# Sign Regulations in Harmar Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Harmar Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/harmar-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31854093#31854093)

## At a glance

Harmar Township, Pennsylvania regulates 26 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Institutional Sign - Monuments in the Residential Zone Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a Not less than 10 ft from side lot line. setback (Sec. § 27-702.3(B),(C),(G)). Most commercial signs in Harmar 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 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Residential Zone Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 9 | 10 ft | 120 sq in (0.83 sq ft) | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, I) | 13 | Up to 50 ft | Up to 500 sq ft per face | — |
| R-T Residential Transition District | 2 | 10 ft | 30 sq ft per face | — |

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

### Residential Zone Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Property/Home Occupation) | 10 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per yard abutting a street (max two signs on a corner/double frontage lot). | Placed in front yard between principal building and front lot line, at least 5 ft from side lot line, or on front wall/fence facing the street; may not project into public right-of-way. | — | § 27-702.1(A)-(F) |
| Identification Sign (Multifamily Building) | 10 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | Same as above. | Same as standard identification sign. | — | § 27-702.1(D)(2),(E)-(F) |
| For Sale/Rent, Development, Artisan Sign | 10 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | One for sale/rent or development sign, not more than two artisan signs per yard abutting a street, in not more than two yards on any property abutting a street. | Freestanding in front yard between principal building and front lot line, or on front wall/fence facing street if yard does not provide visibility. | — | § 27-702.2(A)-(H) |
| Institutional Sign - Monument | 5 ft | 50 sq ft | — | Not less than 10 ft from side lot line. | One per yard abutting a street (max two per lot abutting two/more streets). | Front yard area between principal building and front lot line, not less than 10 ft from side lot line, or on front wall. | — | § 27-702.3(B),(C),(G) |
| Institutional Sign - Wall or Freestanding | 10 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | Same as institutional monument sign. | Same as institutional monument sign. | — | § 27-702.3(E)-(G) |
| Temporary Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | Not more than three off-premises and two on-premises signs. | Yards abutting streets (not in street right-of-way), attached to fences, buildings, poles, or own support with property owner approval. | — | § 27-702.4(A)-(G) |
| Incidental Sign - Standard | 4 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | One at each access to parking lot, one in lot for info, one at each private driveway. | At entrances/exits of parking lots, at a place in the lot, and at private driveways (not in public right-of-way). | — | § 27-702.5(B)-(G) |
| Incidental Sign - Parking Lot Information | 8 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per parking lot info use. | In parking lot (not in public right-of-way). | — | § 27-702.5(E)-(F) |

### Commercial and Industrial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (C-1 Zone) | 35 ft (up to 50 ft if >50,000 sq ft floor area) | 100 sq ft per face | — | Min. 10 ft (commercial/industrial), 20 ft (residential abutment). | One per street frontage, max two per lot, not more than one facing same street. | Between principal building and abutting street; min. 10 ft from side lot line if abutting commercial/industrial zone, 20 ft if abutting residential. | — | § 27-703.1(A)-(H) |
| Freestanding Sign (C-2, C-3, I Zones) | 35 ft (up to 50 ft if >50,000 sq ft) | 200 sq ft per face | — | See above. | Same as above. | Same as above. | — | § 27-703.1(D)-(H) |
| Freestanding Sign (Complex/Business >50,000 sq ft) | Up to 50 ft | Up to 500 sq ft per face | — | See above. | Only one. | Single sign for entire complex or site. | — | § 27-703.1(F) |
| Wall-Mounted Sign | — | 10% of wall OR 60 sq ft, whichever is greater | — | — | One per street wall per business, max two on corner lots. | Above street/ground floor windows and below top of wall. Projecting max one foot from wall, may encroach public right-of-way by one foot. | — | § 27-703.2(A)-(E) |
| Projecting Sign (C-1 Zone) | 25 ft (bottom at 8 ft above ground, 14 ft above driveway) | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per property, or one per street on corner lots (max two). | Lowest edge min 8 ft above ground, 14 ft above driveway. | — | § 27-703.3(A)-(F) |
| Projecting Sign (C-2, C-3, I Zones) | 25 ft (bottom at 8 ft above ground, 14 ft above driveway) | 40 sq ft | — | — | Same as above. | As above. | — | § 27-703.3(D)-(F) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — | — | One per street, second allowed on street on corner lots. | Between principal building and abutting street (or street corners for corner lots) without interfering with sight lines. | — | § 27-703.4(A) |
| Billboard (I Zone only) | 35 ft | 300 sq ft per side | — | Min. 100 ft from street right-of-way. | One per lot. | I Industrial Zone only; must be at least 100 ft from street right-of-way and be the only structure on the lot. | — | § 27-703.4(D) |

### R-T Residential Transition District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs (Property in Residential Use) | Refer to R-1, R-2, R-3 regulations | Refer to R-1, R-2, R-3 regulations | — | — | — | See standards for R-1, R-2, R-3 | — | § 27-704.1 |
| All Signs (Property in Nonresidential Use) | 10 ft | 30 sq ft per face | — | — | — | Standards per Commercial/Industrial Districts, unless below size/height limits. | — | § 27-704.2(A)-(D) |

## Prohibited signs in Harmar Township

- No sign shall be permitted to be placed upon the roof of any structure or to project above the parapet wall of a flat-roofed building or above the gutter line of a sloped roofed building. Exception: A sign integrated into a sloped roof or attached to a wall hiding roof-mounted mechanical equipment, as part of the building's original design, may be permitted.
- No animated signs, no signs illuminated by a flashing, pulsating or intermittent source, no strings of bare bulbs (except holiday decorations), and no signs lighted in such a manner as to create glare conditions on adjacent or nearby properties or streets, or to be capable of causing confusion with traffic control devices shall be permitted.
- All signs shall be located so that sight lines for drivers entering a public street are not compromised.
- Signs and sign structure, except for projecting signs, shall not extend into a public right-of-way and in any case no part of a sign or structure shall be closer than 10 feet to a street pavement. The Zoning Officer may require a greater setback if road conditions require it.
- Signs shall be removed not more than 60 days after the use or activity on the same property that they advertise has been removed. If the building that housed the use or activity remains, the sign structure may also remain.
- Signs that would not be permitted under the terms of this Part may not be increased in size or relocated, although the sign's message may be changed. Once such a sign structure has been removed, it may not be replaced, enlarged or relocated except in conformance with this Part.

## Signs exempt from permit in Harmar Township

- This section shall not apply to the display of patriotic flags or banners.
- "No hunting" or "no trespassing" signs are exempt.
- Christmas or other holiday decorations placed on a temporary basis are exempt.
- Street address numbers are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Anyone wishing to erect a sign or signs to be in place for at least 60 days regardless of type or size, shall apply to the Zoning Officer, submitting a plan of the lot showing the location of the sign, dimensions to property lines and buildings; the length, width and height of the sign and distance between the top of the sign and ground below as depicted on an elevation view of the sign; and construction details indicating materials to be used and method of attachment to a building or the ground, including guying.
- Freestanding signs covered by this section shall be designed by either a registered professional engineer or the company providing the sign, as attested on the drawings submitted for the permit.
- Permits shall be required for all signs over six square feet in area, which shall be valid for the life of the sign.

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

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