# Sign Regulations in Butler Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Butler Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/butler-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9629234#9629234)

## At a glance

Butler Township, Pennsylvania regulates 30 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Ground or Pole, one establishment, lot ≤ 1 acre)s in the Commercial Zoning District, C-1 General Commercial District, Industrial Zoning District zoning district are capped at 6 ft (ground) or 20 ft (pole) tall and 64 sq ft, with a 10 ft from street right-of-way and property line setback (Sec. § 300-27G(2)). Most commercial signs in Butler Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural Zoning District, A-1 District | 4 | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zoning District, R-1 District, R-2 District | 4 | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zoning District, C-1 General Commercial District, Industrial Zoning District | 13 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Institutional I Overlay District | 3 | No limit (wall sign); 18 ft (freestanding) | 160 sq ft | — |

_3 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sales Sign (Residential) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for sale/rent | — | § 300-27E(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sales Sign (Commercial) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for sale/rent | — | § 300-27E(2) |
| Temporary Development Sign (Residential) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot under development | — | § 300-27E(3) |
| Temporary Development Sign (Commercial) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot under development | — | § 300-27E(3) |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Residential) | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot under construction | — | § 300-27E(4) |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Commercial) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot under construction | — | § 300-27E(4) |
| Bulletin Sign | 6 ft (if freestanding ground sign) | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot with authorized church, school, library or other authorized public/semipublic building | — | § 300-27E(6) |
| On-Premises Directional Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | See additional requirements | On lots with two or more multifamily or nonresidential buildings or more than 50 parking spaces | — | § 300-27E(7) |

### Agricultural Zoning District, A-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Identification Sign | 3 ft (if freestanding ground sign) | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On multifamily residential building (wall sign) or development entrance (freestanding) | — | § 300-27F(1) |
| Nonresidential Identification Sign | 3 ft (if freestanding ground sign) | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot with a special exception nonresidential use | — | § 300-27F(2) |
| Legal Nonconforming Use Identification Sign (Ground) | 3 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot with legal nonconforming use | — | § 300-27F(3) |
| Legal Nonconforming Use Identification Sign (Pole) | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot with legal nonconforming use | — | § 300-27F(3) |

### Commercial Zoning District, C-1 General Commercial District, Industrial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground or Pole, one establishment, lot ≤ 1 acre) | 6 ft (ground) or 20 ft (pole) | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way and property line | 1 per lot | On lot; must be 10 ft from right-of-way/property line | — | § 300-27G(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground or Pole, lot >1 acre and <10 acres) | 6 ft (ground) or 20 ft (pole) | 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way and property line | 1 per lot | On lot; must be 10 ft from right-of-way/property line | — | § 300-27G(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground or Pole, lot ≥10 acres) | 6 ft (ground) or 20 ft (pole) | 200 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way and property line | 1 per lot | On lot; must be 10 ft from right-of-way/property line | — | § 300-27G(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (C-1 lots ≥20,000 sq ft, multiple street frontages) | 6 ft (ground) or 20 ft (pole) | See lot size requirements for area | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way and property line | 1 per street frontage | On each street frontage | — | § 300-27G(2)(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center Outparcel) | 6 ft (ground) or 20 ft (pole) | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way and property line | 1 per outparcel | On outparcel; at least 10 ft from right-of-way/property line | — | § 300-27G(2)(e) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Manual) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Wall sign or attached to freestanding pole business sign | — | § 300-27G(3) |
| Portable Sign (Non Special Event Display) | — | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way or driveway entrance | 1 per lot | On lot, not in or obstructing parking; not in right-of-way; at least 10 ft from right-of-way or driveway entrance | — | § 300-27G(6) |
| Parking Area Identification Sign (Freestanding Pole) | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parking area | In open off-street parking area | — | § 300-27G(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Butler Township

- No sign shall be located in such a position that it will cause a hazard by obstructing visibility for traffic or by obscuring a traffic signal or other traffic control device.
- No sign which imitates a traffic control device is permitted.
- No flashing or animated signs, as defined, are permitted.
- Advertising vehicles, as defined, are prohibited.
- Banners, except when authorized as part of an approved special event display, are prohibited.
- Window displays which exceed 20% of the gross surface area of all windows in an establishment are prohibited.
- Painted wall signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs (including sidewalk or sandwich board signs) are prohibited, except as temporary signs when authorized.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Rotating signs are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Billboards and festoons are prohibited in agricultural or residential zoning districts.
- All signs must be maintained in a safe, secure condition by the owner and repaired or removed if unsafe or noncompliant.
- Inactive signs must be removed from properties within 30 days of becoming inactive or upon written notice.
- No open spark or flame may be used as part of a sign display.
- All signs must be securely mounted or fastened, and designed to withstand specified wind loads.

## Signs exempt from permit in Butler Township

- Address signs not exceeding one square foot and nameplates not exceeding two square feet.
- Flags, as defined.
- Government signs, street identification signs, and official traffic signs.
- Governmental off-premises directional signs.
- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized federal or state holidays, provided they do not interfere with traffic safety or become a public safety hazard.
- Incidental signs not exceeding one square foot.
- Memorial/historical plaques.
- Point of purchase displays located inside a store, in a display window or on gasoline pumps.
- Political signs (must not exceed maximum size of other temporary signs in district; must be removed within five days after election).
- Trespassing signs, as defined.
- Window displays, provided they do not exceed 20% of the gross surface area of all windows in an establishment.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan shall be submitted for review and approval by the Zoning Officer as a part of any land development approvals and prior to the issuance of any sign permits for hospitals located in the Institutional I Overlay District.

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

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