Sign Regulations in East Cocalico Township, Pennsylvania
East Cocalico Township, Pennsylvania has specific sign regulations covering 26 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Residential Development/Neighborhood Sign, Home Occupation Sign, Property Control Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: July 1, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for East Cocalico Township, Pennsylvania
Sample Sign Requirements in East Cocalico Township
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Development/Neighborhood Sign | 10 ft or height of wall to which sign is attached | 32 sq ft per sign | 10 ft/height of sign; 10 ft projection for wall signs |
| Roadside Stand Sign (On-site) | 5 ft/height of sign; wall sign: up to 15 ft | 10 sq ft | 30 ft from cartway, 50 ft from side property line, not within 100 ft clear sight triangle |
| Home Occupation Sign | As per wall to which sign is attached | 2 sq ft | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for East Cocalico TownshipFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
26
- Residential Development/Neighborhood Sign
- Home Occupation Sign
- Property Control Sign
- Individual Business Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
12
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for East Cocalico Township
Other Cities in Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in East Cocalico Township vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in East Cocalico Township, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In East Cocalico Township, regulated sign types include Residential Development/Neighborhood Sign, Home Occupation Sign, Property Control Sign, Individual Business Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in East Cocalico Township vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in East Cocalico Township are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. East Cocalico Township has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
AI-Powered Research
Ready to Research East Cocalico Township Sign Permits?
Stop spending hours searching through municipal codes. Get instant access to East Cocalico Township, Pennsylvania sign regulations with PermitPal's AI-powered platform.
No credit card required · Get results in seconds
East Cocalico Township, Pennsylvania Sign Rules at a Glance
East Cocalico Township, Pennsylvania regulates 26 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Residential Development/Neighborhood Signs in the Agricultural Zone (A) zoning district are capped at 10 ft or height of wall to which sign is attached tall and 32 sq ft per sign, with a 10 ft/height of sign; 10 ft projection for wall signs setback (Sec. Table of Permanent Sign Requirements, Zoning 220 Attachment 8; § 220-45B). Most commercial signs in East Cocalico Township require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for East Cocalico Township, Pennsylvania
Sign Rules by Zoning District in East Cocalico Township (12 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Zone (A) | 7 | 20 ft/height of wall to which sign is attached | 100 sq ft per sign; no larger than 15% of the wall area to which attached | — |
| Conservation Zone (C) | 3 | 10 ft or height of wall to which sign is attached | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| Rural Residential Zone (R), Suburban Residential Zone (R-1), High Density Residential Zone (R-2), Traditional Residential Zone (R-3), Mobile Home Park Residential Zone (MHP), Mixed Residential Zone (MR) | 5 | 10 ft or height of wall to which sign is attached | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| Village Overlay Zone (VO) | 4 | Height of wall to which sign is attached or 20 ft for freestanding signs | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| Historic Site Overlay Zone (H) | 2 | 10 ft/height of wall | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| General Commercial Zone (C-1), Planned Commercial Zone (C-2) | 6 | 20 ft/height of wall to which sign is attached | 110 sq ft (standard), 165 sq ft (along limited access highway) | — |
| Light Industrial Zone (I-1), Heavy Industrial Zone (I-2) | 4 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Quarry Zone (Q) | 1 | 20 ft/height of wall to which sign is attached | 100 sq ft per sign; wall sign max 15% of wall area | — |
| Floodplain Zone (F) | 1 | — | 6 sq ft per side | — |
| Wellhead Protection Overlay Zone (WP) | 1 | As underlying zoning district | As underlying zoning district | — |
| Riparian Buffer Overlay Zone (RB) | 1 | As underlying zoning district | As underlying zoning district | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 10 ft or height of wall; 20 ft for public/semi-public signs | 12 sq ft | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in East Cocalico Township(sample of 3 of 12 zones)
