# Sign Regulations in Palmer Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Palmer Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/palmer-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44753374#44753374)

## At a glance

Palmer Township, Pennsylvania regulates 44 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Individual Structure)s in the GC District, NC District zoning district are capped at 10 ft. tall and 28 sq. ft., with a 5 ft. from ROW; see §190-703A. setback (Sec. § 190-711A.3.b). Most commercial signs in Palmer Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 21 | 14 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — |
| GC District, NC District | 8 | 10 ft. | 60 sq. ft. | — |
| LDR District, MDR District, HDR District, RA District, Residential Districts (LDR, MDR, HDR, RA) | 3 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Main Street Commercial (MSC) Zoning District | 7 | 10 ft. | 100 sq. ft. (200 if within 100 ft of PA Rte 33 ROW) | — |
| LI/MU District, IOC District | 5 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (4 sq. ft. near door for multi-tenant) | — |
| PO/B District | 4 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| NEB Zoning District, North End Business District | 4 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| William Penn Highway Overlay District, Route 248 Overlay District, Freemansburg Avenue Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Industrial and Business Districts (LI/MU, IOC, but not including PO/B) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Any Other District | 2 | 5 ft. | — | — |
| Route 248 Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Freemansburg Avenue Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| William Penn Highway Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | § 190-705B |
| Identification Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | § 190-705C |
| Parking/No-Trespassing/Private Road/Hunting Control Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 4 per lot | — | — | § 190-705H |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot or use | Attached to the primary residential structure | — | § 190-705J |
| Home Security Sign | — | 12 sq. in. | — | — | — | Affixed to principal structure | — | § 190-705K |
| Fence Sign | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per fence | Text must face principal structure | — | § 190-705L |
| Temporary Sandwich Board/A-frame Sign | 3.5 ft. | 7 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 1 per establishment | Within 12 ft. of public entrance; minimum 36" sidewalk clearance; on premises | — | § 190-704A.9 |
| Feather Sign (Temporary) | 12 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | Varies (see requirement) | — | — | § 190-704B |

### GC District, NC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Individual Structure) | Equal to total height of principal building | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per wall facing public street | Wall facing public street | — | § 190-711A.3.a |
| Freestanding Sign (Individual Structure) | 10 ft. | 28 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from ROW; see §190-703A. | 1 (2 if >300 ft. street frontage) | — | — | § 190-711A.3.b |
| Window Sign (Individual Structure) | — | — | — | — | — | Windows | — | § 190-711A.3.c |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | Max height: eaveline; Lowest edge: 8 ft. above grade | — | Not wider than wall/tenant space | — | — | Centered over windows/doors | — | § 190-711A.3.d, § 190-711A.4.e |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Establishment) | Equal to total height of principal building | — | — | — | 1 per establishment | On public street facing portions | — | § 190-711A.4.a |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Establishment) | 10 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from ROW, unless elsewhere specified | 1 (2 if >300 ft frontage/other criteria met) | — | — | § 190-711A.4.b |
| Window Sign (Multi-Establishment) | — | — | — | — | — | Windows | — | § 190-711A.4.c |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per establishment | Projecting from building (public street) | — | § 190-711A.5; § 190-711F |

### Main Street Commercial (MSC) Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Use) | Equal to height of wall on which located | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street-facing wall | Building wall facing public street | — | § 190-711C.3, § 190-711D.2, § 190-711E |
| Wall Sign (More than one use on lot, per use) | Equal to height of wall | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to 2 per use | Building wall containing main entrance and/or street facing wall | — | § 190-711C.8.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Use) | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 (2 if >300 ft or corner lot) | 1 per frontage (see criteria for 2) | — | § 190-711C.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Uses) | 10 ft. (40 ft. if within 100 ft of PA Rte 33 ROW) | 100 sq. ft. (200 if within 100 ft of PA Rte 33 ROW) | — | — | 1 (2 if criteria met) | At entrance or visible from major street | — | § 190-711C.8.1 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Windows | — | § 190-711C.4, § 190-711C.9 |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | Equal to eaveline (lowest edge min 8 ft. above grade) | — | Not wider than building wall/tenant space | — | — | Centered over windows/doors | — | § 190-711C.7, § 190-711C.12a |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per establishment | Projecting from wall | — | § 190-711F |

