# Sign Regulations in Kennett Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kennett Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/kennett-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/PA/Kennett_Township/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIGELE_CH240ZOAR_ARTXXISI)

## At a glance

Kennett Township, Pennsylvania regulates 26 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial District (C) zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a Minimum 5 ft from street line setback (Sec. Sec. 240-2108.C.2.a.1), Sec. 240-2108.C.2.e.1), 240-2113). Most commercial signs in Kennett Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Agriculture District (RA) | 5 | 12 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Residential Rural District (RR) | 5 | 12 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Residential Suburban District (RS) | 5 | 12 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Residential Medium to High Density District (RMHD) | 5 | 12 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Village District - Hamorton (VH) | 7 | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Village District - Mendenhall (VM) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial District (C) | 9 | 25 ft above grade at street line; min clearance 10 ft | 300 sq ft per side; 1 face per structure | — |
| Specialized Agricultural District (SA) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Limited Industrial District (LI) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Cultural Conservation District 1 (CC1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Cultural Conservation District 2 (CC2) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned Residential Development District (PRD) | 4 | 12 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### Residential Agriculture District (RA)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation or Bed-and-Breakfast Sign | 5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | Wall, ground, or freestanding sign per premises | — | Sec. 240-2108.A.1.a, Sec. 240-2102, Sec. 240-2105.F.7, 240-2112.E, 240-2102.B, 240-2105.F.1. |
| Identification Sign | 6 ft (freestanding); 4 ft (ground); 12 ft (wall sign placement) | 12 sq ft (freestanding or wall); 16 sq ft (ground) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage identifying the use. Can be wall, ground, or freestanding. | — | Sec. 240-2108.A.1.b |
| Construction/Development Sign (Temporary) | 12 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | Freestanding sign per entrance | — | Sec. 240-2108.A.1.c, 240-2106.L |
| Temporary Sign for Seasonal Use | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 240-2108.A.1.d |
| Sale of Farm Products Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per location | Wall, freestanding or projecting sign | — | Sec. 240-2108.A.1.e |

### Village District - Hamorton (VH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Use Signs (see RA-RMHD standards) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 240-2108.B.1 |
| Ground Sign (Nonresidential, each street frontage) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Ground sign, at or near main entrance | — | Sec. 240-2108.B.2.a.1), 240-2113 |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential, each street frontage) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Freestanding sign at or near entrance | — | Sec. 240-2108.B.2.a.2) |
| Wall Sign – Nonresidential | — | 12 sq ft or 10% of wall area | — | — | 1 per wall per tenant | Building face/facade | — | Sec. 240-2108.B.2.a.3; 240-2105.F |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Awning/canopy | — | Sec. 240-2108.B.2.a.5; 240-2105.A |
| Marquee Sign | — | 15% of building wall area | — | — | — | Attached to building over entrance or window/door | — | Sec. 240-2108.B.2.a.6 |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 12 sq ft or 25% of glass area | — | — | — | Window | — | Sec. 240-2108.B.2.a.4 |

### Commercial District (C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 50 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from street line | 2 per frontage, see restrictions | At or near main entrance | — | Sec. 240-2108.C.2.a.1), Sec. 240-2108.C.2.e.1), 240-2113 |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | At or near main entrance | — | Sec. 240-2108.C.2.e.6, 240-2113 |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of wall area or 40 sq ft (including window signs) | — | — | 2 per street frontage plus window signs | Per building wall; permanent window signs count toward wall sign area | — | Sec. 240-2108.C.2.e.2 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Per building wall, extends out perpendicular to building | — | Sec. 240-2108.C.2.e.3 |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On awning/canopy | — | Sec. 240-2108.C.2.e.4; 240-2105.A |
| Marquee Sign | — | 20% of facade area | — | — | — | On the building, over entrance/window/door | — | Sec. 240-2108.C.2.e.5 |
| Multi-tenant Directory Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Adjacent to main entrance for all tenants | — | Sec. 240-2108.C.2.e.7 |
| Billboard (Off-premises advertising sign, Conditional Use Only) | 25 ft above grade at street line; min clearance 10 ft | 300 sq ft per side; 1 face per structure | — | 25 ft from street line | 1 per lot | C District only; along expressway or major arterial; 25 ft setback from street line; face must be oriented at not less than 45 degrees to street line, facing oncoming traffic | — | Sec. 240-2108.C.2.f |

