# Sign Regulations in Easton, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Easton, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/easton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/40510798#40510798)

## At a glance

Easton, Pennsylvania regulates 25 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Off-Premises Signs in the Expressway Transitional (ET) Zone zoning district are capped at Maximum building height of underlying zoning district tall and 800 sq ft per sign face, with a 5 ft from right-of-way; not closer than five feet from curb/shoulder (if projecting); see also F(6) setback (Sec. §595-34G(1)-(2)). Most commercial signs in Easton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Expressway Transitional (ET) Zone | 13 | 8 ft | 800 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Adaptive Reuse (AR), River Corridor and Other Green Areas, Institutional-1 (INS-1), College Hill/Institutional-1 T (CH/INS-1 T), Institutional-2 (INS-2), Downtown Zoning District | 12 | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| College Hill, South Side, West Ward | 12 | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Local Historic District | 3 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | No portion above eave line; lowest edge at least 10 ft above grade | 7 sq ft per face | — |

_2 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Expressway Transitional (ET) Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-Premises Sign | Maximum building height of underlying zoning district | 800 sq ft per sign face | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; not closer than five feet from curb/shoulder (if projecting); see also F(6) | Max 1 per lot | No more than 200 linear feet from the edge of right-of-way of a controlled access, divided interstate or US highway; not in right-of-way, not blocking sightlines, not within 300 ft of a residential structure, not visible from local/state/federal historic district or National Register resource. | — | §595-34G(1)-(2) |
| Wall Sign (Limited Duration - Large) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | On building wall | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[1], H(3)-(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Limited Duration - Large) | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | — | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[1], H(3)-(5) |
| Window Sign (Limited Duration - Large) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | Window | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[1], H(3)-(5) |
| Wall Sign (Limited Duration - Small) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | On building wall | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[2], H(3)-(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Limited Duration - Small) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | — | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[2], H(3)-(5) |
| Window Sign (Limited Duration - Small) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | Window | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[2], H(3)-(5) |
| Wall Sign (Temporary - Large) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | On building wall | — | §595-34I(2)(a)[1], (3), (5)-(7) |

### Adaptive Reuse (AR), River Corridor and Other Green Areas, Institutional-1 (INS-1), College Hill/Institutional-1 T (CH/INS-1 T), Institutional-2 (INS-2), Downtown Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Limited Duration - Large) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | On building wall | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[1], H(3)-(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Limited Duration - Large) | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | — | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[1], H(3)-(5) |
| Window Sign (Limited Duration - Large) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | Window | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[1], H(3)-(5) |
| Wall Sign (Limited Duration - Small) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | On building wall | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[2], H(3)-(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Limited Duration - Small) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | — | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[2], H(3)-(5) |
| Window Sign (Limited Duration - Small) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | Window | — | §595-34H(2)(a)[2], H(3)-(5) |
| Wall Sign (Temporary - Large) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | On building wall | — | §595-34I(2)(a)[1], (3), (5)-(7) |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary - Large) | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | — | — | §595-34I(2)(a)[1], (3), (5)-(7) |

### College Hill, South Side, West Ward

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Limited Duration - Large) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying property per year | On building wall | — | §595-34H(2)(b)[1] |
| Freestanding Sign (Limited Duration - Large) | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying property per year | — | — | §595-34H(2)(b)[1] |
| Window Sign (Limited Duration - Large) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying property per year | Window | — | §595-34H(2)(b)[1] |
| Wall Sign (Limited Duration - Small) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | On building wall | — | §595-34H(2)(b)[2] |
| Freestanding Sign (Limited Duration - Small) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | — | — | §595-34H(2)(b)[2] |
| Window Sign (Limited Duration - Small) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property per year | Window | — | §595-34H(2)(b)[2] |
| Wall Sign (Temporary - Large) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying property per year | On building wall | — | §595-34I(2)(b)[1] |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary - Large) | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying property per year | — | — | §595-34I(2)(b)[1] |