Agricultural Zone (A)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Development/Neighborhood Sign | 10 ft or height of wall to which sign is attached | 32 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft/height of sign; 10 ft projection for wall signs | 1 per street entrance, max 2 | 1 per street entrance, but no more than 2 total | — | Unlock | Table of Permanent Sign Requirements, Zoning 220 Attachment 8; § 220-45B |
| Roadside Stand Sign (On-site) | 5 ft/height of sign; wall sign: up to 15 ft | 10 sq ft | — | 30 ft from cartway, 50 ft from side property line, not within 100 ft clear sight triangle | 2 per stand | 2 per roadside stand. Attached to the roadside stand. | — | Unlock | Zoning Table: Roadside stand signs; § 220-12B(9)(c) |
| Home Occupation Sign | As per wall to which sign is attached | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | Attached to building. One sign per home occupation. | — | Unlock | § 220-45B; § 220-96J |
| Individual Business Sign (not planned center) | 20 ft/height of wall to which sign is attached | 100 sq ft per sign; no larger than 15% of the wall area to which attached | — | 20 ft, but no closer than 10 ft to lot line | 1 per principal use; max 2 if frontage >1,000 ft | 1 per principal use. If frontage exceeds 1,000 ft, 1 additional sign permitted. | — | Unlock | Zoning Table: Individual business signs; Table of Permanent Sign Requirements, Zoning 220 Attachment 8 |
| Property Control Sign (e.g., "No Trespassing") | 5 ft/height of sign; 10 ft/height of wall to which attached | 2 sq ft per sign | — | Spacing at no less than 25 ft intervals, 5 ft from property line | 1 per 25 linear feet | 1 per 25 linear feet of property line | — | Unlock | Table of Permanent Sign Requirements, Zoning 220 Attachment 8 |
| Political Sign | 5 ft/height of sign; wall sign - height of wall | 12 sq ft | — | 5 ft/height of sign from property line | Unlimited | Unlimited per property | — | Unlock | Zoning Table: Political signs |
| On-site Directional/Informational Sign | 10 ft/height of sign; wall to which attached | 2 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft/height of sign | 4 per lot | 4 per lot | — | Unlock | Table of Permanent Sign Requirements, Zoning 220 Attachment 8 |
General Commercial Zone (C-1), Planned Commercial Zone (C-2)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Business Sign | 20 ft/height of wall to which sign is attached | 100 sq ft per sign; wall sign max 15% of wall area | — | 20 ft setback, but no closer than 10 ft to any lot line | 1 per principal use; max 2 if >1,000 ft frontage | 1 per principal use. If frontage exceeds 1,000 ft, 1 additional sign permitted. | — | Unlock | Table of Permanent Sign Requirements; §220-45B |
| Shopping/Planned Center Freestanding Sign | 20 ft (standard), 45 ft (highway) | 110 sq ft (standard), 165 sq ft (along limited access highway) | — | Minimum 10 ft from property line; 20 ft height | 1 per street frontage (w/ entrance/exit) | 1 per street frontage with entrance or exit | — | Unlock | Table of Shopping/Planned Center Sign Requirements; §220-45B |
| Storefront Wall Sign (Shopping/Planned Center) | Height of wall to which attached | 75 sq ft (per business with up to 150 ft of storefront); 100/150 sq ft for anchor tenant (see Table) | — | N/A for wall signs; follow building setbacks for building placement | 1 per business; 2 for anchor tenant (with sufficient frontage) | 1 per principal use/business; for anchor tenants, 1 per side facing street, max 2 | — | Unlock | Table of Shopping/Planned Center Sign Requirements, Zoning 220 Attachment 10; §220-45B; §220-121/121.1 |
| Directional/Informational Sign | 10 ft/height of sign | 2 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft/height of sign | 4 per lot | 4 per lot | — | Unlock | Table of Permanent Sign Requirements, Zoning 220 Attachment 8 |
| Community Activity Sign | 10 ft/height of sign to which attached | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft/height of sign | 1 | 1 per property | — | Unlock | Zoning Table: Community activity signs |
| Temporary Special Event Sign (business) | 10 ft or height of wall to which attached | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | 1 per event | 1 per business per event, only one sign per property at a time | — | Unlock | Table of Temporary Sign Requirements |
General Regulations For All Zones
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Contractor/Architect/Etc. Signs | 5 ft/height of sign | 12 sq ft | — | 5 ft/height of sign | 1 per firm | 1 per firm while work in progress | — | Unlock | Table of Temporary Sign Requirements |
