# Sign Regulations in North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/north-coventry-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33022999#33022999)

## At a glance

North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania regulates 41 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Subdivision Entrance Sign)s in the Residential Districts (RC Resource Conservation, RR Rural Residential, R-1 Residential, V-1 Village, TC-1 Town Center) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 20 sq ft, with a 10 ft from property line and outside all clear sight triangles setback (Sec. §370-105J). Most commercial signs in North Coventry 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 | 6 | — | 6 sq ft per side | — |
| Residential Districts (RC Resource Conservation, RR Rural Residential, R-1 Residential, V-1 Village, TC-1 Town Center) | 10 | 5 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Use Districts (V-2 Village, TC-2 Town Center) | 9 | 18 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C-1 Commercial District, C-3 Planned Commercial District, C-4 Neighborhood Commercial District) | 17 | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| I-2 (Industrial District) | 1 | 30 ft (with 10 ft ground clearance from grade) | 350 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential Districts (RC Resource Conservation, RR Rural Residential, R-1 Residential, V-1 Village, TC-1 Town Center)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Identification of Church, School, Rec Area, or Farm) | — | 24 sq ft | — | Set back at least 1/3 the distance of required yard from property line | One | — | — | §370-105A |
| Ground/Freestanding Sign (Identification of Church, School, Rec Area, or Farm) | — | 24 sq ft | — | Set back at least 1/3 yard from property line | One | — | — | §370-105A |
| Wall/Freestanding/Ground Sign (Residential Development ID, 12+ units or Sales/Rental Office) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | No more than one per street frontage | On site of development | — | §370-105B |
| Wall/Freestanding/Projecting Sign (Major Home Occupations and Bed & Breakfasts) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One | — | — | §370-105C |
| Wall/Freestanding/Projecting Sign (Sale of Agricultural Products) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One | — | — | §370-105D |
| Trespassing/Private Ownership Signs | — | 1.5 sq ft (per side) | — | — | — | On same premises | — | §370-105H |
| Utility/Municipal Activity Signs | 5 ft | 8 sq ft (per street frontage), 5 ft max height | — | — | — | On lot containing the activity | — | §370-105I |
| Monument Sign (Subdivision Entrance Sign) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line and outside all clear sight triangles | Limited to two signed entrances; all entrances can be signed if multiple entrances | At subdivision/street entrance; min 500 ft apart unless more entrances | — | §370-105J |

### Mixed Use Districts (V-2 Village, TC-2 Town Center)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On building face to which attached | — | §370-106B |
| Projecting Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §370-106C |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | 18 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §370-106D |
| Ground Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §370-106E |
| Canopy/Awning Sign (Nonresidential Uses - Wall Sign Exists) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §370-106F |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | One per premises | — | — | §370-106G, §370-104C(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Township Municipal Building) | 15 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | One | — | — | §370-106I |
| Wall Sign (Township Municipal Building) | — | 32 sq ft (see nonresidential cap) | — | — | One | — | — | §370-106I |

### Commercial District (C-1 Commercial District, C-3 Planned Commercial District, C-4 Neighborhood Commercial District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center/Planned Commercial Center/Highway Commercial/Industrial Park/Office Park) | 30 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §370-107D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (All Other Nonresidential Uses) | 18 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §370-107D(2) |
| Tourist Home/Rooming House Sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft (one side) | — | — | One per street frontage | — | — | §370-107K |
| Business/Commercial Sign (Area Based on Building Frontage) | 12 ft (freestanding); 18 ft (wall-attached) | 80 sq ft | — | — | — | On same lot as use, or on different lot owned by user if directional | — | §370-107L |
| Business/Commercial Sign (Multiple-Occupancy Lot - Option 1: Flat against each facade) | 18 ft | 80 sq ft on any one street frontage (see above) | — | — | — | On facade of each establishment | — | §370-107N(1) |
| Multiple Directory Sign (Multiple-Occupancy Lot - Option 2) | 12 ft (freestanding), 18 ft (wall attached) | — | — | — | One per entrance | At entrance(s) to complex | — | §370-107N(2) |
| Shopping Center Sign (Freestanding) | 18 ft | 100 sq ft (per side), 200 sq ft total | — | — | One per shopping center | At location approved by Township Supervisors | — | §370-107O(2) |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign (On-Premises Freestanding) | As per standards for freestanding signs | May not exceed 40% of total allowable sign face area for freestanding sign | — | — | One per premises | Attached to permitted on-premises freestanding sign | — | §370-107Q |

