# Sign Regulations in Richmond Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Richmond Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/richmond-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31408714#31408714)

## At a glance

Richmond Township, Pennsylvania regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the commercial zones zoning district are capped at 10 ft vertical dimension tall, 16 sq ft per face, and 6 ft projection from building wide (Sec. §27-1131). Most commercial signs in Richmond Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| AR zones | 2 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| commercial zones | 5 | 10 ft vertical dimension | 288 sq ft per face | — |
| manufacturing zones | 5 | 10 ft vertical dimension | 288 sq ft per face | — |
| residential zones | 1 | — | As per §27-1120[1]: 1 sq ft per lineal front foot of main building, min 10 sq ft, max 80 sq ft per premises (combined permanent and temporary signs) | — |
| commercial and industrial zones | 5 | 10 ft vertical dimension | 288 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No Trespassing/Regulatory Sign (Residential Zones) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Residential zones | — | §27-1116[1][C] |
| No Trespassing/Regulatory Sign (Commercial/Industrial Zones) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Commercial and industrial zones | — | §27-1116[1][C] |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Zones) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Residential zones | — | §27-1116[1][D] |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial/Industrial Zones) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Commercial and industrial zones | — | §27-1116[1][D] |
| Institutional Sign | — | 16 sq ft (single-faced), 32 sq ft (double-faced) | — | — | — | On premises of institution | — | §27-1116[1][E] |
| Temporary Farm Product or Charitable/Public Event Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Must advertise edible farm products produced on premises or public/charitable events | — | §27-1116[1][J] |
| Permanent Residential Development Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | At major entrances to residential subdivision | — | §27-1116[1][K] |
| Recreational Facility Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of recreational facility | — | §27-1116[1][L] |

### commercial zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 288 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On wall of building | — | §27-1132; §27-1120[2] |
| Ground-Pole Sign (One Face) | — | 288 sq ft per face | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1120[2]; §27-1133 |
| Ground-Pole Sign (Double-Faced Back-to-Back) | — | Up to 288 sq ft per face, 576 sq ft total aggregate | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1120[3] |
| Projecting Sign | 10 ft vertical dimension | 16 sq ft per face | 6 ft projection from building | — | One per premises (one per public way if on corner/multiple entrances) | Projecting from wall of building | — | §27-1131 |
| Roof Sign | As per formula | — | — | — | One per premises | On or above roof of building | — | §27-1134 |

### manufacturing zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 288 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On wall of building | — | §27-1132; §27-1120[2] |
| Ground-Pole Sign (One Face) | — | 288 sq ft per face | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1120[2]; §27-1133 |
| Ground-Pole Sign (Double-Faced Back-to-Back) | — | Up to 288 sq ft per face, 576 sq ft total aggregate | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1120[3] |
| Projecting Sign | 10 ft vertical dimension | 16 sq ft per face | 6 ft projection from building | — | One per premises (one per public way if on corner/multiple entrances) | Projecting from wall of building | — | §27-1131 |
| Roof Sign | As per formula | — | — | — | One per premises | On or above roof of building | — | §27-1134 |

## Prohibited signs in Richmond Township

- Signs which incorporate any flashing or moving illumination or illumination which varies in intensity or color, or have any visible moving or revolving parts, except swinging signs, clocks, temperature signs, and barber poles that comply with other provisions.
- Light sources illuminating signs must be shielded so bulbs, floodlights, or tubes are not visible off the property.
- Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety or health.
- Any sign which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or illumination obstructs driver vision or detracts from visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress or egress from a fire escape, door, window, or other required exit.
- Signs that use words or symbols such as 'Stop', 'Look', 'One-Way', 'Danger', 'Yield', or similar, in a way to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- Any obsolete sign no longer advertising a bona fide business or product (to be removed within 90 days).
- Signs on public property or public rights-of-way unless erected or required by a governmental body, and signs on public property or rights-of-way may not bear commercial advertising.
- Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a tree, stone, cliff, or other natural object.
- Unshielded string lights, other than temporary holiday decorations.
- Searchlights, pennants, spinners, banners, streamers, and other forms of outdoor advertising not specifically mentioned, except for grand openings and community affairs and then only with Zoning Officer's permission, limited to thirty days.
- No more than four signs may be erected or maintained on any premises at any one time (with limited exception for corner lots and premises with multiple entrances).
- No sign or any part thereof, including supports or lights, may exceed a height of 25 feet.
- Sign area limits per premises (varies by zone and type).
- The largest sign on a premises may not advertise any particular article of merchandise unless it is the principal product sold or manufactured on site.
- All signs and their components must be constructed and maintained in compliance with applicable building, electrical, and fire codes.
- All signs and parts thereof must be kept in a good state of repair and maintenance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Richmond Township

- Signs listed in §27-1116 (such as name and address identification, home occupation signs, no trespassing signs, real estate signs, institutional signs, small traffic/parking/function signs, governmental signs, memorial signs/tablets, government or organizational flags/insignia, certain temporary farm/special event signs, residential development entrance signs, and recreation facility identification) are permitted in all districts, do not require permits or licenses, and are not counted toward sign total per premises (but must conform to general regulations).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A plan drawn to scale showing the design of the sign, materials, method of construction, and means of attachment must be submitted with the permit application for any permanent sign (§27-1152.2.C).
- Permit applications must include a scaled map showing the sign’s location in relation to buildings, thoroughfares, and other signs, as well as their size and dimensions (§27-1152.2.B).
- No permit will be issued for a sign in excess of 80 square feet unless a special exception (variance) has been granted (§27-1152.5).
- If the Zoning Officer finds a permit application would result in a code violation, the applicant may modify the plan or request a special exception (§27-1152.6).
- If wishing to display a sign not permitted by the ordinance, the owner or lessor may apply for a special exception (variance) to the Zoning Hearing Board (§27-1143).

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

---

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