# Sign Regulations in Northampton Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Northampton Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/northampton-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34430224)

## At a glance

Northampton Township, Pennsylvania regulates 15 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Village Overlay District zoning district are capped at 16 feet tall and 25 square feet, with a At least 5 feet from the street right-of-way line setback (Sec. § 27-1605). Most commercial signs in Northampton 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 | 5 | — | 32 square feet | Yes |
| AR, EP, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5, CR, REC, I-P | 3 | 6 feet | 12 square feet | Yes |
| C-2, C-3, I-1, P-O, VOD | 6 | 16 feet | 50 square feet or 20% of front building facade | Yes |
| Village Overlay District | 7 | 16 feet | 50 square feet or 20% of the front building facade, whichever is less | Yes |

## 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) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | No more than two signs per property | Not within street right-of-way; not within 5 feet of adjoining property line | Yes | ¤ 27-1603.11.A |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | No more than one sign per street frontage | At least 5 feet from street right-of-way; 20 feet from other property lines | Yes | ¤ 27-1603.11.B |
| Property Control or Restriction Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | Not specified | Spacing of at least 100 feet apart on the same lot | Yes | ¤ 27-1603.11.C |
| Special Event, Seasonal or Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | Not specified | Not specified | Yes | ¤ 27-1603.11.D |
| Traffic Control and Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | Not specified | Not within street right-of-way; 10 feet from other property lines | Yes | ¤ 27-1603.12 |

### C-2, C-3, I-1, P-O, VOD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 25 square feet | — | — | No more than one sign per lot | At least 5 feet from street right-of-way; 20 feet from other property lines | Yes | ¤ 27-1605.3.A |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 feet | 25 square feet | — | — | No more than one sign per lot | At least 5 feet from street right-of-way; 20 feet from other property lines | Yes | ¤ 27-1605.3.A |
| Wall or Parallel Sign | — | 50 square feet or 20% of front building facade | — | — | Not specified | Any building facade | Yes | ¤ 27-1605.2.B |
| Projecting Sign | 16 feet | 25 square feet | — | — | — | Mounted upon a building | Yes | § 27-1605 |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of the cumulative front window space | — | — | — | Affixed to or visible through a window | Yes | § 27-1605 |
| Message Center Sign | — | 25 square feet or 50% of sign area, whichever is less | — | — | One per property | Freestanding or ground signs only | Yes | § 27-1605 |

### Village Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 feet | 25 square feet | — | At least 5 feet from the street right-of-way line | No more than one per lot | At least 5 feet from the street right-of-way line | Yes | § 27-1605 |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 25 square feet | — | At least 5 feet from the street right-of-way line | No more than one per lot | At least 5 feet from the street right-of-way line | Yes | § 27-1605 |
| Wall Sign or Parallel Sign | — | 50 square feet or 20% of the front building facade, whichever is less | — | — | — | Affixed to the wall, facade, or vertical surface of a building | Yes | § 27-1605 |
| Projecting Sign | 16 feet | 25 square feet | — | — | — | Mounted upon a building | Yes | § 27-1605 |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of the cumulative front window space | — | — | — | Affixed to or visible through a window | Yes | § 27-1605 |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | Limited to two per street intersection | Interior of a development | Yes | § 27-1605 |
| Message Center Sign | — | 25 square feet or 50% of sign area, whichever is less | — | — | One per property | Freestanding or ground signs only | Yes | § 27-1605 |

## Prohibited signs in Northampton Township

- Spinning, animated, twirling or any other moving objects used for commercial advertising purposes with or without a message, where the spinning, animation and/or twirling occurs.
- LED, flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated, or other message changing devices used for commercial advertising purposes unless specifically permitted.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the highest roofline or upon any structure, which extends above the highest roofline of any building.
- Wall signs that partially extend above the roofline of the building to which they are attached.
- Roof signs, which are attached, erected or placed on top of a principal or accessory building.
- Banners, flags, balloons, streamers, spot lights, floodlights and other similar promotional features, which have not been authorized by Northampton Township.
- Portable signs.
- Signs located on parked vehicles.
- Signs containing vulgar messages or depicting any lewd, pornographic, lascivious or other offensive acts.
- Any sign exceeding the provisions for location, placement, type, area, height, clearance, visibility, sight distance, projection, quantity and illumination, as specified within the Northampton Township.
- Signs that resemble or imitate any official traffic sign, signal or device, which are located or placed within 100 feet of a street right-of-way and/or within 200 feet of a traffic control device.
- Posted signs of a temporary nature which are tacked, stapled, nailed, posted, glued, hung or otherwise attached to a tree, utility pole, traffic control sign, light stand, fence or other such permanent object.
- Caution tape or crime scene tape that is not utilized for emergency management purposes.
- Signs considered as a detriment to the health, safety and/or general welfare of the community.

## Signs exempt from permit in Northampton Township

- Parking and traffic control signs authorized by Northampton Township or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
- Government flags.
- Signs, monuments, flags and/or banners required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule or regulations.
- Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, including signs which identify municipal facilities, emergency management facilities, public restrooms, public telephones, public entrances, freight or delivery entrances, construction entrances, which shall have a total surface area not to exceed four square feet per sign on any lot or parcel.
- Temporary signs for contractors, mechanics, painters, and artisans, subject to the limitations specified by Northampton Township.
- Yard sale signs, subject to the limitations specified under ¤ 27-1607 of this chapter.
- Special signs required by Northampton Township for reasons of public safety and emergency service.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/northampton-township