# Sign Regulations in Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/nether-providence-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11545587#11545587)

## At a glance

Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboard (Ground)s in the Industrial Districts, Open Space Preservation Districts zoning district are capped at 35 ft above curb/roadway tall, 240 sq. ft. per face, max two faces per structure, and 50 ft. wide, with a Setback = industrial district requirements OR minimum setback of adjoining property, OR 25 ft, whichever is greatest; must also be 50 ft from any residential district boundary. setback (Sec. § 300-116.5A-D). Most commercial signs in Nether Providence 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 | 10 | 10 feet | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3(a), R-3(b), R-4, R-5) | 8 | — | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial Districts, Open Space Preservation Districts | 3 | 35 ft above curb/roadway | 240 sq. ft. per face, max two faces per structure | — |
| Scenic View District(s), Waterfront District(s), Historic District(s), Tourist Center District | 1 | — | — | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Animated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 300-116.2C |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 10 feet | — | — | Minimum 20 feet from street rights-of-way. | — | Minimum 20 feet from street rights-of-way. | — | § 300-116.2N |
| Signs in Right-Of-Way | — | — | — | — | — | Street rights-of-way. | — | § 300-116.2F |
| Utility Pole or Tree Attached Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Utility poles or trees. | — | § 300-116.2Q |
| Ordinary Traffic and Parking Control Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As authorized by Board of Commissioners | — | § 300-116.2R; § 300-93C |
| Vehicle-Affixed Signs | — | — | — | — | — | On vehicles | — | § 300-116.2G |
| Wall Sign | — | 5% of first floor wall surface | — | — | — | On wall face, part of architectural design | — | § 300-93E, § 300-93F |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 10 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage relating to the building. | — | § 300-93D |

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3(a), R-3(b), R-4, R-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| For Sale or Rental Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | One per frontage | On property for sale/rent | — | § 300-116.3A, § 300-116.3G |
| Development Sign | — | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | One per frontage | On property under development | — | § 300-116.3B, § 300-116.3G |
| Directional/Development Location Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | 4 ft. | — | One per 500 ft. street frontage, up to four per development | Off-premises, indicating direction to development | — | § 300-116.3C, § 300-116.3G |
| Sold or Rented Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | 4 ft. | — | — | On property sold or rented | — | § 300-116.3D, § 300-116.3C, § 300-116.3G |
| Contractor/Mechanic/Artisan Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | One per contractor | On property where work is performed | — | § 300-116.3E, § 300-116.3G |
| Institution Sign (School, Church, Hospital, etc.) | — | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | One per property, two if property fronts more than one street | On property of institution | — | § 300-116.3F, § 300-116.2M, § 300-116.3G |
| Small Sign (≤2 sq. ft.) | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | None | — | Any location except street right-of-way | — | § 300-116.3H, § 300-116.3G |
| Real Estate or Bulletin Board (Church, School, Religious/Educational Institution) | — | — | — | Within 10 feet of street or highway right-of-way | — | Within 10 feet of right-of-way of street or highway | — | § 300-116.3I, § 300-116.3G |

### Industrial Districts, Open Space Preservation Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard (Ground) | 35 ft above curb/roadway | 240 sq. ft. per face, max two faces per structure | 50 ft. | Setback = industrial district requirements OR minimum setback of adjoining property, OR 25 ft, whichever is greatest; must also be 50 ft from any residential district boundary. | — | Must comply with industrial district setbacks or adjoining property minimum, or minimum 25 ft, whichever is greater. | — | § 300-116.5A-D |
| Billboard (Attached) | — | 240 sq. ft. per face, max two faces per structure | 50 ft. | — | — | On the front or face of a building (must be flat/parallel) | — | § 300-116.5A(3), § 300-116.5B |
| Billboard (Digital) | 35 ft above curb/roadway | 240 sq. ft. per face, max two faces per structure | 50 ft. | As per ground billboard | — | Permitted locations as above | — | § 300-116.5E |

## Prohibited signs in Nether Providence Township

- Flashing, animated or moving signs and billboards shall not be permitted in any district.
- No signs or billboards, except those specifically permitted by PennDOT or other governmental body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices, shall be allowed within street rights-of-way.
- A sign or billboard that is not expressly permitted in any given zoning district is prohibited.
- No signs shall be attached to utility poles or trees.
- No person shall permit a dangerous or defective sign or billboard to remain on any premises owned or controlled by him. If not made safe by repair or removal, the Township may remove it at the owner's expense.
- No sign shall be permitted that constitutes a hazard, or that obscures light or air from a building, prevents ingress or egress from any window or exit, or interferes or obstructs the view of motorists or pedestrians.
- Freestanding roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs may not be erected upon, project from, or be suspended from the roof of any building.
- No directional, identifying or other type sign for a family day-care home shall be permitted.
- Signs and billboards lawfully existing at the time of the passage of this article which do not conform to the requirements may only be repainted or repaired within their existing dimensions, and must be removed within 10 years of the adoption of the article.
- Any sign located on a property vacant and unoccupied for 3 months or more or pertaining to an expired event or purpose is deemed abandoned and must be removed.
- Illuminated signs in residential districts must use white light only, not project across property lines, and be on a timer from dusk to 10:00 p.m.
- Ground signs may not exceed 10 feet in height and must be at least 20 feet from street rights-of-way.
- Any vehicle to which a sign is affixed in such a way that its primary purpose becomes signage is subject to sign regulations.
- All signs and billboards must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
- All signs and billboards must comply with federal and state regulations concerning permissible wind pressure.
- No sign face shall block the view from the road or street of any existing business sign, logo sign, structure, or reduce lighting/ventilation requirements.
- Billboards may not be illuminated by artificial lighting.
- No billboard structure, sign face or display lighting shall move, flash or emit noise, or cause distraction, confusion, nuisance, or hazard to traffic, aircraft or other properties.
- Billboards may not be mounted on a roof, wall, or other part of a building, or any other structure, including trees.
- No billboard shall be constructed within the clear sight triangle of the street or obstruct or impede traffic safety, including ingress or egress.
- Billboards shall maintain a minimum spacing of 2,500 feet between billboard structures.
- Digital billboards may not be used to produce changeable letters, figures, images or graphics.
- No billboards shall be permitted along designated scenic byways, in scenic view, waterfront, historic, tourist center, or similar designated districts/areas/corridors.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nether Providence Township

- Ordinary traffic and parking control signs shall be permitted as authorized by the Board of Commissioners.
- Signs specifically permitted by PennDOT or other governmental bodies (including traffic and similar regulatory notices) are exempt from the prohibition on signs within street rights-of-way.
- No permit is required for the erection, alteration, or maintenance of any signs permitted in any residential district (except as to any nonconforming uses existing therein).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- It is unlawful to erect, construct, or alter any sign or billboard (except those signs permitted in the residential district) without first having filed an application with the Township and obtaining a sign or billboard permit.
- A sign permit application must include detailed plans, including dimensions, location, photographs, construction details, owner information, insurance certificate (for billboards), and valuation.
- Whenever a proposed sign or billboard is included in the presentation of a new or amended site plan application, the sign permit application shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission prior to the issuance of a sign permit by the Code Enforcement Officer.
- A landscaping plan is required for the base of billboard structures and must be reviewed and approved by the Code Enforcement Officer.

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

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