| Real Estate Sale/Rent Sign | 5 ft/height of sign; wall signs to height of wall | 10 sq ft per sign (residential); 32 sq ft per sign (nonresidential) | — | 5 ft/height of sign | 1 per street frontage, max 2 or 3 | 1 per street frontage, max 2 signs (residential); 1 per frontage, max 3 (nonresidential) | — | Unlock | Table of Temporary Sign Requirements; Table of Permanent Sign Requirements |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | 5 ft/height of sign | 4 sq ft per sign | — | 5 ft/height of sign | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | Unlock | Zoning Table: Garage/yard sale signs |
| Political/Advocacy Sign | 5 ft/height of sign | 12 sq ft | — | 5 ft/height of sign | Unlimited | Unlimited per property | — | Unlock | Zoning Table: Political signs |
| Off-premises Signs for Events, Garage/yard, Auctions, etc. | 5 ft/height of sign | 4 sq ft (garage/yard); 10 sq ft (auction, open house, etc.) | — | 5 ft/height of sign | 2 per event | 2 per event/sale; one sign per street intersection | — | Unlock | Table of Permanent Sign Requirements: Off-premises event signs |
| On-site Directional, Informational, Control, Nameplate Signs (all zones) | 10 ft or height of wall; 20 ft for public/semi-public signs | 2 sq ft per sign (directional/control/nameplate); 40 sq ft for public/semi-public uses | — | 10 ft/height of sign (standard), 20 ft/12 ft for public/semi-public | As described in table | 4 per lot (for typical directional/control/nameplates); 1 per lot for larger informational (public/semi-public) | — | Unlock | Table of Permanent Sign Requirements: Directional; Informational; Nameplate; Property Control signs |
PermitPal covers all 12 zoning districts in East Cocalico Township — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 12 zones for East Cocalico Township — start freeProhibited Signs in East Cocalico Township
- No sign shall be maintained in such a state of disrepair as to have the appearance of complete neglect, be rotting or falling down, illegible, or have loose parts separated from original fastenings.
- No sign shall become structurally unsafe or endanger the safety of the building or premises or the public.
- No sign shall prevent free ingress or egress from any window, door or fire escape.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will obscure light or air from a building or create a traffic danger.
- No sign shall be permitted within the right-of-way of any street.
- No sign located within any floodplain shall exceed six square feet of area per side.
- No sign (other than certain exempted ones) related to materials or products not made, sold, displayed, or services not offered or activities not conducted on the premises shall be permitted, except for billboards and off-premises signs as regulated.
- Banners, ribbons, pennants, or other similar materials shall not be permitted on any building, structure (including signs), or the premises.
- No sign shall be erected that is loud, vulgar, indecent or obscene, including any graphic illustration of sexual activities or anatomical areas.
- No sign shall be of the intermittent-flashing or rotating type (except for dynamic message displays regulated elsewhere).
- No sign or advertising display or device shall be illuminated by any rapid flashing, intermittent light, scrolling, or motion lights.
- No sign shall outline signs or parts thereof through the use of exposed neon tubing, strings of lights, or other means, except for customary holiday decorations (with timing limits).
- Business signs outside of the (C-1), (C-2), (I-1) and/or (I-2) Zones shall not be illuminated when the business is closed.
- Rotating, traveling, pulsing, flashing, or oscillating light sources, lasers, beacons, or strobe lighting for signs are not permitted, except within the (I-2) Zone and not within 500 feet of certain uses or intersections.
- No sign or lighting shall have glare or illumination that adversely affects the vision of operators of vehicles or creates a safety hazard.
- No highly reflective signage that creates nuisance glare or a safety hazard shall be permitted.
- All signs, except permitted temporary signs, shall be affixed at a permanent and stationary location.
- Signs must not interfere with any required clear sight triangle as defined in the ordinance.
- All signs must be removed when the circumstances leading to their erection no longer apply.
- No advertising painted or displayed upon a barn or other building or structure is permitted except as flat wall sign regulations permit.
- Each sign must comply with size, location, height, and other limitations as established by the ordinance.
- No loud, vulgar, indecent, or obscene advertising matter shall be displayed in any manner on a sign.
- No sign may be used for the display of a flag of the state or federal government in a way that violates any part of the ordinance.
- Signs must not be illuminated with red, green, or yellow lights or neon tubing within 300 feet of any traffic light.
- Externally illuminated billboards or signs must have top-mounted, down-aimed fixtures and must not project light off-site.
