Signage Rules: Allentown vs Bethlehem

Can I put up a sign for my home business?

No. External business signage is prohibited at home occupations to maintain residential character.

What about my work van?

Commercial vehicles with signage may be restricted from parking at home. Check Allentown rules.

Can I put a sign on my house for my Bethlehem home business?

For a no-impact home-based business under PA MPC §10107, no external sign is allowed because the statute requires no external evidence of the business. For a customary home occupation under the Bethlehem Zoning Ordinance, a small wall-mounted, non-illuminated sign (typically 1-2 square feet) is generally permitted with a zoning permit. Major home occupations approved by special exception may have additional signage rights set in the approval. Properties in Bethlehem's Historic District face additional HARB review.

Are Bethlehem's home-business sign rules content-neutral?

They must be. Under Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015), Bethlehem cannot regulate signs differently based on their message. Bethlehem can regulate size, location, illumination, and duration, but the same rules must apply regardless of whether the sign advertises a home business, a yard sale, a political candidate, or a real estate listing. Bethlehem's post-2023 comprehensive zoning rewrite should reflect this requirement.