# Sign Regulations in Middletown Township Bucks, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Middletown Township Bucks, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/middletown-township-bucks
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-26
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/13029847#13029847)

## At a glance

Middletown Township Bucks, Pennsylvania regulates 32 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Monument Display Signs in the C Commercial District, CS Shopping Center District, GB General Business District zoning district are capped at 45 ft tall and 490 sq ft per face, max 3 faces, with a Max 35 ft from ROW; min 400 ft from residence; 500 ft from other monument sign setback (Sec. § 500-2811D). Most commercial signs in Middletown Township Bucks require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RA-1 District, RA-2 District, RA-3 District, OR District, R-1 District, R-2 District, R-3 District, MR District, RC District, MHP District | 10 | 8 feet | 120 sq in | — |
| A-O Apartment-Office District, OC Office Campus District, P Professional District | 4 | 12 feet | 40 sq ft (per side) | — |
| C Commercial District, CS Shopping Center District, GB General Business District | 8 | 45 ft | 490 sq ft per face, max 3 faces | — |
| M-1 Manufacturing District | 5 | 45 ft above elevation of highway (U.S. Route 1) | 672 sq ft per face; 2 sides if back-to-back or V shape (angle ≤ 90°) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 216 sq in | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### RA-1 District, RA-2 District, RA-3 District, OR District, R-1 District, R-2 District, R-3 District, MR District, RC District, MHP District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 7 feet | — | — | Must meet placement requirements in § 500-2804 | — | On premises; must meet setbacks in § 500-2804 | — | § 500-2809A(1) |
| Construction/Development Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | One per property; one per street if multi-frontage | On premises | — | § 500-2809B(1) |
| Institutional Bulletin Board/Organization/Name Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | One per property; one per street if multi-frontage | On premises | — | § 500-2809B(2) |
| Directional Sign | 8 feet | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 500-2809B(3) |
| Professional/Home Occupation/Name Sign | — | 120 sq in | — | — | One per dwelling/professional use | On premises only | — | § 500-2809B(4) |
| Access Street/Complex Identification Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per complex/access point | At principal access of development/complex | — | § 500-2809B(5) |
| Opinion Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign; 12 sq ft total per lot | — | Per § 500-2804 | — | Single lot; On premises | — | § 500-2809B(6) |
| Political Sign | — | 12 sq ft; 24 sq ft aggregate per lot; max 32 sq ft in row right-of-way | — | Appropriate setback for visibility; wire supports prohibited in right-of-way | — | Single lot/right-of-way | — | § 500-2809C(1) |

### C Commercial District, CS Shopping Center District, GB General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | Determined per Table 1 and Table 2 based on sign area (max 45 ft) | Up to 150 sq ft per sign; determined by frontage as per Table 1 and Table 2 | — | — | One per street frontage; one per 500 ft of frontage | On premises, fronting designated roadways | — | § 500-2811B(2) |
| Wall Sign (Street Frontage) | Below eaves/parapet | 100 sq ft (max) | — | — | One per facade per occupant | On premises | — | § 500-2811B(3) |
| Wall Sign (Rear or Side Yards) | Below eaves/parapet | 60 sq ft (max) | — | — | One per facade per occupant | Rear/side yards not fronting street | — | § 500-2811B(3) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | — | — | — | One per facade per occupant | Window | — | § 500-2811B(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | One per canopy/walkway entrance | Mounted perpendicular to building face; min 10 ft clearance above sidewalk | — | § 500-2811B(4) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (as part of freestanding or wall sign) | — | — | — | — | — | As part of wall or freestanding sign | — | § 500-2811B(6) |
| Commercial Directional Sign | — | 16 sq ft; entrance/exit sign max 4 sq ft | — | Per § 500-2804, sight triangle | — | On premises | — | § 500-2811B(7) |
| Monument Display Sign | 45 ft | 490 sq ft per face, max 3 faces | — | Max 35 ft from ROW; min 400 ft from residence; 500 ft from other monument sign | No more than three faces per structure | Along Lincoln Highway, within 300 ft of specified intersections | — | § 500-2811D |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempted Sign: Name/Address Sign | — | 120 sq in | — | — | One per occupant | On premises | — | § 500-2805B |
| Exempted Sign: No Trespassing/Prohibition/Fishing/Hunting/Private Road Sign | — | 216 sq in | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 500-2805C |
| Exempted Sign: Real Estate | — | 6 sq ft in residential districts; 12 sq ft in other districts | — | — | One per property; additionals for multi-street frontage | On property for sale/lease/rent | — | § 500-2805D |
| Exempted Sign: Public Service/Restroom/Telephones/Nonprofit/Charitable/Bulletin | — | 4 sq ft (service/meeting signs); 16 sq ft (bulletin/announcement for institutions) | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 500-2805F, § 500-2805H |
| Exempted Sign: Memorial/Historical | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 500-2805I |
| Exempted Sign: Temporary Window Sign | — | Max 50% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | § 500-2805K |
| Exempted Sign: Bunting/Pennants (new business opening) | — | — | — | — | — | On business/industry site | — | § 500-2805N |
| Yard Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One on site; up to three directional | On property and off-premises for directions | — | § 500-2805P |