## Prohibited signs in Easton

- Abandoned signs.
- Snipe signs. Signs shall only be attached to utility poles in conformance with state and utility regulations and the requirements of this chapter.
- Vehicular signs. This regulation does not include the use of business logos, identification or advertising on vehicles primarily and actively used for business purposes and/or personal transportation.
- Mechanical movement signs, including revolving signs.
- Pennant strings and streamers.
- Animated signs, flashing signs, or signs that scroll or flash text or graphics.
- Digital display signs, except when used as permitted off-premises signs.
- Inflatable devices or balloon signs, with the exception of balloons used in temporary, noncommercial situations.
- Any signs that imitate, resemble, interfere with, or obstruct official traffic lights, signs, or signals.
- Signs which prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or that prevent free access from one part of a roof to any other part. No sign other than a safety sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors, particulate matter, sound, odor or contain open flames.
- Reflective signs or signs containing mirrors.
- Interactive signs.
- Any banner or sign of any type suspended across a public street, without the approval of City Council.
- Roof signs.
- Signs erected without the permission of the property owner, with the exception of those authorized or required by local, state, or federal government.
- Any sign containing information which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of the City of Easton's Zoning Ordinance.
- Signs that exhibit statements, words, or pictures of obscene or pornographic subjects as determined by the City of Easton.
- Any sign that promotes illegal activity.
- Internally or externally illuminated vending machine signs.
- Internal illumination signs.
- Neon signs, except in the Local Historic District with certificate of appropriateness granted by City Council.
- LED and other lighting technology that mimic neon signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Easton

- Official traffic signs.
- Government/regulatory signs.
- Signs inside a building, or other enclosed facility, which are not meant to be viewed from the outside, and are located greater than three feet from the window.
- Holiday and seasonal decorations.
- Personal expression signs of any sign type provided that they are not illuminated. Personal expression signs shall follow the requirements of Subsection I.
- Address signs. Up to two signs stating address, number and/or name of occupants of the premises and do not include any commercial advertising or other identification.
- Public signs. Signs erected or required by government agencies or utilities, including traffic, utility, safety, railroad crossing, and identification or directional signs for public facilities.
- Signs or emblems of a religious, civil, philanthropic, historical or educational organization that do not to exceed four square feet in area.
- Flags.
- Legal notices.
- Memorial signs, public monument or historical identification sign erected by the City of Easton, including plaque signs.
- Signs which are a permanent architectural feature of a building or structure, existing at the time of adoption of this chapter.
- Signs that identify individual buildings within a complex in which the principal use or uses are educational services, government services, a hospital, extended-care facility, or house of worship services and which do not include any commercial advertising content.
- Nondigital incidental signs, including incidental window signs. These signs shall not exceed more than five square feet in total area.
- Directional signs, provided they do not contain any commercial messaging.
- Art and murals, provided such signs do not contain any commercial messaging.
- Temporary signs.
- Nondigital incidental development signs. These signs, if located on fencing, can total up to 48 square feet per fence panel, up to three panels per frontage. If these signs are freestanding, then a maximum of 32 square feet per frontage is permitted.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, alter, repair, or relocate any sign within the City of Easton without first obtaining a sign permit, unless the sign is specifically exempt from the permit requirements.
- Plans submitted for off-premises advertising signs shall show extensive site-specific criteria (location, setbacks, trees, proximity to other signs, certified by engineer, etc.; see §595-34G(2)(a)[15]).
- In the Local Historic District, no sign shall be erected or altered until an application has been reviewed and approved by the Historic District Commission and after City Council has issued a certificate of appropriateness.
- Applications for sign approval must include detailed information: name/contact info for applicant and owner, descriptions, locations, design, dimensions, colors, materials, lighting scheme, and payment of permit fee.
- A permit for a limited duration sign is issued for one year and may be renewed annually. One sign is allowed per permit and a site schematic and description are required.
- Temporary signs are exempt from standard permit requirements, but must have date of erection marked on the sign; the City or property owner may confiscate illegal signs.
- All complaints regarding signs must be filed with the Zoning Officer or staff in writing and will be referred to the responsible entity by the City of Easton.

## 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 7 zoning districts in Easton — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Easton+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-easton

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