# Sign Regulations in Upper Tulpehocken Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Upper Tulpehocken Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/upper-tulpehocken-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33480897#33480897)

## At a glance

Upper Tulpehocken Township, Pennsylvania regulates 28 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Off-Premises Billboard (General)s in the I-78 Commercial Billboard Overlay District, C-2 District, C-3 District, I-1 District zoning district are capped at 50 feet tall and 200 square feet per face (300 sq ft along/near I-78), with a Min 10 ft from any nonresidential lot line; min 50 ft from arterial st centerline or must be beyond ROW. setback (Sec. § 460-83I(1)–(6), (9)). Most commercial signs in Upper Tulpehocken Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| W-P District, R-P District, EAP District, R-1 District, R-2 District | 13 | — | 32 square feet per sign, per side | — |
| C-1 District, C-2 District, C-3 District, I-1 District | 10 | Cannot exceed height of highest part of roof. For flat roofs, max 5 feet above highest roof feature. | No more than 200 square feet on one side per street frontage per premises (except multi-use buildings) | — |
| I-78 Commercial Billboard Overlay District, C-2 District, C-3 District, I-1 District | 2 | 50 feet | 300 square feet per face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### W-P District, R-P District, EAP District, R-1 District, R-2 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification/Announcement Sign (schools/churches/etc.) | — | 25 square feet per sign, per side | — | — | 2 per frontage | On the property on which the use is conducted | — | § 460-83E(2) |
| Dwelling Occupant/Profession Sign | — | 8 square feet per sign, per side | — | — | 1 per permitted use/dwelling per street frontage | For each dwelling or permitted use on a street frontage. | — | § 460-83E(3) |
| Real Estate Sale/Rental Sign | — | 12 square feet per sign, per side | — | — | — | Upon the property to which it refers | — | § 460-83E(4) |
| Temporary Contractor/Architect Sign | — | 12 square feet per sign, per side | — | No closer than 10 feet to a front or side lot line. | 1 per contractor per street frontage | Upon the property on which the work is being done | — | § 460-83E(5) |
| Nonconforming Use Sign | — | 12 square feet per sign, per side | — | No closer than 10 feet to front or side lot line (except building-attached signs) | 1 per street frontage | Erected only on the premises on which such nonconforming use is located. | — | § 460-83E(6) |
| Subdivision Rental/Sample Directional Sign | — | 4 square feet per sign, per side | — | — | — | Within a residential subdivision to direct persons to a rental office or sample unit. | — | § 460-83E(8) |
| Residential Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 12 square feet per sign, per side | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance to the subdivision from a public street | — | § 460-83E(10) |
| Farm/Nursery Product or Livestock Sale Sign | — | 15 square feet per sign, per side | — | — | — | Produced or raised on the premises | — | § 460-83E(11) |

### C-1 District, C-2 District, C-3 District, I-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General (Aggregate of All Signs) | — | No more than 200 square feet on one side per street frontage per premises (except multi-use buildings) | — | — | — | On or facing any one street frontage | — | § 460-83F(1) |
| Advertising/Directional Sign | — | 25 square feet per sign per side | — | — | — | Any street frontage of any one property | — | § 460-83F(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 200 square feet (total for all signs per frontage) | — | No closer than 10 feet to a front or side lot line | 2 per frontage | Any one street frontage of any one property | — | § 460-83F(3), (7) |
| Directional Sign | — | 25 square feet per sign per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Street frontage | — | § 460-83F(4) |
| Multi-Tenant Building - Freestanding Complex Sign | — | 100 square feet per sign, per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 460-83F(8); § 460-83J(4)(b), (g) |
| Multi-Tenant Building - Tenant Wall Sign | — | 50 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant per frontage | That portion of the building housing the use | — | § 460-83F(8); § 460-83J(4)(b) |
| Portable Sign | — | 40 square feet per side; two sides max | — | — | 1 per principal use/lot | On the lot of a permitted principal commercial use; not within street right-of-way | — | § 460-83G(3) |
| Roof Sign | Cannot exceed height of highest part of roof. For flat roofs, max 5 feet above highest roof feature. | — | — | — | 1 per lot | On roof of commercial/industrial use | — | § 460-83J(4)(h)-(k) |

