# Sign Regulations in North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/north-whitehall-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35648339#35648339)

## At a glance

North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania regulates 36 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Off-Premises Sign (Billboard)s in the LI/B District, ME/I District zoning district are capped at 35 ft above adjacent street (measured at street center line) tall and 300 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces), with a Min 10 ft from every lot line and street r-o-w setback (Sec. §440-75.E). Most commercial signs in North Whitehall 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 | 29 | 8 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| All residential districts | 3 | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| VC District | 3 | 12 ft | 30 sq ft | — |
| C District (other than a shopping center), PC District (other than a shopping center) | 3 | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| C District (for a shopping center), PC District (for a shopping center) | 4 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| LI/B District, ME/I District | 5 | 35 ft above adjacent street (measured at street center line) | 300 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Products Sign | — | 8 sq ft (residential); 15 sq ft (nonresidential) | — | — | 2 | On-premises of a principal agricultural use | — | §440-66.A |
| Contractor's Sign | — | 8 sq ft (residential); 20 sq ft (nonresidential). Exception: up to 5 signs of 50 sq ft for projects >$3M. | — | — | 2 (typical); up to 5 for large projects | Where work is actively ongoing or completed within 10 days | — | §440-66.A |
| Directional Sign (General, not development directional) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | No maximum | On same lot only | — | §440-66.A |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way unless on mailbox | 1 | May be freestanding, flat on building wall, or in window; set back 10 ft from street r-o-w unless on mailbox | — | §440-66.A |
| Identification Sign | 8 ft | 1 sq ft (residential); 2 sq ft for principal nonresidential uses (residential); 6 sq ft (nonresidential lots) | — | — | 1 | — | — | §440-66.A |
| Proposed (Temporary) Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property after application, removed as per rules | — | §440-66.A |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft (residential); 32 sq ft (nonresidential) | — | — | 1 per abutting street | On property for sale/lease/rent | — | §440-66.A |
| Major Development Identification Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | Total structure length max 20 ft | — | Up to 2 for business developments | At major development entrances; outside rights-of-way | — | §440-76.A,B,E,H |

### C District (for a shopping center), PC District (for a shopping center)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Each side of building facing a street or directly facing other principal business uses | — | §440-67.A |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building face | — | §440-67.A |
| Freestanding Sign (Option 1) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per street: Option 1 (100 sq ft), Option 2 (50 sq ft) | Per abutting street | — | §440-67.A |
| Freestanding Sign (Option 2) | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per street: Option 1 (100 sq ft), Option 2 (50 sq ft) | Per abutting street | — | §440-67.A |

### LI/B District, ME/I District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Each side of building facing a street or directly facing other principal business uses | — | §440-67.A |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building face | — | §440-67.A |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per abutting street | 1 per street the lot abuts | — | §440-67.A |
| Directional Sign (Major Business Development Interior) | — | 80 sq ft | — | — | — | Within a qualified business development per §440-76.I | — | §440-76.I |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 35 ft above adjacent street (measured at street center line) | 300 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces) | — | Min 10 ft from every lot line and street r-o-w | 1 per lot | Within 300 ft of expressway r-o-w, min 10 ft from lot line or street r-o-w. | — | §440-75.E |

## Prohibited signs in North Whitehall Township

- A zoning permit shall be required for all signs except for exempt or certain nonpermanent nonilluminated window signs.
- Only types, sizes and heights of signs that are specifically permitted by this chapter within the applicable district are allowed.
- Portable and temporary signs are prohibited in all districts, except for certain temporary allowances as specifically provided.
- No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with required sight distances for vehicles within a lot or as set forth in § 440-79.
- No signs except permitted off-premises, official, political or public service signs shall be erected on a property to which it does not relate.
- No sign shall be posted on any property or sign pole or public utility pole, unless permission has been received by the owner.
- No permanent sign shall be attached to a utility pole, except by an authorized utility.
- Any vehicle or structure used primarily to carry a sign is considered a freestanding sign and must comply as such.
- Signs advertising a use no longer in existence must be removed within 180 days of cessation of such use.
- Signs are prohibited if they are moving objects used to attract attention to a commercial use (unless allowed as flags or banners under § 440-66).
- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs are prohibited (except time and temperature signs may flash; Christmas lighting is exempt).
- Signs which emit smoke, vapors, sound, or odor are prohibited.
- Signs containing information that states or implies a lot may be used for an unpermitted purpose are prohibited.
- Signs resembling or imitating official traffic signs or which may confuse or distract vehicle operators are prohibited.
- Signs using reflective materials to appear as flashing, blinking, or twinkling are prohibited.
- Signs or displays visible from a lot line with obscene, pornographic or highly offensive content are prohibited.
- Balloons over 25 cubic feet and tethered for over a day for advertising are prohibited.
- Floodlights and outdoor lasers for advertising purposes are prohibited (except as provided in § 440-66).
- Signs attached to utility poles are prohibited, except by an authorized utility.
- Every permanent sign must be constructed of durable materials and kept in good condition.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Whitehall Township

- Signs meeting the requirements of § 440-66 (miscellaneous signs not requiring permits) do not require a zoning permit.
- Nonilluminated window signs constructed of paper, cardboard or similar materials and that are not of a permanent nature do not require a permit.
- Historic signs specifically authorized by the Township or a county, state, or federal agency are not regulated by this chapter.
- Holiday decorations commemorating recognized holidays and not including advertising are not regulated by this chapter.
- Signs not visible from any public street or exterior lot line are not regulated by this chapter.
- Official signs erected by the state, county, Township, or other legally constituted governmental body, or specifically authorized by Township ordinance or resolution, are not regulated by this chapter.
- Physically carried signs (signs physically carried by a person) are not regulated by this chapter.
- Signs that only include information required to be posted outdoors by a government agency or the Township are not regulated by this chapter.
- Signs posted within the existing right-of-way of a public street and officially authorized by the Township or PennDOT are not regulated by this chapter.
- Very small signs (less than one square foot in area and not readable from a public street or exterior lot line) are not regulated by this chapter.
- Flags of any nation or level of government are not regulated by this chapter.

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

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