Are LED Signs Allowed in Douglassville, Amity Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania? A Guide to Permits, Sizes, and Zoning
The great news is that LED/EMC signs are allowed in Amity Township, PA when installed as on-site signs in eligible zoning districts (HC, SCC, LI/O adjacent to US Route 422, and PBOI) and designed within the Township's sign standards. Your total sign area depends on your building's frontage and assigned use, with electronic message displays capped at 50 sq ft or 25% of your total allowable signage—whichever is less. Digital displays must show static messages only (no scrolling, flashing, or animation), with each message held for at least 5 seconds and transitions under 0.3 seconds. Brightness must be non-glaring and screened from adjacent properties, signs near state roadways require PennDOT compliance, and off-site digital displays are only permitted in specific Highway Commercial corridors. Permanent signs may not be installed until the principal structure is complete.
EMC Sign Allowed?
✅ Yes — in specific zoning districts, without variance, if code-compliant.
"Electronic message display signs on the same lot as the use to which it relates are permitted in the HC (Highway Commercial) and SCC (Shopping Center Commercial) zoning districts."
(Amity Township Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 32-927(g)(2)(iv))
(Amity Township Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 32-927(g)(2)(iv))
Variance / Appeals Process:
A variance is not required for EMD signs that comply with §32-927(g)(2)(iv) and §32-927(j)(6).
If your proposal exceeds code limits (size, height, location), submit a Variance Application to the Amity Township Board of Supervisors, including:
If your proposal exceeds code limits (size, height, location), submit a Variance Application to the Amity Township Board of Supervisors, including:
- Detailed sign plan (dimensions, mounting, setbacks)
- Engineering certification for structural integrity
- EMD specification sheet (message timing, dimming capabilities)
- PennDOT compliance documentation (if near state roadway)
EMC Sign Summary Table
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Feature
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Answer
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Zoning districts that allow EMCs
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✅ HC, SCC, and portions of LI/O adjoining US Route 422 (§32-927(g)(2)(iv))
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EMC sign styles allowed
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Wall-mounted or monument-style freestanding only (§32-927(g)(2)(ii))
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Off-premise EMCs allowed
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✅ Yes, but only in HC/SCC/LI/O districts adjoining US Route 422, max 200 sq ft per face (§32-927(g)(4))
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EMCs allowed in public right-of-way
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❌ No (§32-927(j)(4))
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Minimum setback required
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≥5 ft from side lot line; clear of sight triangles (§32-927(j)(4))
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EMD technical requirements
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Static messages only • ≥5 sec display time • ≤0.3 sec transition • No scrolling/flashing/fading/dissolving (§32-927(j)(6))
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Permanent sign prerequisite
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Principal structure must exist before permanent sign installation (§32-927(b))
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Zoning District Overview
Amity Township zoning districts include:
- RC: Rural Conservation
- LDR/MDR: Low/Medium Density Residential
- MHP/RV: Mobile Home Park / Rural Village-Amityville
- HC: Highway Commercial ✅ EMD permitted
- SCC: Shopping Center Commercial ✅ EMD permitted
- LI/O: Light Industrial/Office ✅ EMD permitted only in portions adjoining US Route 422
- PBOI: Planned Business/Office/Industrial ✅ EMD permitted
- F/NR: Flood Plain / Natural Resources
Zoning-Specific Standards for EMD Signs
All EMD signs must comply with:
- Size Limit: ≤50 sq ft OR ≤25% of total allowable signage for the property, whichever is less (§32-927(g)(2)(iv))
- Total Signage Cap: 2 sq ft per lineal foot of building facade, max 160 sq ft per use (§32-927(g)(2)(i))
- Height Limit: Freestanding monument signs ≤15 ft (§32-927(g)(2)(ii))
- Message Rules: Static display only; no movement, animation, or optical illusion of motion (§32-927(j)(6)(ii))
- Timing Rules: Each message displayed ≥5 seconds; transition gap ≤0.3 seconds (§32-927(j)(6)(iii)-(iv))
- Illumination: Non-glaring, screened from adjacent properties; no intermittent/flashing lights (§32-927(j)(3))
- PennDOT Compliance: Required for signs near state roadways (§32-927(j)(6)(i))
Permit Filing Requirements
To apply for an EMD sign permit:
- Submit: Zoning Permit Application + Sign Plan Package
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Include:
- Site plan showing sign location, setbacks, and sightlines
- Sign rendering with dimensions and mounting details
- EMD specification sheet confirming compliance with §32-927(j)(6)
- Structural engineering certification (for freestanding signs)
- PennDOT approval letter (if applicable)
- Pay: Permit fee per Township fee schedule
- Await Review: Zoning Officer + Township Engineer approval required
⚠️ Note: Permanent signs may not be installed until the principal structure is complete (§32-927(b)). Interim trailer-mounted signs likely do not meet the "permanent location" definition and may require separate review.
Full Ordinance Text (Verbatim Excerpts)
Definition – Electronic Message Display Sign (§32-927(b)):
"A sign capable of displaying words, symbols, figures or images that can be electronically or mechanically changed by remote or automatic means."
"A sign capable of displaying words, symbols, figures or images that can be electronically or mechanically changed by remote or automatic means."
EMD Permission – HC/SCC Districts (§32-927(g)(2)(iv)):
"Electronic message display signs on the same lot as the use to which it relates are permitted in the HC (Highway Commercial) and SCC (Shopping Center Commercial) zoning districts... Such electronic message display signs shall be no larger than 50 square feet or 25% of the total allowable signage for a property... whichever is less."
"Electronic message display signs on the same lot as the use to which it relates are permitted in the HC (Highway Commercial) and SCC (Shopping Center Commercial) zoning districts... Such electronic message display signs shall be no larger than 50 square feet or 25% of the total allowable signage for a property... whichever is less."
EMD Technical Standards (§32-927(j)(6)):
(ii) Operational Limitations: "Such displays shall contain static messages only, and shall not have movement, or the appearance or optical illusion of movement... including the movement or appearance of movement of any illumination or the flashing or varying of light intensity."
(iii) Minimum Display Time: "Each message on the sign must be displayed for a minimum of five seconds."
(iv) Message Change Sequence: "A maximum of three-tenths of one second of time with no message displayed shall be provided between each message displayed on the sign and there shall be no scrolling, traveling, frame effects, flashing, fading or dissolving of the image..."
(ii) Operational Limitations: "Such displays shall contain static messages only, and shall not have movement, or the appearance or optical illusion of movement... including the movement or appearance of movement of any illumination or the flashing or varying of light intensity."
(iii) Minimum Display Time: "Each message on the sign must be displayed for a minimum of five seconds."
(iv) Message Change Sequence: "A maximum of three-tenths of one second of time with no message displayed shall be provided between each message displayed on the sign and there shall be no scrolling, traveling, frame effects, flashing, fading or dissolving of the image..."