# Sign Regulations in Tobyhanna Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tobyhanna Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/tobyhanna-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12589244#12589244)

## At a glance

Tobyhanna Township, Pennsylvania regulates 30 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the C, CI zoning district are capped at 20 ft max above average grade or public highway elevation; fuel station signs within 1/2 mile of interstate may be 80 ft. tall, 120 sq ft max per sign (per largest development tier); others as described., and 20 ft wide, with a 10 ft from cartway or as per general setback setback (Sec. §155-32D). Most commercial signs in Tobyhanna 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 | 2 | Must be at least 4 feet but no greater than 6 feet from the ground surface (for post/mount location) | — | — |
| RR, R-1, R-2, OS | 5 | 8 ft above average elevation of nearest public highway or grade | 80 sq ft | — |
| C, CI | 6 | 20 ft max above average grade or public highway elevation; fuel station signs within 1/2 mile of interstate may be 80 ft. | 120 sq ft max per sign (per largest development tier); others as described. | — |
| CI | 1 | 25 ft above average elevation/grade | 200 sq ft | — |
| Blakeslee Village District (BV, BV-1, BV-2) | 11 | 10 ft for sign; max overall 13 ft (including min 3 ft monument base) | 200 sq ft | — |
| Resort Overlay District | 6 | 40 ft | 600 sq ft | — |
| Planned Commercial Retail Entertainment Dining District (PCRED) | 1 | As per freestanding sign restriction for PCRED/Resort | As permitted per district master signage plan and §155-33; max sign area typically up to 600 sq ft per face per Resort Overlay District, but should refer to PCRED-specific plan if different. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### C, CI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign (Interior) | — | Up to 50% of window area | — | — | — | Interior of windows; exterior window signs prohibited | — | §155-32B |
| Wall/Facade/Roof Sign | For roof signs: max 2 ft height, max length = 0.5 × wall face frontage; cannot extend above roof line | — | — | — | One per business activity | On building facade/roof. | — | §155-32C |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft max above average grade or public highway elevation; fuel station signs within 1/2 mile of interstate may be 80 ft. | 120 sq ft max per sign (per largest development tier); others as described. | 20 ft | 10 ft from cartway or as per general setback | Two per premises per road | On premises | — | §155-32D |
| Awning Sign | — | 20 sq ft or 20% of awning area (whichever greater) | — | — | One per entrance/exit | On awning | — | §155-32E |
| Canopy Sign | 18 inches | — | 6 feet | — | One per canopy | Placed entirely under or on canopy (marquee) | — | §155-32F |
| Shingle Sign | No portion less than 8 ft nor more than 10 ft above walkway; not above eave/parapet | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per nonresidential use | Attached to building, near entrance, centered under overhang if suspended | — | §155-32G |

### Blakeslee Village District (BV, BV-1, BV-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 10 ft for sign; max overall 13 ft (including min 3 ft monument base) | 75 sq ft per side | — | 20 ft from right-of-way | One per right-of-way frontage (lot 100 ft+ wide) | Not projecting/encroaching into right-of-way; min 20 ft setback from right-of-way | — | §155-34B(1) |
| Wall or Facade Sign - Single Tenant | 7 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | One per store frontage (stores with two entrances may have two, with matching size/material) | On principal facade | — | §155-34B(2) |
| Wall or Facade Sign - Multitenant | 7 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | One per store frontage, two per store if two entrances (matching size/material) | On each store frontage/main ingress/egress | — | §155-34B(2) |
| Shingle Sign | No portion less than 7 ft nor more than 10 ft above walkway; not above eave/parapet | 4 sq ft; thickness 1-6 in | — | — | One per store frontage; two if two entrances (matching size/material) | Attached directly to building; suspended from overhang or bracket; near entrance. | — | §155-34B(4) |
| Directory Sign | 7.5 ft | 3.5 ft wide x 7.5 ft long | 3.5 ft | — | — | As per master signage plan | — | §155-34B(8)(a) |
| Vehicular Directional Sign | 5.5 ft | 5 ft wide x 5.5 ft long | 5 ft | — | — | As per master signage plan | — | §155-34B(8)(b) |
| Parking Sign (Blade type at Garage Entrance) | 8 ft | 2 ft wide x 8 ft high | 2 ft | — | One per garage entrance | At parking garage entrance | — | §155-34B(8)(c) |
| Banner (Event/Holiday) | 5 ft | 2 ft wide x 5 ft high | 2 ft | — | One per light pole | Secured and mounted on black iodized light pole | — | §155-34B(8)(f) |

### Resort Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Interstate/State Highway | 40 ft | 600 sq ft | — | Per setback standards in §155-32 and PennDOT/Highway Beautification Act | Max 2 | On property of resort, contiguous with interstate or state highway right-of-way | — | §155-34A(1) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign - Each Driveway/Access Road | 30 ft | 300 sq ft | — | — | Max two such signs | At each driveway/access entrance to resort | — | §155-34A(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | No limit | Exposed to street or public way | — | §155-34A(2) |
| Directional Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | No limit | — | — | §155-34A(3) |
| CEVM Sign (Option 1) | Per freestanding sign restriction | 600 sq ft per face (max two faces, 1200 sq ft total) | — | Per freestanding sign restrictions; 500 ft from residential boundary | Max 2 per resort (one per entrance) | On property of resort, as one of freestanding signs | — | §155-34A(4), §155-33 |
| Roof Sign (Option 2) | See above | See table: Building Ht 0-20 ft: Max 100 sq ft sign (6 ft tall). 20-40 ft: Max 200 sq ft (8 ft tall). 40+ ft: 400 sq ft (10 ft tall). | — | — | — | On roof, per building height | — | §155-34A(4)(e)[5] |

