# Sign Regulations in Dickinson Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dickinson Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/dickinson-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/42035950#42035950)

## At a glance

Dickinson Township, Pennsylvania regulates 9 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Coordinated Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 15 feet tall and For coordinated sign: per 60% rule and per usual sign maxima., with a 10 feet from street right-of-way setback (Sec. § 205-41E). Most commercial signs in Dickinson Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard Sign (BS) Overlay Zone (in Agricultural (A) District or principally farm use land) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 15 feet | Not to exceed the size and height of a permanent sign permitted by § 205-41D | — |
| Agricultural (A) District | 1 | — | — | — |
| B1 Zone | 2 | See zone-specific standards (not provided); controlled via Table in §205-41D. | — | — |
| LDR Zone, MU Zone | 3 | May not extend above top of wall. | — | — |
| BI Zone | 3 | May not extend above top of wall. | — | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | Regulated by standards in Tables 1-3, § 205-41D | — | — | Minimum: sign height from each lot line. Cannot obstruct vision between 30 inches and 8 feet above centerline elevation in clear sight triangle. | — | Cannot be in street right-of-way or clear sight triangle at intersection. | — | § 205-41C(5), (6), (8), (9), (10), (12), (15), (16), (18), (20), (21), § 205-41B(2)(b) |
| Wall Sign | May not extend higher than the top of the wall. | — | — | — | — | On building wall. Not to block doors, windows, light, or ventilation—as per general requirements. | — | § 205-41B(2)(c), (12), (13), (14); § 205-41C(1)-(4), (15)-(16), (18)-(20), (22)-(25), (26)-(29) |
| Flag | — | Not to exceed the size and height of a permanent sign permitted by § 205-41D | — | — | 1 per principal use | One flag per principal use. | — | § 205-41C(21) |
| Roof Sign | May extend no more than 5 feet above lowest point attached to building, and not above the highest point of the roof. | — | — | — | — | On roof of building. | — | § 205-41B(2)(d) |
| Dynamic Message Display Sign (MU and BI Zones Only) | — | — | — | — | — | Must be located in MU or BI zone. | — | § 205-41C(31) |
| Coordinated Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | For coordinated sign: per 60% rule and per usual sign maxima. | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way | — | At least 10 feet from street right of way. | — | § 205-41E |

### LDR Zone, MU Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not extend above top of wall. | — | — | — | — | On wall of permitted structure. | — | §205-41C(17), (13), (14) |
| Freestanding Sign | See zone standards (not specified; see general standards and Table). | — | — | At least sign height from each lot line. | — | Not in street right-of-way/clear sight triangle. Setback at least equal to sign height from lot lines. | — | §205-41C(17), (5), (8) |
| Dynamic Message Display Sign (MU Zone only) | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted only in MU Zone. | — | §205-41C(31) |

### BI Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not extend above top of wall. | — | — | — | — | On wall of permitted structure. | — | §205-41C(31), (13), (14) |
| Freestanding Sign | See Table standards (not provided in text). | — | — | At least sign height from each lot line. | — | Not in street right-of-way/clear sight triangle; setback at least equal to sign height from lot lines. | — | §205-41C(31), (5), (8) |
| Dynamic Message Display Sign (BI Zone only) | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted only in BI Zone. | — | §205-41C(31) |

## Prohibited signs in Dickinson Township

- No permanent, temporary or planned center signs shall be permitted except as authorized by this section.
- No sign shall be located within a street right-of-way or clear sight triangle at an intersection.
- No signs shall be painted, pasted, nailed, stapled, or otherwise attached to utility poles, trees, fences, fire hydrants, or in an unauthorized manner to walls or other signs, except as allowed by formally adopted rules or signs placed on a property owner's own fence or tree in compliance with this chapter.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any door, stairway, window, fire escape, or other means of egress or ingress.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct ventilation or light from a building.
- No overhead sign shall have less than eight feet clearance above pedestrian walks or less than 17 feet six inches above roadways.
- No flat wall sign shall project more than 18 inches from the wall over a public sidewalk.
- No wall projecting sign shall project more than 48 inches from the wall over a public sidewalk.
- No sign shall have lights or other illuminating devices that constitute a public safety or traffic hazard.
- No sign shall imitate or be confused with official traffic signs or signals, such as by containing 'Stop' or 'Danger' or by including red, green, or yellow lights.
- No sign or window display shall include a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling an emergency vehicle or facility. Rotating, traveling, pulsing, flashing, or oscillating light sources, lasers, beacons, or strobe lighting shall not be permitted except in the B1 Zone and not within 500 feet of a signalized intersection, a residential use or LDR or MU Zone.
- No sign shall advertise activities or products illegal under federal, state, or local laws.
- No sign shall include statements, words, or pictures that are considered vulgar, obscene, or pornographic. No sign shall depict specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activities.
- No streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, balloons, or similar materials shall be displayed outside a building.
- No sign shall emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor.
- No sign shall be placed on an automobile, truck, or other vehicle if that vehicle is being used primarily for sign display.
- No inflatable signs shall be permitted.
- No open flames shall be permitted as part of a sign or to attract attention.
- No person(s) shall artificially increase the maximum height of a sign by altering the grade at the base of the sign by any means.
- No sign shall be higher than the height limitation imposed by this chapter.
- No sign shall be erected except as authorized by this section.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dickinson Township

- A property owner may place signs on fences or trees which he/she/it owns, provided such signs comply with the other provisions of this chapter.
- Each principal use may display one flag not to exceed the size and height of a permanent sign permitted by § 205-41D, provided the flag is not used to convey any commercial message or advertising.
- Signs that are located on the inside of a window shall be counted as a sign if legible from an adjoining road or property.
- Any sign may be exempted from the regulations of § 205-41D as a special exception, if the Zoning Hearing Board is satisfied that the sign is authenticated as historically significant and accurate for its specific location, whether original or replica.
- Advertising painted upon or displayed upon a barn or other structure shall be considered a sign and shall comply with this section.
- The area taken up by the street address on a permanent freestanding sign does not count as part of the sign area, provided it is displayed as required.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permits are required as indicated by the tables in § 205-41D. All signs requiring permits must have such permit prior to erection, installation, or alteration.
- Sign permit applications must be accompanied by scaled plans or diagrams showing lot dimensions, sign size and location, type, construction, materials, and manner of installation.
- Permit applications must provide any other lawful information required by the Zoning Officer.
- No zoning permit shall be issued except in conformity with the regulations of the chapter, except upon variance issued by the Zoning Hearing Board as per established procedures.
- Coordinated freestanding signage among several principal uses (planned/center/master sign situations) requires a sign easement agreement in language acceptable to the Township solicitor ensuring adequate sign display and maintenance for each principal use.

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

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