# Sign Regulations in Hatfield Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hatfield Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/hatfield-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31212362#31212362)

## At a glance

Hatfield Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 26 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial District (C), Core Commercial District (CC), R-3 District (R-3), Industrial District (I) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 35 sq ft, with a General 10 ft from curbline (per general regulation); further setback may apply as per street improvements setback (Sec. §27-1106 1.A.(2)-(4), 1.C). Most commercial signs in Hatfield Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 6 ft (freestanding) | 24 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C), Core Commercial District (CC), R-3 District (R-3), Industrial District (I) | 13 | 20 ft above highway grade | 100 sq ft per face (total 200 sq ft if V-shape with ≤90° angle or back-to-back) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft per residence | — | — | 1 per residence | Residence | — | §27-1105 1.A.(1) |
| Identification Sign (3-9 dwellings) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Property | — | §27-1105 1.A.(1) |
| Identification Sign (apartment complex >10 units) | — | 15 sq ft per street frontage; 6 sq ft per building | — | — | 1 per street frontage, 1 per building | Per street frontage/building | — | §27-1105 1.A.(2) |
| Institutional Sign (Street Frontage) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage of the institution | — | §27-1105 1.B.(1) |
| Institutional Sign (Each Building) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Per building | — | §27-1105 1.B.(2) |
| Contractor Sign | 6 ft (freestanding) | 4 sq ft (per sign), freestanding signs max 6 ft in height | — | — | 1 per contractor | On premises | — | §27-1105 1.D.(2) |
| Open House Sign (On Premises) | 6 ft (freestanding) | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On property for sale | — | §27-1105 1.D.(3).(a),(c),(e) |
| Open House Directional (Off Premises) | 6 ft (freestanding) | 4 sq ft | — | — | 3 per home or group | Off-site with permission | — | §27-1105 1.D.(3).(b)-(e) |

### Commercial District (C), Core Commercial District (CC), R-3 District (R-3), Industrial District (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign or Roof Sign - Option 1 | — | See formula; up to 40 sq ft for wall/parallel sign per street frontage | — | — | Number per street frontage: Wall or Roof plus one other sign type | Mounted to building wall (Wall) or roof (Roof) facing street frontage | — | §27-1106 1.A.(1)-(2), 1.B, 1.G |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 35 sq ft | — | General 10 ft from curbline (per general regulation); further setback may apply as per street improvements | One of two allowed sign types per street frontage | On-site, outside street right-of-way | — | §27-1106 1.A.(2)-(4), 1.C |
| Projecting Sign (C, R-3, I) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | One of two allowed sign types per street frontage | Perpendicular to building wall. Over sidewalk: min. 8 ft clearance. | — | §27-1106 1.A.(2), 1.D |
| Projecting Sign (CC) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | One of two allowed sign types per street frontage | Perpendicular to building wall. Over sidewalk: min. 8 ft clearance. | — | §27-1106 1.D(1),(4),(5) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | §27-1106 1.A.(3), 1.E |
| Roof Sign | No part may project above highest point of roof | 25 sq ft | — | — | One of two allowed sign types per street frontage | On roof | — | §27-1106 1.G |
| Gas Station Freestanding Price Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | 25 ft from driveway | 1 per gas station property | On premises, minimum 25 ft from nearest driveway | — | §27-1106 1.I |
| Billboard/Commercial Outdoor Advertising Sign (I) | 20 ft above highway grade | 100 sq ft per face (total 200 sq ft if V-shape with ≤90° angle or back-to-back) | — | 25 ft from right-of-way; 50 ft from side/rear; 500 ft from other signs; 100 ft from residential | 1 per premises | Industrial District, on premises fronting public right-of-way | — | §27-1106 1.J |

## Prohibited signs in Hatfield Borough

- Any sign not specifically permitted is prohibited, including snipe signs affixed to trees, fences, utility poles, or rocks or other natural features, with exception for No Trespassing or similar warning signs.
- Vehicular or trailer signs are prohibited; all other temporary signs are prohibited except as specifically allowed under the ordinance.
- Revolving signs, nonstationary signs, blinking, flashing, changing intensity lighting, strobe lights, search lights, beacons, changeable copy signs, animated signs or beacons, or signs with flashing, intermittent, animated, or revolving illumination are prohibited, except for animated or changeable copy signs as specifically permitted.
- Signs with illumination that is more intense than necessary to read the sign are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited unless specifically permitted elsewhere in the Ordinance.
- Banner signs are prohibited except as permitted elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Trailer signs and portable signs are prohibited, including signs transported on wheels or on flatbed trucks not attached to ground or building.
- No signs shall be placed within the right-of-way of any street or on public property except with express permission of the Borough Council.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress and egress to or from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No signs shall be placed so as to endanger pedestrians or traffic by obscuring sight triangles or by causing confusion with official street signs due to color or location.
- Signs that present an immediate threat to public safety are subject to removal.
- Obsolete or abandoned signs are prohibited and must be removed.
- No person shall destroy, remove, deface, obliterate or cover up any lamp, sign or barricade erected as a warning of danger by the Borough authorities or authorized Borough workers.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hatfield Borough

- Street signs, traffic signs, and other government signs do not require a permit.
- Legal notices do not require a permit.
- Public monuments, plaques, and historical markers do not require a permit.
- Public service and information signs advertising the availability of public rest rooms, telephones, or similar public conveniences, not including bus shelter signs, do not require a permit.
- Name plates and identification signs for private residences not exceeding two square feet in area do not require a permit.
- Contractor's signs and temporary real estate signs (except construction or development signs), open house signs, artisan's signs, political signs, private property signs, trespassing signs, or other incidental signs not exceeding the size limitations of this Part do not require a permit.
- Temporary signs advertising sale of vehicles, yard sales, etc., not exceeding two square feet in area, do not require a permit.
- Temporary advertising signs posted inside of stores do not require a permit.
- Signs that are an integral part of vending machines do not require a permit.
- Notices posted by Order of Court or other public notices required by law are not subject to sign regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a sign permit must be accompanied by a site plan drawn to scale showing the proposed location, dimensions, elevation drawing, structural details, and location/size of other existing signs on the property.
- Sign permit applications must be submitted to the Zoning Officer and may require review by Borough Council, especially if seeking exceptions or a sign area bonus (e.g., for relief-cut wood signs consistent with historic character).
- Animated or moving signs in the Core Commercial District, and bus shelter signs in any district, require conditional use approval by Borough Council (a type of variance/plan approval).

## Full detail

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

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