# Sign Regulations in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lock Haven, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lock-haven
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30507047#30507047)

## At a glance

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial District, Industrial District, Public Institutional Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 55 sq ft per sign and 11 ft (single dimension) wide, with a Entirely behind property line setback (Sec. §410-102C). Most commercial signs in Lock Haven 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 | 5 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District, Public Institutional Zoning Districts | 12 | — | 672 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 2 | 6 ft (freestanding) | 20 sq ft (total all signs per premises) | — |
| Public Institutional Zoning Districts (for businesses), Other Non-Residential Districts | 2 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft per premises | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction, Repair, or Renovation Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises where construction, repair, or renovation is in progress | — | §410-97A |
| Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 | On premises | — | §410-97B |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §410-97C |
| Functional On-Premises Sign (Traffic, Pedestrian, Property) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises; height must be less than 3 ft or greater than 8 ft from ground grade for sight distance concerns. | — | §410-97D |
| Family Day-Care, Home Occupation, Bed-and-Breakfast Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 (3 for corner or with 2+ public entrances) | — | — | §410-101A |

### Commercial District, Industrial District, Public Institutional Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Business Sign (Wall, Projecting, Freestanding, etc.) | — | 200 sq ft per premises | — | — | 5 per premises (plus 1 for corner, plus 1 per rear/side entrance) | On main building/principal facade | — | §410-100A-B |
| General Business Sign (No Building) | — | 200 sq ft per premises | — | — | — | On lot with no principal building | — | §410-100C |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per premises, plus 1 per additional public way (if corner/multiple entrances) | May extend up to 5 ft from building face if right-of-way is to or within 5 ft of building face; otherwise no extension into right-of-way | — | §410-102A |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 55 sq ft per sign | 11 ft (single dimension) | Entirely behind property line | 1 per premises (plus 1 per public way for corner/multiple entrance) | Must be entirely behind property line, cannot project over right-of-way or adjoining lands | — | §410-102C |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per 200 ft of frontage (min 1 per building) | On roof of building | — | §410-102D |
| Portable Sign (up to 8 sq ft) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 2 | On private entrances or private property; may be located on public sidewalks | — | §410-102E |
| Off-premises Sign (Wall/Freestanding, Commercial/Industrial Option 1) | — | 32 sq ft (off-premises general); 55 sq ft if located on building above first floor | — | — | 1 per 60 ft frontage (min 1 per lot) | Freestanding or wall-type, on building or property with business not located there | — | §410-99C |
| Off-premises Sign (Freestanding/Wall, Industrial) | — | 672 sq ft | 46 ft (single dimension, max) | — | — | Located south of E. Walnut St, within 100 ft of Paul Mack Blvd right-of-way, OR in Industrial District | — | §410-100D |

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Residential Sign | 6 ft (freestanding) | 20 sq ft (total all signs per premises) | — | — | 2 (3 for corner/multiple public entrances) | — | — | §410-101B |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential) | 6 ft | — | — | — | — | — | — | §410-101B(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Lock Haven

- Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety or health by interfering with the clear sight triangle.
- Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring or manner of illumination obstruct the vision of drivers or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device.
- Signs which contain or are an imitation of an official traffic signal.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required exitway.
- Signs incorporating misleading or confusing words to traffic, such as 'Stop,' 'Look,' 'Danger,' etc., or which hide from view any traffic street signal or sign.
- Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a tree, stone, cliff, or other natural object.
- String lights or bare bulb illumination of signs other than temporary holiday decorations. (Except new/used car lots.)
- Search lights, banners, streamers or balloons except for specific events or conditions. (Certain exceptions for auto sales and referenced events.)
- No loud, indecent, or obscene advertising matter shall be displayed in any manner.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lock Haven

- Signs placed on premises where construction, repair, or renovation is in progress (not exceeding 12 square feet in area and removed within 10 days after final inspection).
- Signs indicating the occurrence of a limited duration event (not exceeding 32 square feet; no more than two per premises; removed at event completion).
- Government signs or signs erected under the direction of a governmental body such as traffic signs, safety signs, approved kiosk or trash receptacle signs and public area identification signs.
- Traffic, pedestrian, or property functional on-premises signs such as parking, no parking, entrance, exit, telephone, rest rooms, etc., when the sign area is less than five square feet and bearing no commercial advertising.
- Replacing copy or advertising message on an approved sign such as a billboard, theater marquee or similar approved sign device specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy (does not apply to painted lettering, symbols, etc., which use a building for the sign surface).
- Maintenance, including cleaning and normal repair, unless a structural change is made.
- Signs in existence when this chapter was adopted, unless they are structurally altered, moved, replaced or painted.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, except those enumerated as exempt in §410-97, require a zoning permit, which must be obtained from the Zoning Officer.
- An application for a sign permit shall be made on a form provided by the Zoning Officer. Additional relevant information and material may be required.
- Permits are required prior to any structural alteration, movement, or replacement of a sign.
- Signs permitted in all zoning districts under §410-97 do not require permits.
- Signs requiring approval of a special exception (e.g., flashing signs, portable signs over 8 sq ft, off-premises signs, signs with visible moving or revolving parts) must follow procedures set in §410-99.
- No explicit mention of a master sign plan or sign variance meeting requirement appears in the provided text. Permitting and exceptions are generally handled by the Zoning Officer or through special exception processes.

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

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