# Sign Regulations in Kutztown, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kutztown, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/kutztown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-11
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11193614)

## At a glance

Kutztown, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Business in the Commercial Districts (CC, C1, C2, C3) zoning district are capped at 25 feet tall and 20 square feet per face, with a 5 feet from side lot line, not over street ROW, 10 feet from building setback (Sec. § 225-28H(2)(a)). Most commercial signs in Kutztown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 3 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5) | 3 | — | 24 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts (CC, C1, C2, C3) | 9 | 25 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Industrial Districts (I, LI, MI, HI) | 5 | 25 feet | 100 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any location in all districts | — | § 225-28B(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Civic Event | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | Any location in all districts | — | § 225-28B(2) |
| Temporary For Sale/Rent Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the lot or building being sold or rented | — | § 225-28B(3), § 225-28F(4) |
| Temporary Contractor Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | On the lot where work is being performed | — | § 225-28B(4) |
| Temporary Directional Sign - Contractor | — | — | — | — | 1 per contractor per street frontage | On street frontage of construction or renovation site | — | § 225-28B(5), § 225-28F(5) |
| Promotional Sign - Development | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | In connection with development or proposed development of land | — | § 225-28B(6) |
| Special Promotional Device | — | — | — | — | — | Nonresidential districts | — | § 225-28F(6) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet per face | 2 feet | — | — | Sidewalk or curb in public areas | — | § 225-28F(7) |

### Commercial Districts (CC, C1, C2, C3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 25 feet | 50 square feet | — | — | — | Attached to main structural wall of principal building; at least 8 feet above sidewalk unless projecting <=2 inches | — | § 225-28H(1)(a),(c),(d) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 square feet (combined with permanent window signs) | — | — | — | Attached to principal building | — | § 225-28H(1)(b),(c),(d) |
| Freestanding Sign - Business | 25 feet | 20 square feet per face | — | 5 feet from side lot line, not over street ROW, 10 feet from building | 1 per street frontage | On same lot as business | — | § 225-28H(2)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Low Height | 4 feet | 50 square feet per face | — | At least 5 feet from side lot lines and behind street right-of-way lines | — | On same lot as use | — | § 225-28H(2)(a)[1] |
| Freestanding Sign - Rear Abutting Residential | — | 8 square feet per side | — | 5 feet from side lot line, not over street ROW, 10 feet from building | — | To the rear of the rear wall of main building when rear lot line abuts residential district | — | § 225-28H(2)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign - Shopping Center | 25 feet | 50 square feet per side | — | 5 feet from side lot line, not over street ROW, 10 feet from building | 2 | On lot of shopping center | — | § 225-28H(2)(d) |
| Freestanding Sign - Group Businesses | 12 feet | 30 square feet total per side | — | 5 feet from side lot line, not over street ROW, 10 feet from building | 1 | On lot held in single ownership with group of businesses (not shopping center) | — | § 225-28H(2)(e) |
| Off-lot Sign | — | 50 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per lot or 1 per 5 acres if over 5 acres | C3 Districts only | — | § 225-28H(3) |

### Industrial Districts (I, LI, MI, HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per yard fronting a street | Attached or painted on building face fronting street | — | § 225-28I(1)(a) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | § 225-28I(1)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 75 square feet | — | 5 feet from side lot line, not over street ROW, 10 feet from building | 1 per street frontage | On lot in single ownership | — | § 225-28I(2)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Industrial Park | 25 feet | 100 square feet | — | 5 feet from side lot line, not over street ROW, 10 feet from building | 1 per entrance | At entrance to industrial or office park serving 5 or more tenants | — | § 225-28I(2)(b) |
| Off-lot Sign | — | 50 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per lot or 1 per 5 acres if over 5 acres | Industrial districts | — | § 225-28I(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Kutztown

- Signs which in any way simulate official, functional, directional or warning signs erected or maintained by government entities or public utilities.
- Except for promotional devices permitted by Subsection F(6), banners, spinners, flags, pennants or any moving object used for commercial advertising purposes.
- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated, twirling or moving signs of any type, except those portions indicating time and temperature changes; red, green and amber colored signs.
- No sign shall be allowed within street right-of-way lines unless specifically authorized by other ordinances and regulations; no signs attached to public utility poles or trees within the street right-of-way.
- No vehicle with affixed or painted signs shall be parked or stored such that the sign display becomes the primary purpose.
- Roof signs exceeding the lower of the height limit of the district or four feet above the highest point of the roof.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kutztown

- Official traffic or directional signs and other official federal, state, county or Borough government signs.
- Temporary signs announcing a campaign, drive or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization, not exceeding 50 square feet, removed upon completion.
- Temporary business signs offering sale or rental of the lot or building, not exceeding six square feet, one per street frontage.
- Temporary signs of contractors, architects, engineers, builders and artisans on work site, not exceeding 12 square feet, removed upon completion.
- Temporary and directional signs indicating contractors, consultants and artisans on construction or renovation sites, removed within seven days after completion, one per contractor per street frontage.
- Promotional signs not exceeding 32 square feet for land development, removed within 20 days after last building occupied or one year, permit renewable annually.
- Permits not required for 'for sale' signs, 'for rent' signs or temporary directional signs under six square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For shopping centers, the location and orientation of freestanding signs shall be shown on the development plan.

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

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