## Prohibited signs in Kennett Township

- Signs containing information which implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter.
- Any sign that obscures or interferes with the line of sight at any street intersection or traffic signal or at any other point of vehicular or pedestrian access to a street.
- Signs that use the words 'Stop,' 'Look,' 'Danger' or any other word, place, symbol, or character that attempts to direct the movement of traffic and pedestrians within 75 feet of a public street line or 200 feet of a traffic control signal, whichever is greater.
- Signs that imitate, resemble, interfere with, or obstruct any traffic device, light, sign, or signal within 75 feet of a public street line or within 200 feet of a traffic control signal, whichever is greater.
- Signs that interfere with, imitate, resemble, or obstruct any line of sight on a street or intersection, public sign or traffic signal/sign/device within 75 feet of a public right-of-way or within 200 feet of a traffic signal/sign/device, whichever is greater.
- Any banner sign or sign of any other type across a public street.
- Snipe signs.
- Animated, flashing, or beacon signs.
- A sign suspended between poles with festoon lighting and/or pennants, streamers, or spinners.
- Any sign erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Roof signs.
- Vehicular signs on a truck, trailer, or other vehicle not used for normal day-to-day operations of a business or not regularly moved for business-related purposes (excluding vehicles used regularly for work trips or commuting).
- Any sign having content that is not subject to the protections of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Article I, Section 7 of the PA Constitution.
- Abandoned signs.
- Signs that emit smoke, visible vapors, particulate matter, sound, odor, or contain open flames.
- Reflective signs or signs containing mirrors.
- Interactive signs, unless for public educational, informational, or directional purposes.
- Signs that promote any illegal activity.
- Signs shall not be erected within the legal right-of-way of any street unless they are portable or temporary signs authorized for a specific sign type; portable or temporary signs must not interfere with pedestrian travel or encroach upon the required accessible walking area or path.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position as to endanger pedestrians or vehicular traffic by obscuring the view, by interfering with official street signs or signals by virtue of position or color, or by placement in a clear visual sight triangle.
- Signs and their supporting structures must maintain clearance and noninterference with all surface and underground utility and communications lines or equipment.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- Berming or mounding around the location of the sign to increase sign height is prohibited.
- No illuminated sign shall shine lighting directly upon abutting properties nor within the line of vision of pedestrians and vehicles using streets or sidewalks.
- There shall be no sign illumination of an intermittent type including changeable copy in the RA and RR districts.
- Floodlighting must only illuminate the sign and not be visible from any point off the lot.
- Permitted changeable copy must have a dwell time of no less than one hour per message.
- All signs and their supporting structures must be designed and constructed to meet the standards of the Township Building Code.
- No portable sign shall have more than one per tenant building frontage.
- Temporary yard sale or garage sale signs are limited to no more than three temporary off-premises yard sale signs; must have permission of property owner; and duration restrictions apply.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kennett Township

- Official traffic and public and private street signs, directional signs, public signs, and other similar official federal, state, county, or Township signs within the legal street right-of-way.
- Security signs provided the area of such sign does not exceed two square feet. More than one such sign may be posted on a property when consistent with state regulations.
- Address signs with an area not to exceed two square feet, bearing only property number, street address, or the names of the occupants in a residence.
- Legal notices.
- Incidental signs not to exceed two square feet in area per sign. One or more incidental window signs giving store hours or names of payment institutions, when total area does not exceed two square feet per establishment.
- Temporary signs for religious, civic, philanthropic, community, historical, educational, or sales events not to exceed 16 square feet, provided they are erected no more than two weeks prior to the event and removed within five days after the event.
- Signs that are permanent architectural features of a building or structure, such as a cornerstone or identifying letters carved into or embossed on a building, provided the letters are not made of a reflective material.
- Temporary yard sale or garage sale signs not exceeding two square feet and erected no more than two days before the first day of sale and removed within 24 hours of the conclusion. No more than three off-premises yard sale signs allowed; requires property owner permission.
- Flags or insignias not exceeding 80 square feet total.
- Historic markers not exceeding six square feet.
- Temporary signs advertising variety of crops growing in a field, provided not for advertising/commercial use, and removed after growing season.
- Temporary signs of a contractor, architect, mechanic, or artisan (not including construction/development signs), placed on the property where work is occurring, not exceeding six square feet and five feet high, removed within five days of work completion.
- Temporary real estate signs on the property to be sold, leased, rented, or developed, not exceeding six square feet or five feet in height, removed within five days after sale/lease, and only one sign per street frontage per realtor/developer per property. Open house signs permitted on site of property for sale, erected one day prior and removed at end of day; no more than one per property per street frontage.
- Temporary political campaign signs, with property owner permission, not closer than five feet to street line, removed within five days after relevant election.
- Municipal signs.
- Vending machine signs.
- Art and murals without commercial messaging or advertising.
- Signs inside a building or enclosed facility not meant to be viewed from outside, and more than three feet from window.
- Holiday and seasonal decorations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign to be erected in the Township shall require a permit unless specifically exempted in this article (Sec. 240-2102).
- No such sign shall hereafter be erected, altered, relocated, or the content changed, except a multi-tenant directory panel, until a permit is issued by the Zoning Officer per Article XXV.
- Application for a sign permit shall be made in writing to the Township and shall contain all information necessary for the Zoning Officer to determine whether the proposed sign conforms to all requirements.
- All signs and their supporting structures shall be designed and constructed to meet the standards of the Township Building Code.
- No permit shall be issued for an off-premises sign until the property owner's consent and signature have been filed.
- Permits shall be granted or denied within 15 days from the date of a complete application.
- No sign permit shall be issued unless there is conformance with the regulations of this chapter, except upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board granted pursuant to the procedures established for a variance.
- After installation, the Zoning Officer shall inspect the sign to ensure installation conforms to regulations.
- All signs which are erected by permit may be subject to annual or periodic inspection.
- Regular maintenance or repair of a permitted sign, including electrical, repainting, or cleaning, shall not require a permit.
- Exemptions from the necessity of securing a permit shall not relieve an owner from responsibility for safe construction, installation, and maintenance.
- If a sign permit is denied, applicant may seek a variance pursuant to standards in the zoning ordinance (Sec. 240-2102.F).
- For signs on historic resources, additional review by the Historical Commission is required before a permit is issued.
- Guidance on sign plans and design is found in Sec. 240-2112, including multi-tenant directory signs (panels should be able to be replaced without negatively affecting the overall appearance 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 13 zoning districts in Kennett Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Kennett+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-kennett-township

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