# Sign Regulations in Tinicum Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tinicum Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/tinicum-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/13144193#13144193)

## At a glance

Tinicum Township, Pennsylvania regulates 36 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Business/Office Center - Road Frontage)s in the C-2 Commercial District zoning district are capped at 30 feet (50 ft if along expressway or aimed at motorists on expressway) tall and 250 square feet (450 sq ft if along I-95 or for expressway motorists), with a At least 20 ft from street or highway right-of-way line setback (Sec. §395-165C(2)). Most commercial signs in Tinicum Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 4 | — | 288 square inches | — |
| C-1 Commercial District | 7 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| C-2 Commercial District | 8 | 30 feet (50 ft if along expressway or aimed at motorists on expressway) | Total area of all such signs does not exceed 400 sq ft (total); no sign exceeds 25 ft in height (except where ZHB authorizes greater) | — |
| C-3 Planned Commercial/Office District | 1 | — | See C-2 District | — |
| C-4 Commercial-Industrial District, C-4A Commercial-Industrial District | 5 | — | 144 square feet (additional 12 sq ft per establishment, or 144 sq ft if only listing establishments) | — |
| I-B Industrial Business District | 1 | — | See C-2 District | — |
| HI Heavy Industrial District | 4 | — | 25% of window area | — |
| W-1 Waterfront District | 4 | — | See C-1 Commercial District | — |
| W-1A Waterfront District | 1 | — | See HI Heavy Industrial District | — |
| W-2 Waterfront District | 2 | — | 30 square feet (for outdoor open space or recreation resource); otherwise not stated | — |
| OR Outdoor Recreation District | 2 | — | 10 square feet | — |
| SU Special Use District (AP Airport District) | 3 | — | Variable | — |
| Industrial Heritage Corridor Overlay District (IHCO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 30 ft (from grade to bottom of sign) | 1200 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### C-1 Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign Permitted in Residential Districts | — | See R-1, R-2, R-3: nameplate 288 sq in; identification 16 sq ft | — | — | — | See residential sign locations | — | §395-165B(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 per frontage | On building wall | — | §395-165B(3)-(4) |
| Freestanding Sign or Ground Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per frontage | On lot, per frontage | — | §395-165B(5)-(6) |
| Movable Digital Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | As wall sign or freestanding sign | — | §395-165B(2), (6) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | Same as wall sign: 30 square feet | — | — | 1 per frontage | On awning or canopy above door/window | — | §395-165B(7) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | On window glass | — | §395-163E; §395-165B(8) |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign (Shopping/Business Center) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per frontage for main center; individual establishment as above | At frontage of shopping center | — | §395-165B(9) |

### C-2 Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs permitted in C-1 District | — | See C-1 District | — | — | — | — | — | §395-165C(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business/Office Center - Road Frontage) | 30 feet (50 ft if along expressway or aimed at motorists on expressway) | 250 square feet (450 sq ft if along I-95 or for expressway motorists) | — | At least 20 ft from street or highway right-of-way line | Max 3 per frontage (2 for center, 1 for establishments) | Each exterior road frontage, min 20 ft from right-of-way line | — | §395-165C(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Interior Access Road) | 25 feet (higher if approved by ZHB) | Total area of all such signs does not exceed 400 sq ft (total); no sign exceeds 25 ft in height (except where ZHB authorizes greater) | — | — | — | At each interior access road into business/office center | — | §395-165C(3) |
| Freestanding or Wall Sign (Building ≤30,000 sq ft GFA w/parking access) | — | 50 square feet | 10 feet length | — | 2 per occupant | In immediate vicinity of access drive to parking; on building | — | §395-165C(4) |
| Freestanding or Wall Sign (Building >30,000 but <100,000 sq ft GFA) | — | 75 square feet | 20 feet length | — | 2 per occupant | On building or at entrance | — | §395-165C(5) |
| Freestanding or Wall Sign (Building >100,000 sq ft GFA) | — | 200 square feet | 35 feet length | — | 2 per side, 2 per occupant | On building or near as freestanding | — | §395-165C(6) |
| Directory Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | In immediate vicinity of public building entrance | — | §395-165C(8) |
| Directional Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | — | At entrances, exits, pick-up/loading areas etc. | — | §395-165C(9) |

### C-4 Commercial-Industrial District, C-4A Commercial-Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Variable; 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of building width | — | — | 1 per frontage | On building wall | — | §395-165E(1) |
| Freestanding or Ground Sign (for establishment in building) | — | Variable; 1 sq ft per foot of building width | — | — | 1 per frontage | At frontage | — | §395-165E(1)(f) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | Variable | — | — | 1 per frontage | Canopy or awning | — | §395-165E(1)(c), (h) |
| Freestanding or Ground Sign (Industrial Park/Business Center) | — | 144 square feet (additional 12 sq ft per establishment, or 144 sq ft if only listing establishments) | — | — | 1 per frontage | Along each frontage of industrial park/business center | — | §395-165E(2) |
| Wall Sign (Industrial Park/Business Center) | — | Variable | — | — | 1 per frontage | On building wall per frontage | — | §395-165E(2)(f) |

