# Sign Regulations in Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/muhlenberg-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34546670#34546670)

## At a glance

Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania regulates 23 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Development Entrance Sign (Freestanding or Ground) (20+ units)s in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 zoning district are capped at 20 ft (wall/fence structure up to 8 ft high, max 120 sq ft area) tall and 32 sq ft per sign, with a 5 ft from ROW; 20 ft from property lines setback (Sec. §355-121D). Most commercial signs in Muhlenberg Township 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 | 13 | Per §355-120 | Per §355-120 | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 | 5 | 20 ft (wall/fence structure up to 8 ft high, max 120 sq ft area) | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| C-1, SA-1 | 5 | 20 ft above ground, min 8 ft above ground | Per §355-120 Summarization Chart | — |
| C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2 | 7 | 40 ft to top (min 10 ft to bottom edge) | 680 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Property) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way | 1 | At least 10 ft from street right-of-way line | — | §355-119K(1), §355-124A(4) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Property) | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | At least 10 ft from street right-of-way line | — | §355-119K(2), §355-124A(5) |
| Traffic Control and Directional Sign (In ROW) | As stipulated on permit | As stipulated on permit | — | — | As stipulated on permit | Within street right-of-way | — | §355-119L(1) |
| Traffic Control and Directional Sign (Outside ROW) | Per §355-120 | Per §355-120 | — | 2 ft from street right-of-way; 10 ft from property lines | — | Outside street right-of-way, on private property | — | §355-119L(2) |
| Temporary Contractor/Builder/Developer Sign | 20 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | As described | On premises where work is being performed | — | §355-124A(3) |
| Special Event Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 32 inches (for ground sign), Not above roofline for banner/wall sign | 24 sq ft (total for all signs) | — | At least 2 ft from street right-of-way line; Banners, balloons, etc. at least 20 ft from right-of-way and 30 ft from property line | — | Not closer than 2 ft from street right-of-way line | — | §355-124B(1)-(10) |
| Grand Opening/Promotional Sign | — | 24 sq ft per sign, max 2 signs | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way, 20 ft from property line (signs); 20 ft and 30 ft (features) | 2 | At least 10 ft from street right-of-way line and 20 ft from all other property lines | — | §355-124C(2)-(4) |
| Banner (Across Public Street) | — | — | — | Min. 18 ft above street | 8 per street/public way | Across public street right-of-way | — | §355-124D |

### R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Individual Nameplate/Address Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | 2 ft from property lines | — | Outside street right-of-way, 2 ft from all other property lines | — | §355-121A |
| Property Control or Restriction Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §355-121B |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | 2 ft from ROW, 5 ft from property lines | 1 | Fixed flat on main wall OR in front yard, min. 2 ft from ROW, 5 ft from other property lines | — | §355-121C |
| Development Entrance Sign (Freestanding or Ground) (20+ units) | 20 ft (wall/fence structure up to 8 ft high, max 120 sq ft area) | 32 sq ft per sign | — | 5 ft from ROW; 20 ft from property lines | 2 per entrance | Five ft from street ROW, 20 ft from all other property lines; not in clear sight triangle | — | §355-121D |
| Residential Development Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | Interior of residential development | — | §355-121E |

### C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground or Freestanding Sign | — | Per §355-120 Summarization Chart | — | — | 1 | — | — | §355-122B |
| Wall or Parallel Sign (Option 1) | — | 20% of building front, not to exceed 300 sq ft cumulative | — | — | 8 | On building wall, parallel | — | §355-122B |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft above ground, min 8 ft above ground | 20 sq ft (per side, double-faced allowed) | — | — | 1 | Perpendicular to wall, extend 1-12 ft from building, not over access/drives | — | §355-122B |
| Directional Sign | — | Per §355-120 Summarization Chart | — | — | 4 per acre | — | — | §355-122B |
| Accessory Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | §355-122B |
| Category 1 Billboard (Off-premises) | 40 ft to top (min 10 ft to bottom edge) | 250 sq ft | — | 10-100 ft from ROW; 30 ft from property lines; 300 ft from nearest street intersection/interchange | — | Along Route 222 Business and Route 61, must be 10-100 ft from ROW, 30 ft from property lines, 300 ft from street intersection | — | §355-123A(1), §355-123B, §355-123C, §355-123D, §355-123E |
| Category 2 Billboard (Off-premises) | 40 ft to top (min 10 ft to bottom edge) | 680 sq ft | — | 10-100 ft from ROW; 30 ft from property lines; 300 ft from nearest street intersection/interchange | — | Along Route 222 Bypass and Route 12, must be 10-100 ft from ROW, 30 ft from property lines, 300 ft from street intersection | — | §355-123A(2), §355-123B, §355-123C, §355-123D, §355-123E |

