# Sign Regulations in Polk Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Polk Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/polk-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33747024#33747024)

## At a glance

Polk Township, Pennsylvania regulates 26 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Residential Development Road Entrance)s in the RR Rural Residential, R-1 Residential, R-2 Rural/Village Residential, R-3 Village Center District zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 32 sq ft (if wood relief); 24 sq ft if not, with a Not within 15 ft of vehicular entrance. setback (Sec. §400-1106B). Most commercial signs in Polk 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 | — | No more than 25% of any window pane that is over three feet in any dimension may be used for window signs; total window sign area not to exceed 25% of total allowed sign area for business. | — |
| RR Rural Residential, R-1 Residential, R-2 Rural/Village Residential, R-3 Village Center District | 6 | 15 ft for wall, 5 ft for ground signs | 32 sq ft | — |
| C Commercial District, I Industrial District | 15 | 18 ft (min 8.5 ft above grade) | 140 sq ft (max 70 sq ft per face) | — |
| C Commercial District | 1 | 18 ft (if replacing same type); must not exceed permitted sign height | — | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached parallel to, and within six inches of, a wall of a building/structure. | — | §400-1104C(17), §400-1103A |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | Minimum 10ft from edge of any public road right-of-way; 10ft from side/rear property lines. | — | Must be in landscaped area of at least 4 sq ft per 1 sq ft of sign area (minimum 120 sq ft); not less than 10 feet from right-of-way and 10 feet from side/rear property lines. | — | §400-1104I, §400-1104C(8) |
| Awning Sign / Canopy Sign | — | — | — | Shall not extend into required side or rear setback. | — | Affixed to surface of awning or canopy on building, only on front and side vertical faces or, if no wall sign, on sloped surface. | — | §400-1104G |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 25% of any window pane that is over three feet in any dimension may be used for window signs; total window sign area not to exceed 25% of total allowed sign area for business. | — | — | — | Affixed to or behind window pane visible from exterior; only on glazed areas. | — | §400-1104H |
| Shingle Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment with separate entrance | Suspended at business entrance; centered under an overhang, not projecting beyond overhang; limited to 2 faces perpendicular to building façade. | — | §400-1108G |

### RR Rural Residential, R-1 Residential, R-2 Rural/Village Residential, R-3 Village Center District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Use, Non-Wood Relief) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal building | On principal building or as window sign | — | §400-1107A(2) |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Use, Wood Relief) | — | 21 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal building | On principal building | — | §400-1107A(3), §400-1104J |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Use, Non-Wood Relief) | 8 ft | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot; on corner lot, placed on street of highest classification. | — | §400-1107A(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Use, Wood Relief) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | §400-1107A(3), §400-1104J |
| Ground Sign (Residential Development Road Entrance) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft (if wood relief); 24 sq ft if not | — | Not within 15 ft of vehicular entrance. | No more than 2 per point of access | At entrance of development (setback, not within 15 feet of vehicular access to public roadway). | — | §400-1106B |
| Wall Sign (Residential Building Name/Address) | 15 ft for wall, 5 ft for ground signs | 4 sq ft | — | No closer than 1/2 minimum setback or within 15 ft of vehicular access. | 1 per building, 1 per abutting street | On building containing 6+ residential units | — | §400-1106A |

