# Sign Regulations in Potter Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Potter Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/potter-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14897460#14897460)

## At a glance

Potter Township, Pennsylvania regulates 27 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboards in the I Industrial District zoning district are capped at 50 ft above curb tall, 672 sq ft per sign face; max 2 faces, and 48 ft wide, with a Min 20 ft from public street ROW; side/rear yards as per district; other placement rules apply. setback (Sec. 210-98D(1)). Most commercial signs in Potter Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| I Industrial District | 6 | 50 ft above curb | 672 sq ft per sign face; max 2 faces | — |
| MU District, OIP District | 7 | 42 in | See formula (max 200 sq ft) | — |
| Residential Districts, R District | 4 | 9 ft if post-mounted | 16 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | Residential: 24 in top-to-bottom | 50 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### I Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | 50 ft above curb | 672 sq ft per sign face; max 2 faces | 48 ft | Min 20 ft from public street ROW; side/rear yards as per district; other placement rules apply. | — | Only on property bordering four-lane divided highways | — | 210-98D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 150 sq ft per side (one business); 300 sq ft per side (multi-business) | — | 10 ft from property/right-of-way lines or 15 ft from cartway if ROW not contiguous with lot. | 1 per lot (see above for exceptions) | 10 ft setback from property lines or public ROWs (or 15 ft from cartway); not within clear sight triangle; must be on lot with business except for shopping plaza. | — | 210-98D(2) |
| Marquee/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 per premises | Painted/attached flat to surface (not beneath). Min. 9 ft clearance above sidewalk. | — | 210-98D(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 9 sq ft per face | Horizontal projection max 42 in from face | — | 1 per premises (with noted exceptions) | At right angle or diagonal to bldg corner; bottom at least 9 ft above sidewalk. | — | 210-98D(6) |
| Roof Sign | May project no more than 8 ft above roof | See formula (max 200 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per premises | Wholly on and projects over roof surface/cornice. | — | 210-98D(7) |
| Moving Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | 210-98D(4) |

### MU District, OIP District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 150 sq ft per side (one business); 300 sq ft per side (multi-business) | — | 10 ft from property/right-of-way lines or 15 ft from cartway if ROW not contiguous with lot. | 1 per lot (see above for exceptions) | 10 ft setback from property lines or ROWs (or 15 ft from cartway); not within clear sight triangle; must be on lot with business except for shopping plaza. | — | 210-98D(2) |
| Marquee/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 per premises | Painted/attached flat to surface (not beneath). Min. 9 ft clearance above sidewalk. | — | 210-98D(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 9 sq ft per face | Horizontal projection max 42 in from face | — | 1 per premises (with noted exceptions) | At right angle or diagonal to bldg corner; bottom at least 9 ft above sidewalk. | — | 210-98D(6) |
| Roof Sign | May project no more than 8 ft above roof | See formula (max 200 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per premises | Wholly on and projects over roof surface/cornice. | — | 210-98D(7) |
| Moving Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | 210-98D(4) |
| Portable Sidewalk Sign | 42 in | 24 in x 42 in | 24 in | — | 1 per premises | Erected/displayed only during daylight business hours; not to impede pedestrian traffic or obstruct vision; if in public ROW, see requirements. | — | 210-98D(5) |
| Shopping Plaza Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per shopping plaza | Must be a freestanding sign; displays only shopping plaza/tenant names. | — | 210-98D(8) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner/Pennant/Flag | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | May overhang ROW given permission/hold-harmless to Twp and property owner. | — | 210-98E(2) |
| Community Directory Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | 210-98E(3) |
| Directional Sign | 9 ft | 3 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft from paved edge | Max 3 per person, agency or business | At least 5 ft from cartway edge; written permission for ROW placement | — | 210-98E(5) |
| Identification Sign (Places of Worship) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | 210-98E(7) |
| Name/Address Sign | 5 ft (post mount, address); development sign not stated | 2 sq ft (address); 70 sq ft (development) | — | Min 5 ft from ROW/property line (address sign) | — | Address sign: attached to building or post, min. 5 ft from property line/ROW | — | 210-98E(11) |
| On-premises Information Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | Max as above | Only on multi-family/nonresidential buildings or lots with 20+ parking spaces. | — | 210-98E(14) |
| Real Estate Management Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per premises | — | — | 210-98E(17) |
| Temporary Advertising Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On property of event/activity | — | 210-98E(19) |

