# Sign Regulations in Lower Allen Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lower Allen Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lower-allen-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/13736384#13736384)

## At a glance

Lower Allen Township, Pennsylvania regulates 29 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the C-2 General Commercial District, C-4 Regional Commercial District zoning district are capped at 3.5 ft within 10' of ROW; attached: not above building height; otherwise see temporary sign regs tall, with a ≥5 ft from property line setback (Sec. § 220-253.D(2); § 220-254). Most commercial signs in Lower Allen Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 3.5 ft | — | — |
| R-1 Single-Family Residential District, R-2 Single-Family Rural Residential District, R-3 Multifamily Residential District, Residential zoning districts | 6 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft per face, max 2 faces | — |
| MUN Mixed-Use Neighborhood District | 6 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft/face, 2 faces | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District | 6 | 3.5 ft within 10' of ROW; 10 ft if 10'+ from ROW (nonresidential); attached not above building height | 40 sq ft/face (unless more allowed for shopping center in C-2) | — |
| C-2 General Commercial District, C-4 Regional Commercial District | 9 | 3.5 ft within 10' of ROW; attached: not above building height; otherwise see temporary sign regs | See additional; 40 sq ft/face for most; shopping centers in C-2 regulated by § 220-253D(6) | — |
| C-3 Planned Business Center District, I-1 General Industrial District, I-2 Mineral Recovery District, I-3 Industrial/Commercial District | 7 | 3.5 ft within 10' of ROW; 10 ft if 10'+ from ROW (nonresidential); attached not above building height | 40 sq ft/face, 2 faces (unless more allowed for shopping center in C-2) | — |
| Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) – Core Neighborhoods | 11 | — | Same as freestanding sign in district | — |
| Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) – Residential Neighborhoods (outside Core) | 11 | — | — | — |
| Mall Districts | 3 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### C-2 General Commercial District, C-4 Regional Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Identification Sign | — | See residential requirements | — | — | — | As per residential districts | — | § 220-253.D(1); § 220-253A |
| Temporary Sign | 3.5 ft within 10' of ROW; attached: not above building height; otherwise see temporary sign regs | — | — | ≥5 ft from property line | — | — | — | § 220-253.D(2); § 220-254 |
| Development Identification Sign | — | See additional; 40 sq ft/face for most; shopping centers in C-2 regulated by § 220-253D(6) | — | — | — | — | — | § 220-253.D(3); § 220-252J |
| Incidental Sign | — | 6 sq ft/face | — | — | — | — | — | § 220-253.D(4); § 220-252K |
| Regulatory Sign | — | 6 sq ft/face | — | — | — | — | — | § 220-253.D(4); § 220-252L |
| Freestanding Sign (Event/Marketing/Identification) | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Street frontage | — | § 220-253.D(5) |
| Building Sign (Event/Marketing/Identification) | — | — | — | — | Unlimited, subject to affixing limitations | Affixed to building elevations fronting a street, parking area or commercial use | — | § 220-253.D(6) |
| Mall Sign (Identification/Directional/Building) | — | — | — | — | — | At malls | — | § 220-253.D(9) |

### Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) – Core Neighborhoods

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted parallel to building wall. | — | § 220-132.2.D(1)&(2); § 220-132.2.K |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | § 220-132.2.D, § 220-252.I |
| Projecting Sign | — | Same as freestanding sign in district | — | — | — | Perpendicular to building face | — | § 220-252.F |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 220-132.2.D/E/F |
| Way-finding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On- or off-premises | — | § 220-132.2.F |
| Limited Access Highway Oriented Identification/Marketing Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Adjacent to limited access highway | — | § 220-132.2.H |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted as temporary sign per §220-254 | — | § 220-132.2.J; § 220-254 |
| Opinion/Election Campaign Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On residential lot: comply with residential identification standards; on nonresidential: comply with nonresidential identification standards | — | § 220-132.2.L |

### Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) – Residential Neighborhoods (outside Core)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted parallel to building wall. Only for allowed uses. | — | § 220-132.2.D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-premises or off-premises (for way-finding / dev id. purposes) | — | § 220-132.2.D(1); E; F |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | § 220-132.2.D(1); § 220-252.I |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Perpendicular to building wall | — | § 220-252.F |
| Way-finding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On- or off-premises | — | § 220-132.2.F |
| Limited Access Highway Oriented Identification/Marketing Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Adjacent to limited access highway | — | § 220-132.2.H |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted as temporary sign per §220-254 | — | § 220-132.2.J; § 220-254 |
| Opinion/Election Campaign Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On residential lot: comply with residential identification standards; on nonresidential: comply with nonresidential identification standards | — | § 220-132.2.L |

## Prohibited signs in Lower Allen Township

- No sign shall be placed, erected, altered, enlarged or relocated until a permit for doing so has been issued by the Zoning Officer, unless exempted.
- No sign may be erected or maintained that may be confused with any authorized traffic control device.
- Animated signs are not permitted in any district.
- No sign shall be installed in a public right-of-way unless installation is authorized by the authority having jurisdiction, except certain specified sign types.
- No sign shall be affixed to a natural object such as a tree, shrub or rock, or to a utility structure or utility pole, with limited exceptions.
- No sign may be mounted on a roof, except signs on roof-like architectural projections not projecting above the highest part of the wall.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected at any street intersection in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, nor at any location where it may interfere with or obstruct any traffic control device.
- No freestanding sign, together with any supporting framework, shall extend to a height above the maximum building height allowed within the respective district.
- No sign may be erected and maintained which is structurally unsafe as per construction code, constitutes a hazard by dilapidation, abandonment or inadequate maintenance, obstructs free entrance or exit from a required door, window or fire escape, or obstructs light or air or interferes with the proper functioning of a building.
- Strings of bulbs are not permitted, except as part of a holiday celebration.
- Illuminated signs may not produce glare in violation of outdoor lighting standards.
- All electrical components of any sign must comply with the referenced electrical code.
- Temporary signs in public rights-of-way are only permitted if they are traffic control devices or emergency signs installed by or at the direction of the authority having jurisdiction.
- Obsolete, abandoned, or unauthorized temporary signs must be removed or covered by the sign owner or property owner within designated timeframes upon notice from the Code Official.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lower Allen Township

- Signs erected or posted and maintained for public safety and welfare, pursuant to any governmental function, law or other regulation, and any sign related to an emergency.
- On-premises directional signs (at driveways solely for ingress/egress), not exceeding four square feet per face or 3.5 feet above ground, with content restrictions.
- Incidental signs (per §220-252K).
- Memorial signs (per §220-252B).
- Real estate and on-premises residential sales signs (per temporary sign provisions of §220-254).
- Regulatory signs (per §220-252L).
- A bulletin board or similar sign (not exceeding 40 sq ft per face; max 2 faces) for any church, neighborhood/civic association, museum, library, school or similar, with height limits and other conditions.
- Holiday decorations for recognized holidays, except where they interfere with traffic safety or become a safety hazard.
- Flags of any political or noncommercial entity.
- Signs or portions thereof devoted solely to building address numbers.
- Any on-premises event, identification or marketing sign not intended for viewing from a public street or adjacent property, and not readily discernible from such locations.
- Off-premises signs at athletic facilities attached to fences, scoreboards and other structures, oriented for participants/spectators.
- Opinion and election campaign signs (in accordance with district regulations).
- Tourist-oriented destination (TOD) signs and travel logo signs erected in public rights-of-way by authorities with jurisdiction over them.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit application for any sign (unless specifically exempted) must be submitted on township-provided forms, with owner consent and sufficient supporting information including scale drawings, plot plans, and/or engineering certification.
- Master sign plan or similar is not explicitly mentioned, but supporting information and compliance with all provisions are required for permit applications.
- Signs exempt from zoning permit may still need a construction permit if structural or electrical components are affected.
- Notification and approval from authority having jurisdiction is required for signs in public rights-of-way.
- Sign tables referenced as attachments set forth sign standards by message type and district; these may need to be consulted (possibly as part of a sign plan or review).
- Any nonconforming sign that is rebuilt or replaced must comply with the current ordinance unless excepted by specific conditions.
- Compliance with performance criteria may require certification by a registered design professional.

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

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