# Sign Regulations in Stowe Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Stowe Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/stowe-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34042013#34042013)

## At a glance

Stowe Township, Pennsylvania regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the C-1 Main Street District (C-1) zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 24 sq ft, with a Building must be set back over 10 ft from front lot line setback (Sec. § 675-27G(2)(b)[1], § 675-27L(1)(d)). Most commercial signs in Stowe Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 5 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Mixed-Use Districts (R/C-1, R/C-2) | 3 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-1A), Conservation Districts (CD) | 1 | — | 75 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (G-1) | 2 | 20 ft | 75 sq ft | — |
| C-1 Main Street District (C-1) | 13 | 14 ft | 75 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 15 ft | 6 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate or Identification Sign (Residential Occupants or Home Occupation) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to wall of the residence | — | § 675-26B(1)(a) |
| Principal Identification Sign (Conditional Use or Multifamily Development) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to building or freestanding | — | § 675-26B(1)(b) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per road frontage, up to 2 on any one lot | On premises, per road frontage | — | § 675-26B(1)(c) |
| Real Estate Sign (Multifamily or Subdivision Development) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per road frontage, up to 2 on any one lot | On premises, per road frontage | — | § 675-26B(1)(d) |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development property | On development property, per road frontage | — | § 675-26B(1)(e) |

### Mixed-Use Districts (R/C-1, R/C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification or Business Sign (Commercial, Office or Industrial use) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 675-26B(2)(b) |
| Nameplate or Identification Sign (Other authorized conditional use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 675-26B(2)(c) |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development property | Same as R-1 Districts | — | § 675-26B(2)(d) |

### C-1 Main Street District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign (Basement/Upper Floor) | 2.5 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business entrance | First floor near basement/upper floor entrance or point of access | — | § 675-27G(1)(b)[1], § 675-27L(1) |
| Business Identification Sign (First Floor Commercial) | 2.5 ft | 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per facade, 2 per building | Per facade fronting a street, max 2 signs per building | — | § 675-27G(1)(b)[2], § 675-27L(1) |
| Trespassing or Private Nature Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property (or 2 per frontage if multiple) | Freestanding, on property | — | § 675-27G(1)(d) |
| Architectural Statue | 6 ft | — | — | — | 1 per first-floor commercial business | Within 6 inches of storefront, not obstructing public traffic | — | § 675-27G(2)(a) |
| Ground Sign | 7 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Building must be set back over 10 ft from front lot line | — | Only permitted if building is set back more than 10 ft from front lot line | — | § 675-27G(2)(b)[1], § 675-27L(1)(d) |
| Pole Sign | 14 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Building must be set back over 10 ft from front lot line | — | Only if building setback >10 ft from lot line | — | § 675-27G(2)(b)[2], § 675-27L(1)(d) |
| Awning Sign | 8 inches lettering/business logo (individual element height) | — | — | — | 1 per entrance or window | Above entrance or window | — | § 675-27G(2)(c), § 675-27G(2)(c)[1]-[4] |
| Canopy Sign | 8 inches lettering/business logo (individual element height) | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | Above each entrance providing public access (only on first level) | — | § 675-27G(2)(c), § 675-27G(2)(c)[1]-[4] |

## Prohibited signs in Stowe Township

- No sign shall be erected, altered, painted, relocated, remodeled, expanded or maintained that is not in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and all other applicable Township codes.
- No sign shall be erected except on the property to which it is related, except as specifically permitted.
- No sign shall be erected upon or applied to any roof.
- No sign shall project beyond any property line.
- A freestanding sign shall not obstruct in a required clear sight triangle.
- Signs that are animated or have flashing illumination are prohibited in all districts.
- No sign shall be attached to any tree or utility pole on public or private property.
- No sign or any portion thereof shall be constructed, erected or so located or placed within the right-of-way lines of any public highway or street except for official traffic signs or required governmental signs or permitted projecting and temporary signs.
- No sign or portion thereof shall extend beyond the roof of a building.
- No more than three permanent signs shall be permitted for any single commercial or industrial establishment, subject to total area limits.
- No person shall attach any sign, advertisement or notice to any tree or shrub in any public street or other public place in the Township.
- No person shall willfully or maliciously destroy or remove or deface or obliterate or cover up any lamp, warning sign or barricade erected by the authorities or persons doing work by Township permission, as a warning of danger.
- Illuminated signs shall be designed and placed so as not to interfere with, distract, confuse, or blind operators of motor vehicles.
- Floodlighting of signs shall be placed so that it is not visible from any point off the lot and only the sign is directly illuminated.
- Billboards or outdoor advertising signs not related to the use of the property are only permitted in G-1 Districts, subject to special restrictions.
- If a use ceases for a period of six months, all signs for that use must be removed.
- Temporary signs may not be animated or flashing, and any illumination must not create an unsafe condition for motorists or glare on surrounding properties.

## Signs exempt from permit in Stowe Township

- Flags or emblems of a government, political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization displayed on private property.
- Signs placed by a governmental body, including, but not limited to, promotional activities, traffic or directional devices, legal notices and warning, instructional or regulatory signs.
- Address numerals and other signs required to be maintained by law or governmental regulation, provided that the content and size of the sign does not exceed the requirements of such law or regulation.
- Small signs, not exceeding five square feet in area, displayed on private property for the convenience of the public, including signs to identify entrance and exit drives, parking areas, one-way drives, restrooms, freight entrances, and the like.
- Incidental signs displayed inside a window of a commercial establishment to advertise special sales of products sold, credit cards accepted, or those required by law or ordinance.
- Official notices posted by public officers or employees in the performance of the officer's or employee's duties.
- Directional signs for hospitals, medical clinics, ambulances, essential services, libraries and churches, up to four square feet, with no more than three erected at different locations at any one time throughout the Township, each to be under 10 feet in height; may not be located within the public right-of-way.
- Historic signs, upon designation by the Board of Commissioners, including ghost signs, for restoration, preservation, and/or reconstruction.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Zoning permits for the erection, alteration, relocation or replacement of any sign must be obtained according to Article VIII of this chapter.
- A zoning permit must be obtained from the Township Zoning Officer for any new, expanded or altered sign.
- In the C-1 Main Street District, an application for a sign permit must include a current photograph of the property, an illustration of the building facade showing the proposed sign, a scaled drawing showing the sign and its specifications, a site plan for ground signs, and type of illumination if any.
- Permit applications must be reviewed by the Zoning Officer, who considers the purposes and intent of the section.
- Conditional uses for signs (e.g., marquee signs, neon signs, murals/artwork) require approval by the Board of Commissioners as set forth in the relevant chapter sections.

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

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