# Sign Regulations in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/bethlehem
- **Data last verified:** 2025-07-09
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/CityOfBethlehem/media/DCED-Media-Library/PlanningZoning/Zoning_Ordinance_22.pdf#page=146)

## At a glance

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania regulates 36 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Sandwich Board/Sidewalk Signs in the Central Business District (CB) zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 2 ft wide x 4 ft high (8 sq ft per side), and 2 ft wide, with a None, but must maintain 5 ft clear setback (Sec. §1320.09(c)). Most commercial signs in Bethlehem require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rural Residential District (RR), Residential Overlay District - Friedensville Road (RR-F), Residential Overlay District - Township Line Road (RR-T), Single Family Residential District (RS), Medium Density Residential District (RG), High Density Residential District (RT), Residential Retirement Complex District (R-RC) | 13 | 25 ft above grade | 50 sq ft per principal building side facing street | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | — | — |
| Institutional District (I), Institutional Overlay District (I-O) | 4 | 8 ft (I-O, commercial) | 40 sq ft per principal building side facing street (I); see requirements below for I-O | — |
| Central Business District (CB) | 3 | 30 ft (40 ft for Shopping Center) | 50 sq ft (typical lot); 150 sq ft (shopping center CS district) | — |
| General Commercial District (CG), Limited Commercial District (CL), Shopping Center District (CS) | 3 | 30 ft typical; 40 ft shopping center | 50 sq ft (CG/CL, typical); 150 sq ft/side for CS Shopping Center; shopping centers get one per entry (up to 4, per schedule) | — |
| Office-Research Center District (CM), Planned Industrial District (PI), Light Industrial District (LI), Industrial District (IN), Industrial Overlay District (IN-O) | 3 | 25 ft above grade (wall sign), or top of roof line | 375 sq ft (LI/IN/PI); 40 ft tall | — |
| Industrial Redevelopment District (IR), Industrial Redevelopment - Residential Option District (IR-R) | 2 | 30 ft typical | 50 sq ft (typical non-residential) | — |
| Landmark Conservation and Traditional Neighborhood Development Overlay District (CM-LTN) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Mixed Use Commercial District (CMU), Office Mixed Use District (OMU) | 1 | — | Sign requirements per Section 1320.09 apply, unless in a Planned Office Commercial Development (POCD), see below for POCD. | — |
| Floodway and Flood Fringe Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Airport Approach Overlay Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| Steep Slope Provisions District | 1 | — | — | — |
| SH Student Housing and Student Home Overlay Zoning District (SH) | 1 | — | 1 sq ft (student home); 2 sq ft (home occupation, aggregate with any occupant ID sign) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### Rural Residential District (RR), Residential Overlay District - Friedensville Road (RR-F), Residential Overlay District - Township Line Road (RR-T), Single Family Residential District (RS), Medium Density Residential District (RG), High Density Residential District (RT), Residential Retirement Complex District (R-RC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Principal Non-Residential Use) | 25 ft above grade | 22.5 sq ft | — | Must conform to setback regulations for non-residential use in district | One per street frontage | Main wall of principal building; projecting max 3.5 ft from wall; min 7.5 ft above grade | — | §1320.08(a)(11) |
| Freestanding Sign (Principal Non-Residential Use) | — | 8 sq ft | — | Front yard as per zoning and sign code | 1 per street frontage | On lot occupied by non-residential use | — | §1320.08(a)(3), (13) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft (aggregate with occupant ID sign, max total of 2 sq ft; if >1 sq ft, must meet front setback) | — | Must meet front yard setback if over 1 sq ft | 1 | On building or property | — | §1320.08(a)(9) |
| Bed and Breakfast Inn Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property | — | §1320.08(a)(2) |
| Sale/Lease/Rental Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | On property | — | §1320.08(a)(4) |
| Trespassing/Private Property Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | No limit | On property | — | §1320.08(a)(5) |
| Apartment Development Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | On property | — | §1320.08(a)(10) |
| Home Occupation / Occupant Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft (aggregate with ID sign: max 2 sq ft; >1 sq ft must meet front yard setback) | — | If >1 sq ft, must meet front yard setback | 1 | On property (wall or near entrance) | — | §1320.08(a)(9) |

### Central Business District (CB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Projecting Sign (Business Use) | 25 ft above grade (or top of building for wall sign) | 20% of area of the exterior building face (including windows/doors/cornices); max 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Main wall of principal building/side or rear wall only if abutting street, driveway or parking area | — | §1320.09(a)(2), (v) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Use) | 30 ft (40 ft for Shopping Center) | 50 sq ft (typical lot); 150 sq ft (shopping center CS district) | — | None required in CB district | 1 per street or combined in single | On lot;  per frontage | — | §1320.09(a)(3), (v), (vi) |
| Sandwich Board/Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | 2 ft wide x 4 ft high (8 sq ft per side) | 2 ft | None, but must maintain 5 ft clear | 1 per owner frontage/business | On public sidewalk or private frontage immediately adjacent to business | — | §1320.09(c) |

