# Sign Regulations in East Coventry Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Coventry Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/east-coventry-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30868296#30868296)

## At a glance

East Coventry Township, Pennsylvania regulates 23 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Changeable-Copy Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 24 sq ft, with a Min 50 ft from any dwelling setback (Sec. § 27-1314.6.A–E). Most commercial signs in East Coventry Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 15 ft | 72 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 10 | 9.5 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial zoning districts | 8 | 12 ft | As per § 27-1314.9: 20% of awning-covered area, or not larger than wall signs | — |
| Limited Industrial Zoning District | 8 | 15 ft | 72 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per establishment with <100 ft frontage; one additional per 100 ft, up to 3 total per building side. | Allowed only on building sides with public entrances. For ground floor uses: street-level frontage at least 20 ft; for upper floor: must occupy at least 80% of floor area of building story. | — | § 27-1314.4.A–E |
| Changeable-Copy Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Min 50 ft from any dwelling | One per use | May be freestanding or canopy signs; must be at least 50 ft from any dwelling. | — | § 27-1314.6.A–E |
| Electronic Variable-Message Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Min 50 ft from any dwelling | One per use | On property used for nonresidential purposes, min 50 ft from any dwelling. | — | § 27-1314.7.A–M |
| Canopy Sign | 12 ft | 20% of canopy face area, or 50 sq ft, whichever is less | Not wider than building wall it identifies | — | Max 2 per canopy (1 per face) | Canopy face, at min 8 ft and max 12 ft above grade/walkway; may not encroach into required yard area. | — | § 27-1314.8.A–D |
| Awning Sign | 12 ft | 20% of awning-covered building area (extended), or area allowed for wall signs (whichever is less) | — | — | — | On vertical hang of awning (parallel to building); for curved awnings, on lower half; height between 8 and 12 ft above grade/walkway. | — | § 27-1314.9.A–C |
| Identification and Directory Sign (Residential Zone) | 6 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | One per driveway/street intersection or main entrance | At main entrance or safely within site/complex for motorists; max 1 per driveway entrance, street intersection, or main building entrance. | — | § 27-1314.10.C |
| Identification and Directory Sign (Commercial/Industrial Zone) | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per driveway/street intersection or main entrance | At main entrance or safely within site/complex for motorists; max 1 per driveway entrance, street intersection, or main building entrance. | — | § 27-1314.10.D |
| Billboard | 15 ft | 72 sq ft | — | — | — | On properties used for nonresidential purposes in Limited Industrial (LI) district only. | — | § 27-1314.11 |

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - General | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 27-1314.15.A(1) |
| Freestanding Sign - Identification/Electronic for Essential Public Service | 9.5 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 27-1314.15.A(1)(a) |
| Wall Sign | 6 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 27-1314.15.A(2) |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation/Accessory Use) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | § 27-1314.15.B(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Subdivision) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage with new street | At each street frontage with new street access | — | § 27-1314.15.B(2) |
| Wall Sign (Institution w/ Additional Option) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per institution | Building wall-mounted sign | — | § 27-1314.15.C(2) |
| Directional Sign (On-premises) | 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 27-1314.15.D(1),(3),(4) |
| Directional Sign (Off-premises) | 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 max per principal establishment | At/near two closest street intersections (with owner and Zoning Officer approval) | — | § 27-1314.15.D(2)-(4) |

### Commercial zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per qualifying lot | — | — | § 27-1314.16.A(1), .16.B(1)(a), .16.A(2) |
| Directory/Identification Sign - Complex | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per complex | — | — | § 27-1314.16.B(2)(c) |
| Wall Sign | — | Up to 24 sq ft | — | — | One per outside entrance per establishment | On or facing any one street frontage | — | § 27-1314.16.B(2)(a)-(b) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 4 sq ft (total for single use/establishment) | — | — | — | — | — | § 27-1314.16.B(3) |
| Awning Sign | 12 ft | As per § 27-1314.9: 20% of awning-covered area, or not larger than wall signs | — | — | — | — | — | § 27-1314.16.B(4), 27-1314.9 |
| Canopy Sign | 12 ft | 20% of canopy face or 50 sq ft, whichever is less | No wider than building wall | — | Max 2 per canopy | — | — | § 27-1314.16.B(5), 27-1314.8 |
| Changeable-Copy Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Min 50 ft from dwelling | One per use | Freestanding or canopy | — | § 27-1314.16.B(6), 27-1314.6 |
| Directional Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 27-1314.16.D |