### C Commercial District, I Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Business, Wood Relief) | 18 ft (min 8.5 ft above grade) | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or 1 per frontage (corner lots) | On lot; 1 per lot, except 1 per street frontage on corner lot. | — | §400-1108A(3)(a)[1-2], §400-1104J |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Business, Non-Wood Relief) | 18 ft (min 8.5 ft above grade) | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or 1 per frontage (corner lots) | On lot; 1 per lot, except 1 per street frontage on corner lot. | — | §400-1108A(3)(a)[1-2] |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Occupant Business, Wood Relief) | — | 20 sq ft per business | — | — | 1 per principal occupant per street frontage | Outermost wall of principal building | — | §400-1108B(2)(b), §400-1104J |
| Freestanding Sign (Development/Shopping Center, Wood Relief) | 18 ft (min 8.5 ft above grade) | 140 sq ft (max 70 sq ft per face) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Entrance to development/shopping center. | — | §400-1108B(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Development/Shopping Center, Non-Wood Relief) | 18 ft (min 8.5 ft above grade) | 120 sq ft (max 60 sq ft per face) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Entrance to development/shopping center. | — | §400-1108B(1) |
| Business Subdivision Road Entrance Ground Sign (Wood Relief) | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Not within 15 ft of access. | 2 per point of access | At subdivision road entrance; not over lot line or within 15 ft of access to public road. | — | §400-1108C |
| Business Subdivision Road Entrance Ground Sign (Non-Wood Relief) | 5 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Not within 15 ft of access. | 2 per point of access | At subdivision road entrance; not over lot line or within 15 ft of access to public road. | — | §400-1108C |
| Off-premises Advertising Sign / Billboard | No lower than 5 ft, no higher than 12 ft above ground | 40 sq ft | — | 100 ft from residential buildings; 100 ft from any road intersection. | — | Must be at least 100 ft from any residential building and 100 ft from public road intersection; cannot encroach right-of-way. | — | §400-1109 |

## Prohibited signs in Polk Township

- All signs not expressly permitted or exempted under this article from regulation are prohibited.
- "A" frame or sandwich board and sidewalk or curb signs, except as a temporary sign as provided for in § 400-1105.
- Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except those exempt under § 400-1104B, banners, pennants, streamers, balloons, and other inflatable figures, except as a temporary sign as provided for in § 400-1105.
- Balloons of greater than 25 cubic feet that are tethered to the ground or a structure for periods of over a day and that are primarily intended for advertising purposes.
- Signs which flash, revolve, rotate, swing, undulate, or move by any means, or otherwise attract attention through the movement or flashing of parts, except as permitted in § 400-1110 (electronic signs) or time-and-temperature indicators.
- Signs which use a mirror or similar device to attract attention by reflecting images or otherwise reflecting light.
- Portable and wheeled signs, except as a temporary sign, as provided for in § 400-1105.
- Signs which are attached or otherwise affixed to a building and project more than 15 inches beyond the wall surface of such building (unless the sign is a shingle sign in compliance with § 400-1108G).
- Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles, trailers and/or containers which are parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way, where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business, organization or activity.
- Signs which are attached or otherwise affixed to utility poles or trees or other vegetation, except for "no trespassing" signs.
- Signs which imitate, interfere with, obstruct the view of, or can be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal or other device.
- Signs which emit any sound, odor or visible matter such as smoke.
- Signs which contain information that states that a lot may be used for a purpose not permitted under this article.
- Signs or displays visible from a lot line that include words or images which are obscene or pornographic.
- Snipe signs.
- No sign for which a permit is issued after the effective date of this article may be placed or maintained in the Township except as provided herein.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in the public right-of-way unless an encroachment permit has first been obtained for the sign.
- No freestanding sign other than official traffic signs shall be erected or maintained less than 10 feet to the edge of any public road right-of-way and not less than 10 feet from side and rear property lines.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window, door opening, or wall opening intended as a means of ingress or egress.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to interfere with any opening required for ventilation.
- All signs shall be located in such a way that they maintain horizontal and vertical clearance of all electrical power lines and communication lines; in no instance shall a sign be erected or constructed within eight feet of any electrical power line, conductor or service drop, or any communication line, conductor or service drop.
- All signs and supporting structures shall maintain clearance and noninterference with all surface and underground facilities and conduits for water, sewage, gas, electricity, or communications equipment or lines.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to interfere with any existing warning or instructional sign.
- No sign shall be erected in such a way as to interfere with or to confuse traffic or pedestrians, to present any traffic or pedestrian hazard, or to obstruct the vision of motorists or pedestrians.
- Overhead electrical wiring is prohibited and all electric signs shall be listed by a recognized testing laboratory.
- No sign attached to a building shall be placed on nor shall extend above any part of the building roof.

