# Sign Regulations in East Allen Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Allen Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/east-allen-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12791705#12791705)

## At a glance

East Allen Township, Pennsylvania regulates 16 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 18 feet above average ground at base tall and See Table 6.1, limited per specific zone and use, with a Not within street right-of-way setback (Sec. § 250-58, § 250-59, § 250-60, § 250-61, § 250-63). Most commercial signs in East Allen Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 18 feet above average ground at base | 300 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C), Industrial District | 6 | 18 feet | 300 sq ft | — |
| Suburban Residential District (SR), Planned Residential District (PR), Agricultural/Rural Residential District (A/RR or AG) | 5 | 18 feet | See Table 6.1 | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | See Table 6.1, limited per specific zone and use | — | — | 1 wall sign OR 1 window sign OR 1 freestanding sign per street frontage, max 2 signs per street frontage | On building walls, not permitted on roof or above eaves. | — | § 250-60, § 250-61, § 250-64, § 250-65 |
| Freestanding Sign | 18 feet above average ground at base | See Table 6.1, limited per specific zone and use | — | Not within street right-of-way | As permitted per principal use (see number of signs in each zone) | Front yard only, not within street right-of-way. | — | § 250-58, § 250-59, § 250-60, § 250-61, § 250-63 |
| Window Sign | — | See Table 6.1, limited per specific zone and use | — | — | 1 window sign per street frontage, as an alternative to wall or freestanding | On windows facing street | — | § 250-60 |
| Projecting Sign | — | See Table 6.1, limited per specific zone and use | — | — | 1 projecting sign per street frontage, as an alternative to wall or freestanding | Projecting from building wall facing street | — | § 250-60 |
| Temporary Sign (Real Estate) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | Not specified | Within property lines | — | § 250-60(A)(3)(a) |
| Temporary Sign (Construction Site) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per developer/contractor/mechanic/subcontractor/artisan per frontage | On construction site, within property | — | § 250-60(A)(3)(b) |
| Subdivision/Development Name Sign | 18 feet (if freestanding) | See Table 6.1 | — | — | 1 per road frontage | One per road frontage at entrance to development | — | § 250-60A(2)(b) |
| Off-Premises Billboard (Commercial and Industrial Districts only) | — | 300 sq ft | — | Outside required front yard | Max 2 in Township | Along Route 512 in Commercial and Industrial Districts only | — | § 250-66 |

### Commercial District (C), Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 18 feet | See Table 6.1 | — | Not within street right-of-way | Max 1 per principal use per street frontage, or 1 development sign per road frontage | Front yard, not within street right of way | — | § 250-59, § 250-60, § 250-66 |
| Wall Sign | — | See Table 6.1 | — | — | 1 per principal use per street frontage (as option instead of freestanding/window sign, with max 2 signs per frontage) | On building wall | — | § 250-60, § 250-61 |
| Window Sign | — | See Table 6.1 | — | — | 1 per principal use per street frontage (as option instead of freestanding/wall sign, with max 2 signs per frontage) | On window facing street | — | § 250-60 |
| Projecting Sign | — | See Table 6.1 | — | — | In lieu of wall sign (see wall sign number rules) | Projecting from building wall facing street | — | § 250-60 |
| Development Name Sign | 18 feet (if freestanding) | See Table 6.1 | — | — | 1 per road frontage | One per road frontage at entrance to development | — | § 250-60(A)(2)(a) |
| Off-Premises Billboard | — | 300 sq ft | — | Outside required front yard | Max 2 per Township | Along Route 512 only | — | § 250-66 |

### Suburban Residential District (SR), Planned Residential District (PR), Agricultural/Rural Residential District (A/RR or AG)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 18 feet | See Table 6.1 | — | Not within street right-of-way | Max 1 per principal use per street frontage, or 1 development sign per road frontage | Front yard, not within street right of way | — | § 250-59, § 250-60, § 250-61(B) |
| Wall Sign | — | See Table 6.1 | — | — | 1 per principal use per street frontage (as option instead of freestanding/window sign, with max 2 signs per frontage) | On building wall | — | § 250-60, § 250-61(B) |
| Window Sign | — | See Table 6.1 | — | — | 1 per principal use per street frontage (as option instead of freestanding/wall sign, with max 2 signs per frontage) | On window facing street | — | § 250-60, § 250-61(B) |
| Projecting Sign | — | See Table 6.1 | — | — | In lieu of wall sign (see wall sign number rules) | Projecting from building wall facing street | — | § 250-60, § 250-61(B) |
| Subdivision/Development Name Sign | 18 feet (if freestanding) | See Table 6.1 | — | — | 1 per road frontage | Entrance to subdivision or cluster/planned development | — | § 250-60A(2)(b), § 250-61(B) |

## Prohibited signs in East Allen Township

- No sign shall be allowed within street right-of-way lines (except those of the government body which owns such right-of-way), unless specifically authorized by another Township ordinance or Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law or regulation.
- No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with traffic through glare, blocking of reasonable sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways, confusion with a traffic control device (by reason of color, location, shape or other characteristic), or any other means.
- No freestanding sign structure shall exceed 18 feet in height above the average ground level at the base of such sign.
- Each principal use is limited to two signs along each street on which the use is located.
- No more than two off-premises signs shall be permitted in the Township for any use, object, product, service, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business.
- No off-premises sign shall be located in a C, SR, PR, or AG District.
- All flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type (except those portions which indicate time and temperature changes) are prohibited in all districts.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the roof or upon any structure which extends above the eave of the roof of any building are prohibited.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor are prohibited.
- No sign shall exceed the maximum sign area established for that sign in Table 6.1.
- No illuminated signs shall be permitted in the Suburban Residential (SR) and Planned Residential (PR) Districts.
- Any sign which becomes dilapidated may, after notification, be removed by the Township at the expense of the owner or lessee.
- Signs once removed shall be replaced only by signs in conformance with this ordinance.
- Any vehicle or structure where the carrying of such sign becomes a primary purpose of the vehicle or structure is considered a freestanding sign and subject to freestanding sign provisions.
- All sign provisions apply to the use of silos, smokestacks, water towers, and similar structures as signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Allen Township

- A sign permit is not required for any temporary sign under two square feet.
- A sign permit is not required for any sign which requires a mere change of copy on a sign (the customary use of which involves frequent and periodic changes of copy).
- A sign permit is not required for any sign specifically authorized by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania laws or regulations.
- Political signs are exempted from the Zoning Ordinance.
- Residential and nonresidential structures with signs with four-inch-high white reflective numbers with a blue reflective background, visible both during the day and at night, placed or stenciled on a six-inch-by-eighteen-inch rectangular sign as of the effective date of the section, are exempt from the requirement of a green reflective background.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each sign shall comply with the standards of this ordinance, whether or not a sign permit is required.
- Planned commercial, office, or industrial developments: In addition to the signs permitted for individual commercial uses, one freestanding on-premises sign indicating the name of the development may be erected along each road fronting such development.
- Residential developments: One freestanding on-premises sign indicating the name of the subdivision, single-family cluster development, or planned residential development may be erected along each road fronting such development.
- Rewording or relettering of an existing sign shall require payment of a fee determined by the Board of Supervisors.
- All newly constructed residential and nonresidential structures shall not be eligible for a certificate of occupancy until compliance with the emergency response sign requirements has occurred.
- All nonconforming signs (including lighting) may be repainted or repaired provided such sign does not exceed its existing dimensions.
- Sign, style, color, and lettering, for subdivision/land development street signs shall be subject to approval of the Board of Supervisors.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for East Allen Township, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=East+Allen+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-east-allen-township

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