### I-78 Commercial Billboard Overlay District, C-2 District, C-3 District, I-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-Premises Billboard (General) | 50 feet | 200 square feet per face (300 sq ft along/near I-78) | — | Min 10 ft from any nonresidential lot line; min 50 ft from arterial st centerline or must be beyond ROW. | Max 2 sign faces per structure | Within max 200 feet of arterial street ROW; min 10 ft from any nonresidential lot line; min 50 ft from arterial st centerline unless greater ROW | — | § 460-83I(1)–(6), (9) |
| Off-Premises Billboard (Along/Near I-78) | 50 feet | 300 square feet per face | — | — | Max 2 sign faces per structure | Along or adjacent to I-78 | — | § 460-83I(4), (6), (7) |

## Prohibited signs in Upper Tulpehocken Township

- No signs other than school warning signs, official traffic signs, public service signs and similar signs shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any street or extend over any street right-of-way.
- No portion of any sign shall project over any lot line.
- Except in the case of school warning signs, traffic control signs, time-and-temperature signs, and similar signs, signs shall not contain moving parts nor use flashing or intermittent illumination; the source of light shall be steady and stationary.
- Signs that imitate or resemble official traffic signs, signals or devices, or have characteristics likely to confuse or distract motor vehicle operators, are prohibited. Red, green, or amber lights (except in permitted signs) must not be located in a way to be construed as traffic lights.
- Spinners or any moving object used to attract attention are prohibited.
- No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with safe sight distances for vehicles exiting or entering any property.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position, or have such a source of illumination that it will cause, in the opinion of the Township Supervisors, any danger to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
- No sign shall be utilized in a manner which produces a light intensity greater than 1.0 footcandle beyond the boundaries of the property containing the signage. No beams of light shall be directed towards adjacent properties or public roads; all light sources shall be shielded from adjoining properties and streets.
- No sign shall be erected or located as to prevent free ingress or egress to any window, door or fire escape.
- No sign which emits smoke, visible vapors or particulates, sound or odor shall be permitted.
- No signs except permitted off-premises, official, political, traffic or public service signs shall be erected on a property to which it does not relate.
- Any vehicle or structure to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the carrying of such sign or signs is no longer incidental to the primary purpose of the vehicle or structure but becomes a primary purpose in itself, shall be considered a freestanding sign and must comply as such.
- Signs which contain information that states or implies that a lot may be used for any purpose not permitted under the applicable provisions are prohibited.
- Signs or displays that include words or images that are obscene, pornographic or that an average reasonable person would find highly offensive to public decency are prohibited.
- No sign shall be posted on any property or on any sign pole or public utility pole, unless permission has been received by the owner.
- No sign shall be tacked, stapled, or nailed to a utility pole except by an authorized utility, or by a person who has obtained permission from the authorized utility.
- Any sign which becomes dilapidated or which creates a hazard to the public health, safety or welfare shall be removed at the expense of the owner or lessee.
- No sign which is abandoned or advertises a use no longer in existence (except temporary vacancies as noted) shall remain in place more than 180 days after cessation of such use.

## Signs exempt from permit in Upper Tulpehocken Township

- Signs such as those lettered in the window of a business, temporary signs taped to the glass, signs regulated by § 460-83E(13) (temporary political, fair and nonprofit event signs), and any sign less than two square feet are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Signs erected and maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation are permitted by right in all districts.
- School warning signs, official traffic signs, public service signs, and similar signs are allowed within the street right-of-way in any zoning district.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, unless specifically exempted, require compliance with the provisions of the sign ordinance and a zoning permit (and certificate of use and occupancy) prior to erection.
- Only types, sizes, and heights of signs specifically permitted within the applicable zoning district are allowed.
- A zoning permit is required for any new sign or substantially rebuilt sign, including off-premises signs; zoning permits must specify dates of display in the case of portable signs.
- Lawfully existing signs may be painted, repaired, or changed in message without a new permit, provided the changes do not increase the area or other nonconformity.
- Replacement of an existing nonconforming sign is permitted as long as the new sign is not more nonconforming and is replaced within 180 days of removal.
- On-premises business signs require both a zoning permit and certificate of use and occupancy as regulated by related sections (§§ 460-110, 460-111, 460-112).
- There is no explicit mention of a 'master sign plan' or comprehensive sign plan requirement, nor of a required variance meeting for sign plans in the general provisions.

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

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