Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Middletown Township is putting in place a total ban on temporary signs within municipal rights-of-way.
The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday evening to revise the zoning ordinance.
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The update effectively prohibits all temporary signage—including political, yard sale, and event signs—from township-controlled rights-of-way.
Township officials said last month that they had been weighing the zoning update since January after a central Pennsylvania court ruling regarding municipal content-based sign regulations.
Solicitor James Esposito said the elimination of political sign exemptions was the most significant change under the new rule.
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Political signs were previously permitted in township rights-of-way for up to 60 days before an election.
“Political signs were the only signs that were allowed in the township’s right-of-way,” Esposito said. “That will not happen now because if we allow them in the right of way, we would have to allow all temporary signs within the right of way and we certainly don’t want that because of a safety issue.”
Esposito said that municipal authorities are legally obligated to apply uniform standards to all non-permanent signage.
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“No temporary signs can be placed in the right-of-way anymore,” Esposito said this week. “We can’t just make an exception for political signs. We have to treat every type of temporary sign the exact same. We can’t make exceptions. That’s the case law.”
Under the ordinance, township staff hold the authority to immediately remove non-compliant signs found on municipal rights-of-way.
“If it’s in the right-of-way, and it’s a township right-of-way, we’ll just pull it out,” Esposito said.
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Township enforcement is limited to municipal roads.
Municipal officials lack authority to clear signage along state-maintained roads owned by PennDOT without state authorization.
“It’s still not allowed in PennDOT’s right-of-way,” Esposito said. “It’s just because it’s not our property, unless we get authorization from PennDOT to remove it, we’re probably not gonna touch it.”
Officials said private properties are restricted to an aggregate maximum of 24 square feet for all temporary signs combined, and all signs must be positioned at least 10 feet back from the right-of-way line.
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Signs associated with events, like elections or yard sales, must be removed within 10 days after the event.
When private property displays violate the ordinance, the township sends a zoning violation notice granting the landowner 30 days to correct the issue before fines are issued.
Residents uncertain about road jurisdiction and right-of-way boundaries may contact the township directly for determination.
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State regulations outlaw temporary signs within state rights-of-way, including attachments to guide rails, light posts, signal poles, or traffic control devices.
PennDOT workers are empowered to confiscate violating signs, which are held at PennDOT maintenance offices for 30 days before disposal.
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PennDOT cites the Federal Highway Beautification Act, the State Highway Law, and the state Outdoor Advertising Control Act of 1971 as the legal basis for its rules. Although, local violations remain frequent on Lower Bucks County state roadways.
Temporary signs remain lawful on private property, including residential yards, subject to specific dimensional and setback restrictions.
