# Sign Regulations in Quakertown Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Quakertown Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/quakertown-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14362805#14362805)

## At a glance

Quakertown Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 11 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboard (Off-Premises Advertising Sign)s in the HC District zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 300 sq ft, with a At least 20 feet from street right-of-way setback (Sec. § 502.2A(1)(a)-(b), § 502.2A(2)(a)-(d)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HC District | 3 | 20 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| LI District | 1 | — | 200 sq in | — |
| TC District, NC District | 1 | — | Not to exceed 35% of the maximum sign area for the sign structure | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 100 sq ft | — |

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

### HC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard (Off-Premises Advertising Sign) | 20 ft | 300 sq ft | — | At least 20 feet from street right-of-way | Not specified | Along Route 309 | — | § 502.2A(1)(a)-(b), § 502.2A(2)(a)-(d) |
| Directional Sign (for service clubs/places of worship/nonprofits) | — | 200 sq in | — | — | — | HC and LI Zoning Districts | — | § 502.2B(3) |
| Changeable-copy/Electronic Message Board | — | Not to exceed 35% of the maximum sign area for the sign structure | — | 20 feet from legal right-of-way, 100 feet from LR, MR, HR district | — | At least 100 feet from a LR, MR or HR district | — | § 510B(2), (a)-(i) |

### TC District, NC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Changeable-copy/Electronic Message Board | — | Not to exceed 35% of the maximum sign area for the sign structure | — | 20 feet from legal right-of-way, 100 feet from LR, MR, HR district | — | At least 100 feet from a LR, MR or HR district | — | § 510B(2), (a)-(i) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame Sign | — | — | — | 7 feet from curbline | — | Minimum 7 feet from curbline; must be put in at night | — | § 504.4, § 507.3 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | 8 feet above sidewalk | — | Minimum 8 feet above sidewalk | — | § 504.5 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Vertical clearance of 10 feet above grade required | — | § 504.6A-B |
| Billboard (General) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 501.4A-C |
| Freestanding Sign (Vehicles or Structures Used as Signs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 509.1-3 |
| Temporary On-Premises Real Estate/Construction/Special Event/Political Signs | — | Real Estate: 6 sq ft without permit, >6 sq ft with permit; Political: 9 sq ft max | — | — | — | Within property lines | — | § 502.1C, § 502.1D |
| Temporary Signs, Mobile Stand | — | — | — | — | — | On premises or on a mobile stand | — | § 502.1E |
| Temporary Off-Premises Directional Signs for Nonprofits | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Off premises for temporary exhibits, shows, or events sponsored by nonprofit organizations | — | § 502.2B(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Quakertown Borough

- No sign is allowed within street right-of-way lines except government signs and certain public events temporary signs in the TC and NC Districts, unless specifically authorized by another Borough ordinance or by state law (§504.1).
- No sign shall interfere with traffic through glare, blocking sight lines, confusion with traffic control devices, or any other means (§504.2A).
- Freestanding signs are prohibited where the required minimum distance from a lot line cannot be met (§504.3).
- No sign shall exceed maximum sign area or height restrictions established in applicable tables or specified for the district (§503, §505).
- A-frame signs must be located minimum seven feet from the curbline, be removed at night, be weighted at the base, and cannot be chained, tied or affixed to any object, structure, or the ground (§504.4).
- Awning signs must provide a minimum height of eight feet from the lowest point to the sidewalk and should be traditional fabric foldout awnings, not permanently affixed, backlit awnings (§504.5).
- Marquee signs shall not exceed 100 square feet and must maintain a vertical clearance of 10 feet above grade (§504.6).
- Any sign allowed to become dilapidated may, after notification, be removed by the Borough at the owner or lessee's expense (§506.2).
- Direct lighting must be shielded so no direct light shines on abutting properties or into the normal line of vision of street users (§507.1).
- Sign internal lighting must be stationary and of constant intensity and color when in use (§507.2).
- A-frame signs may not be illuminated (§507.3).
- On-site signs advertising a use or product no longer in existence must be removed or changed within 90 days (§508.1).
- Signs once removed for 90 continuous days can be replaced only by conforming signs (§508.2).
- Vehicles or structures used primarily to display signs are considered freestanding signs and are subject to district provisions (§509.1, §509.2).
- Use of silos, smokestacks, water towers, and similar structures as signs is subject to all sign provisions (§509.3).
- The following are prohibited in all zoning districts (§510): banners, flags, pennants, or any moving object used for commercial advertising purposes (except as limited); flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type (with limited exceptions for time/temperature and changeable-copy signs meeting strict requirements); signs emitting smoke, vapors, sound, odor, or glare.
- No sign shall be so illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, device or signal (§510B(2)(e)).
- Any bulbs used for lighting signs shall not exceed 25 watts (§510B(2)(f)).
- Illuminated, electronic, or message board signs must comply with specified requirements for frequency of change, malfunction, area, setback, zoning districts, and proximity to residential districts (§510B(2)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Quakertown Borough

- A sign permit is not required for real estate and construction site temporary signs under six square feet and temporary window signs (§501.2B(1)).
- A sign permit is not required for any sign which requires only a change of copy where use involves frequent and periodic changes of copy (§501.2B(2)).
- A sign permit is not required for exempt signs listed in §501.3 (§501.2B(3)).
- Exempt signs include: signs on doors or windows with store hours or credit institution names, up to two square feet (§501.3A); signs not exceeding one square foot with street numbers, box numbers, or occupant names (§501.3B); directional, informational or public service signs not exceeding four square feet (§501.3C); signs required by law or government order, unless specifically restricted (§501.3D); flags/emblems of political, civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organizations (§501.3E); traffic control/guidance signs erected by government (§501.3F); and building name/date signs up to four square feet (§501.3G).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any permanent sign exceeding two square feet in area except for signs exempted in §501.2B and certain listed temporary signs (§501.2A).
- Each sign must comply with the standards of the ordinance, whether or not a permit is required (§501.2C).
- Temporary, on-premises signs for public/educational/charitable/civic/religious events require a permit and are subject to time limits (§502.1C(3)).
- A sign permit is required for special events temporary signs such as block parties, lawn fetes, and mobile stand signs (§502.1D and E).
- Mobile stand signs require a sign permit (§502.1E).
- Real estate and construction site signs over six square feet require a sign permit (§502.1C(1), (2)).
- No mention found of a master sign plan, sign plan, or requirement for a variance hearing in this ordinance text.

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

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