# Sign Regulations in Hamilton Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hamilton Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/hamilton-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9326232#9326232)

## At a glance

Hamilton Township, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Billboards in the C zoning district are capped at 45 ft. to top of sign face tall, 300 gross sq. ft. per side; max 48 ft. length; temp embellishments max 20% sign area, and 48 ft. wide, with a Min 50 ft from ROW setback (Sec. §150-113B; §150-110; §89-19). Most commercial signs in Hamilton Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 6 ft. | 30 sq. ft. per side, 60 sq. ft. total | — |
| AP, RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, MU | 4 | 6 ft. (except wall/projecting signs) | 50 sq. ft. per side (max. 2 sides) | — |
| RC | 1 | 6 ft. to top of structure | 50 sq. ft. per side (max 2 sides) | — |
| C | 6 | 45 ft. to top of sign face | 300 gross sq. ft. per side; max 48 ft. length; temp embellishments max 20% sign area | — |
| EI | 6 | 45 ft. to top of sign face | 300 gross sq. ft. per side; max 48 ft. length; temp embellishments max 20% sign area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Road and Traffic Signs | — | — | — | — | N/A | N/A | — | §150-102A(1); §150-113A; §120-28 |
| No Trespassing and Similar Signs | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | N/A | — | — | §150-102A(2); §150-113A |
| Entrance and Exit Signs (Directional) | 3 ft | 4 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 per access point | Up to but not within right-of-way. No sign shall be located within a clear sight triangle. | — | §150-102A(3); §150-113A |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 sq. ft. per side, 12 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 per 200 feet frontage | On the property being sold/rented | — | §150-103C; §150-113A |
| Contractor Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 sq. ft. per side, 12 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 | On premises where work is performed | — | §150-103D; §150-113A |
| Temporary Changeable Copy Advertising Signs | 6 ft. | 30 sq. ft. per side, 60 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 | — | — | §150-103G; §150-113A |
| Portable Signs (Commercial Uses Only) | 3 ft. | 2 sq. ft. per side, 4 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1/business | Shall not obstruct public right-of-way; displayed during business hours only. | — | §150-103H; §150-113A |
| Directional Sign - Off Premises | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. per side | — | — | Multiple (subject to spacing) | — | — | §150-113B; §150-110 |

### C

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (Freestanding) | 30 ft. | 75 sq. ft. per side, 150 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 freestanding; 2 if frontage on 2 public roads | On the same lot as the business, up to but not within ROW; not within clear sight triangle. | — | §150-113B (table, C row); §150-109B-D |
| Business Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 1.5 sq. ft. per linear foot, or maximum 400 sq. ft. | — | — | max 3 wall signs (1 per facade) | Mounted on wall of business | — | §150-113B (table, C row); §150-106B |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign (Monument/Freestanding) | Monument: 15 ft.; Freestanding: 30 ft. | 100 sq. ft. per side, 200 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 | To identify name and entrance of shopping center | — | §150-113B |
| Shopping Center - Individual Establishment (Wall Sign) | — | 1.5 sq. ft. per linear foot, or maximum 400 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 wall sign | On facade of individual business in shopping center | — | §150-113B |
| Business/Industrial Park Entrance Identification Sign (Monument) | — | 50 sq. ft. per side, 100 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 per entrance/road frontage | 1 per entrance, max 1 per road frontage | — | §150-113B |
| Billboard | 45 ft. to top of sign face | 300 gross sq. ft. per side; max 48 ft. length; temp embellishments max 20% sign area | 48 ft. | Min 50 ft from ROW | 1 per property | Min setback: 50 ft. | — | §150-113B; §150-110; §89-19 |

### EI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (Monument) | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per side, 100 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 monument; 2 if frontage on two roads; max 3 wall signs (1 per facade) | Up to but not within ROW; not within clear sight triangle. | — | §150-113B (EI row) |
| Business Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 1.5 sq. ft. per linear foot, or max 400 sq. ft. | — | — | max 3 wall signs (1 per facade) | On wall of business | — | §150-113B (EI row) |
| Business Sign (Freestanding) | — | 50 sq. ft. per side, 100 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 freestanding sign; 2 if two road frontages | Up to but not within ROW; not within clear sight triangle. | — | §150-113B (EI row) |
| Business/Industrial Park Entrance Identification Sign (Monument) | — | 50 sq. ft. per side, 100 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 per entrance/road frontage | 1 per entrance, max 1 per road frontage | — | §150-113B |
| Billboard | 45 ft. to top of sign face | 300 gross sq. ft. per side; max 48 ft. length; temp embellishments max 20% sign area | 48 ft. | Min 50 ft from ROW | 1 per property | Minimum setback: 50 ft. | — | §150-113B; §150-110; §89-19 |
| Directional Sign (Monument, Internal Intersection) | — | 25 sq. ft. per side, 50 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 per intersection | At each internal intersection | — | §150-113B |

