# Sign Regulations in Montgomery Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Montgomery Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/montgomery-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11517313#11517313)

## At a glance

Montgomery Township, Pennsylvania regulates 48 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Business Sign (Single User)s in the Shopping Center District (S), Commercial District (C), Business District, Limited Industrial District (LI), Highway Limited Industrial District (HLI), Highway Limited Industrial District II (HLI-II) zoning district are capped at 20 feet (at max setback) tall and 70 sq ft (at max setback), with a Minimum 15 feet from curb/roadway setback (Sec. §230-127(A)(4)(a)-(b)[1], §230-127(A)(8)). Most commercial signs in Montgomery Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | — | — |
| Single-family detached residential district (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3A, R-5, R-6) | 13 | 6 feet | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential garden apartments, townhouse developments, mobile home developments and age-qualified residential communities (R-3, R-3A, MHP, AQRC) | 5 | 6 feet | 34 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Center District (S), Commercial District (C), Business District, Limited Industrial District (LI), Highway Limited Industrial District (HLI), Highway Limited Industrial District II (HLI-II) | 13 | 23 ft or 5 ft (for alternate configuration) | 350 sq ft (max), 50 sq ft (min if calculation is less) | — |
| Limited Industrial District (LI) (Lifestyle Apartments with No Public Street Frontage) | 3 | 10 feet | 34 sq ft | — |
| Regional Shopping Center Zone (RS) | 7 | 35 feet | No individual sign to exceed 500 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Single-family detached residential district (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3A, R-5, R-6)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parallel Sign or Projecting Sign | 4 feet above ground floor | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | §230-126(A)(2) |
| Professional Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | On-premises | — | §230-126(B)(1)(b) |
| Nonconforming Use Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On-premises | — | §230-126(B)(1)(c) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On the property being sold/rented | — | §230-126(B)(1)(d) |
| Temporary Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | On-premises | — | §230-126(B)(1)(e) |
| Contractor Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On the property being worked on | — | §230-126(B)(1)(f) |
| No Trespassing / Similar Sign | — | 4 sq ft per 150 ft frontage | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §230-126(B)(1)(g) |
| Institution Sign (school, church, hospital) | — | 24 sq ft (one face) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On same lot as institution | — | §230-126(B)(1)(i) |

### Shopping Center District (S), Commercial District (C), Business District, Limited Industrial District (LI), Highway Limited Industrial District (HLI), Highway Limited Industrial District II (HLI-II)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Business Sign (Single User) | 20 feet (at max setback) | 70 sq ft (at max setback) | — | Minimum 15 feet from curb/roadway | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage on public right-of-way | — | §230-127(A)(4)(a)-(b)[1], §230-127(A)(8) |
| Freestanding Business Sign (Multitenant/Multiple Buildings) | 23 ft or 5 ft (for alternate configuration) | 100 sq ft or 2 signs totaling 50 sq ft each | — | Minimum 15 ft from curb/roadway | 1 or 2 per frontage (if alternate method used; must be 50 ft apart) | Per street frontage; at least 50 ft apart if 2 signs | — | §230-127(A)(4)(b)[2] |
| Directional Sign (Driveway) | 3 feet | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per driveway | At each driveway | — | §230-127(A)(4)(b)[3] |
| Temporary Sale/Special Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft per side (max banner area 120 sq ft) | — | Min 15 ft behind curb/edge | 1 per street frontage | Min 15 ft behind curb/edge of pavement in non-curbed areas | — | §230-127(A)(5) |
| Inflatable Specialty Sign | 12 feet | — | 12 feet (diameter, if round balloon) | — | — | At designated special events; may be on roof for grand opening only (max 12 ft above parapet wall, once for up to 1 week) | — | §230-127(A)(6) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property for sale/rent | — | §230-127(A)(7) |
| Directional Sign (Off-site Real Estate) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Min 7 ft behind curb/edge | Max 2 per sale/rental | Off-site as directional support for real estate sales/rentals | — | §230-127(A)(7)(a-b-c-d) |
| Nonprofit Temporary Ground Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 7 ft from curb/edge | Max 15 Township-wide | Min 7 ft behind curb or pavement edge | — | §230-127(A)(10) |