## Prohibited signs in Palmer Township

- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or mechanically powered moving signs of any type and/or the outlining of roofs, doors, windows or wall edges by illuminating tubing or strings of lights for advertising purposes, except for Christmas lighting or displays in season and except digital signs or electronic message signs as specifically regulated.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the roof or upon any structure which extends above the eaves of the roof of any building.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor.
- Signs which contain information that states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of the Township zoning ordinance in the zoning district in which the property to which the sign relates is located.
- Signs that are of such character, form, shape or color that it imitates or resembles any official traffic sign, signal or device or that has any characteristics which are likely to confuse or distract the operator of a motor vehicle on a public street.
- Signs that use reflective materials to give the appearance of flashing, blinking or twinkling.
- Signs or displays that include words or images that are obscene, pornographic or highly offensive to public decency.
- Balloons of greater than 10 cubic feet that are tethered to the ground and primarily intended for advertising purposes.
- Vehicular signs, except for business logos, identification or advertising on vehicles primarily and actively used for business purposes and/or personal transportation.
- Off-premises signs, except for billboards in conformance with specific provisions of this ordinance.
- Neon and fluorescent colors are prohibited on any sign.
- No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises that they own or control a sign which has been abandoned.
- No sign shall be erected or arranged so as to interfere with sight distance requirements.
- No sign shall be constructed of non-durable materials unless exempted as a temporary sign not requiring a permit.
- No signs except official, personal expression, public service, and specifically permitted off-premises signs shall be erected on a property to which it does not relate.
- No temporary sign or personal expression sign shall be placed on any Township-owned property or on any public utility pole or on any traffic light standard or on any other edifice owned or controlled by any governmental entity or public utility, except signs specifically authorized by such government or public utility.
- Signs are limited to white, black, and three colors per sign.
- No digital sign or electronically changing message sign for a commercial use or purpose shall be located within 200 feet of any LDR, MDR, HDR Zoning District property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Palmer Township

- Official signs.
- Nameplate signs: one per lot, not to exceed two square feet in sign area.
- Identification signs: one per lot, not to exceed two square feet in sign area.
- Directional signs: each not to exceed four square feet in sign area, not to exceed 32 square feet in total, and not to include any advertising.
- Memorial or historic markers when approved by motion or resolution of the Board of Supervisors or the Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission.
- Public service signs such as those advertising availability of restrooms, telephone, meeting times of service organizations or other similar public conveniences, each not to exceed two square feet.
- Temporary signs within the provisions of this chapter.
- Parking and no-trespassing signs or signs indicating the private nature of a road, driveway or premises and signs prohibiting or controlling hunting and fishing upon the premises: four per lot, not to exceed two square feet in sign area.
- Signs physically carried by a person, which are not regulated in any way by this ordinance.
- Home occupation signs (maximum area of three square foot, limited to one per lot or use, attached to the primary residential structure, not internally illuminated).
- Home security signs (maximum 12 square inches, affixed to principal structure).
- Fence signs (one per fence, not to exceed one square foot, positioned facing principal structure).
- Personal expression signs, including flags, not to exceed three square feet in area and nonilluminated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For major residential, business, office, or industrial developments, signs identifying the development are permitted and these signs are subject to specific provisions (e.g., durability, maintenance, landscaping) and may have additional area allowed beyond other sign area limits.
- Where a proposed conditional or special exception use involves a freestanding sign in residential districts, the sign must be reviewed and approved or denied at the same time that the use is reviewed, with compatibility with adjacent land uses as a condition.
- Any signs associated with a proposed variance or change of a nonconforming use shall be reviewed and either approved or denied at the same time as that action by the Zoning Hearing Board; compatibility with adjacent land uses is a condition of approval.
- Signs for major residential or business developments require a plan for sign maintenance if they are intended to remain beyond the developer's involvement in the project.

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

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