## Prohibited signs in North Coventry Township

- No sign shall be erected or maintained that prevents free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign, other than official street signs, shall be erected or maintained within the street right-of-way.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position as to endanger pedestrians, bicyclists, or vehicular traffic on a street by obscuring the view or by interfering with official street signs or signals by virtue of position, color or glare.
- No sign is permitted which moves or has any animated or moving parts.
- Signs shall not be illuminated with or contain flashing, rotating, moving or intermittent lighting devices.
- Rotating or moving signs are prohibited.
- No sign, unless specifically authorized by other ordinances, shall be erected within the legal right-of-way of any public street or sidewalk, or shall be closer to a street line than 10 feet (with limited exceptions for real estate signs).
- No snipe signs (signs attached to utility poles, trees, fences, guiderails, etc.) are allowed.
- The following sign types are expressly prohibited in all districts: animated/video signs, beacon signs/lights, bench signs, festoon lighting, marquee signs (except as part of theatre development), nonstationary signs, revolving/moving signs, roof signs, snipe signs, trailer signs (including with electronic changeable copy), under-marquee signs, vehicular signs, pennant signs, billboard signs (except grandfathered or otherwise legally provided).
- No flashing, rotating, or revolving sign (except barbershop poles) is permitted.
- No sign suspended between poles and lighted by a series of lights is permitted.
- No sign suspended between poles consisting of pennants or spinners (except a permitted use) is permitted.
- No sign is permitted to be erected, painted, or drawn on a tree or rock or other natural feature.
- Any banner sign or sign of any other type across a public street is prohibited except as otherwise specifically permitted.
- No sign shall contain information which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the zoning provisions.
- No sign (except traffic control signals) may use red or green lights within 75 feet of a right-of-way or 200 feet of a traffic control device.
- A truck or vehicle not used for normal business operations or not regularly moved may not be used as a sign.
- Outdoor changeable copy or animated signs that use electronic or mechanical means to change messages (other than specified exceptions) are prohibited.
- The use of electronic signs is subject to brightness, movement, animation, and operational controls; animation and streaming video are prohibited; sound emission and hazardous lighting conditions are also prohibited.
- All signs must be constructed of durable materials, conform to building codes, and be maintained in good condition and repair at all times.
- Unsafe, unlawful, or abandoned signs must be removed upon notice from the Township or may be removed by the Township at owner's expense if not removed after required notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Coventry Township

- Official highway route number signs, street name signs, directional, or other official federal, state, county, or Township signs.
- Signs or emblems of a religious, civil, philanthropic, historical or educational organization not exceeding four square feet in area. (Temporary signs for civic events must be removed within three days after the event.)
- Directional information or public service signs such as those for rest rooms, telephone, or meeting times/places of nonprofit service or charitable organizations, not exceeding four square feet, provided they do not significantly advertise a commercial establishment except public utilities.
- Trespassing signs, signs indicating the private nature of a road/driveway, hunting/fishing control, or ownership, provided sign does not exceed two square feet.
- Signs displaying name and address of the occupant of the premises, not exceeding one square foot, and one per property unless property fronts more than one street.
- Governmental flags or insignias not exceeding 80 square feet.
- Legal notices.
- Window signs indicating store hours or credit institutions, not exceeding two square feet.
- Vending machine signs bearing the brand name or price of the product being sold.
- Memorial signs or historical tablets not exceeding four square feet.
- Signs that are permanent architectural features of a building/structure (such as a cornerstone or carved letters) not made of reflective material and not contrasted in color.
- Revolving barbershop pole signs not exceeding 36 inches in height.
- Signs advertising the variety of crop growing in a field, to be removed after the growing season.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit must be obtained from the Township before the erection of any sign, unless specifically exempted in this article.
- Permit exemptions do not relieve owners from compliance with construction, safety, and all other applicable requirements.
- Permit applications must include detailed information (dimensions, locations, materials, sketches, owner consent, fee).
- Temporary signs requiring permits must use the Township's application form and pay required fee.
- The Zoning Officer will determine appropriate scale and compliance of sign proposals before issuing a permit.
- For certain permitted signs (e.g., those for home occupations approved by the Zoning Hearing Board), a separate sign permit may not be required.
- Some special sign types (e.g., electronic changeable copy, or off-premises business signs) require conditional use or special exception approval (Board of Supervisors or Zoning Hearing Board) beyond just the permit application.
- As part of approval for electronic signs, applicants must submit certified post-installation luminance reports and be available for periodic retesting as required by the Township.
- For shopping centers or similar major developments, the location of major freestanding signs must be approved by the Township Supervisors in connection with the required development plan.
- A sign permit is required prior to the erection or modification of any sign, sign structure, or change in location of an existing sign, except those exempted.
- Master sign plan requirements are referenced as part of site development/permitting for large-scale or multi-tenant projects (though explicit references to 'master sign plan' are not located in this excerpt, approval of unified outdoor advertising schemes and shopping center signs require Township review as part of development plan).

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

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