## Prohibited signs in Tinicum Township

- It is unlawful to erect or maintain flashing, blinking, twinkling, spinning, animated inflatable, aerial, crane, or lighted moving signs including automatic color changing and rotating lamps and other moving objects that call attention to the sign (except movable digital signs meeting specific size limits).
- It is unlawful to paint wall bulletins or any other signs directly on the facade of a building or other structure.
- It is unlawful to install curb or sidewalk signs or signs painted, attached, or suspended from any outdoor bench, chair, or similar structure.
- It is unlawful to tack, paste, tie, or affix signs, letters, posters, and advertisements to poles, posts, buildings, fences, or other structures located on public property or within public rights-of-way.
- No sign shall be located, arranged, or placed in a position where it will cause danger to traffic or interfere with traffic through glare; block required sight lines for streets, sidewalks, or driveways; cause confusion with a traffic control device by reason of color, location, shape, or other characteristics; or by any other means.
- Except for traffic signs, no sign shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any public street, nor shall any sign be closer than 10 feet to the right-of-way line of a public street, unless specifically authorized by other ordinances or governmental agencies.
- Every sign must be kept in good condition and repair; any sign that becomes dilapidated must be removed by the landowner or lessee at their expense.
- Where an establishment vacates a building, the owner must remove any sign and sign structure within 30 days, unless a new establishment continues or assumes the same name.
- No signboard may be installed, erected, or constructed to obstruct any fire escape or any window or door thereto, nor may any sign be attached to a fire escape.
- Any sign installed, erected, constructed, or reconstructed in violation of the ordinance is declared a public nuisance and may be removed.
- Signs must not become insecure, in danger of falling, or otherwise unsafe; if so, the owner must secure the sign in conformity with the ordinance upon notice.
- Advertising by sign tacking or by tacking, pasting, or tying signs on poles, posts, trees, buildings, fences, or structures located on public property is unlawful.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tinicum Township

- Public notice, warning, or official traffic sign required by a federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Building markers that include only the building name, date of construction, or historical data on an historic site, provided there is only one per building and it does not exceed six square feet.
- Flags of the United States, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the US, or any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body, not exceeding 60 square feet in area and flown from a pole not more than 40 feet in height.
- Incidental signs containing no commercial message of any kind, provided such signs do not exceed eight square feet.
- Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises or lot upon which they are erected, provided there is no more than one such sign per street frontage, the sign is neither illuminated nor exceeds six square feet in residential districts and 20 square feet in nonresidential districts, and all such signs are removed on or before the date of settlement.
- Signs advertising the development of the premises where they are erected, not exceeding six square feet in residential districts and 20 square feet in nonresidential districts.
- Nameplate signs on private residences not exceeding 144 square inches.
- Decorations for a recognized officially designated holiday, provided they do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
- Yard sale or garage sale signs not exceeding two square feet, to be removed within 24 hours after such sales.
- Signs announcing a political, educational, charitable, civic, religious, athletic, or similar campaign or event erected for not more than 30 days, no more than four times in any calendar year for a maximum annual total of 120 days, not exceeding eight square feet.
- Temporary banners denoting special events.
- Changeable copy signs for churches, schools, and other uses requiring such signs, provided only one sign is permitted (with a possible second sign on a corner property with over 100 feet frontage), not exceeding 16 square feet.
- Temporary signs for institutional or nonprofit organizations are exempt from the 30-day permit duration and annual three-permit maximum, but are subject to Board of Commissioners approval.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No reference to requirement for a 'master sign plan' in the ordinance.
- For sign permits, an application must be submitted providing full particulars including size, shape, materials, supports, a location sketch, and, if the applicant is not the property owner, written consent of property owner.
- Whenever a sign is replaced by another, enlarged, or altered more than 50% of its value, a new permit is required.
- For new off-premises signs or billboards, the application must be accompanied by a site plan and contain all applicable requirements.
- Within a lot containing more than 20 parking spaces (for towing signs), the property owner shall prepare a site plan, subject to approval by the Superintendent of Police, showing signage locations before towing-related signs are posted.
- No sign is to be erected without first obtaining a permit unless it is an exempt sign as specified in §395-164.
- No indication of a required variance meeting or specific master sign plan required for commercial centers/business centers, only permit procedures specified unless otherwise regulated by the underlying zoning or building/occupancy permitting process.

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

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