# Sign Regulations in Darby Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Darby Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/darby-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27166759#27166759)

## At a glance

Darby Township, Pennsylvania regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Detached building or group with ≤9 establishments)s in the Commercial Districts zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 50 sq ft (Sec. §27-1406(3)(B)(1)(a); §27-1406(3)(B)(2)(a)1). Most commercial signs in Darby Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | Minimum vertical clearance above roadway is 17 feet 6 inches | Combined area not more than 50% greater than permitted double-face sign in district | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-3, Apartment, Townhouse, Mobile Home, Planned Residential Development Districts) | 4 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts | 8 | 25 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts | 2 | — | Same as commercial, refer to specific industrial regulations | — |
| Limited Industrial Districts | 3 | 35 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| C-2 District | 2 | 35 ft | 200 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Overhead Sign or Banner | Minimum vertical clearance above roadway is 17 feet 6 inches | As specified on permit | — | — | — | Over public right-of-way with SR number and segment/offset as per PennDOT policy | — | §19-101–§19-106 |
| Double-Faced Sign | — | Same area as single-face, only one face counted for size if parallel and equal | — | — | — | Where permitted | — | §27-1404(6) |
| Multi-Faced Freestanding Sign | — | Combined area not more than 50% greater than permitted double-face sign in district | — | — | — | Where freestanding signs are allowed | — | §27-1404(7) |
| Freestanding Sign (General Regulations) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1404(8) |
| Ground Sign (General Regulations) | 5 ft above ground | 36 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1404(9) |

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-3, Apartment, Townhouse, Mobile Home, Planned Residential Development Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional/Accessory/Name Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use/dwelling | On dwelling | — | §27-1406(2)(A) |
| Identification Sign (Apartments, Schools, Churches, Hospitals, etc.) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises | — | §27-1406(2)(B) |
| Development Advertising Sign (Temporary) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises/lot per street frontage | On premises | — | §27-1406(2)(C) |
| Development Name Sign (Permanent) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance to development | — | §27-1406(2)(C)(5) |

### Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Detached building or group with ≤9 establishments) | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building/group (+1 for multiple frontage) | On lot, with one freestanding sign per building or group, plus one additional sign on a property with more than one street frontage | — | §27-1406(3)(B)(1)(a); §27-1406(3)(B)(2)(a)1 |
| Freestanding Sign (2+ detached buildings/≥10 estabs.) | 25 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per group (+1 for multiple frontage) | Same as above | — | §27-1406(3)(B)(1)(a); §27-1406(3)(B)(2)(a)2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Drive-Through Restaurant Menu Board | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 additional menu sign | Drive-through restaurant site | — | §27-1406(3)(C) |
| Wall Sign | — | 25 sq ft (detached buildings) | — | — | 1 per establishment (+1 if corner) | On building; one per establishment with direct access to parking; one extra for corner establishments | — | §27-1406(3)(E) |
| Awning Sign | — | Same as wall sign | — | — | — | On awning | — | §27-1406(3)(F) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of total window glass area | — | — | — | Inside windows | — | §27-1405(7) |
| Temporary Mobile Sign (Portable/Movable) | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | On business property | — | §27-1406(3)(D) |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises (+1 for each street frontage if corner/multifrontage) | On premises | — | §27-1406(3)(A)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Darby Township

- No sign not specifically authorized by the provisions of the ordinance shall be erected in the Township.
- 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 or paper banners or signs of any similar character suspended or hung on any property, except for temporary banners 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 tacked, pasted, tied or otherwise affixed to poles, posts, buildings, fences, or other structures located on public property or within the public right-of-way.
- 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 or any part thereof, or any sale or special event or other circumstance, except as specified.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the roofline or any structure that extends above the roofline of any building.
- Projecting signs (no new projecting signs shall be erected after the date of enactment of the chapter).
- Signs located, arranged, or placed in any position where they cause danger to traffic or interfere with traffic through glare, blocking required sight lines, confusion with traffic control devices, or through any other means.
- No sign shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any public street, nor be closer than five feet to the right-of-way line unless specifically authorized.
- No sign shall be designed or lighted in such a manner or in such a position or location that it will cause danger to traffic or present an unreasonable risk of injury to persons or damage to property.
- All external illuminated signs must be turned off not later than 1/2 hour after closing of the business or entity identified.
- No illuminated sign shall be lighted on days when the business or permitted use is not open.
- No sign may be erected, attached to, or relocated without first obtaining a permit unless specifically exempted.
- No person shall maintain or permit an abandoned sign (a sign related to a use or event which is past or for a property which is vacant or unoccupied for 60 days); all such signs must be removed within 10 days.
- No sign shall be allowed to become dilapidated; such signs must be removed.
- Each sign must be removed within 10 days when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
- All sign provisions apply to smoke stacks, water towers, silos and other similar structures.

## Signs exempt from permit in Darby Township

- Real estate signs (one per property, not illuminated, not over 6 sq. ft. without a permit, and certain limitations as described).
- Decorations for officially designated holidays, provided they do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
- Official and governmental signs, including safety signs, trespassing signs, points of interest, and traffic signs.
- Signs designating the name and address of the owner or occupant (not in excess of two square feet; one per use).
- Temporary yard sale or garage sale signs (not over two square feet, removed within 24 hours).
- Temporary signs announcing a public, educational, charitable, civic, or religious event (not more than 30 days or three times/year, not over eight square feet, must meet location rules, removed within 24 hours after the event).
- Window signs serving as accessory sign to the principal use (subject to area restrictions and only in certain districts/uses).
- Official traffic signs.
- Trespassing signs or those indicating private nature of a driveway or premises, not exceeding two square feet.
- Signs of contractors, mechanics, and artisans (only on premises, not exceeding twelve square feet, not illuminated except detour signs, removed promptly upon work completion).
- Signs advertising sale of farm products grown on premises (one per property per street frontage, not over six square feet, not illuminated, displayed only when products are on sale).
- Informational signs such as 'entrance,' 'exit,' 'no parking,' etc., on the same lot as the use to which the sign relates, not exceeding two square feet and not containing advertising.
- The ordinance's sign provisions do not apply to signage erected and maintained by the Township for Township purposes, provided all required governmental permits are obtained by the Township.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must be made in writing and accompanied by a plan drawn to scale showing the sign, its size, and its location with respect to the building and to the boundaries of the lot.
- All applications for permits shall present full particulars as to size, shape, material, supports, location, height above sidewalk or ground, and written consent of property owner, with a plan drawn to scale.
- Any replacement, enlargement, alteration, dismantling, or repair of a sign damaged more than 50% requires a permit as described.
- No mention of a master sign plan or a sign plan requirement as a prerequisite for multiple sign installations or developments.
- Nonconforming signs may be changed or replaced by another nonconforming sign only when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.
- A nonconforming sign damaged more than 50% or destroyed may only be rebuilt as a conforming sign unless a special exception is granted by the Zoning Hearing Board.

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

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