# Sign Regulations in Forks Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Forks Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/forks-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8573508#8573508)

## At a glance

Forks Township, Pennsylvania regulates 44 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Off-premises Sign/Billboard (EC District only)s in the EC District, EC-1 District, EC-2 District, EC-3 District, ID District zoning district are capped at 35 feet above street center line tall and 300 sq ft on each of two sides, with a 25 ft from all lot lines and street ROW; 300 ft from another >20 sq ft off-premises sign; 300 ft from dwelling setback (Sec. §200-49H). Most commercial signs in Forks Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 35 feet above grade | 672 sq ft (digital, if within 100 ft of US 131); 300 sq ft otherwise | — |
| FP District, OR District, CR District, SR District, SR-1 District | 17 | 6 feet | 32 sq ft | — |
| REM District | 4 | 6 feet | 32 sq ft | — |
| RC District, HC District | 7 | 8 feet | 32 sq ft per face, 2 faces allowed; if two signs used, total 32 sq ft | — |
| TC District | 6 | 10 feet (5–9 uses); 20 feet (10+ uses) | 40 sq ft per side (5–9 uses, 10 ft high); 60 sq ft/side (5–9 uses); 2 signs up to 100 sq ft/side, 20 ft high (10+ uses) | — |
| EC District, EC-1 District, EC-2 District, EC-3 District, ID District | 10 | 35 feet above street center line | 300 sq ft on each of two sides | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### FP District, OR District, CR District, SR District, SR-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (1-3 Dwelling Units) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale/rent | — | §200-45C |
| Off-site Temporary Real Estate Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Off site for open house | — | §200-45C(1) |
| Temporary Development Sign | 6 feet | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises being sold or developed (not 1-3 units) | — | §200-45D |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 feet | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | For allowed place of worship, nursing homes, personal care centers, membership clubs, golf courses, campgrounds, camps, principal agricultural uses, schools, public parks, or similar allowed principal nonresidential uses. | — | §200-45E(1) |
| Temporary Nonprofit Event Sign | 6 feet | 16 sq ft per side | — | — | 10 per event in Township | — | — | §200-45G |
| Professional/Home Occupation/Name Sign | 6 feet | 1 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per permitted use/dwelling | Attached to building, mailbox or light post | — | §200-45I |
| Temporary Construction/Contractor Sign | — | 8 sq ft on each of 2 sides | — | — | 2 per company/contractor | During active work on premises | — | §200-45J |
| Residential/Business Development Entrance Sign | — | 32 sq ft per face, max 2 faces per main entrance | — | Outside of right-of-way and open space | 1 per main entrance (max 2 faces) | Perimeter entrances to development | — | §200-45L |

### RC District, HC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All sign types allowed per §200-45 (see FP/OR/CR/SR/SR-1) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §200-47A |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Use, RC/HC) | 8 feet | 20 sq ft per face, 2 faces allowed | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | §200-47B(1) |
| Wall Sign (RC/HC) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §200-47B(1) |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 sq ft per side | — | — | — | — | — | §200-47C / §200-45K |
| Temporary Special Sale Sign | 6 feet (freestanding) | 32 sq ft per face, 2 faces allowed; if two signs used, total 32 sq ft | — | — | Max 2, totaling 32 sq ft | Freestanding, wall, or banner | — | §200-47D |
| Flag (Decorative/Government, RC/HC) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §200-47E / §200-45O |
| Directory Sign (RC/HC) | — | 20 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per building side | Affixed to building | — | §200-47F |

### EC District, EC-1 District, EC-2 District, EC-3 District, ID District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All sign types allowed per §200-45 (see FP/OR/CR/SR/SR-1) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §200-49A |
| Freestanding Sign (One principal use, EC/ID) | 8 feet | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | §200-49B(1) |
| Wall Sign (One principal use, EC/ID) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §200-49B(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (2+ principal uses, EC/ID) | 8 feet | 40 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | §200-49D(1) |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 sq ft per side | — | — | — | — | — | §200-49E / §200-45K |
| Temporary Special Sale Sign (EC/ID) | 6 feet (freestanding) | 32 sq ft per face, 2 faces allowed; total max 32 sq ft per event; see §200-47D for requirements | — | — | Max 2, totaling 32 sq ft | Freestanding, wall, or banner | — | §200-49F / §200-47D |
| Sign on Mobile Stand | — | 40 sq ft on each of max 2 sides | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | §200-49G |
| Off-premises Sign/Billboard (EC District only) | 35 feet above street center line | 300 sq ft on each of two sides | — | 25 ft from all lot lines and street ROW; 300 ft from another >20 sq ft off-premises sign; 300 ft from dwelling | — | — | — | §200-49H |