### Regional Shopping Center Zone (RS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parallel Sign or Awning Sign (Retail Store with Exterior Entrance) | — | No individual sign to exceed 500 sq ft | — | — | — | Exterior walls of a retail store with exterior entrance | — | §230-128(A)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (State Road Frontage, Regional Shopping Center) | 35 feet | 450 sq ft (if >=800,000 GLA); 300 sq ft (if <800,000 GLA) | — | Min 25 ft from right-of-way | 1 per state road frontage | State road frontage; min 25 ft from right-of-way | — | §230-128(B)(1) |
| Changeable-Copy Sign (State Road, within Freestanding Sign) | — | 150 sq ft (included in freestanding sign) | — | — | 1 per state road frontage | As part of freestanding sign on state road frontage | — | §230-128(B)(1)(a) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Entry Drive, County/Local Road) | 5 feet | 75 sq ft per side | — | Min 25 ft from right-of-way | 1 per entry drive | At entry drives on county/local road | — | §230-128(B)(2) |
| Directional Information Sign | 8 feet | 64 sq ft | — | Min 25 ft from curb/edge | — | Guiding shoppers; where drive-aisles intersect with ring-road | — | §230-128(B)(3) |
| Parallel Sign/Awning Sign (Pad Sites) | — | 350 sq ft max, 50 sq ft min | — | — | — | Pad site exterior wall/awning | — | §230-128(C)(1) |
| Window Sign (Pad Sites) | — | Included in total sign computation if over 25% of window area | — | — | — | Windows (inside/outside) | — | §230-128(C)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Montgomery Township

- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Revolving signs are prohibited.
- Festoon lighting is prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Trailer signs are prohibited.
- Beacon lights are prohibited.
- Street banner signs are prohibited, except for street banner signs promoting municipal purposes.
- Vehicular signs are prohibited.
- Any sign or part of a sign with flashing, intermittent lighting, sequential lights, revolving, moving, oscillating or movable parts, reflectors, changing colors or intensity of illumination using electric energy, or which changes sign image or text, or which flaps in the wind is prohibited, with the exception of signs that display time, temperature and/or date exclusively and barber poles.
- Mobile or portable signs, including signs intended by design to be easily moved or relocated or not permanently affixed to a structure or the ground, are prohibited unless permitted as a temporary sign.
- No signs shall be placed so as to endanger traffic by obscuring clear view or by confusion with local street signs or signals by virtue of position or color.
- No sign shall be located or arranged to interfere with traffic through glare, blocking reasonable sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways, or confusion with traffic control devices by reason of color, location, shape, or other means.
- No sign, other than official street signs and street banner signs promoting municipal purposes, shall be erected or maintained within the existing legal right-of-way of any public road.
- No sign shall project more than 72 inches over a public walkway, except for street banner signs promoting municipal purposes.
- The lower edge of any sign projecting into the right-of-way shall not be less than 10 feet above the walk level.
- Temporary illuminated signs are not permitted within 10 feet of any existing or future road right-of-way.
- Any sign tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, hung, glued or otherwise attached to a tree, post, bus shelter, stake, light stand, fence or other object is prohibited unless for the purpose of posting 'no hunting' or 'no trespassing.'
- No freestanding sign can occupy a designated parking area, walkway, cartway, driveway, or area designated for any other use.
- Supporting structural members and foundations must be approved before installation; illegal, damaged, or unsafe signs must be removed.
- It is illegal to install any electrical sign without the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., label prominently affixed thereon.
- Signs must be kept in good repair; unmaintained or endangering/deteriorated signs are subject to removal.

## Signs exempt from permit in Montgomery Township

- Official street signs and street banner signs promoting municipal purposes are not subject to the prohibition against signs in the public right-of-way.
- Signs for posting 'no hunting' or 'no trespassing' may be attached to objects as described, and are exempt from the prohibition on signs attached to trees, posts, etc.
- Displays and/or demonstrations held by police or emergency service organizations, Township-sponsored or recognized events when conducted on Township-owned property, and customary company picnics are exempt from special event permit requirements unless a tent or temporary structure is erected.
- Montgomery Township events are exempt from the limitation of 15 temporary ground signs for nonprofit organizations promoting events.
- Signs inside the interior of any enclosed regional shopping center (in the RS zone) are not considered on-premises signs, thus are exempt from exterior sign regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Detailed plans showing supporting structural members and foundations must be submitted to the Building Inspector's office for approval before issuance of a permit. For freestanding signs in excess of 50 square feet on one side and over 10 feet in height above grade, a seal of a registered professional engineer approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is required on all such plans.
- Applications for sign permits must be accompanied by a site plan, drawings to scale, zoning district info, and structural details.
- A site plan clearly outlining the property and the proposed area where a special event or outdoor sales will occur must be submitted for review as part of a special event permit.
- All signs must be approved prior to the issuance of a special event or outdoor sales permit; only one temporary sign per street frontage is allowed for such events.
- Any sign or a portion thereof projecting into Montgomery Township from an adjoining municipality requires the issuance of a sign permit.
- In cases where a sign does not comply with ordinance provisions, sign removal/alteration may be required by zoning officer; no specific reference to a master sign plan or variance process is present in the provided text.

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

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