# Sign Regulations in Abbottstown Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Abbottstown Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/abbottstown-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33754200#33754200)

## At a glance

Abbottstown Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 36 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding signs in the TCR District, TCMU District zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 25 sq ft per side, with a 8 ft from right-of-way or 12 ft from curb, whichever greater; min 5 ft from side/rear lot lines. setback (Sec. §204-42A(7)). Most commercial signs in Abbottstown Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LDR District, MDR District | 6 | 10 ft (including structure) | 20 sq ft per side | — |
| TCR District, TCMU District | 14 | 12 ft (freestanding) | 25 sq ft per side | — |
| CI District | 18 | 25 ft | 150 sq ft per side (max 2 sides), max total 300 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | 8 ft | 25 sq ft per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### TCR District, TCMU District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directory sign | 12 ft (freestanding) | 25 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per major parking/main entrance | Wall-mounted or freestanding; at major parking area or main entrance | — | §204-42A(4) |
| Freestanding sign | 12 ft | 25 sq ft per side | — | 8 ft from right-of-way or 12 ft from curb, whichever greater; min 5 ft from side/rear lot lines. | 1 per lot | Setback at least 8 ft from right-of-way or 12 ft from curb, whichever greater; must meet side/rear setbacks, min 5 ft from lot lines | — | §204-42A(7) |
| Projecting sign | — | 20 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per qualifying building | On building/structure with min 50 linear ft of frontage onto public right-of-way; at least 5 ft from end of building; not above eaves/parapet, min clearance 8 ft from sidewalk; max projection 4 ft from wall | — | §204-42A(12) |
| Sandwich board sign | 4 ft | — | 2 ft | — | 1 per street frontage | Directly in front of the business it advertises | — | §204-42A(15) |
| Hours of operation sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per nonresidential use | Mounted on/in window or door | — | §204-42A(9) |
| Open/closed sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per nonresidential use | Mounted on/in window or door | — | §204-42A(10) |
| Off-premises directional sign | 10 ft | 20 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | §204-42B(2) |
| Nonresidential entrance and exit sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 entrance and 1 exit sign per public road frontage with access drive | At each public road frontage with an access drive | — | §204-42B(1) |

### CI District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard sign | 25 ft | 150 sq ft per side (max 2 sides), max total 300 sq ft | — | 50 ft from all public road rights-of-way | — | Only on properties with road frontage on Route 30 | — | §204-42A(2) |
| Directory sign | 12 ft (freestanding) | 25 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per major parking/main entrance | Wall-mounted or freestanding; at major parking area or main entrance | — | §204-42A(4) |
| Drive-through menu board | 15 ft (max); 8 ft if area increased 50% | 32 sq ft (may be increased by 50% if height ≤8 ft) | — | — | 1 per drive-through lane | Adjacent to drive-through lane | — | §204-42A(5) |
| Freestanding sign | 12 ft | 25 sq ft per side | — | 8 ft from right-of-way or 12 ft from curb, whichever greater; min 5 ft from side/rear lot lines. | 1 per lot | Setback at least 8 ft from right-of-way or 12 ft from curb, whichever greater; must meet side/rear setbacks, min 5 ft from lot lines | — | §204-42A(7) |
| Projecting sign | — | 20 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per qualifying building | On building/structure with min 50 linear ft of frontage onto public right-of-way; at least 5 ft from end of building; not above eaves/parapet, min clearance 8 ft from sidewalk; max projection 4 ft from wall | — | §204-42A(12) |
| Sandwich board sign | 4 ft | — | 2 ft | — | 1 per street frontage | Directly in front of the business it advertises | — | §204-42A(15) |
| Hours of operation sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per nonresidential use | Mounted on/in window or door | — | §204-42A(9) |
| Nonresidential entrance and exit sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 entrance and 1 exit sign per public road frontage with access drive | At each public road frontage with an access drive | — | §204-42B(1) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No trespassing/private property sign | — | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Minimum 50 ft apart | — | §204-42C(1) |
| Real estate sign | 6 ft | 10 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per public road frontage | One per public road frontage per deeded property | — | §204-42C(2) |
| Contractor sign | 5 ft | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per firm per property | — | — | §204-42C(3) |
| Developer sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street entrance | At street entrance | — | §204-42C(4) |
| Yard or garage sale sign | — | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | 2 per property | — | — | §204-42C(5) |
| Business grand opening sign | — | 25 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per public road frontage per business | One per public road frontage per business | — | §204-42C(6) |
| Special event sign | — | 20 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per property | Freestanding or wall-mounted | — | §204-42C(7) |
| Street number and nameplate sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per public road frontage | One per public road frontage per dwelling unit or establishment | — | §204-42D(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Abbottstown Borough