## Prohibited signs in Hamilton Township

- No sign shall be erected, enlarged, or relocated until a temporary or permanent sign permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer (except as otherwise exempted).
- Permanent signs shall be securely and permanently attached to their support structure, a building, or the ground.
- No sign shall be permitted that produces direct or reflected glare visible from any residential property or from any street or roadway.
- Signs shall be constructed of durable materials and maintained in good condition and repair.
- No sign may have flashing, revolving, rotating, or moving elements (except certain time/temperature displays as specified).
- Streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, balloons or similar items are prohibited except for those associated with a temporary event or campaign.
- Animated signs that include moving, sequential, intermittent, flashing, oscillating, or rotating elements are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate official traffic signs or signals or use the words 'stop,' 'caution,' or 'danger,' or use red, green or yellow lights resembling traffic signals, or resemble traffic control signs in size, shape, or color are prohibited.
- Signs that advertise products or services that are illegal are prohibited.
- Signs with vulgar, obscene, or pornographic material are prohibited (subject to legal definitions and protections).
- Signs that emit smoke, vapors, particles, sounds, odors, or open flames are prohibited.
- Signs that advertise or identify a defunct or relocated business or organization, or one not located on the same property as the sign, are prohibited.
- Any vehicle or portion thereof to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the sign becomes the primary purpose rather than incidental is prohibited.
- No sign shall be located within a PennDOT or Township road right-of-way except official road signs, traffic signs, and those required by law.
- No sign shall be located in an easement for stormwater, public water, public sewer, or similar use.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility pole, fence, tree, fire hydrant, or other object not intended to hold a sign.
- No sign shall be located so as to block a sidewalk, fire escape, access door, or any other area designed for pedestrian use.
- No sign shall interfere with clear sight distance regulations or be placed within the clear sight triangle of any intersection, or in a location that could obstruct or impair a motorist's vision.
- No sign shall be erected in a manner that does not comply with required state regulations for highways included on PennDOT's network.
- Billboards and externally illuminated signs must not project light output into windows of residences, adjacent uses, past the face of the sign, skyward, or onto a public roadway.
- Billboards and signs must be automatically extinguished by 11:00 p.m., except for businesses open past that time (subject to additional restrictions).
- Illumination of billboards within 400 feet of a residential zone or use is not permitted.
- LED, electronic/digital billboards or sign lighting are allowed only in commercial and industrial districts and not between 11:00 p.m. and dawn if visible from a residential use.
- The use of highly reflective signage creating nuisance glare or safety hazards is not permitted.
- Lighting or relighting of signs/billboards requires a building permit, which will be granted only if excessive brightness, light pollution, glare and trespass have been mitigated.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hamilton Township

- Official road and traffic signs and any other signs required by law are exempt from needing a permit, provided other standards are met.
- 'No trespassing' signs, signs indicating private ownership of roads/property and similar, if spaced at intervals no less than 50 feet and no larger than two square feet, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Freestanding signs designating entrances and exits to commercial and industrial establishments are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary signs (as specified in §150-103), such as real estate, contractor, yard/garage sale, campaign or event, and certain portable signs, are exempt from permit requirements, provided they meet all other applicable standards.
- All exempt signs must comply with the standards of the ordinance other than the permit requirement.
- Temporary signs for real estate, contractors, yard/garage sales, and fund-raising or community events have specific allowances as exemptions from permit requirements under §150-103.
- Portable signs may be displayed during normal business hours provided they do not obstruct the public right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A landscaping sketch shall accompany the sign permit application for all signs associated with a residential development and any freestanding sign proposed for a commercial use.
- Applications for lighting or relighting of signs or billboards must be accompanied by a lighting plan in accordance with §89-20.
- No mention is made in the ordinance of a required Master Sign Plan; requirements are fulfilled via permit applications, and (for certain circumstances, especially commercial uses), inclusion of a landscaping plan or lighting plan.
- Applications for signs proposed in areas adjacent to PennDOT highways must include a written copy of PennDOT's determination.

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

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