## Prohibited signs in Middletown Township Bucks

- No sign shall be erected or maintained except in conformance with sign regulations and other applicable Township ordinances.
- No sign shall be erected on a property containing information that the subject property may be used for any purpose not permitted in the zoning district, except for billboards, commercial outdoor advertising signs, monument displays, and off-premises signs.
- Any banner, pennant or novelty-type sign suspended between poles and lighted by a series of lights is prohibited.
- A sign using any method of illumination that can cause glare is prohibited, unless effectively shielded and less than 1/4 footcandle at curbline/shoulder.
- No sign may use the words 'Stop', 'Look', 'Danger', or similar words/characters that direct the movement of traffic or resemble official traffic signs/devices within 75 feet of a public right-of-way or 200 feet of a traffic control device.
- Red or green lights are prohibited within 75 feet of a public right-of-way or 200 feet of a traffic control device, except for traffic control signals.
- Except for temporary community special event signs, any sign erected on a utility pole, street identification sign, traffic control sign/device, streetlight pole, traffic signal pole, tree, or other natural feature is prohibited.
- Any banner, pennant, novelty sign or sign of any other type is prohibited across a public street or on private property, except as explicitly approved by the Board of Supervisors as a conditional use.
- Any sign suspended between poles which blows/spins in the wind is prohibited, except as exempted in § 500-2805.
- Any sign which does not conform to the requirements in effect at time of erection is prohibited.
- Any sign not included in types of signs permitted in district regulations or this article is prohibited.
- Any portable sign, except as permitted in the ordinance, is prohibited.
- Festoon lights are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Signs painted directly on walls are prohibited.
- No sign may block movement of pedestrians on public thoroughfares.
- No sign may block entrance, exit, fire escape, or fire lane to a building.

## Signs exempt from permit in Middletown Township Bucks

- Official highway route number signs, street name signs, directional or other traffic signs erected on public roads and highways in the interest of public safety.
- Signs displaying the name and address of the occupant of the premises, not exceeding 120 square inches; one per occupant per street frontage.
- No-trespassing signs, signs controlling/prohibiting fishing, hunting, etc., or indicating private roads, not exceeding 216 square inches.
- Real estate signs, not exceeding six square feet in residential districts and twelve square feet in other districts; limited number per property and street frontage; must be removed within ten days of sale/lease/rental.
- Legal notices.
- Public service and information signs advertising restrooms, telephones, or similar public conveniences, and nonprofit service/charitable organization meeting times/places, not exceeding four square feet; must not advertise commercial entities except public utilities.
- Vending machine signs showing brand name or price, when displayed on vending machines.
- Bulletin/announcement board signs for institutional, nonprofit service/charitable organizations, not exceeding sixteen square feet per side.
- Memorial or historical signs/tablets, not exceeding four square feet.
- Window signs giving store hours or names of credit/charge institutions, not exceeding two square feet total.
- Temporary window signs, including community special event signs, taking up no more than 50% of window area.
- Signs that are permanent architectural features of a building (e.g., cornerstone, carved/embossed letters, not reflective or in contrast color).
- Mechanics'/artisans' signs during period of work on premises, not exceeding six square feet total, one per property per street frontage; removed upon job completion.
- Bunting, pennants and similar materials announcing the opening of a new business or industry, permitted for up to seven days after opening, with advance written notice to the Township Zoning Officer.
- Revolving barbershop pole sign, not exceeding thirty-six inches in height, only in commercial districts.
- Signs advertising a yard sale, not exceeding four square feet, posted only during sale and not more than once every six months per premises; one per property per street frontage; up to three off-premises directional yard sale signs.
- Opinion sign, provided it is in accordance with § 500-2809B(6).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required from the Township prior to erecting all signs unless specifically exempted.
- Plans and specifications must be filed with the Township before a sign permit is granted, showing sign and building/wall dimensions, location relative to property boundaries, supporting members, height, construction details, materials, photographs for wall signs, and structural engineer seal for signs over 100 square feet.
- The application for a permit must include written consent of the property owner or lessee for Township inspection.
- Permit fees are required as per Township fee schedule.
- Annual registration and inspection are required for all non-exempt signs, with fee and indemnification statement.
- Electrical signs, signs over 10 feet above grade, or signs larger than 24 square feet require a certificate of insurance.
- Electrical/neon signs, or nonelectrical signs 24 square feet or 10 feet above grade, require annual licensing for the erector or agent.
- Monument display applications are reviewed under the Township's standard building permit process; architectural renderings and landscape plans are required; landscaping maintenance agreements may be required.

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

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