# Sign Regulations in Ralpho Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ralpho Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/ralpho-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11770640#11770640)

## At a glance

Ralpho Township, Pennsylvania regulates 8 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Permitted Sign (≤ 300 ft frontage)s in the Agricultural-Forest District zoning district are capped at 72 inches tall and 32 sq ft, with a 25 ft side yard setback setback (Sec. § 504(11)[B][(1)-(3)(a)]). Most commercial signs in Ralpho 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 | 4 | 60 inches | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 1 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural-Forest District | 2 | 72 inches | 32 sq ft | — |
| Village Center District | 1 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Heavy Commercial District | 2 | 12 ft | Aggregate 160 sq ft (no single face >160 sq ft) | — |
| Light Commercial District | 1 | Up to height of principal building | Aggregate 64 sq ft (no single face >32 sq ft) | — |
| Industrial District | 2 | 12 ft | Aggregate 160 sq ft (no single face >160 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs (General Regulations) | — | — | — | No sign shall encroach on public right-of-way or clear-sight triangle. | — | No sign shall be erected in the public right-of-way or in the clear-sight triangle area. No sign shall project more than 12 inches from the building facade it is attached to. | — | § 504(1)-(7), [§ 504(5)-(6)](https://ecode360.com/15055499); [§ 504(7)](https://ecode360.com/15055517) |
| Off-Premises Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | § 504(12) |
| Home Occupation Sign | 60 inches | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Must be on wall of main building or in front yard within building width. | — | § 504(13) |
| Street Name Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Placed at corner of every intersection per Township specification. | — | § 506 |

### Agricultural-Forest District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permitted Sign (≤ 300 ft frontage) | 72 inches | 32 sq ft | — | 25 ft side yard setback | 1 | — | — | § 504(11)[B][(1)-(3)(a)] |
| Permitted Sign (> 300 ft frontage) | 72 inches | 32 sq ft | — | 50 ft side yard setback | 2 | — | — | § 504(11)[B][(1)-(3)(b)] |

### Heavy Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permitted Sign (general, on-premises) | Up to height of principal building | Aggregate 160 sq ft (no single face >160 sq ft) | — | — | — | — | — | § 504(11)[D][(1)] |
| Off-Premises Sign | 12 ft | 160 sq ft | — | ≥200 ft from a dwelling | — | Cannot be within 200 ft of a dwelling | — | § 504(11)[D][(2)-(3)] |

## Prohibited signs in Ralpho Township

- No sign shall be erected in the public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected in the clear-sight triangle area as provided in the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
- All signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building, or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure.
- All signs shall be maintained in good structural and physical condition, free of chipped, peeling, fading, rust, deterioration, decomposition, and decay.
- All signs requiring electricity shall be permanently wired in accordance with current NEC Code or local ordinance.
- All existing nonconforming signs that have been destroyed or damaged to the extent of 75% or more of their total area shall not be repaired or restored to a nonconforming status.
- No sign shall project more than 12 inches from the building facade to which it is attached.
- No lights shall be of the flashing, revolving or intermittent type.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons are prohibited.
- Temporary signs are prohibited.
- Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety or health is prohibited.
- Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination obstruct the vision of drivers or obstruct/detract from traffic sign or control device visibility are prohibited.
- Signs which make use of words such as 'Stop,' 'Look,' 'One Way,' 'Danger,' 'Yield' or similar words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters that interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic are prohibited.
- Any obsolete sign which no longer identifies a bona fide business conducted or product sold is prohibited.
- Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a tree, utility pole, stone, cliff or other natural object are prohibited.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Any vehicle or trailer which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement or direction and is parked to be visible from a public right-of-way is prohibited, except for bona fide business vehicles as described.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ralpho Township

- Official highway sign, street name, directional or other traffic sign erected in accordance with the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code.
- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable Federal, State, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a structure not attached to a window or door that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the lot or site on which such sign is located.
- No-trespassing sign not exceeding two square feet, including signs indicating the private nature of a road.
- Signs and banners erected by a governmental body or under its direction.
- Crop identification sign.
- Cornerstone.
- Governmental flag or insignia.
- Temporary event signs and banners announcing a nonprofit event of a civic organization for noncommercial purposes, not exceeding 32 square feet and posted for up to 30 days prior and removed within 3 days after the event.
- Revolving barbershop pole sign, not exceeding 36 inches in height and only in a Commercial or Village Center District in conjunction with a barbershop.
- Temporary sign advertising mechanics, artisans, contractors and/or architects during work on a premises, not exceeding 4 square feet per sign, up to four signs per property, to be removed upon completion of work.
- Garage or yard sale signs not exceeding 5 square feet, not erected more than 7 days prior to the event, only at the site of the event, and removed as soon as the event occurs.
- Public auction signs not erected more than 30 days prior to the event, one per site, not exceeding 32 square feet, to be removed after the event.
- Grand opening banners, product and manufacturer advertisements directly associated with a grand opening, compliant with requirements and removed within 30 days.
- Signs offering the sale or rental of the premises not exceeding 6 square feet (32 square feet for multifamily), restrictions on placement and time, and related directional signs.
- Entrance signs or monuments identifying the name of the development not exceeding 64 square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit must be obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer for every sign placed in Ralpho Township.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/ralpho-township