# Sign Regulations in Covington Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Covington Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/covington-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32617878#32617878)

## At a glance

Covington Township, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Home Occupation Sign (Freestanding)s in the Agricultural and Residential Uses zoning district are capped at 2 sq ft, with a Setback at least 10 ft from street right-of-way setback (Sec. § 19-102.1M(2)). Most commercial signs in Covington Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural and Residential Uses | 9 | Not taller than building advertised | 50 sq ft | — |
| Institutional Uses | 1 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Uses | 4 | — | 160 sq ft | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Areas | 2 | 35 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Governmental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On public property by appropriate government or utility agency | — | § 19-102.1L(1) |
| Temporary Charitable Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of event/campaign | — | § 19-102.1L(2) |
| For Sale or For Rent Business Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property being sold or rented | — | § 19-102.1L(3) |
| Temporary Contractor/Builder Sign | — | 32 sq ft per face (Max 2 faces) | — | — | — | On property where work is being conducted | — | § 19-102.1L(4) |
| Trespassing/Private Road/Hunting/Fishing Control Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On property to which notice refers | — | § 19-102.1L(5) |
| Attraction Directional Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | To indicate existence/direction to attractions of natural, scenic, or outdoor recreational nature | — | § 19-102.1L(6) |

### Agricultural and Residential Uses

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to residence | — | § 19-102.1M(1) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Wall-Mounted) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Fixed flat on wall of building | — | § 19-102.1M(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Freestanding) | — | 2 sq ft | — | Setback at least 10 ft from street right-of-way | 1 per use | Freestanding, setback at least 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | § 19-102.1M(2) |
| Farm Product Sale Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises of production | — | § 19-102.1M(3) |
| Agricultural Association/Cooperative/Identification Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per association per street frontage | On premises | — | § 19-102.1M(4) |
| Real Estate Sign (Multi-unit Structures/Developments) | Not taller than building advertised | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property being sold/rented | — | § 19-102.1M(5)(a) |
| Temporary Subdivision Sales Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | In residential subdivisions | — | § 19-102.1M(5)(c) |
| Permanent Project/Development Identification Sign | — | 10 sq ft (project), 6 sq ft (individual building) | — | — | 1 per entrance (project), 1 per building | At entrance(s) to development, or on individual buildings | — | § 19-102.1M(5)(d) |

### Commercial and Industrial Uses

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business/Commercial Sign | — | 160 sq ft | — | — | — | On same lot as use | — | § 19-102.1O(1) |
| Parking Area Directional Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per access drive | Directing to parking areas | — | § 19-102.1O(2) |
| Temporary Event Exhibit/Show/Event Sign | — | 65 sq ft | — | — | — | Directing patrons to events/exhibits/shows | — | § 19-102.1O(3) |
| Special Temporary Promotional Device (Banner/Pennant) | — | — | — | — | — | Exterior of building | — | § 19-102.1O(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Covington Township

- No sign shall be placed within a street right-of-way except traffic signs and similar regulatory notices erected by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Township of Covington, or another public agency having jurisdiction.
- Flashing or moving signs are prohibited.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound, or smoke are prohibited.
- No artificial light or reflecting device shall be used as a part of a sign where such light or device interferes with, competes for attention with, or may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
- No sign that is a part of or is supported by a building shall be erected upon the roof of such building, nor shall such sign extend higher than the building.
- Freestanding signs shall not be taller than 35 feet.
- No sign shall project beyond any lot line.
- No portion of any free-standing sign shall be located within five feet of any lot line.
- No sign attached to a building facade shall extend more than 12 inches from the facade to which it is attached.
- No sign shall physically obstruct vehicular ingress or egress from a property or human ingress or egress from a structure.
- No sign shall be permitted which is posted, stapled, or otherwise permanently or temporarily attached to public utility poles or trees within a street right-of-way.
- Vehicle signs/billboards must be licensed, inspected, and comply with general regulations.
- Any sign allowed to fall into disrepair shall be removed by the Township (after notice) at the expense of the owner.
- Any person, partnership or corporation who violates any provision of this Part shall, upon conviction, be subject to a judgment of not more than $500 together with all the court costs. Each day that the violation exists shall constitute a separate violation.

## Signs exempt from permit in Covington Township

- Official, functional, directional, and warning signs properly erected by the federal, state, county, or local government; by any agency of such governments; by any railroad company; by any public utility; or by any similar agency concerned with the protection of the public health, safety, or welfare.
- Temporary signs announcing a campaign drive, or event for the benefit of an entity supported by charity, provided such temporary sign is removed within one week of the conclusion of such campaign, drive, or event (maximum 32 square feet).
- Business signs offering the sale and rental of the premises upon which the sign is erected, maximum one per street frontage, not to exceed 32 square feet.
- Temporary contractor, developer, architect, engineer, builder, or artisan signs on property where such persons are conducting work, up to 32 square feet per face, max two faces, to be removed within one week of completion of work.
- Trespassing signs; signs indicating the private nature of a road, driveway, or premises; signs controlling fishing or hunting, not more than four square feet each.
- Signs indicating the existence of and direction to attractions of a natural, scenic, or outdoor recreational nature, not more than 20 square feet.
- Permitted signs must not be installed or constructed to obstruct site lines for traffic.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit issued by the Permit Officer is required prior to the erection of any sign, whether temporary or permanent.
- Where the sign is to be erected by the lessor or tenant of a property, such lessor or tenant must have written permission from the owner of the property in question or lease terms specifically authorizing sign erection.
- Off-premises or non-commercial (billboard) signs require a sign permit issued by the Permit Officer and written permission from the property owner.
- Nonconforming signs must be registered with the Permit Officer within 60 days of passage of this Part in order to be grandfathered.
- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan or variance meeting was found in the provided text.

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

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