## Prohibited signs in Forks Township

- No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to traffic on a street or entering a street by obscuring the view, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic control device.
- No sign shall be placed in a clear sight triangle.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained within 15 feet of the edge of the cartway or curb or be located within, or project over, the legal right-of-way of any street or road.
- No freestanding sign shall be erected or maintained within 10 feet from the side line of an existing principal residential use or five feet from any other side lot line, except as specifically permitted.
- No sign shall be placed on Forks Township property, except for signs installed by the Township or required by the Township.
- No sign shall be placed along a state road or road right-of-way which violates the regulations of PennDOT.
- No sign shall be erected and maintained within a parking space or fire lane, except signs denoting such purposes.
- Signs of a flashing, rotating, mechanically moving or revolving type are prohibited, with the exception of barber poles.
- Electronically changing message signs are prohibited, except for time and temperature signs and signs where messages do not change more than once every six seconds and do not flash.
- Novelty signs constructed from tires, automobiles, inflatable objects of more than 30 cubic feet, or that are mechanically animated are prohibited.
- Signs above or extending above the roofline of a flat roof or the lowest point of eaves of a sloping or mansard roof are prohibited.
- Any permanent sign suspended between poles and lighted by a series of lights is prohibited.
- Signs erected or attached to a tree or utility pole, or painted or drawn on a rock or other natural feature are prohibited.
- Any banner sign or sign of any other type across a public street or on any private property is prohibited, except for Township Board of Supervisors approved signs.
- Any sign suspended between poles which is a pennant that blows in the wind or a spinner is prohibited.
- Any sign imitating any official traffic sign, signal or device is prohibited.
- A vehicle or trailer is prohibited if it: is parked on public right-of-way or property so as to have signs visible from a street right-of-way, includes one or more signs of 40+ square feet for advertising, and is not regularly operated as a vehicle or trailer.
- Any sign not conforming to the requirements of the sign ordinance that was in effect when the sign was erected is prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected containing information which states or implies a property may be used for any non-permitted use.
- A series of lights outlining the edges of buildings/building elements is prohibited as a sign, except for holiday decorations.
- Signs on mobile stands are prohibited except as allowed in §200-49.
- All permanent signs must be professionally lettered and neatly displayed.
- No sign shall be internally illuminated with colored light (white or clear light only allowed).
- No internally illuminated sign of more than 20 square feet facing an occupied dwelling unit in a FP District or residential district shall be permitted within 200 feet of such dwelling.
- Internally illuminated signs must have dark backgrounds and light letters to reduce glare.

## Signs exempt from permit in Forks Township

- Mailboxes, names of occupants, other identifications not having commercial connotation, flags not having commercial connotations, insignias of governments, legal notices, signs giving direction or information required by government bodies, or signs directing/guiding traffic and parking without advertising, and displays entirely religious in nature (not advertising) are not regulated as signs under this ordinance.
- Signs that are not readable from any street or lot line and that have a maximum height of eight feet and a maximum sign area of 40 square feet are not regulated by this chapter.
- The following sign types do not require a permit (but must comply with all other regulations): Official highway, traffic control, and street signs; Temporary signs advertising the sale or rental of a property; 'No trespassing' signs; Temporary signs of mechanics and contractors; Directional and public service information signs; Signs placed inside a building more than 12 inches from a window or door.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- When an application is made for a zoning variance for signs, both the property owner and the primary entity that will use the sign shall be considered applicants.
- Any sign which is intended to be used or included in any development or plan of building or development to be submitted and reviewed by the Township shall be identified in the plan, including location, size, nature of the sign materials and the purpose of the sign. (§200-54D)
- Detailed plans showing supporting structural members and foundations must be submitted to the Building Inspector's office for approval before issuance of a permit. The seal of a registered engineer shall be required on all plans if deemed necessary by the Building Inspector or Township Engineer for public safety.
- For permit applications, applicant must submit plot plan, sketch of design and lettering, and construction plans, including loads, stresses, anchorage and other engineering data. The plot plan must indicate all existing structures, including signs.

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

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