## Prohibited signs in Potter Township

- Any moving sign, except those permitted in the MU, I and OIP Districts.
- Any sign which, by reason of its size, location, content, coloring or manner of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers or detracting from the visibility of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads.
- No sign shall exceed a height of 3 1/2 feet above ground level at any right-of-way intersection, so as to obstruct the clear sight triangle, unless specifically permitted.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a public right-of-way or required door, window, fire escape or other required exitway or which interferes with the proper function of the building.
- Any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe; constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance or dilapidation; is not kept in good repair; or is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it; and any abandoned sign.
- With the exception of municipal signs, signs which make use of words such as "stop," "look," "danger," etc., or any phrases, symbols or characters which may interfere with, obstruct, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- Flashing, blinking or pulsating string lights used in connection with commercial premises for commercial purposes, except those permitted in the MU, I and OIP Districts, and except temporary holiday decorations which are permitted in all districts.
- Searchlights, commercial advertising banners, flags, pennants, spinners and streamers, except for use as a temporary sign.
- Signs which are affixed to street signs, posts or traffic signs, except temporary holiday decorations.
- Any sign not expressly permitted in a given district by this chapter is prohibited by this chapter as is any sign which violates any other provision of any Potter Township ordinance or federal or state law.
- No sign shall be erected, placed or constructed in any district on a movable or portable base, sled, trailer, vehicle or other device of any type where the principal use of the same is for the purpose of displaying a sign which is capable of being moved or transported from one location to another, except as expressly permitted by this article.
- No signs are permitted which are affixed to vehicles and/or trailers which are parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property, other than temporarily for overnight storage on the site of a business or for maintenance, repair, loading, unloading or rendering a service at any location, which are visible from the public right-of-way and where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property.
- No person shall maintain an abandoned nonconforming sign or permit an abandoned sign to be maintained on a premises under his/her ownership or control. Any such abandoned sign shall be removed by the landowner or person controlling the property within 30 days of the abandonment.
- Unless otherwise provided herein, no sign shall contain off-premises advertising, with the exception of billboard or freestanding signs.
- No signs, except portable sidewalk signs, shall be located in or upon a public right-of-way where the same interfere with public use.
- Unless otherwise provided herein, no sign, or any part thereof, including braces, supports, or lights, shall exceed a height of 20 feet, measured from grade level to the highest part of the sign area.
- Except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be a total of no more than two signs, regardless of classification, permitted on a single parcel.
- Every sign and all structural parts thereof shall be constructed of durable materials and maintained in a secure and safe condition. Nonsecure, unsafe, or noncompliant signs must be brought into compliance or will be removed at owner's expense.
- Any sign which no longer serves the purpose for which it was erected shall be immediately removed by the responsible party.
- Except for billboard, freestanding, directional and political signs, all signs shall be located on the premises which they are intended to serve.
- Signs must meet all applicable design requirements for their classifications; in case of conflict, the more restrictive applies.

## Signs exempt from permit in Potter Township

- No interior sign shall be required to conform to these regulations.
- Signs listed and defined in Section E are permitted in all districts, except as otherwise provided, and shall not be counted when calculating the total number of signs on a premises and shall not require permits. These include: Awning signs, banners, pennants and flags (with limitations), community directory signs, construction project signs, directional signs, historical and memorial markers, identification signs for places of worship, individual letters or symbols, municipal signs, name and address signs, no-trespassing signs, on-premises signs for home occupations, on-premises information signs, political signs (if stationary and nonilluminated), public service signs, real estate management signs, real estate signs, temporary advertising for community activities, auctions, garage or yard sales, wall signs, and window signs.
- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized federal or state holidays, provided they do not interfere with traffic safety or become a public safety hazard or nuisance, are exempt from this chapter and permitted in all zoning districts.
- No fee shall be charged for the painting or repair of a sign that is an exact duplicate of the existing approved sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, except those specifically exempted, shall require a permit before being erected.
- Permits require submission of an application form, including a plan drawn to scale showing the sign location, a description of the sign, and a sketch of the sign, among other things.
- One application form may be used to describe and permit multiple sign installations on the same property, provided that complete information is provided for each sign.
- No sign shall be erected, structurally altered, or moved until a permit has been obtained from the Zoning Officer. A permit shall only be issued when the Zoning Officer determines that the sign plans comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter.
- Sign permit applications must include a plan (drawn to scale) showing the location and position of the sign relative to property lines, buildings, and public rights-of-way.
- Permits are not required for those signs specifically exempted (see general_exemptions).
- All requests for a permit for signs which have a vertical height which exceeds the horizontal distance to any highway or right-of-way or property line shall be accompanied by stress sheets and calculations showing the sign structure is designed for dead load and wind pressure.
- Sign approval permits, except those for billboards and freestanding signs containing off-premises advertising, are valid until the sign is replaced, remodeled or structurally altered, in which case a new permit shall be required.
- Applications for erecting, altering, or moving a sign, as well as for variances with the Zoning Hearing Board, must be accompanied by the required fee.
- Failure to comply with approved permit provisions for removal of nonconforming signs will result in penalties.
- No permit shall be issued, nor variance granted, without payment of required fees.

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

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