## Signs exempt from permit in Polk Township

- Civic and religious organization signs indicating only the organization insignia, name, meeting place, and time; such signs shall not exceed four square feet.
- On-site directional or instructional signs, not exceeding four square feet in aggregate gross surface area, providing direction or instruction to guide persons to facilities intended to serve the public and containing no advertising.
- Flags, emblems, and insignia of political, professional, religious, educational, or fraternal organizations displayed for noncommercial purpose.
- Governmental signs for control of traffic, emergency response, and other public or regulatory purposes, street signs, warning signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public service companies indicating danger and aids to services or safety, as erected by or at the order of a public officer or employee in performance of their duties.
- Signs or other materials temporarily displayed on traditionally accepted civic, patriotic, or religious holidays related to observance of the holiday.
- Interior signs not affixed to a window and visible from outside and which are fully located within the interior of any building or stadium, or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building, and those located within the inner or outer lobby court or entrance of any theater and not displayed to be visible from outside.
- Memorial plaques or tablets, grave markers, statuary, or other remembrances of persons or events which are noncommercial in nature.
- Wall signs, one per street frontage and not exceeding two square feet, indicating the name of the occupant, address of the premises, and identification of any legal business or operation which may exist at the premises.
- No trespassing, no hunting, no fishing, no dumping, no parking, towing and other similar signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Parking lot directional signs and instructional signs, within prescribed size and height limits.
- Signs erected on the perimeter of an organizational sponsored youth athletic field for the sole purpose of sponsoring or contributing to the organized youth athletic sport, within certain size limits.
- Plaques, nameplates, or memorial signs directly attached or affixed to the exterior walls of a building, not exceeding four square feet in aggregate surface area.
- Official notices posted by public officers or employees in performance of their duties.
- Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers where the sign is incidental to the primary use of the vehicle or trailer (see further restrictions on advertising purpose).
- Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historical agencies, or identification emblems of religious orders or historical agencies, not exceeding two square feet and not exceeding four square feet in aggregate area.
- Permanent, nonflashing signs on vending machines, gasoline pumps, ice or milk containers, or other similar machines, limited to the contents, pricing, directional or instructional use info, and not exceeding four square feet per sign and eight square feet aggregate surface area on each machine.
- Warning signs, containing no advertising material, warning the public of the existence of danger and to be removed upon subsidence of danger.
- Tourist-orientation directional signs when erected in accord with a permit issued by PennDOT.
- Signs which memorialize an important historic place, event or person and specifically authorized by the Township or a county, state or federal agency.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before the erection, re-erection, construction, alteration, placing, or installation of all signs regulated by this article, unless such sign is specifically exempted under § 400-1104B (Exempt Signs) or as stated for certain types of temporary signs.
- Permit is not required for signs listed under § 400-1104B and for certain temporary signs (see specific provisions in § 400-1105 for temporary signs and whether a permit is required).
- For signs requiring a permit, the permit application must include information listed in § 400-1103B, including drawings, calculations, and additional information as may be required by the Zoning Officer.
- Signs maintained contrary to the provisions of this article are declared to be nuisances and may be abated as provided by law.
- No sign for which a permit is issued after the effective date of this article may be placed or maintained in the Township except as provided herein.
- Prior to issuance of a sign permit for an electronic message sign, the applicant shall provide written certification from the sign manufacturer confirming luminance/intensity limits and end-user protections.
- The effect of this article is to prohibit all signs not expressly permitted; therefore, a sign plan or permit is required for all permitted signs unless explicitly exempted.
- If a master sign plan or sign plan is specifically required by other sections for multiple-tenant developments or shopping centers, such requirements will be stated in those sections (not found in provided text).
- Variance procedures are not described in the provided text; if a sign does not conform with the ordinance provisions, additional approvals may be required outside the standard permit process.

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

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