# Sign Regulations in Harrison Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Harrison Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/harrison-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14986125#14986125)

## At a glance

Harrison Township, Pennsylvania regulates 16 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboards in the M-1 District zoning district are capped at 40 ft (including structure) tall, 15 ft high x 20 ft length, and 20 ft wide, with a 50 ft setback (Sec. § 304.9 [Ord. 1950, 9/22/2011]). Most commercial signs in Harrison Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M-1 District | 3 | 40 ft (including structure) | 36 sq ft | — |
| B-1 District, V District, M-2 District | 1 | Varies by sign type (e.g. ground sign: 6 ft, general maximum 14 ft unless attached to a taller building) | 36 sq ft | — |
| S-1 District, C-1 District, Residential District | 1 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 30 ft | 120 sq ft | — |

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

### M-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | 40 ft (including structure) | 15 ft high x 20 ft length | 20 ft | Front yard: 50 ft; Side yard: 50 ft; Rear yard: 50 ft | Up to 2 sign faces per structure | Not within 500 ft of a residentially zoned area; not within 1000 ft of another billboard | — | § 304.9 [Ord. 1950, 9/22/2011] |
| Electronic Changeable-Copy Sign (Billboard) | 40 ft (billboard structure) | 15 ft high x 20 ft length (applies to billboard as structure) | 20 ft | Billboard setbacks apply; plus 20 ft from any residential zone | 1 per lot or 2 per tenant if multiple tenants | Same as billboard location | — | § 304.10.A, § 304.9 |
| Electronic Changeable-Copy Sign (Other: monument, wall, pedestal, ground) | Varies by sign type, but not exceeding general sign regulations (e.g. ground sign: 6 ft) | 36 sq ft | — | At least 20 ft from property zoned residential; general ground sign setbacks apply | 1 per lot or 2 per tenant where multiple tenants occupy lot | On premises of the lot in M-1 district | — | § 304.10.A |

### B-1 District, V District, M-2 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Changeable-Copy Sign (Monument, Wall, Pedestal, Ground) | Varies by sign type (e.g. ground sign: 6 ft, general maximum 14 ft unless attached to a taller building) | 36 sq ft | — | At least 20 ft from residential property; general ground/building sign setbacks apply | 1 per lot or 2 per tenant | On premises of lot in B-1, V, or M-2 District | — | § 304.10.A |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Identification/Name Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 304.1 |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On property, may be in public right-of-way portion, if motorist/pedestrian visibility is not impaired | — | § 304.3 |
| Bulletin Board Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | In connection with church, school, religious or educational structure | — | § 304.4 |
| Business Sign (Wall Sign) | — | No more than 5 sq ft per linear foot of principal building width | — | — | — | Attached to building, within property line | — | § 304.6A, B |
| Business Sign (Pedestal) | 30 ft | 120 sq ft | — | No part of such sign is closer than 5 ft to any property line | — | On premises, at least 5 ft from any property line | — | § 304.6C |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | — | On property advertising on-site goods/services only; none over/within sidewalk/right-of-way | — | § 304.8A-G |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | At least 3 ft from property lines | As determined necessary by Zoning Officer | As necessary for traffic, not to exceed what Zoning Officer determines | — | § 304.11 |
| Banner or Pennant (Temporary Event) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 per event | Secured to building, not waving or fluttering, nonilluminated | — | § 304.12 |

## Prohibited signs in Harrison Township

- No sign, billboard, or exterior graphic display shall be permitted in any district except as provided in this ordinance.
- Signs shall not be erected or illuminated in a manner which causes undue distraction, confusion, or hazard to vehicular traffic.
- No sign shall project over or on a public sidewalk or right-of-way.
- No sign shall bear an advertisement other than the name of the persons, firm or corporation operating the place of business and/or a description of the general character of the business conducted on the premises.
- Illuminated signs shall be nonflashing and nonglaring, and shall be illuminated in a manner to prevent glare and reflection to a public street or adjacent properties.
- All existing signs must comply with the ordinance requirements within 180 days after effective date of these provisions.
- Banners and pennants are prohibited, except as temporary events or displays authorized by the Zoning Officer.
- Pylon signs are not permitted in any zoning district or in connection with any use unless approved by the Board of Commissioners, except for certain expressway-oriented signs.
- The maximum height for a sign of any kind is 14 feet, except as otherwise provided for specific sign types or locations.
- No sign permit shall be issued or maintained without full compliance with the requirements set forth in the ordinance.
- No person shall destroy, remove, deface, obliterate or cover up any lamp, sign or barricade erected as a warning of danger by township authorities or their permittees.
- Any sign that displays electronic changeable copy or digital, electronic or internally illuminated text or images in violation of Ordinance criteria is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Harrison Township

- A sign not exceeding one square foot in surface size is permitted in any district for announcing the name, address, or professional activity or the occupancy of the premises.
- Political signs may be placed in the public right-of-way portion of property by landowners, provided they do not interfere with motorist or pedestrian visibility or safety.
- A bulletin board not exceeding 24 square feet is permitted in connection with any church, school, or similar religious or educational structure.
- Real estate, construction, or political signs are permitted on the property being sold, leased or developed, subject to removal timelines after sale, lease, or election.
- Scoreboards for school athletic fields are exempted from electronic copy changeable sign restrictions.
- Electronic changeable-copy signs displaying only motor fuel or fuel blend prices are exempted from certain restrictions.
- One electronic changeable-copy sign is permitted on lots with active church, fire hall, emergency services station, public building, or school in S-1, C-1, or Residential Districts, subject to size, height, setback, and hours of operation limitations.
- This § 304, Subsection 12 (banners and pennants) shall not apply to banners owned by and referencing or promoting the Township of Harrison or Township programs approved by the Board of Commissioners; such banners may be erected by the Township without need for a sign permit.
- Nonconforming signs may be repaired or reconstructed if damaged less than 50% of replacement cost, provided no increase in gross surface area.
- Banners and wall signs may exceed 14 feet in height provided they do not exceed the height of the building to which attached.
- § 304, Subsection 14 (maximum sign height) does not apply to signs within a planned shopping center.
- The pylon sign prohibition does not apply to a pylon sign visible from and oriented toward Route 28 expressway if needed to inform travelers.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required prior to the erection or structural alteration of any sign, either permanent or temporary, except for real estate signs, residential identification signs, contractor signs, window signs, public signs, or notification signs.
- All applications for a sign permit must include drawings and details on the sign's size, height, location, setbacks, message, construction, illumination, and compliance.
- In the case of new construction of a multitenant development site, the developer is responsible for submitting an application for a sign package (including any monument, pole, ground, or on-premises directional signs). Individual businesses must apply for wall signs and, for outparcels, any freestanding signs.
- Pylon signs are generally prohibited unless the Board of Commissioners finds necessary criteria are met and specifically approves the sign.
- Variances, special approvals, or sign plan reviews may be required for exceptions such as for pylon signs, banners owned by the Township, and signs in planned shopping centers.

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

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