# Sign Regulations in Clifton Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clifton Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/clifton-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Clifton Township, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Changeable Panel Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 10 square feet for each exposed face, with a Not within 15 feet of vehicular access; must maintain side/rear setbacks setback (Sec. § 27-904.8). Most commercial signs in Clifton Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 36 feet (flagpole) | No more than 25% of any window pane over 3 feet in any dimension | — |
| Residential Uses | 3 | 15 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| Commercial Uses, Manufacturing Uses, Industrial Uses, Public Uses, Semi-Public Uses | 8 | Lower of parapet line of wall or 15 feet (measured from building base) | 40 square feet per face | — |
| C District (Commercial District) | 6 | 15 feet (see parent sign limit) | 300 square feet (per sign face) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning, Canopy, and Marquee Sign | Not higher than the top of the awning, canopy, or marquee | 16 square feet; not more than 50% of the face of the awning/canopy/marquee (over 4 sq ft requires permit) | — | — | One per principal building (over 4 sq ft); any number if each under 4 sq ft | Affixed to awning, canopy, or marquee | — | § 27-904.7 |
| Changeable Panel Sign | 10 feet | 10 square feet for each exposed face | — | Not within 15 feet of vehicular access; must maintain side/rear setbacks | One per business parcel | Ground sign or attached to permitted business identification ground sign | — | § 27-904.8 |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 25% of any window pane over 3 feet in any dimension | — | — | — | On or inside window; interior signs within 3 feet of window are counted as window signs | — | § 27-904.10 |
| Flag (Business Identification) | 36 feet (flagpole) | 24 square feet, except U.S./PA flags not limited | — | — | — | On flagpole on premises | — | § 27-904.13 |

### Commercial Uses, Manufacturing Uses, Industrial Uses, Public Uses, Semi-Public Uses

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Individual Business Identification) | Lower of parapet line of wall or 15 feet (measured from building base) | 10% of wall (or 11% if individual letters & special shielded lighting) | — | — | One per principal building, plus one per abutting street | Outermost wall, per principal building | — | § 27-907.1.A |
| Freestanding Business Identification Sign (Individual Business) | 15 feet | 32 square feet | — | Side/rear setbacks; not within 15 ft of vehicular access | 1 per lot | On the lot, must maintain side and rear setbacks, not within 15 ft of vehicular access | — | § 27-907.1.B |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Occupant – Shopping Center) | Lower of parapet line or 15 feet from base of building wall | 10% (or 11% if outlined letters with shielded lighting) | — | — | One per business occupant, plus one per street | Outermost wall, 1 per business occupant, plus one per abutting street | — | § 27-907.2.A |
| Freestanding Business Identification Sign (Multiple Occupant – Shopping Center or Business Development) | 15 feet | 40 square feet per face | — | Side/rear setbacks; not within 15 ft of vehicular access | 1 per development | On development, must maintain side/rear setbacks, not within 15 ft of vehicular access. | — | § 27-907.2.B |
| Business Subdivision Road Entrance Sign | 8 feet | 24 square feet | — | Not within 15 ft of vehicular access; not over lot line | 2 per entrance | At development entrance (on ground) | — | § 27-907.3 |
| ATM Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | — | Face of ATM | — | § 27-907.4 |
| Business Directional Sign | 10 feet | 6 square feet per exposed face | — | — | Up to 2 per parcel | At each location of direction change off main arterial | — | § 27-907.5 |
| Retail Fuel Sales Price Sign | Same as business sign | No larger than necessary to encompass numerals; cannot exceed width of business sign | Cannot exceed width of business sign | — | One per retail fuel business | Attached to permitted business identification sign | — | § 27-907.6 |

### C District (Commercial District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Message Sign (Changeable Panel Sign) | As allowed for changeable panel sign (10 feet) | 80% of allowed area for changeable panel sign (i.e. 8 sq ft per face, as 10 sq ft allowed under § 27-904.8) | — | — | One per development parcel | Same as changeable panel sign; ground or attached to permitted business sign | — | § 27-910 |
| Electronic Message Sign (Freestanding Business Identification Sign) | 15 feet (see parent sign limit) | 80% of allowed sign area (i.e. 25.6 sq ft for individual business, 32 sq ft for shopping center) | — | — | One per parcel | Same as underlying sign | — | § 27-910 |
| Electronic Message Sign (Shopping Center/Multiple Occupant Freestanding) | 15 feet | 80% of allowed sign area (i.e. 32 sq ft per face × 0.8 = 32 sq ft, but § 907.2.B allows 40 sq ft; so up to 32 sq ft?) | — | — | One per parcel | Same as shopping center freestanding sign | — | § 27-910 |
| Electronic Message Sign (Retail Fuel Sales) | Per underlying sign rules | 80% of sign being replaced (i.e. fuel sign, per § 27-907.6, see analog rules) | — | — | One per parcel | Attached to permitted business sign | — | § 27-910 |
| Off-Premises Advertising Sign / Billboard | Max building height for district; measured from base | 300 square feet (per sign face) | — | Side/rear setbacks for principal structures, 10' front yard min | One per facing per structure; meets spacing | Only on lots in C District fronting on State Route 435; principal use only | — | § 27-909 |
| Electronic Message Sign (Off-Premises Advertising/Billboard) | Max building height for district | 80% of 300 sq ft per face (240 sq ft per face) | — | See billboard rules | One per structure facing | Same as billboard/off-premises sign | — | § 27-910 |

