Bethlehem's sign chapter regulates political signs through content-neutral size, height, and placement rules after Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015) barred content-based sign restrictions. Signs must stay on private property with permission and out of the public right-of-way; PennDOT removes signs in state-highway right-of-way.
Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015) struck down sign codes that applied different rules to political or campaign signs based on message. Bethlehem's sign chapter therefore applies content-neutral standards to all temporary residential and small commercial signs regardless of message. Typical content-neutral standards include limits on aggregate square footage per residential parcel (commonly around 6 sf per side), height caps (often 4 ft), setbacks from the curb, sight-distance triangles at intersections, no attachment to utility poles, and a ban on signs in the public right-of-way. PennDOT rules under 67 Pa. Code §459 prohibit signs in state-highway right-of-way (including PA 378, PA 412, and US 22 frontage). Historic-district properties may also be subject to additional Historical & Architectural Review Board (HARB) standards for permanent signage. PA Election Code 25 P.S. §3060 bans electioneering within 10 feet of the polling room door.
Signs exceeding size or height, in public right-of-way, on utility poles, or blocking sight triangles are removed by Code Enforcement and cited in MDJ Court. PennDOT removes right-of-way signs along PA 378, PA 412, and US 22. Electioneering inside the 10-foot polling buffer violates 25 P.S. §3060.
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