# Sign Regulations in Williams Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Williams Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/williams-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31573322#31573322)

## At a glance

Williams Township, Pennsylvania regulates 25 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Major Residential or Business Development Signs in the Agricultural District (A), Low Density Residential District (LDR), Medium Density Residential District (MDR), Special Conservation District (SC), Residential Zoning Districts (A, LDR, MDR, SC) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall, 25 sq ft, and 10 ft (structure) wide, with a Outside of all future right-of-way lines setback (Sec. § 27-1715A(3), § 27-1712). Most commercial signs in Williams Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | Defined by Table 17.1 | — |
| Agricultural District (A), Low Density Residential District (LDR), Medium Density Residential District (MDR), Special Conservation District (SC), Residential Zoning Districts (A, LDR, MDR, SC) | 5 | 8 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| Local Commercial District (LC), Highway Commercial District (HC), Planned Unit Commercial Development (PUCD), Commercial Zoning Districts (LC, HC, PUCD) | 10 | 18 ft | 80 sq ft (total for 2 signs or 1 larger sign) | — |
| Highway Commercial District (HC) Interchange Overlay | 3 | 80 ft for one sign; only one sign allowed above 30 ft | Up to 672 sq ft per face (expressways), 300 sq ft per face (secondary/collector roads) | — |
| Light Industrial/Business District (LI/B), General Industrial District (GI), Industrial Zoning Districts (LI/B, GI), Industrial and Business Zoning Districts (LI/B, GI) | 6 | 30 ft | Up to 672 sq ft per face (expressways), 300 sq ft per face (secondary/collector roads) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Agricultural District (A), Low Density Residential District (LDR), Medium Density Residential District (MDR), Special Conservation District (SC), Residential Zoning Districts (A, LDR, MDR, SC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 27-1715A(1) |
| Temporary Sign | — | See Table 17.1 (e.g., Garage Sale: 4 sq ft per sign (2), Real Estate: 4 sq ft, Charitable Event: 4 sq ft per sign (2), Contractor: 8 sq ft, Agricultural: 4 sq ft per sign (2), etc.) | — | — | Varies by type | — | — | § 27-1715A(2), Table 17.1 |
| Major Residential or Business Development Sign | 8 ft | 25 sq ft | 10 ft (structure) | Outside of all future right-of-way lines | Up to 3 entrances | At up to 3 major entrances | — | § 27-1715A(3), § 27-1712 |
| Wall Sign (Golf course/conditional or special exception uses) | Equal to or less than building height | 10% of building face or 32 sq ft | — | — | One | Front wall of building only | — | § 27-1715B(1), Table 17.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Golf course/conditional or special exception uses) | 8 ft | 15 sq ft | — | Must comply with general setback rules for accessory structures | One per frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 27-1715B(2), Table 17.2 |

### Local Commercial District (LC), Highway Commercial District (HC), Planned Unit Commercial Development (PUCD), Commercial Zoning Districts (LC, HC, PUCD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | See Table 17.1 (e.g., Real Estate: 15 sq ft, Contractor: 15 sq ft, Charitable Event: 15 sq ft, Agricultural: 15 sq ft, Proposed Development: 15 sq ft, Special Sale: None specified) | — | — | Varies by type | — | — | § 27-1716A(2), Table 17.1 |
| Wall Sign (Single Principal Use) | Equal to or less than total height of principal building | 10% of building face | — | — | Max 2 faces | On up to two building faces | — | § 27-1716A(3)(a), Table 17.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Principal Use, Option 1) | 18 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per lot/use | One per lot/use | — | § 27-1716A(3)(b)[1], Table 17.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Principal Use, Option 2) | 18 ft | 50 sq ft (total for 2 signs or 1 larger sign) | — | — | 2 if >300' road frontage | If road frontage > 300 ft, up to 2 signs total | — | § 27-1716A(3)(b)[2], Table 17.2 |
| Wall Sign (More Than One Principal Use) | Equal to or less than total height of principal building | 15% of building face | — | — | Max 2 faces | On up to two building faces | — | § 27-1716A(4)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Principal Uses, Option 1) | 18 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | One | One per lot | — | § 27-1716A(4)(b)[1], Table 17.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Principal Uses, Option 2) | 18 ft | 80 sq ft (total for 2 signs or 1 larger sign) | — | — | 2 if >300' or >10 businesses | If lot has >300' road frontage or >10 businesses: up to 2 signs | — | § 27-1716A(4)(b)[2], Table 17.2 |
| Sign on Mobile Stand | — | 40 sq ft | — | Not within existing street right-of-way | 1 per lot/use | On lot/use in LC/HC districts only | — | § 27-1716B(2) |