## Prohibited signs in Clifton Township

- All signs not expressly permitted or exempted under this Chapter from regulation are prohibited.
- ‘A’ Frame or Sandwich Board and sidewalk or curb signs are prohibited, except as a temporary sign as provided for in § 27-905.
- Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, banners, pennants, streamers, balloons, and other inflatable figures are prohibited, except as a temporary sign as provided for in § 27-905 or if exempt.
- Signs which emit sound, flash, revolve, rotate, swing, undulate, or move by any means, or otherwise attract attention through movement or flashing, are prohibited (exception: time and temperature indicators whose movement is either digital or analogue, and flags as permitted by this Chapter).
- Signs which use a mirror or similar device to attract attention by reflecting images or reflecting light are prohibited.
- Portable and wheeled signs are prohibited except as a temporary sign as provided for in § 27-905.
- Projecting signs attached or affixed to a building that project beyond the wall surface and are less than 9 feet to the surface of the ground are prohibited.
- Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles, trailers, and/or containers which are parked on public right-of-way, public property, or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way for the apparent purpose of advertising a product or directing people to a business, organization, or activity are prohibited.
- Signs attached or affixed to utility poles, trees, or other vegetation are prohibited.
- Signs which imitate, interfere with, obstruct the view of, or can be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal, or other device are prohibited.
- No sign shall emit any sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke.
- No signs, other than official traffic signs or signs erected by the Township, shall be erected on any Township-owned property, Township right-of-way, or public right-of-way across Township-owned property.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window, door opening, or wall opening intended as a means of ingress or egress.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to interfere with ventilation openings.
- All signs must maintain regulatory clearances from electrical power and communication lines.
- All signs and supporting structures must maintain clearance and non-interference with surface and underground utilities and may not interfere with drainage.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to interfere with any existing warning or instructional sign.
- No sign shall be erected in a way that interferes with or confuses traffic, presents any traffic hazard, or obstructs the vision of motorists.
- Except as otherwise specifically provided, no sign, other than official traffic signs, shall be erected or maintained in the public right-of-way.
- No sign attached to a building shall be placed on, nor shall extend above, any part of the building roof.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- No portion of a sign shall be positioned to exceed the height of the primary structure on the property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Clifton Township

- Awning, canopy, and marquee signs not exceeding an aggregate gross surface area of 4 square feet, indicating only the name of the activity conducted on the premises and/or a brief generic description of the business; advertising material of any kind is strictly prohibited.
- Civic and religious organization signs indicating only the organization insignia, name, meeting place, and time, not to exceed 2 square feet for each exposed surface area.
- Directional or instructional signs not exceeding 4 square feet in aggregate gross surface area, providing direction or instruction to guide persons to facilities intended to serve the public (no advertising allowed).
- Flags, emblems, and insignia of political, professional, religious, educational, or fraternal organizations displayed for non-commercial purpose.
- Governmental signs for control of traffic, emergency response, and other public or regulatory purposes, erected by or at the order of a public officer/employee in the performance of duties.
- Signs or other materials temporarily displayed for civic, patriotic, or religious holidays related to observance of the holiday.
- Interior signs not affixed to a window and fully within a building, stadium, lobby, or court and not visible from outside.
- Memorial plaques or tablets, grave markers, statuary, or other remembrances of persons or events that are non-commercial in nature.
- Wall signs, one per street frontage and not exceeding 1.5 square feet in surface area, indicating the name of the occupant, the address, and legal business/operation identification.
- No trespassing, no hunting, no fishing, no dumping, no parking, towing, and similar signs (Title 75 Vehicle Code, Title 18 Crimes Code) not exceeding 2 square feet per face nor 4 square feet total.
- Parking lot directional and instructional signs, subject to limitations on size and height.
- Patron advertising signs on the perimeter of an organizational youth athletic field for the sole purpose of sponsoring/contributing to the sport, subject to area limits.
- Plaques, nameplates, or memorial signs directly attached/affixed to exterior building walls, not exceeding 4 square feet total.
- Official public notices posted by public officers or employees in the performance of duties.
- Signs on vehicles and/or trailers where the sign is incidental to the primary use of the vehicle or trailer (not those placed to advertise/direct if vehicle is parked for that purpose).
- Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historic agencies, or identification emblems of religious/historic groups not exceeding 2 square feet per face, nor 4 square feet total.
- Permanent, non-flashing signs on vending machines, gasoline pumps, ice or milk containers, or other machines indicating only contents, pricing, directions, etc., not exceeding specified area.
- Warning signs to alert the public of existing danger, without advertising, to be removed within 3 days after the danger ends.
- Tourist orientation directional signs erected in accord with a PennDOT permit.
- Signs advertising the sale of farm products grown on the premises and signs advertising seed brands used on the premises (agricultural signs) are exempt from required zoning permits and fees, are allowed in all districts, and shall not exceed 6 square feet per face.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits require the submission of two copies of plans and specifications, including details about size, attachments, location, and materials.
- All freestanding business and residential identification signs shall be placed in a landscaped area, and sign landscaping shall be part of the required project landscaping plan and maintenance.
- For certain types of signs (e.g., changeable panel signs, wood relief signs), the sign must be designed as an integral architectural element of the building and component of the site.
- The Zoning Officer may require additional data, such as stress calculations prepared by a structural engineer, for certain types of signs.
- Applicants for off-premises advertising signs and billboards must provide certification under seal by a Professional Engineer that the sign will not present a structural safety hazard.
- Permit applications must include written consent from the property owner where the sign will be erected or affixed.
- No explicit mention of a Master Sign Plan, but certain requirements (landscape plan, site-integrated sign design, review and approval by Zoning Officer for location and arrangement) serve a similar purpose.

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

---

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