### General Commercial District (CG), Limited Commercial District (CL), Shopping Center District (CS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Projecting Sign (Business Use) | 25 ft above grade | 20% of area of external building face (including windows/doors/cornices); max 200 sq ft (CL/CG) | — | None (CL/CB) | Per principal building side | Main wall of principal building; projecting: may not >3.5 ft from wall, min 8 ft above grade | — | §1320.09(a)(2)-(6) |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft typical; 40 ft shopping center | 50 sq ft (CG/CL, typical); 150 sq ft/side for CS Shopping Center; shopping centers get one per entry (up to 4, per schedule) | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; clear sight triangle applies (10 ft in PI); none in CL/CB | 1 per frontage or combined | On lot, per frontage | — | §1320.09(a)(3)-(6) |
| Sandwich Board/Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | 2 ft wide x 4 ft high | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | On public sidewalk or private property | — | §1320.09(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Bethlehem

- No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with traffic through glare, blocking of reasonable sight lines for streets, sidewalks, or driveways, confusion with a traffic control device (by reason of color, location, shape or other characteristic), or through any other means.
- No sign shall violate the corner visibility restrictions in Section 1318.06, except that a sign pole with a width of up to 18 inches may intrude into a sight triangle.
- No sign (except those of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices) shall be allowed within a street right-of-way unless specifically authorized by other ordinances and regulations of the City.
- No sign (except such directional devices as may be required by the Federal Aviation Authority) shall be placed, inscribed or supported upon the roof that the sign abuts or upon any structure which extends above the roof of any building, except that a sign may be attached to a parapet wall that extends up to 5 feet above the roof and which is architecturally integrated with the building.
- Any vehicle or trailer to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the carrying of such sign or signs no longer is incidental to the vehicle's primary purpose but becomes a primary purpose in itself shall be considered a free-standing sign and as such be subject to the provisions regarding free-standing signs in the district in which such vehicle or trailer is located.
- Flashing, blinking, mechanically moving, twinkling or animated signs of any type are prohibited. Strobe lighting shall be prohibited, except for non-advertising seasonal lights between October 25th and January 10th.
- Aerial lasers and spotlights aimed into the sky shall not be allowed as promotional devices.
- Signs existing at the time of passage of this Ordinance which do not conform to the requirements of the Ordinance shall be considered non-conforming signs. However, non-conforming signs may be repainted, repaired (including lighting) or replaced provided such repainted, repaired or replaced signs do not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign. Non-conforming signs, once removed for a period of 90 days, may be replaced only with signs which conform to provisions of this Ordinance.
- No sign shall be so located as to violate minimum setbacks, buffer yard, or clear sight triangle requirements as specified in this Ordinance.
- No new sign shall be internally illuminated in specified instances, such as in residential or historic areas, as referenced in sign plan approvals and special exceptions.
- Digital signs/off-premises electronic message centers must conform to minimum change time, brightness, and spacing limits (minimum 10 seconds per slide and minimum 1,000 feet from any other off-premises sign of this type).
- No sign shall be placed on city-owned land, or within a public street right-of-way except as specifically authorized.
- No sign in a residential district shall be illuminated between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bethlehem

- Flags of any governmental unit or branch or of any charitable or religious organization, interior signs not visible from a public right-of-way or adjoining property, and cornerstones built in or attached to a wall of a building are excluded from sign regulations.
- Official traffic signs and other official Federal, State, County and City governmental signs are permitted in all districts.
- Directional devices as may be required by the Federal Aviation Authority are exempt from certain placement limitations.
- Signs necessary for the direction, regulation and control of traffic, street name signs, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings, and other official signs which are similarly authorized or erected by a duly constituted governmental body are exempt.
- Temporary signs for mechanics, tradespersons, or artisans while performing work are allowed, provided they are removed upon completion of work.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All on-premises signs over 6 square feet in area, all projecting signs extending into the public right of way, and all off-premises signs regardless of size shall require the issuance of a zoning permit before erection or replacement.
- A permit may also be required in other circumstances under the Construction Code.
- All signs must comply with all of the regulations contained herein, regardless of whether a permit is required.
- Any sign requiring review as part of a special exception (e.g., Article 1304.04 for corner lots and office conversions) must be submitted for approval, with area and illumination limits, as part of the special exception process.
- For large mixed-use/commercial developments (certain districts, e.g. CMU, POCD), an overall coordinated sign plan/design must be submitted as part of master/site plan approval.
- In Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) or Historic Conservation Commission (HCC) areas, all proposed signs must comply with applicable historic review and approval requirements.
- Any painted wall sign that was not visible for the previous 10 years shall be considered abandoned, and shall not be repainted with a new message if it becomes visible because of a building demolition.
- A sign plan or site plan must be submitted for City Planning Commission review (see Section 1322.02) in cases involving a special exception application or use variance for a new principal non-residential or multi-family building, an addition of 10 or more off-street parking spaces, or 10,000 square feet or greater of new principal non-residential building space, or when otherwise required by the Zoning Officer.

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

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