# Sign Regulations in North Middleton, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Middleton, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/north-middleton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-26
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11569141#11569141)

## At a glance

North Middleton, Pennsylvania regulates 27 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Signs identifying public and semipublic uses (e.g., schools, churches, utilities, hospitals, libraries, parks, fire stations, post offices and similar uses)s in the Agricultural Zone (AG), Rural Resource Zone (RR), Low-/Medium-Density Residential Zone (R-1), Medium-/High-Density Residential Zone (R-2), Village Mixed-Use Zone (VMU), Neighborhood Commercial Zone (NC), Commercial/Light Industrial Zone (C/LI), Industrial Zone (IND) zoning district are capped at 10 tall and 64 square feet, with a No closer than 10 feet from any lot line setback (Sec. Table 204-41A – Permanent Sign Requirements Table (Signs identifying public and semipublic uses)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Zone (AG), Rural Resource Zone (RR), Low-/Medium-Density Residential Zone (R-1), Medium-/High-Density Residential Zone (R-2), Village Mixed-Use Zone (VMU), Neighborhood Commercial Zone (NC), Commercial/Light Industrial Zone (C/LI), Industrial Zone (IND) | 8 | 25 (whichever is less: 25 ft above ground or above centerline of adjacent street) | 300 square feet | — |
| Commercial/Light Industrial Zone (C/LI), Industrial Zone (IND) | 8 | 15 | 100 or 150 square feet depending on formula | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 10 (freestanding), height of wall to which attached (wall sign) | 64 square feet | — |
| Floodplain Overlay Zone (FPO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Airport Overlay Zone (APO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic Resources Overlay Zone (HRO) | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Agricultural Zone (AG), Rural Resource Zone (RR), Low-/Medium-Density Residential Zone (R-1), Medium-/High-Density Residential Zone (R-2), Village Mixed-Use Zone (VMU), Neighborhood Commercial Zone (NC), Commercial/Light Industrial Zone (C/LI), Industrial Zone (IND)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs owned and associated with uses operated by the Township; official traffic signs | Unlimited | Unlimited | — | — | Unlimited | — | — | Table 204-41A – Permanent Sign Requirements Table (Signs owned and associated with uses operated by the Township; official traffic signs) |
| Signs identifying public and semipublic uses (e.g., schools, churches, utilities, hospitals, libraries, parks, fire stations, post offices and similar uses) | 10 | 64 square feet | — | No closer than 10 feet from any lot line | 2 per principal use | Freestanding: 10 ft max height; Wall: height of wall to which sign is attached; must be no closer than 10 feet from any lot line. | — | Table 204-41A – Permanent Sign Requirements Table (Signs identifying public and semipublic uses) |
| Residential nameplates | 5 | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Freestanding or wall mounted | — | Table 204-41A – Permanent Sign Requirements Table (Residential nameplates identifying name of home, its occupant, or both) |
| Property control sign (e.g., 'No Trespassing', 'Posted', etc.) | 5 | 2 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per 25 linear feet of lot line | — | — | Table 204-41A – Permanent Sign Requirements Table (Property control sign) |
| Residential development/neighborhood signs | 15 | 1 square foot per dwelling, not to exceed 40 square feet per sign | — | No closer than 10 feet from any lot line | 1 per street entrance, no more than 2 total | Freestanding at development/ neighborhood entries | — | Table 204-41A – Permanent Sign Requirements Table (Residential development/ neighborhood signs) |
| Individual business signs (not in planned centers) | 15 (freestanding) | 96 square feet (freestanding); see formula for wall signs | — | No closer than 10 feet from any lot line for wall signs; 20 feet for freestanding | 1 per principal use | Freestanding or wall (height of wall to which sign is attached) | — | Table 204-41A – Permanent Sign Requirements Table (Individual business signs) |
| On-site directional, entrance, exit, rec room and other informational signs | 5 | 2 square feet per sign | — | — | 4 per building | — | — | Table 204-41A – Permanent Sign Requirements Table (On-site directional/informational signs) |
| Billboards | 25 (whichever is less: 25 ft above ground or above centerline of adjacent street) | 300 square feet | — | 25 ft from street ROW, 35 ft from side/rear lot lines, 250 ft from residential, 500 ft from another billboard | 1 per lot/structure (may have double face) | IND zone only | — | Table 204-41A – Permanent Sign Requirements Table (Billboards), § 204-49H |

