# Sign Regulations in Hatfield Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hatfield Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/hatfield-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10507860#10507860)

## At a glance

Hatfield Township, Pennsylvania regulates 31 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Off-Premises Sign (LI District, By Special Exception)s in the Industrial districts, LI Light Industrial District, LIRC Light Industrial Restricted Commercial District zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 150 sq ft, with a 6–40 ft from ROW setback (Sec. § 282-182D). Most commercial signs in Hatfield Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| All residential districts, ER Residential District, RA-1 Residential District, RA-2 Residential District, B Residential District, BA Residential District, BB Residential District | 12 | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Townhouse Districts, Multifamily-Elderly Districts, Garden apartments, Mobile home developments | 7 | 20 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Limited Professional Office Districts | 3 | 6 ft (lowest part no higher than 2 ft above ground) | 8 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Center District, Limited Commercial District, Commercial District | 4 | 14 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Industrial districts, LI Light Industrial District, LIRC Light Industrial Restricted Commercial District | 6 | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Industrial parks | 1 | 5 ft | — | — |
| Open recreation areas | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### All residential districts, ER Residential District, RA-1 Residential District, RA-2 Residential District, B Residential District, BA Residential District, BB Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 282-180A(1) |
| On-Premises Sign (Home Occupation/Accessory Office) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises | — | § 282-180B(1)(a) |
| On-Premises Sign (Nonconforming Use) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises | — | § 282-180B(1)(b) |
| For Sale/For Rent/ Sold Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises | — | § 282-180B(1)(c) |
| Development/Builder Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises | — | § 282-180B(1)(d) |
| Mechanics/Artisan Temporary Signs | — | 24 sq ft (total all such signs) | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 282-180B(1)(e) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Off-premises | — | § 282-180B(2)(b) |
| Event Directional Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Off-premises | — | § 282-180B(2)(c) |

### Townhouse Districts, Multifamily-Elderly Districts, Garden apartments, Mobile home developments

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional/Informational Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 282-180C(1)(a) |
| Governmental Flag | 20 ft | — | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 282-180C(1)(b) |
| Premises/Complex Name & Address Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises | — | § 282-180C(1)(c) |
| Identification or Bulletin/Announcement Board | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per permitted building/use | On-premises | — | § 282-180C(1)(d) |
| Development/Builder Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises | — | § 282-180C(1)(e) |
| Off-Premises Government/Traffic Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Off-premises | — | § 282-180C(2)(a) |
| Event Directional Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Off-premises | — | § 282-180C(2)(b)/(3) |

### Industrial districts, LI Light Industrial District, LIRC Light Industrial Restricted Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-Premises Signs Allowed in Residential/Commercial Districts | — | — | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 282-182A(1) |
| Parallel Business Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises – attached to business wall | — | § 282-182A(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | 14 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On-premises (1 per property) | — | § 282-182A(3) |
| Off-Premises Signs (General Residential Standards) | — | — | — | — | — | Off-premises | — | § 282-182B |
| Industrial Park Identification Sign | 5 ft | — | 12 ft | — | 1 per park | At industrial park | — | § 282-182C |
| Off-Premises Sign (LI District, By Special Exception) | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 6–40 ft from ROW | — | LI Light Industrial District; 6 to 40 ft off ROW; see also setback requirements | — | § 282-182D |

## Prohibited signs in Hatfield Township

- Flashing signs are not permitted.
- Flashing lights are not permitted.
- Revolving signs are not permitted.
- Festoon lighting is not permitted.
- Animated signs are not permitted.
- Trailer signs are not permitted (except when being moved from one location to another) unless specifically allowed by special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board.
- No signs shall be placed in such a position as to endanger traffic by obscuring clear view, causing confusion with street signs or signals, or interfering through glare, sight lines, or similarity to traffic control devices.
- No sign other than official street signs shall be erected or maintained within the street right-of-way of any public road.
- No sign shall project more than 48 inches over a public walkway, and the lower edge of such sign must be at least 10 feet above the walk level.
- Signs must be constructed of durable materials and kept in good condition; dilapidated or unsafe signs must be removed at owner's expense after notification.
- Once removed for repair, replacement, or other reason, nonconforming signs shall not be replaced unless with a conforming sign; repainted or repaired signs in place cannot exceed existing dimensions.
- Vehicular signs where the sign is the primary rather than incidental purpose shall be considered freestanding and subject to those regulations.
- No portion of certain signs may be closer than 50 feet to a different zoning district, and light must not shine onto adjacent lots.
- Changeable-copy signs may not have messages changed more than once per hour.
- Illumination intensity of all signs is subject to periodic review and adjustment by the Code Enforcement Officer.
- No sign shall be allowed to deteriorate to the point of being a danger to the public.
- Signs not complying with ordinance provisions are subject to removal.
- Signs must be removed when premises are vacated for over 45 days.
- All signs must be manufactured from approved materials (according to applicable building and electrical codes) and designed for wind and seismic resistance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hatfield Township

- Official street signs and other signs erected or authorized by governmental bodies within the public right-of-way are exempt from the prohibition against signs in the street right-of-way.
- Signs necessary for the direction, regulation, and control of traffic, street name signs, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings, and other official signs authorized or erected by a duly constituted governmental body are exempt.
- Nonilluminated signs used for directing patrons, members, or audience to service clubs, churches, or other nonprofit organizations, indicating only name, place, date and time, up to 4 square feet, are exempt under certain conditions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must be accompanied by a site plan, drawings of the proposed work, zoning district, and structural details, all drawn to scale, and any other details required by the Zoning Department.
- A written application must be filed with the Zoning Department to obtain a formal permit for any sign exceeding eight square feet.
- No explicit reference to a Master Sign Plan or required variance meeting is present in this section of the ordinance.

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

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