dual frontage lots | Limited to 1 per building or group of buildings, 1 additional if more than one street frontage. | — | §480-116C(2)(a)[1], §480-116C(2)(b)[1][a], §480-116C(1)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (2+ detached buildings or buildings w/ ≥10 establishments) | 25 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per group, plus 1 additional for extra frontage | Limited to 1 per group, 1 additional if more than one street frontage. | — | §480-116C(2)(b)[1][b], §480-116C(1)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Drive-Through Restaurant Menu Sign) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive-through | On site of restaurant | — | §480-116C(3) |
| Wall Sign (Detached buildings) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment (direct parking), 2 for corner, 1 per interior (6 sq ft), 1 per upper floor (10 sq ft) | Per establishment with direct access to parking area, plus 1 extra for corner properties; 1 for interior units (max 6 sq ft); 1 for upper floors (max 10 sq ft) | — | §480-116C(5) |
| Awning Sign | — | Same as wall sign | — | — | — | On awning | — | §480-116C(6) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On window glass area | — | §480-115G |
| Temporary Mobile Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | §480-116C(4) |

### C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All signs permitted in Commercial Districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §480-116C |
| Temporary Promotional Banner Sign | — | — | — | Not within 10 feet of public right-of-way. | — | Affixed at four corners or securely attached to stable flat surface; not within 10 ft of edge of right-of-way. | — | §480-116C(7) |
| Feather Flag Sign | 12 ft | — | 2 ft | At least 10 ft from front property line, 20 ft apart from each other | Max 4 per lot | Front yard | — | §480-116C(8) |
| Billboard (By Right) | 35 ft | 100 sq ft | — | At least 35 ft from street right-of-way | — | At least 2000 ft from another billboard, at least 35 ft from street right-of-way, not within sight triangle as defined in Chapter 395. | — | §480-117 |
| Billboard (By Special Exception) | 35 ft | 200 sq ft | — | At least 35 ft from street right-of-way | — | At least 2000 ft from another billboard, at least 35 ft from street right-of-way, not within sight triangle as defined in Chapter 395. | — | §480-117 |

## Prohibited signs in Bethel Township

- No sign shall be erected that is not specifically authorized by the provisions of this article.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain the following signs: flashing, blinking, twinkling, spinning, animated, inflatable, aerial, crane signs or lighted moving signs, including automatic color-changing and rotating lamps and other moving objects that call attention to the sign.
- Advertising cloth, vinyl or paper banner or signs of any similar character suspended or hung on any property, except for temporary promotional banners or feather flag signs expressly permitted through special permission.
- Wall bulletins or any other signs painted directly on the facade of a building or other structure.
- Curb or sidewalk signs or signs painted, attached or suspended from any outdoor bench, chair or other structure.
- Swinging and hanging signs.
- Signs, letters, posters and advertisements which are placed, tacked, pasted, tied or otherwise posted on or affixed to poles, posts, buildings, fences or other structures located on public property or within public right-of-way in Bethel Township.
- No sign shall be temporarily or permanently placed, erected, attached or painted on any vehicle if such sign identifies, advertises or gives information with respect to a premises, sale, or special event, except as expressly specified in the ordinance.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the roofline or any structure, which extends above the roof line of any building.
- Signs indicating the location and direction of premises in the process of development.
- Signs which change lettering and/or displays in less than one-minute intervals.
- No new projecting signs shall be erected after the date of enactment of this chapter.
- No sign shall be located, arranged or placed in a position where it will cause danger to traffic, interfere with traffic through glare, blocking sight lines, confusion with a traffic control device, or any other characteristic that may be hazardous.
- No sign shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any public street, nor closer than five feet to the right-of-way line of a public street, unless specifically authorized by other ordinances or regulatory agencies.
- No sign shall be designed, lighted or placed such that it creates danger to traffic by obstructing or hindering view.
- No sign shall be designed, lighted, or placed where it presents an unreasonable risk of injury to persons or damage to property.
- All externally illuminated signs must be turned off no later than 1/2 hour after closing of the business or entity which they identify or advertise.
- No illuminated sign shall be lighted on days when the business or permitted use is not open.
- Every sign must be kept in good condition and repair; dilapidated signs must be removed by the landowner or lessee.
- No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises a sign that has been abandoned (i.e., business closed, event past, or vacant for 60+ days); abandoned signs must be removed within 10 days of abandonment.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bethel Township

- Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises or lot upon which they are erected (subject to specific size, lighting, and location restrictions).
- Decorations for a recognized officially designated holiday, provided they do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
- Official and governmental signs, including safety signs, trespassing signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of interest and traffic signs.
- Signs designating the name of the owner or occupant, the address, or private ownership (subject to size and quantity restrictions).
- Temporary yard sale or garage sale signs, subject to size and removal time limits.
- Temporary signs announcing a public, educational, charitable, civic, or religious event (subject to size, frequency, duration, and placement restrictions).
- Window signs, as accessory to the sign associated with the principal use and within area limitations.
- Official traffic signs.
- Trespassing signs or signs indicating the private nature of a driveway or premises (must not exceed two square feet).
- Signs of contractors, mechanics and artisans erected only on premises where work is performed (subject to size, lighting, and removal requirements).
- Signs advertising sale of farm products grown on the premises, subject to size, number, and illumination restrictions.
- Informational signs such as entrance, exit, no parking, visitor parking, no hunting, no trespassing, keep off the grass, etc., on the same lot as the related use, provided they do not contain advertising and do not exceed two square feet in area.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for a sign permit must be accompanied by a plan drawn to scale, showing the sign, its size, and its location with respect to the building and lot boundaries (§480-112D).
- A permit application must include full particulars as to size, shape, material, supports, location, height, and the written consent of the property owner (§480-112D; §480-118A). No signage may be erected (except as exempted) without Township approval.
- Whenever a sign is replaced, enlarged, altered, dismantled, damaged or destroyed to the extent of more than 50% of its value, a new permit and associated plan are required (§480-118B).
- A sign plan (drawing to scale) is required as part of all permit applications, regardless of zone (required for any new/altered sign except those listed as exempt).

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/bethel-township