### Commercial/Light Industrial Zone (C/LI), Industrial Zone (IND)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding planned center sign (50,000+ sq ft) | 15 | 64 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage or exit | 1 per street frontage or exit | — | Table 204-41D – Signage for Planned Center Sites Containing 50,000 Square Feet or More of Gross Leasable Floor Area |
| Anchor tenant sign (Planned Center 50,000+ sq ft, >150 LF of storefront) | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 100 or 150 square feet depending on formula | — | — | 1 per side facing a street (max 2) | 1 per side facing a street (max 2 signs) | — | Table 204-41D – Signage for Planned Center Sites Containing 50,000+ Square Feet |
| Storefront sign (Planned Center 50,000+ sq ft, ≤150 LF of storefront) | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 75 square feet | — | — | 1 per principal use | Flat wall or wall projecting | — | Table 204-41D – Signage for Planned Center Sites Containing 50,000+ Square Feet |
| Freestanding planned center sign (Planned Center <50,000 sq ft) | 15 | 64 square feet | — | — | 1 per planned center | 1 per planned center | — | Table 204-41C – Signage for Planned Center Sites Containing Less than 50,000 Square Feet |
| Anchor tenant sign (Planned Center <50,000 sq ft, >150 LF of storefront) | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 75 or 100 square feet (per formula) | — | — | 1 per side facing a street (max 2) | — | — | Table 204-41C – Signage for Planned Center Sites Containing <50,000 Square Feet |
| Storefront sign (Planned Center <50,000 sq ft, ≤150 LF of storefront) | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per principal use | — | — | Table 204-41C – Signage for Planned Center Sites Containing <50,000 Square Feet |
| Storefront under-canopy signs (all principal uses) | To base of canopy; if none, 10 | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per principal use | — | — | Storefront under-canopy signs requirement table (C/LI and IND) |
| Outparcel signs for principal freestanding uses sharing common ingress and egress to planned center | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 75 square feet per sign | — | — | 2 per principal use, but only 1 per wall | — | — | Outparcel signs for principal freestanding uses in planned centers |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary signs of contractors, architects, mechanics, landscapers, and artisans (while onsite work is in progress) | 5 | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per firm whose work is in progress | Freestanding | — | Table 204-41B – Temporary Sign Requirements Table (contractors/artisan signs) |
| Real estate sale, sold or rent sign (<3 acres) | 5 (freestanding), height of wall to which attached (wall sign) | 9 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per street frontage, max 2 | Freestanding, or wall | — | Table 204-41B – Temporary Sign Requirements Table (Real estate sale/rent sign <3 acres) |
| Real estate sale, sold or rent sign (>3 acres) | 10 (freestanding), height of wall to which attached (wall sign) | 32 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per street frontage, max 2 | Freestanding, or wall | — | Table 204-41B – Temporary Sign Requirements Table (Real estate sale/rent sign >3 acres) |
| Proposed development signs – residential, office complexes | 10 | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage, max 2 | Freestanding | — | Proposed development signs for residential/office from North Middleton Code |
| Proposed development signs – commercial, industrial, other nonresidential, or any combination (after final plan approval) | 10 | 64 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage, max 2 | Freestanding | — | Proposed development signs for commercial/industrial/nonresidential from North Middleton Code |
| Roadside stand signs (farm agricultural product sale) | 5 | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per farm | Freestanding/wall | — | Table 204-41B – Temporary Sign Requirements Table (Roadside stand signs) |
| Garage/yard sale signs | 5 | 6 square feet per sign | — | — | 2 | Freestanding | — | Table 204-41B – Temporary Sign Requirements Table (Garage/yard sale signs) |
| Political signs | 5 | 12 square feet | — | — | Unlimited | Freestanding | — | Table 204-41B – Temporary Sign Requirements Table (Political signs) |