### Light Industrial/Business District (LI/B), General Industrial District (GI), Industrial Zoning Districts (LI/B, GI), Industrial and Business Zoning Districts (LI/B, GI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 27-1717A |
| Temporary Sign | — | See Table 17.1 (e.g., Real Estate: 15 sq ft, Contractor: 15 sq ft, Charitable Event: 15 sq ft, Agricultural: 15 sq ft, Proposed Development: 15 sq ft, Special Sale not permitted) | — | — | Varies by type | — | — | § 27-1717B, Table 17.1 |
| Major or Business Development Sign | 8 ft | 25 sq ft | 10 ft (structure) | Outside all future ROW lines | Up to 3 | At up to 3 major entrances | — | § 27-1717C, § 27-1712 |
| Wall Sign | Equal to or less than total height of principal building | 10% of building face or 200 sq ft | — | — | Up to 2 per establishment | On up to two building faces per establishment | — | § 27-1717D, Table 17.2 |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per frontage | One per street frontage of lot/use | — | § 27-1717E, Table 17.2 |
| Off-Premises Billboard (Digital/LED allowed per requirements) | 30 ft | Up to 672 sq ft per face (expressways), 300 sq ft per face (secondary/collector roads) | 48 ft (expressways); 25 ft (secondary/collector) | 20' from ROW, 1000' from another billboard, 300' from LDR/MDR, 500' from historic site | — | Only along I-78 in commercial/industrial zone | — | § 27-1719B(1-7) |

## Prohibited signs in Williams Township

- Only signs specifically permitted by this chapter shall be allowed. Signs that do not comply with all of the requirements and limitations of this chapter shall be specifically prohibited.
- Banners, flags, spinners, pennants inflatable, or air-supported, or air-activated or any moving object used for a commercial advertising purpose, whether containing a message or not, except as is specifically permitted by Temporary Signs and Exempt Signs.
- Flashing, electronically changing message, blinking, twinkling, animated, or moving display signs of any type, except time and temperature signs and except electronically changing message sign/digital/LED signs in the Highway Commercial (HC) District. This prohibition specifically includes window signs and signs on mobile stands.
- Signs that emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound, or odor.
- Signs which contain information that states or implies that a lot may be used for any purpose not permitted under the applicable provisions of this chapter.
- Signs that are of such character, form, shape, or color that the signs imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal, or device or that have any characteristics which are likely to confuse or distract the operator of a motor vehicle on a public street.
- Signs that use reflective materials to give the appearance of flashing, blinking, twinkling, or electronically changing messages.
- Signs or displays that include words or images that are obscene, pornographic, or that an average reasonable person would find prurient or highly offensive to public decency.
- Balloons of greater than five cubic feet in volume that are tethered to the ground or a structure. Any sign on a mobile stand other than as provided for by standards concerning signs on mobile stands.
- Floodlights and lasers.
- No permanent sign shall be constructed of nondurable materials or kept in poor condition; dilapidated signs may be ordered removed.
- Signs advertising a use that is no longer in existence or a product no longer available shall be removed, painted to be blank, or changed to advertise the new use or product, within 60 days of cessation.
- No part or any portion of any sign shall be erected within five feet of or project over any existing and/or future street right-of-way except official signs, nameplate signs, public service signs and directional signs.
- No signs shall be erected on a property to which the sign does not relate except permitted off-premises, official, political or public service signs.
- No sign shall be installed or posted on any property or sign pole, or public utility pole, unless permission for the sign has been received from the owner of the property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Williams Township

- Official signs (erected or authorized/required by governmental bodies or as specifically authorized by Township ordinance or resolution) are not regulated in any form by this chapter.
- Nameplate signs (not to exceed two square feet, maximum of one per lot).
- Identification signs (not to exceed two square feet, maximum of one per lot).
- Directional signs (not to exceed four square feet).
- Memorial or historic markers when approved or authorized by the Board of Supervisors or a state or federal government agency.
- Public service signs (not to exceed two square feet, maximum of three per lot).
- Temporary signs (shall comply with requirements of Temporary Signs section).
- Trespassing signs (not to exceed two square feet and not to be posted closer than 25 feet to each other within a lot).
- Picketing and 'sandwich' signs physically carried by a person.
- Home-based business (no-impact) sign (maximum sign area two square feet, one per lot, not illuminated).
- Signs not visible from a public street or any exterior lot line by an individual with normal and unaided vision.
- Officially required signs (signs that include only such information specifically required to be posted exterior to a building by a government agency or the Township).
- Very small signs (less than one square foot in area that cannot be read from a public street or exterior property line).
- Window signs that are not permanent, provided they comply with other requirements.
- Decorations for holidays.
- Flags of any nation or level of government, and up to two additional cloth flags per lot of up to 20 square feet each.
- Signs within the existing right-of-way of a public street when officially authorized by the Board of Supervisors or PennDOT, as appropriate.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for all signs allowed in any zoning district except for signs that are listed in Exempt Signs (§27-1710).
- Any sign that is subject to a permit requirement or other Township review and approval procedure, which is associated with a proposed conditional or special exception, or an expansion or change of a nonconforming use, may be reviewed and either approved or denied at the same time that the associated conditional use, special exception, or nonconforming use is being reviewed and decided.
- The Zoning Hearing Board may allow the voluntary replacement of existing lawful nonconforming freestanding and wall signs by nonconforming replacement signs with a smaller sign area and lower height as a special exception.
- For major developments (10 or more dwelling units, or 5 or more office/commercial/industrial/institutional uses), the developer must provide an appropriate method (subject to approval by the Zoning Officer) to ensure perpetual maintenance or future removal of signs, including the posting of financial security, prior to issuance of any permit for the sign.
- A sign permit is required for signs on mobile stands; specific standards and deposits apply.

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

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