- The illumination of billboards is limited to the (C), (I-1), and (I-2) Zones; no illumination permitted within 500 feet of residential or residentially zoned property.
- No sign may be artificially lighted except as required or allowed by law/regulations.
- All signs must comply with footcandle limits and uniformity ratio limitations.
- Advertising matter may not be displayed on signs which creates traffic hazards or imitates traffic signals.
- Sign lighting must comply with Underwriters Laboratory (UL), ICC Electrical, and NFPA code.
- Temporary signs must be removed promptly following the expiration of their allowed timeframe; otherwise, the Township may impound the sign and charge storage fees.
- No sign permit shall be issued except in conformity with the regulations of this chapter except upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board granted pursuant to a variance.
Exempt Signs in East Cocalico Township
- Noncommercial usage: Township residents utilizing satellite dishes and antennas for television, phone, amateur (ham) radio, or Internet connections at their residences are exempt from wireless facility regulations in §220-82.
- Official public signs: Signs owned and associated with uses operated by the Township, official traffic signs, are unlimited in number, area, height and are exempt from permit requirements.
- Residential nameplates: One sign per dwelling unit, up to 2 square feet, is exempt from permit requirements.
- Property control signs: Up to one per 25 lineal feet of property line, 2 square feet per sign, exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary contractor/architect/landscaper/artisan signs while work is in progress: One per firm, up to 12 square feet, exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary real estate sale/rent or auctioneer signs (on the site listed): Limits on size/number, must be removed promptly after sale, exempt from permit.
- Political signs: Unlimited number, up to 12 square feet per sign, permitted in all zones, with timing/display limitations, exempt from permit.
- Garage/yard sale signs: One per lot, up to 4 square feet, with timing/display limits, exempt from permit.
- On-site directional, entrance, exit, restroom, and other informational signs: Up to 4 per lot, up to 2 square feet each, exempt from permit.
- Certain off-premises signs (e.g., for approved roadside stands or public/nonprofit special events, open houses, garage sales) with number/size/timing limits: Exempt from permit.
- Property control signs on private property: Spacing at 25-foot intervals, up to 2 square feet each, exempt.
- Signs identifying public and semipublic uses (e.g., schools, churches, utilities, etc.): 1 per lot, up to 40 square feet, may require a permit.
- Billboards are allowed only in certain zones and as specified.
- Flags or insignia of government, fraternal, or similar organizations as integral, unregulated parts of other structures.
- Community activity signs (e.g., for posting events as a public service): permitted by right in some zones (may require a permit).
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for East Cocalico Township
- Permitted signs must comply with detailed standards for size, location, height, and type as set forth in the Table of Permanent Sign Requirements, Table of Temporary Sign Requirements, and Table of Shopping Center Sign Requirements.
- All signs requiring the obtainment of a permit must submit zoning permit applications, including scaled plans/diagrams showing lot dimensions, sign dimensions/locations, construction details, and other lawful required info.
- A zoning permit is required for erection, construction, or alteration of any sign unless exempt as provided in the ordinance.
- Application for a sign permit must be made in writing to the Zoning Officer and contain all information necessary for the Officer to determine compliance.
- No sign permit shall be issued except in conformity with the sign regulations except upon approval of a variance by the Zoning Hearing Board.
- For shopping centers and planned centers, the applicant shall submit a sign plan as part of the (conditional use or zoning permit) application that demonstrates compliance with all applicable regulations; future signs must conform to such approved plans.
- Dynamic message display (electronic) signs are subject to separate operational, siting, and design standards, including size, cycle size, and brightness, and are only permitted in specific zones with required distances from intersections, residential zones, and other sensitive areas.
- Sign plan review for shopping or planned centers considers overall center signage, anchor, and tenant signage; deviation from permitted sizes, locations, or numbers requires new approval.
- No sign permit required for exempt signs (as listed above), but all must comply with operational, number, size, and timing restrictions.
- Variance, special exception, or conditional use approval for a sign requires compliance with submittal, review, public notice, and decision-making processes as described in Article VI and related procedural sections.
- Violations of sign regulations (erection without a permit or violating location/size/illumination/etc.) are subject to enforcement and potential removal.
Source: ecode360 municipal code