## Prohibited signs in North Middleton

- No sign shall be maintained within the Township in such a state of disrepair as to have the appearance of complete neglect, which is rotting or falling down, which is illegible or has loose parts separated from original fastenings.
- No sign shall be structurally unsafe or endanger the safety of the building or premises or public safety.
- No sign shall be located so as to interfere with visibility for motorists at street or driveway intersections.
- No sign located within 300 feet of any traffic light shall be illuminated with red, green or yellow lights or neon tubing.
- No sign shall interfere with any clear-sight triangle.
- No sign shall be attached to public utility poles or trees within the right-of-way of any street.
- No sign shall display loud, vulgar, indecent or obscene advertising matter in any manner.
- No sign shall be erected or located as to prevent free ingress or egress from any window, door or fire escape.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct light or air from a building, or create a traffic danger.
- No sign shall be placed within the Floodplain Overlay Zone (FPO).
- No point of any sign, including trim, border and supports, shall be located within 10 feet of any property or street right-of-way line (except as specifically exempted).
- Any sign attached to a building shall not be placed on the roof or be higher than the wall to which it is attached.
- No point of a wall projecting sign shall be located less than 8.5 feet above the grade directly below the sign.
- No sign shall be placed on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers that are parked on a public right-of-way, public or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way if the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business, organization, or other activity.
- No sign shall contain or be used to display advertising for solar energy systems.
- No sign shall cause a glare or emit light onto the surrounding area (for illuminated signs).
- No sign shall project more than 12 inches from the face of a wall unless classified as a wall projecting sign and permitted.
- Billboards are prohibited except as specifically allowed and regulated by §204-49H.
- No sign shall be located within any legal easement or right-of-way.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Middleton

- Signs owned and associated with uses operated by the Township and official traffic signs are exempt from number, area, height, and permitting requirements.
- Signs indicating the name and address of the occupant or a permitted home occupation, not larger than 4 square feet per dwelling unit (or 2 on a corner lot), are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Property control signs (e.g., 'No Trespassing,' 'Private Property,' 'Posted,' 'Private Drive') not greater than 2 square feet per sign and spaced at not less than 25-foot intervals are exempt from permitting requirements.
- On-site directional, entrance, exit, rec room, and other informational signs up to 2 square feet per sign and up to 4 per building are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Garage/yard sale signs up to 2 per property, 6 square feet per sign, are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Political signs are exempt from permitting requirements and have no limit on number, and are regulated as to display timeframe, size (12 square feet) and height (5 feet).
- Temporary signs for contractors, architects, mechanics, landscapers, and artisans displayed only while actual on-site work is in progress; 1 per firm, up to 12 square feet, 5 feet high, exempt from permit.
- Real estate sale, sold, or rent signs when placed upon the property being advertised (up to 2 per street frontage) are exempt from building permit if under 9 square feet and five feet high for lots under 3 acres. For larger lots, a permit may be needed if over 9 square feet.
- Nameplates or identification signs as specified in §204-41C(2) are permitted by right and exempt from the need to secure a zoning permit.
- Signs intended for viewing principally from within a building or signs temporarily attached to inside face of a display window, not occupying more than 33 1/3% of the total display window area, are not regulated as exterior signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Planned center signage (for shopping centers and similar developments) is regulated by special tables (204-41C and 204-41D) which define sign standards for centers less than and greater than 50,000 square feet of gross leasable area. These sign standards apply in addition to other zone-specific requirements.
- For all nonresidential planned centers, signage is tied to a 'planned center' concept and provides specified allowances for freestanding planned center signs, anchor tenant signs, storefront signs, and under-canopy signs.
- Some sign classes (notably, planned center and development/construction signs) specify in the requirements that a final plan be approved before the sign is erected; this implies that a master sign plan or similar documentation as part of a plan approval is required before permit issuance for these signs.
- For all principal solar energy systems, a land development plan must be submitted and approved in accordance with the North Middleton Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, which includes the placement, design, and integration of signage if any is proposed (see §204-49AA(2)(a)).
- Signs for proposed developments (residential, commercial, industrial, or other nonresidential uses) are only permitted after final plan is approved (see Table 204-41B, 'only after final plan is approved' or 'only after final plan approval'); the applicant is thus required to submit and have approved a development or master sign plan as part of the subdivision or land development process.
- All signage requiring a building or zoning permit (as indicated on the sign tables) must meet applicable plan submission requirements in §204-70, including a drawing (site plan) showing proposed layout, all dimensions, construction materials, and conformance to standards.
- For conditional uses and special exceptions, the applicant's site plan including proposed signage becomes part of the official record and is binding upon approval, so submission of a sign plan is integral to entitlements involving the Zoning Hearing Board or Board of Supervisors (see §204-64C(4) and §204-73D).

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

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