## Prohibited signs in Muhlenberg Township

- No signs shall be posted, stapled or otherwise permanently attached to public utility poles or trees within a street right-of-way.
- No sign shall be located, placed or arranged in any manner that interferes with vehicular traffic, including the obstruction of sight distance.
- No sign that is a part of or is supported by a building shall be erected upon the roof of such building, nor shall such sign extend above the height of the building.
- No ground or freestanding sign shall be located within the clear sight triangle of a street intersection.
- The use of red, green or amber lights on any sign within 200 feet of a street intersection shall be prohibited.
- The use of intermittent, flashing or animated lighting within 50 feet of a street right-of-way line and 200 feet from the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 Zoning Districts shall be prohibited.
- The use of illuminated signs within the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 Zoning Districts shall be prohibited unless specifically related to emergency management uses, medical facilities, municipal uses, institutional uses, and other similar uses considered appropriate by the Zoning Officer.
- Spinning, animated, twirling or any other moving objects used for commercial advertising purposes with or without a message are prohibited.
- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or lighted moving signs of any type are prohibited, except those portions of signs that indicate time-and-temperature changes.
- Balloons, streamers, banner and promotion signs exceeding the provisions of § 355-124 are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Signs located on parked vehicles within 50 feet of the street right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs containing vulgar messages or depicting any lewd, pornographic, lascivious or other offensive acts are prohibited.
- Any sign exceeding the provisions for location, placement, type, area, height, clearance, visibility, sight distance, projection, quantity and illumination as specified in the Code is prohibited.
- No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises owned or controlled by that person a sign which has been abandoned.

## Signs exempt from permit in Muhlenberg Township

- Real estate signs for the selling, renting or leasing of residential or nonresidential properties are permitted, subject to stated size, placement, and removal timing requirements.
- Property control or restriction signs (such as 'no trespassing,' 'no hunting,' 'no solicitation') are permitted, subject to area and spacing limits.
- Traffic control and directional signs, as permitted under the authority of Muhlenberg Township or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
- Temporary signs may be permitted, provided they are not considered permanent and comply with the provisions of the chapter.
- Special event or promotional signs may be permitted, provided they are not considered permanent and comply with the chapter.
- Special use signs may be permitted, provided they are not considered permanent and comply with the chapter.
- Political signs, subject to compliance with all other provisions.
- Business and advertising signs located within a sports facility or venue operated by a recognized nonprofit organization, and meeting specific requirements.
- Directional signs within the interior of a residential development, subject to size and number limits.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application for any sign requires three copies of plans and diagrams drawn to scale, including lot dimensions, sign details, and other required information.
- The matrix chart in § 355-120 summarizes categorical sign requirements, quantity, height, area, location, and permit procedures, and is subject to interpretation by the Zoning Officer.
- No sign permit shall be issued except in conformity with the regulations of this article, or upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board for a granted variance.
- In the event of a dispute concerning the interpretation of the sign regulations, an appeal may be filed with the Zoning Hearing Board.
- A special event sign permit is required for each sign used to advertise any special event during any calendar year, with all dates and details to be established on the permit application.
- Banners displayed across public streets for community events require a banner permit submitted at least 45 days prior, and approval from the Board of Commissioners.
- For all off-premises advertising (billboards), permit applications must include signed and sealed plans from a licensed engineer and a property owner agreement.
- Prior to the issuance of a sign permit for residential developments with 20 or more units, applicants must show evidence of proper sign and landscaping maintenance plans and durable construction.

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

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