# Sign Regulations in Harris Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Harris Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/harris-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30339814#30339814)

## At a glance

Harris Township, Pennsylvania regulates 33 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground Pole Signs in the Commercial Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 25 sq ft (single face); 50 sq ft (double face), with a May not project into public right-of-way. setback (Sec. §12-14.8A(1)). Most commercial signs in Harris 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 | 18 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 2 | — | 25 sq ft (single face); 50 sq ft (double face) | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts | 12 | 25 ft | 25 sq ft (single face); 50 sq ft (double face) | — |
| Industrial District | 2 | — | — | — |
| Natural Areas Zone, Agricultural Zone, Agricultural Residential Zone, Rural Centers Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| Village Zoning District | 5 | 25 ft | 15 sq ft (single face); 30 sq ft (double face) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name and Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On residence | — | §12-14.4A(1) |
| Property Regulation Sign (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On property | — | §12-14.4A(2) |
| Property Regulation Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On property | — | §12-14.4A(2) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On property advertised | — | §12-14.4A(3) |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial, Industrial, Natural Areas, Agricultural, Agricultural Residential, Rural Centers) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | On property advertised | — | §12-14.4A(3) |
| Bulletin Board (Institution) | — | 25 sq ft single face; 50 sq ft double face | — | — | — | On premises of institution | — | §12-14.4A(4) |
| On-premises Functional Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §12-14.4A(5) |
| Temporary Sales/Event Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On property | — | §12-14.4A(9) |

### Commercial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Pole Sign | 25 ft | 25 sq ft (single face); 50 sq ft (double face) | — | May not project into public right-of-way. | One per public way | Between property line and building setback line. One per public way (corner lots can have one for each street). | — | §12-14.8A(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft per face | — | — | One per premises; corner lots: one per public way | Projects from wall/building | — | §12-14.8A(3) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 25 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On or in ground | — | §12-14.8A(5) |
| Directional Sign (Arterial Roadway) | — | 10 sq ft (single face); 20 sq ft (double face) | — | — | Up to two, or if more, combine content in one sign | Along arterial roadway, max 500 ft from entrance/roadway to site; on property owner's permission. | — | §12-14.8B(1) |
| On-premises Occupation Sign (Professional) | — | 5 sq ft / occupant | — | — | 1 per occupant, max 25 sq ft per building | On premises | — | §12-14.8B(2) |
| Real Estate Development Sign | 10 ft | 25 sq ft (single face); 50 sq ft (double face) | 10 ft | Subject to setback requirements. | — | On subdivision | — | §12-14.8B(3) |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign (Multi-tenant) | — | 25 sq ft per face | — | — | One per entrance | At each shopping center entrance. | — | §12-14.6A(2) cross-referenced to §12-14.8A & B |
| Wall Sign (Multi-tenant) | — | 25 sq ft / tenant | — | — | 1 per tenant | On wall, per tenant | — | §12-14.8B(4)(b) |

### Village Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Pole Sign | 25 ft | 15 sq ft (single face); 30 sq ft (double face) | — | — | One per structure | Between property line and building setback line. | — | §12-14.8A(1)(b) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 10 sq ft (single face) | — | — | — | Suspended from structure. | — | §12-14.8A(2)(a),(b) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 10 sq ft per face | — | — | — | Projects from wall/building. | — | §12-14.8A(3)(b),(c) |
| Wall Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall. | — | §12-14.8A(4) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 15 sq ft per face | — | — | — | At grade. | — | §12-14.8A(5)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Harris Township

- Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination obstruct or detract from the vision of drivers, either when driving on a roadway or when entering a roadway from another roadway or driveway, or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any sign or control device on public streets and roads.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window, or other required exitway.
- Signs which make use of words such as 'stop,' 'look,' 'one-way,' 'danger,' 'yield,' or any similar words or phrases, symbols, lights, or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- Any signs which approximate in shape, design, color, or wording any traffic control sign or device installed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation or Harris Township.
- Any obsolete sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold. In any case, 90 days shall be allowed for removal of an obsolete sign.
- Signs on public property or public rights-of-way, unless erected by a government body or required to be so located by order of a government body. No sign located on public property or a public right-of-way shall bear any commercial advertisement or announcement.
- Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a tree, stone, cliff, or other natural object.
- String lights, other than seasonal holiday decorations, which are unshielded.
- Search lights, pennants, banners, balloons, and streamers, except for occasions such as grand openings and then only with special permission of the Ordinance Enforcement Officer. Use shall be limited to a fifteen-day period.
- Flashing or oscillating sign lights.

## Signs exempt from permit in Harris Township

- Name and address of resident, not to include any commercial advertisement, of not more than two square feet in sign area.
- Signs regulating the use of property, such as 'no trespassing,' 'no hunting,' 'no fishing,' etc., of no more than two square feet of sign area in residential zones and five square feet of sign area in commercial and industrial zones.
- Real estate signs not exceeding five square feet in sign area in residential zones and 25 square feet in other specified zones, advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the property upon which said signs are located, to be removed within 10 days after the premises is sold, rented, or leased.
- Bulletin boards for public, charitable, or religious institutions, when located on the premises thereof, with a defined maximum sign area, and used exclusively for noncommercial announcement.
- Signs regulating on-premises traffic, parking, or other functional subdivision, such as lavatory facilities, telephone, and signs denoting sections of a building such as an office, etc., when such signs are less than five square feet in area and bear no commercial advertisement.
- Signs erected by a governmental body, or under the direction of such a body, and bearing no commercial advertisement.
- Memorial signs or tablets and signs denoting the date of erection of buildings, not exceeding two square feet of sign area on a single face.
- The flag, pennant, or insignia of any government, or of any religious, charitable, or fraternal organization.
- Signs no larger than five square feet of sign area advertising the sale of edible farm products produced on the premises, or advertising garage sales, auctions, or special events of charitable or public service groups, which shall be removed at the conclusion of the event or activity.
- Political signs not exceeding five square feet if single-faced or ten square feet if double-faced, placed on private property with owner's permission, valid for thirty days prior to voting date, removed within seven days after the voting date.
- Permanent residential development signs at major entrances designed to identify a residential subdivision and containing no commercial advertising, up to specified sign area limits.
- Signs identifying places of worship when located on the premises not exceeding five square feet of sign area on a single face.
- On-premises occupation signs containing only name and occupation with no more than two square feet of sign area.
- Decals affixed to windows or door glass panes which indicate membership in a business group or which denote credit cards accepted by an establishment.
- Signs identifying a golf course or a country club or other recreational facility when located on the premises and containing no commercial advertising, up to specified area limits.
- Signs not exceeding 25 square feet in area erected on the inside of the perimeter fencing or on the scoreboard of an organizational athletic field for the sole purpose of sponsoring or contributing to the organized sport or organization.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign plan showing the design of the sign, materials to be used, lighting plans, method of construction, and means of attachment to a building, structure, or the ground is required as part of the application for a sign license for permanent signs (§12-14.5A(2)(a)[3]).
- Licensing and application processes require submission of sufficient information including maps and plans demonstrating compliance (§12-14.5A(2)(a)).
- Applications and accompanying plans or documents for sign permits are to be reviewed and filed by the Ordinance Enforcement Officer (§12-14.9A(2)).
- The Zoning Hearing Board hears all cases involving variances and appeals involving interpretation of the ordinance (§12-14.10). Variances or special exceptions may require separate hearing or plan review.

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

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