# Sign Regulations in Patterson Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Patterson Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/patterson-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11582663#11582663)

## At a glance

Patterson Township, Pennsylvania regulates 20 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Permanent Identification Signs in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 zoning district are capped at 2 sq ft, with a Minimum 4 ft from street right-of-way line setback (Sec. § 190-58A(1)). Most commercial signs in Patterson Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 | 8 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| C-1, C-2, C-3 | 9 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| P Preservation District (P) | 4 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

_2 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | Minimum 4 ft from street right-of-way line | One per dwelling unit | For each dwelling unit; may cite name, address, and distinguishing features of the property | — | § 190-58A(1) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | Minimum 4 ft from street right-of-way line | One per property | On the property being advertised | — | § 190-58A(2) |
| Home Occupation Announcement Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | Minimum 4 ft from street right-of-way line | One per property | — | — | § 190-58A(3) |
| Permanent Announcement Sign (Churches, Schools, Municipal Facilities, Similar) | — | 12 sq ft | — | Minimum 4 ft from street right-of-way line | One per use | — | — | § 190-58A(4), § 190-61F |
| Temporary Event/Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | Minimum 4 ft from street right-of-way line | One per activity | — | — | § 190-58A(5) |
| Political Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | Minimum 4 ft from street right-of-way line | — | — | — | § 190-58A(6) |
| Small Directional/Convenience Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | Minimum 4 ft from street right-of-way line | — | For direction or convenience, including identifying other properties | — | § 190-58A(7) |
| Electronic Message Sign (Churches, Schools, Municipal, Similar) - Option 1 | — | 12 sq ft | — | Minimum 4 ft from street right-of-way line | One per use | — | — | § 190-58A(4), § 190-61F |

### C-1, C-2, C-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (Wall, Fascia, or Projecting) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | One per lot; second sign for each 100 ft additional road frontage (§ 190-61C) | On business property | — | § 190-59A(1), § 190-59B, § 190-61E |
| Freestanding Sign or Projecting Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per lot; second sign for each 100 ft additional road frontage (§ 190-61C) | Freestanding on lot or projecting from building | — | § 190-59A(2), § 190-61E |
| Temporary Window/Wall Promotional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In windows or affixed to exterior wall areas | — | § 190-59A(3), § 190-62A(3) |
| Temporary Real Estate/Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On property being sold/rented or developed | — | § 190-59A(4), § 190-62A(3) |
| Temporary Banner/Sale Event Sign (Wall or Pole Mounted) | — | — | — | — | — | Hung/installed flush to wall or on poles/support cables projecting max 2 ft from face of principal structure | — | § 190-59A(5), § 190-62A(3) |
| Portable or Mobile Sign (C-1, C-2 only) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property; must not occupy public right-of-way | — | § 190-59A(6) |
| Political Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 190-59A(7), § 190-58A(6) |
| Small Directional/Convenience Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | For direction or convenience, including identifying other properties | — | § 190-59A(8) |

### P Preservation District (P)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On property being sold/leased/hired/rented | — | § 190-60A |
| Identification Sign (Residential Occupant) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 190-60A |
| Announcement Sign (Public Recreation Area) | — | — | — | — | — | Public recreation areas | — | § 190-60A |
| Electronic Message Sign (Conditional Use) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 190-60C, § 190-61F |

## Prohibited signs in Patterson Township

- No sign shall be located or constructed as to obstruct or interfere with any traffic control signal, sign, device or intersection sight triangle.
- No sign shall be permitted which is deemed to constitute a hazard of any kind.
- Moving, flashing, intermittently lighted signs and electronic message signs are prohibited in residential districts except as specifically provided.
- Signs may not be attached to utility poles except for municipal purposes.
- No portion of a sign or its supporting structure shall occupy a public right-of-way unless otherwise allowed.
- All signs that imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device; or that use a revolving beam or beacon resembling any emergency vehicle; or that are located or illuminated in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device, or so as to obstruct or interfere with a driver's view of approaching, emerging, or intersecting traffic, or so as to prevent any traveler on any street from obtaining a clear view of approaching vehicles for a distance of 250 feet along the street.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Signs that are located in or interfere with the use of a required off-street parking space or maneuvering area are prohibited.
- Illuminated signs, illuminated from within or without, that are illuminated in such a manner, with high intensity, or without proper shielding, so as to constitute a hazard to the operation of motor vehicles upon a public street or to substantially interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of residential property are prohibited.
- Signs that depict lewd material, nudity or sexual conduct or that would otherwise violate Chapter 116 of the Code are prohibited.
- No electronic message signs shall be illuminated in such a manner that creates glare conditions on adjacent properties or adjacent streets, impairs the vision of a motor vehicle driver, interferes with a motor vehicle driver's operation of a vehicle, or interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
- No person shall expose, distribute or place any signs, advertising circular, notice or statement or display any banner, emblem or design within the confines of the park without special permission from the Board of Commissioners.

## Signs exempt from permit in Patterson Township

- Signs of a duly constituted local, state or federal governmental body, including traffic or similar safety and regulatory devices, legal notices, railway warning signals, memorial signs or tablets.
- Flags of a political, civic, religious or educational organization.
- Small signs with a surface area not exceeding three square feet, displayed for the direction or convenience of the public which identify landmarks, parking areas, convenience facilities and similar features.
- One temporary nonlighted sign on a construction site not exceeding an area of 32 square feet, denoting engineer, architect, contractor or funding agencies and related information regarding the development.
- Business sponsorship signs bearing the name, logo, general service offered, location and/or telephone number, posted as part of a fundraising program for recreational activity, provided requirements about location, area, sight lines, and timing are met.
- Street name signs installed at each street intersection per standards established by the Board of Commissioners.
- A zoning permit is not required for signs specified under §190-57, certain residential and commercial signs as listed in §190-62A, and for signs painted directly on the wall surface of a building which do not exceed 20 square feet in area.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each application for a permit shall be accompanied by a drawing to scale showing the proposed sign, the size, general characteristics, method of illumination, the exact location of the sign in relation to the lot and structure involved and other data as may be requested by the Zoning Officer.
- A separate zoning permit is required for erection of most signs, except for specified exclusions; the submittal must include detailed sign drawings and other data.
- There is no explicit requirement in the provided text for a master sign plan or formal sign plan review process beyond site-specific permit applications.

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

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