## Prohibited signs in Tobyhanna Township

- Any sign unlawfully erected or unlawfully existing prior to or after the effective date of the sign ordinance, and any nonconforming sign failing to comply with maintenance or continuation provisions, is prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Any sign with moving, flashing or animated lights, visible moving or movable parts, or giving the appearance of animation, not including CEVM signs or barber pole signs, is prohibited.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited.
- Any sign that emits a sound, odor, or visible matter is prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs free ingress/egress from required doors, fire escapes, or exits is prohibited.
- Any sign or sign structure that obstructs the view of, may be confused with, or purports to be a governmental traffic directional or safety sign is prohibited.
- Any non-freestanding sign that extends above the parapet, building roofline, or canopy (if lower than the roofline) against which the sign is located is prohibited.
- Any sign using the words "stop" or "danger" or any other wording, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that misleads, confuses, or distracts vehicle drivers is prohibited.
- Moving-message signs are prohibited except for time and temperature messages.
- No sign, whether temporary or permanent (except those erected by a public agency), is permitted within any traveled way.
- Any sign containing obscene words, statements, or pictures of obscene or pornographic subjects is prohibited.
- Any sign painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, or other natural features or utility/telephone poles, or painted on building roofs visible from any public thoroughfare, is prohibited (does not include exceptions permitted under §155-25D).
- Any abandoned or dilapidated sign not brought into conformance with the ordinance is prohibited.
- Any inflatable sign is prohibited.
- Any neon sign, except as a window sign where permitted, is prohibited.
- All bus shelter commercial signs are prohibited except as conditional uses.
- Serial signs are prohibited.
- Video signs visible from any public or private road, highway, or street are prohibited.
- Feather flags are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to cover any building number sign with any other sign, drapery, or obstruction, or to fail to remove obsolete, inaccurate, or nonconforming building numbers when a new number is assigned.
- Roofs: Signs painted on the roofs of buildings visible from public thoroughfares are prohibited.
- Signs that block or impair sight distances at driveways, intersections, or business ingress/egress are prohibited.
- No flag, except a governmental flag, shall be allowed unless specifically permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tobyhanna Township

- No zoning permit is required for notice of meetings for civic and religious groups.
- "NO TRESPASSING," "NO HUNTING," "NO FISHING," "NO LOITERING" and similar signs not exceeding four square feet in sign area do not require a permit.
- Official signs or notices issued by any court, public agency, or officer do not require a permit.
- Political signs do not require a permit.
- Private street or road name signs, traffic directional, incidental, instructional, ingress or egress signs not exceeding four square feet do not require a permit, unless otherwise required by law.
- Sandwich board signs (A-frame signs) do not require a permit.
- Signs advertising the sale or lease of property upon which they are located do not require a permit.
- Signs for roadwork do not require a permit.
- Special event signs do not require a permit provided all other applicable Township permits are secured.
- Traffic, directional, or warning signs erected or authorized by any public agency do not require a permit.
- Signs for volunteer organizations directly affiliated with the Township Board of Supervisors do not require a permit.
- Yard sale and garage sale signs not exceeding five square feet per sign area do not require a permit, if all other applicable Township permits are secured.
- A permit is not required for altering, replacing, or repairing a lawfully existing sign when there is no increase in size and only the following occurs: changing copy on a lawfully existing changeable-copy sign; repainting or refinishing a lawfully existing sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan is required for all exterior signs at a resort or gaming resort; the master signage plan must depict all exterior signs, including their area, dimensions, height, illumination, and other features, and must be submitted as part of the preliminary land development plan for the resort.
- In the Blakeslee Village districts (BV-1 and BV-2), a master signage plan must be included with all land development applications. Additional signage types (directory, vehicular directional, parking, pedestrian, banners) may be allowed under this plan and must adhere to specified criteria.
- Unified/coordinated sign design is required for all on-premises freestanding signs in certain districts (e.g., RR, R-1, R-2, OS, C, CI) where there are multiple uses on one parcel; these multiple uses must utilize a combined (master/planned) monument or freestanding sign unless unreasonable.
- For CEVM (Changeable Electronic Variable Message) signs, a complete application for a sign permit must be submitted—including for CEVM billboards—a building and electrical permit application and sealed plans by a licensed professional structural engineer may also be required.
- No sign or sign structure may be erected, displayed, moved, relocated, or altered (unless specifically exempted) until an application has been filed and a permit issued by the Township’s Zoning Officer.
- For most signs (other than those listed as exempt or subject to minor alterations/repainting), a sign permit and fee are required from the Zoning Officer.
- The location for a new freestanding sign must be clearly identified at each location where a support pole will be embedded in the ground, per permit application.

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

---

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