# Sign Regulations in Plains Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Plains Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/plains-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Plains Township, Pennsylvania regulates 13 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Identification Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 ft (freestanding); not higher than first story (wall sign) tall and 2 sq ft, with a Min 10 ft from front lot line setback (Sec. § 27-1003.A, § 27-1004.A, § 27-1011). Most commercial signs in Plains Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 18 inches | 60 sq ft | — |
| B-1, C-1 | 2 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| B-2 | 2 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| B-3, B-4, I-1 | 3 | 20 ft | 300 sq ft per panel, double-faced permitted | — |
| B-5 | 2 | 20 ft | 3200 sq ft | — |
| MU | 1 | — | — | — |
| PRD | 1 | — | 60 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | 10 ft (freestanding); not higher than first story (wall sign) | 2 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from front lot line | See § 27-1005: Not more than 2 per lot, 3 for corner lot (excludes B-4, B-5, MU). | Min 10 ft setback from front lot line | — | § 27-1003.A, § 27-1004.A, § 27-1011 |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from front lot line | Not specified | On the lot for sale/rental; min 10 ft setback from front lot line | — | § 27-1003.C, § 27-1004.C, § 27-1011 |
| Subdivision/Development Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | Min 35 ft from front lot line | Max 1 per subdivision | On property being sold within subdivision/PRD; min 35 ft setback from front lot line | — | § 27-1003.D, § 27-1004.D |
| Construction Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | Not within nor less than 10 ft from public right-of-way | One per firm on property | On property under construction; not within or less than 10 ft from a public right-of-way | — | § 27-1001.E, § 27-1004.E, § 27-1011 |
| Institutional Sign | Max height for principal structure in the district | 30 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from front lot line | Not specified | Min 10 ft from front lot line | — | § 27-1003.E, § 27-1004.F, § 27-1011 |
| On-Site Directional and/or Informational Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft from property lines | Not specified—exempt from sign counts (§ 27-1005) | Front/rear/side yard; min 5 ft setback from property line | — | § 27-1001.H, § 27-1004.G |
| Bench Sign | 18 inches | 9 sq ft | 6 ft | — | Not specified | Where benches are located | — | § 27-1001.I |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | Per above | Per underlying sign type rules | Not attached to a building | — | § 27-1002.A, § 27-1006 |

### B-1, C-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per property, 3 on corner lot; on-site directionals excluded (§ 27-1005) | On zoning lot where business occurs | — | § 27-1003.B, § 27-1004.B(1)(a)(b), § 27-1004.B(2), § 27-1011 |
| Land Development Integrated Sign | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per integrated grouping | On lot containing integrated grouping of commercial uses | — | § 27-1004.B(2), § 27-1011 |

### B-3, B-4, I-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | 20 ft | 250 sq ft (B-3, B-4, I-1); | — | — | Unlimited in B-4; otherwise, Max 2 per property, 3 on corner lot (directionals excluded) (§ 27-1005) | On zoning lot where business occurs | — | § 27-1003.B, § 27-1004.B(1)(d)(e)(g), § 27-1004.B(2), § 27-1011 |
| Land Development Integrated Sign | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per integrated grouping | On lot containing integrated grouping of commercial/industrial uses | — | § 27-1004.B(2), § 27-1011 |
| Billboard or Off-Premises Advertising Sign | Cannot exceed district maximum | 300 sq ft per panel, double-faced permitted | — | — | No more than one double-faced per structure | Must be 200 ft from any residential structure or residential zone | — | § 27-1003.G, § 27-1004.H |

## Prohibited signs in Plains Township

- Signs which are located in such a position which endangers vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic by obscuring the site distance.
- Signs which by design and/or location may be confused with traffic signs or signals.
- Any sign located in or extending into a public right-of-way, including sidewalk areas, except an official street sign or traffic control sign.
- Any freestanding or projecting sign within an area bounded by the intersection of two public or private streets, for a distance of 20 feet along the centerline of the right-of-way of such streets from the point of their intersection.
- Freestanding or projecting signs over any type of public right-of-way, including sidewalk areas.
- Sequential, flashing or oscillating signs.
- Signs which due to their construction and/or location would constitute a hazard or a potential danger to the community.

## Signs exempt from permit in Plains Township

- Real estate signs and construction signs shall be exempt from securing a zoning permit.

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

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