- No sign shall be erected, enlarged, or relocated until a permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer.
- Any change in location or dimensions of any sign requires a new sign permit.
- A parcel containing a nonconforming sign of any type shall not be permitted to erect any additional signage until all signage on site is brought into conformity.
- Signs associated with an abandoned use or remaining after the termination of a business (except seasonal businesses) are considered abandoned.
- Flashing signs and/or flashing and/or rotating lights are prohibited.
- Revolving, rotating, or otherwise moving signs are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Animated and/or changeable copy signs are prohibited, except when copy is changed manually and for permitted Digital Message Center Signs; signs displaying only time, temperature, or price of gasoline are exempted.
- Electronic signs advertising a business name and/or products for sale are prohibited except for permitted Digital Message Center signs.
- Portable signs are prohibited, excluding sandwich board signs and certain authorized temporary or exempt signs.
- Any sign located in or extending into a public right-of-way is prohibited, except official street and traffic signs and other signs required by state or federal law.
- Any sign attached to a trailer or vehicle which is parked in the same location for extended periods and visible from a public road is prohibited, unless actively used for business or concealed from view.
- Any sign which uses words or resembles official traffic signs or signals, or attempts to direct traffic, is prohibited.
- Open flames used to attract attention to a business or sign are prohibited.
- Signs within the center circle portion of the Abbottstown Square or any public road or street right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs with vulgar, obscene, or pornographic words, phrases, or pictures are prohibited (as defined by the ordinance).
- Pennant, feather, streamer, flag and inflatable signs are not permitted within LDR, MDR, TCR, and TCMU Districts.
- No sign may be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No sign may be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign may be erected at street intersections so as to obstruct the clear sight triangle as required by the Borough's ordinances or applicable state or federal standards.
- Unless specifically authorized, no sign shall be erected within the legal right-of-way of any public or private street.
- Unless specifically authorized, no sign permitted shall be internally illuminated.
- All signs must be constructed of durable materials and kept in good condition and repair.
- Whenever a sign becomes structurally unsafe or endangers safety, the Zoning Officer may require it to be made safe or removed within five days.
- No person shall place any sign or paint any curb to regulate traffic in highways except under proper municipal authority from Abbottstown Borough.

## Signs exempt from permit in Abbottstown Borough

- Official street and traffic signs are exempt from permitting requirements, and are not limited as to number, size, or height.
- Other signs required by state or federal law are exempt from permitting requirements, and are not limited as to number, size, or height.
- Street number and nameplate signs, with an area up to two square feet per sign and one per public road frontage per dwelling unit or establishment, are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Political signs are exempt from permitting requirements and are not restricted in size or number on any property but must be removed within five days after the election.
- Governmental flags or insignias are exempt from permitting requirements and not restricted in size or number, but must be lighted by external spotlight if displayed overnight.
- Public service signs (restrooms, phones, directions for public safety) are exempt from permitting requirements, not restricted in number, must be under four square feet and attached to a building or wall.
- Legal notices are exempt from permitting requirements and not restricted as to size or number, but must be removed within five days after the event.
- Vending machine signs are exempt from permitting requirements and not restricted as to size or number, except they may not be located in the front yard in TCR or TCMU districts.
- Memorial signs or historic signs or markers are exempt from permitting requirements and not restricted as to number.
- Temporary signs, such as 'No Trespassing', real estate, contractor, developer, yard/garage sale, business grand opening, and special event signs, are exempt from permitting requirements if they comply with specified standards.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No reference is made in the cited ordinance sections to a master sign plan or sign plan requirement that applies universally across all zones; instead, sign permits are required for most sign types, except those specifically identified as exempt or temporary under §§ 204-42C and 204-42D.
- Variances for signs may be granted by the Zoning Hearing Board following established variance procedures.
- Signs requiring a conditional use (e.g., billboards) or subject to Planning Commission and Borough Council approval (see § 186-56) may require additional documentation or plans as part of the approval process, but a formal 'master sign plan' universally required for all developments is not specified in this ordinance.

## 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 4 zoning districts in Abbottstown Borough — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Abbottstown+Borough+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-abbottstown-borough

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/abbottstown-borough