# Sign Regulations in East Caln Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Caln Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/east-caln-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10739165#10739165)

## At a glance

East Caln Township, Pennsylvania regulates 17 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 20 sq ft, with a At least 10 ft from side lot line; at least the height of the sign from street line. setback (Sec. §225-26G). Most commercial signs in East Caln 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 | 17 | 25 ft above center line of adjacent roadway | 240 sq ft per face; max two faces | — |
| Residential District | 2 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District, OC-1, OC-2, OC-3, OC-5, Industrial District, NR-4 | 10 | 25 ft above center line of adjacent roadway | 240 sq ft per face; max two faces | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | Varies by building size: 6 ft (≥40,000 sq ft), 4 ft (20,000-39,999 sq ft), 2 ft (<20,000 sq ft) | 2 sq ft per linear ft of wall | 30 ft or 40% of building wall (whichever is less) | — | One sign per principal use; second allowed if frontage on two streets. | On building, any elevation on the wall or section of wall | — | §225-26H; §225-26C(10) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from side lot line; at least the height of the sign from street line. | One per parcel. | Front yard only; at least sign height from street line, at least 10 ft from side lot line | — | §225-26G |
| Home Occupation Sign | 3 ft (if freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from side yard lot line (freestanding only) | One per home occupation | On the same lot as home occupation; freestanding only in front yard with 10 ft side lot line setback | — | §225-26L |
| Multiple Commercial Use Sign | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 25 ft from side lot line; at least the height of sign from street line. | One per development; second by special exception. | Adjacent to public road(s) serving development; at least 25 ft from any side lot line and at least sign height from street line. | — | §225-26J |
| Residential Development Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per development; second allowed if multiple access roads. | Adjacent to primary access drive(s); at least 10 dwelling units in the development required. | — | §225-26K |
| Marquee Sign | 10 ft | — | 35 ft or 40% of wall width (whichever is less) | — | One marquee sign per theater | Over main entrance to theater | — | §225-26M |
| Temporary Sign - Contractor(s) Sign (Nonresidential Property) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per property | On premises during construction only. | — | §167-4B(1)(a) |
| Billboard | 25 ft above center line of adjacent roadway | 240 sq ft per face; max two faces | — | 20-60 ft from right-of-way; ≥20 ft from property line; ≥500 ft from dwelling; ≥2,000 ft from next billboard same side/1,000 ft other side. | One per eligible property | Commercial/industrial properties in NR-4, OC-2, OC-3, OC-5 along State Route 30 (S.R. 6030); setbacks: 20-60 ft from ultimate right-of-way, ≥20 ft from property line. | — | §225-26Q |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | 3 ft (if freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from side lot line (freestanding only) | One per home occupation | On same lot as home occupation, front yard if freestanding | — | §225-26L |
| Residential Development Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per development; second if multiple access | At entrance to subdivisions/developments (min 10 dwelling units), near access drives. | — | §225-26K |

### Commercial District, OC-1, OC-2, OC-3, OC-5, Industrial District, NR-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | Varies by building size: 6 ft (≥40,000 sq ft), 4 ft (20,000-39,999 sq ft), 2 ft (<20,000 sq ft) | 2 sq ft per linear ft of wall | 30 ft or 40% of building wall (whichever is less) | — | One sign per principal use; second allowed if frontage on two streets. | On building, any elevation on the wall or section of wall | — | §225-26H; §225-26C(10) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from side lot line; at least the height of the sign from street line. | One per parcel. | Front yard only; at least sign height from street line, at least 10 ft from side lot line | — | §225-26G |
| Multiple Commercial Use Sign | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 25 ft from side lot line; at least the height of sign from street line. | One per development; second by special exception. | Adjacent to public road(s) serving development; at least 25 ft from any side lot line and at least sign height from street line. | — | §225-26J |
| Billboard | 25 ft above center line of adjacent roadway | 240 sq ft per face; max two faces | — | 20-60 ft from S.R. 30 right-of-way; 20 ft min from property line; 500 ft min from dwellings. | One per eligible property | Only on lots along S.R. 30 (Exton Bypass) in NR-4, OC-2, OC-3, OC-5, and Commercial/Industrial properties. | — | §225-26Q |
| Temporary Sign - Contractor(s) Sign (Nonresidential Property) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per property | On premises during construction only. | — | §167-4B(1)(a) |
| Temporary Sign - Election Sign | 8 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 100 linear ft of roadway | On premises with owner's written consent. | — | §167-4B(2) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Directional Sign | 2.5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per real estate activity | Directing to property for sale/lease/development (not placed on subject property). | — | §167-4B(4)(a)-(c) |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event Sign (Freestanding) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per property | Freestanding on property | — | §167-4B(4)(e)[2],[3],[4],[5] |

## Prohibited signs in East Caln Township

- No sign which emits smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor shall be permitted.
- 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 portion of a sign may scroll, flash, scintillate, oscillate, blink or otherwise give the appearance of movement or variation in display; animated signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected as to obstruct the clear sight triangle of any intersection or driveway or any traffic control device.
- No sign shall be erected within the right-of-way of any public street or road.
- No sign shall be illuminated by flashing, intermittent, or animated lighting.
- No sign shall be internally illuminated by incandescent light bulbs.
- Illuminated signs shall only be permitted in a Residential District by conditional use approval.
- All light sources must not be of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair the vision of drivers.
- Every sign shall be constructed of durable material and kept in good repair; dilapidated signs may be removed at the owner's expense.
- Signs shall be removed immediately upon termination of their authorized duration and the site shall be restored to its original condition.
- Signs shall not interfere with the clear sight triangle of any intersection or driveway or obstruct any traffic control device or be permitted within any street right-of-way.
- Signs shall not be illuminated, either internally or externally (for temporary signs).
- Flashing, animated, or moving signs are not permitted (for temporary signs).
- Abandoned signs must be removed within 30 days of abandonment.
- Audio speakers and/or any form of pyrotechnics are prohibited for billboards.
- No billboard or billboard display shall constitute a nuisance or safety hazard. No electrical interference with other uses shall be permitted.
- Billboards shall not advertise adult or sexually oriented businesses or materials or display lewd or obscene images or text.
- Wood and beam frame structures are prohibited for billboard structures; all billboard structures shall be constructed of steel.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Caln Township

- Signs within a building which are obviously intended to be seen primarily from within the building are exempt.
- Flags of the United States, flags of the United States armed services, flags of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, flags of government or government agencies are exempt.
- Parking, public safety or traffic directional markings as duly approved by the Zoning Officer are exempt.
- Displays of merchandise behind store windows are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit shall be obtained before erecting any sign authorized by these regulations, except temporary signs authorized by Section 225-26.
- Application for sign permits shall be filed in duplicate and on forms furnished by the Township and shall be accompanied by detailed drawings and specifications and such other information deemed necessary by the Zoning Officer to determine the location and details of construction of such sign.
- Permit fees shall be established by the Township Board of Supervisors in accordance with the Township's fee schedule.
- For temporary special event and real estate directional signs, a sign permit is required prior to erection or installation.
- Erection of a billboard constitutes land development and is subject to subdivision and land development requirements.

## Full detail

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

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