# Sign Regulations in Harborcreek Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Harborcreek Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/harborcreek-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/38847905#38847905)

## At a glance

Harborcreek Township, Pennsylvania regulates 23 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Real Estate Development Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 20 sq ft, with a 20 ft from right-of-way, 15 ft from side property line setback (Sec. § 490-147B). Most commercial signs in Harborcreek Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 18 | High mount: 10 ft; Low mount: 3 ft above grade | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zones (A and R Zones), R zones | 1 | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zones (B-1 and B-2 Commercial Districts), Industrial District | 4 | 20 ft; 50 ft for pedestal(pole) signs intended to be read from I-90 (with possible variance) | 144 sq ft per side; 300 sq ft per side in B-2/I-90 | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Lot Sign | — | 6 sq ft (A and R Zones); 25 sq ft (B and I Zones) | — | — | 2 per street frontage | On property to be sold or rented | — | § 490-147A |
| Real Estate Development Sign | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 20 ft from right-of-way, 15 ft from side property line | 2 per property | On the premises being developed | — | § 490-147B |
| Garage and Yard Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property | Property where sale is occurring | — | § 490-147E |
| Auction Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property | Property where auction is occurring | — | § 490-147F |
| On-Premises Directional/Functional Sign | High mount: 10 ft; Low mount: 3 ft above grade | 5 sq ft max | — | — | — | On the premises being regulated | — | § 490-147G |
| Temporary Produce Sale Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | Not within road right-of-way | Up to 4 per premises | On premises where products are grown; not within road right-of-way | — | § 490-147O |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property | On property of occupant | — | § 490-147P |
| Identification Sign (Public/Semipublic/Institutional) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On premises or building | — | § 490-147Q |

### Residential Zones (A and R Zones), R zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | One | — | — | § 490-150E, § 490-151A, § 490-153A |

### Commercial Zones (B-1 and B-2 Commercial Districts), Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to the building wall | — | § 490-149C, § 490-150B, § 490-153A |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft per face | 5 ft projection; vertical dimension up to 6 ft | No portion closer than 2 ft to face of street curb | 1 per premises (more for corner/public way frontage) | Perpendicular from wall of building | — | § 490-150A, § 490-153A |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft; 50 ft for pedestal(pole) signs intended to be read from I-90 (with possible variance) | 144 sq ft per side; 300 sq ft per side in B-2/I-90 | — | Behind public right-of-way; min 10 ft from side property line | 1 per premises; additional for each frontage per corner lot/public access | Behind public right-of-way; No closer than 10 ft from side property line; Shopping center signs along street frontage with entrance | — | § 490-149B, § 490-150C, § 490-153A |
| Portable Sign | — | 40 sq ft per face (80 sq ft double-sided) | — | Not within right-of-way or sight triangle | 1 per premises | Not within public right-of-way or clear sight triangle | — | § 490-150D, § 490-153A |

## Prohibited signs in Harborcreek Township

- Signs which constitute a hazard to public safety or health are prohibited.
- Signs that by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination obstruct the vision of drivers or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads are prohibited.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required exitway is prohibited.
- Signs which make use of words such as 'stop,' 'look,' 'one-way,' 'danger,' 'yield,' or any similar words, phrases, symbols, lights, or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic are prohibited.
- Obsolete signs that no longer advertise a bona fide business conducted or a product sold must be removed within 60 days.
- Signs on public property or public rights-of-way, unless erected by a governmental body or unless required to be so located by order of a governmental body, are prohibited. No sign located on public property or a public right-of-way shall bear any political, ideological, commercial, advertising, or announcement message, or combination thereof.
- Off-premises advertising signs and billboards that advertise a business, service, industry, commodity, product, or entertainment not available on the premises where the sign is located are prohibited.
- Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a tree, stone, cliff, or other natural object are prohibited, except for those permitted under yard sales, garage sales, nonprofit fundraising, no trespassing, and temporary produce sale signs.
- String lights or bare bulb illumination (other than temporary holiday decorations) that are unshielded from off the property are prohibited.
- Flame as a source of illumination is prohibited.
- Searchlights are not permitted. Pennants, banners, spinners, streamers, or balloons are not permitted except for occasions such as grand openings and then only with special written permission of the Zoning Administrator for a limited time period.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all districts.
- All signs must not be illuminated in any way that confuses, blinds, distracts or hinders the view of pedestrians and operators of motor vehicles on highways or streets adjacent to such signs.
- No artificial light or reflecting device shall be used as a part of a sign where such light or device interferes with, competes for attention with, or may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
- Floodlighting must be arranged so sources of light are not visible from any point off the lot and so that only the sign is directly illuminated by such lighting.
- The sign may be illuminated internally, provided the source of reflected light is not directly visible or glaring.
- No sign may be illuminated by red, green or yellow light, or any combination thereof, if such sign and/or lighting will interfere with the visibility of a traffic signal or is adjacent to a roadway so as to give the appearance of a traffic signal.
- All illumination involving flashing is expressly prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Harborcreek Township

- Signs listed in §490-147 (Signs permitted in all zone districts) are exempt from permit requirements except where specifically required.
- Replacing the advertising copy or message on an approved painted sign or on a theater marquee and similar approved signs with replaceable copy does not require a permit, as long as there's no structural change or electric alteration.
- Cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or sign structure do not require a permit, unless a structural change is made.
- Signs erected by a government body or under the direction of such body and bearing no commercial advertising (such as traffic signs, railroad crossing signs, safety signs, signs identifying public schools and playgrounds, special event signs, etc.) are permitted in all zones and are exempted.
- The following types of signs are permitted in all zones and not counted in calculating the number of signs on a premises, as long as they conform to general regulations: real estate lot signs, real estate development signs, temporary holiday decorations and lights, 'no trespassing' or regulatory signs, garage and yard sale signs, auction sale signs, on-premises functional area regulation signs, contractor signs, memorial signs or tablets, flags/pennants/insignia of governments and certain organizations, permanent residential development signs without commercial advertising, nonprofit fundraising sale/event signs, temporary produce sale signs, nameplate signs, identification signs for public/semipublic buildings and recreational places, political and ideological signs under certain restrictions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any person applying for a sign permit must submit a map or site plan to scale showing the location and position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings and thoroughfares.
- A plan showing the design, materials, construction method, and attachment method for the sign must be submitted with a permit application; such plans must be to scale.
- A site plan is required for the erection of permanent and certain temporary signs as part of the permit application process.
- There is no explicit mention of a 'master sign plan' requirement or variance meeting for sign plans in the ordinance text provided; however, a variance is required for any deviation from the standards set forth in the article.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Harborcreek Township, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Harborcreek+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-harborcreek-township

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