## Prohibited signs in East Coventry Township

- No sign, other than exempt signs, may be erected without first obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Officer.
- No sign shall be erected within or project over the right-of-way or easement of any public street or sidewalk, except as approved by the Zoning Officer upon determining a modification would not pose a threat to public safety.
- No sign shall imitate or resemble official traffic signs, signals, or devices, or have characteristics likely to confuse or distract motorists.
- No sign shall be erected at street intersections within the sight triangle or impede the vision of motorists or pedestrians or otherwise endanger their safety.
- No sign shall be illuminated except by internal illumination or concealed indirect lighting, and light sources must not be visible from off the lot.
- No sign shall advertise or imply a property may be used for a purpose not allowed under zoning regulations.
- No sign shall be placed on trees, lights, poles, rocks, or other natural features, except certain small ‘no hunting’, ‘no trespassing’, or ‘private property’ signs; no sign shall be placed on public utility poles.
- No roof signs shall be allowed, and no sign shall project above the main roofline of the building.
- No animated, flashing, or intermittent lighting shall be allowed on any sign except official traffic and pedestrian signs in the right-of-way.
- No sign shall be placed in such a way that it obstructs a fire escape, window, door, or other opening used as a means of ingress or egress.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except for permitted billboards, directional signs, and wayfinding signs.
- Signs that interfere with sight distances or are located within the clear sight triangle at any location are prohibited.
- Signs that use or contain obscene language, shapes or images are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs must be removed within 30 days of abandonment; no person shall allow an abandoned sign to be maintained on their premises.
- No animated, mobile, bench, sidewalk or A-frame signs; signs emitting smoke, vapor, or noise; and vehicle signs except for business logos/identification on vehicles primarily used for business/personal transportation.
- Signs that flash, move, rotate, or oscillate are prohibited.
- Pennants, streamers, inflated, tubular, whirling, or similar objects or lighting devices or searchlights to attract attention are prohibited, except where specifically allowed elsewhere.
- No directional sign may contain advertising.
- Signs must be kept in a proper state of repair and may be removed by the Township if in disrepair, illegal or pose a threat to safety, after required notice.
- No sign shall emit audio announcements or noise of any kind (for electronic variable-message signs).
- No electronic variable-message sign may have lighting that would compete with or distract from traffic signal lighting.
- No temporary sign shall be allowed within any street legal right-of-way.
- Nonconforming signs must be brought into compliance if removed, structurally altered, or changed in material.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Coventry Township

- Signage for recognized national, state, local, religious or cultural holidays (if temporary, non-commercial, not hazardous, and removed within 14 days after the related event).
- Government signs.
- Historic or memorial signs, markers, or plaques when approved by the Board of Supervisors on recommendation of the Historical Commission, not exceeding 6 sq. ft. in area or 6 ft. in height.
- A change in the copy of a changeable-copy sign after the original permit issuance.
- Temporary signs on residential property that are not permanently affixed, are no larger than 4 sq. ft. in area and 6 ft. in height, and removed within 14 days after the event or 60 days of placement (whichever comes first).
- Street number designations, nameplates, 'private property', 'no hunting', 'no trespassing', 'no parking', security signs, seasonal signs or flags, on-site directional and parking signs, and warning signs not exceeding 1.5 sq. ft. in area.
- Emergency warning signs erected by a public utility, pipeline company, or authorized contractor (may be illuminated).
- Flags of the United States, state, county, municipality, foreign nation, and other noncommercial flags not exceeding 40 sq. ft. in area and 35 ft. in pole height; flags may be illuminated and are regulated by the physical regulations of the district.
- One freestanding sign on a residential property in a residential zone not exceeding 4 sq. ft. in area and 4 ft. in height, provided only one sign is located on the property (not including flags).
- Wayfinding signs, when installed pursuant to a Board-approved wayfinding signage program and permit application, are exempt from a permit fee.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign larger than two square feet in area requires a permit application accompanied by 'a plan, drawn to scale, showing details of the sign, its size and location on the building and/or lot.'
- Permit applications for wayfinding signage must be pursuant to a wayfinding signage program approved by the Board of Supervisors, and must submit an application, and (if not the owner) owner consent.
- Electronic variable-message sign permit applicants must submit 'an as-built plan to the Zoning Officer that satisfies these brightness requirements as a condition to the issuance of a permit.'
- For billboards and variable-message signs, approval by the Board of Supervisors as a conditional use is required.

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

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