# Sign Regulations in Carroll Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Carroll Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/carroll-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31947530#31947530)

## At a glance

Carroll Township, Pennsylvania regulates 24 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Business Identification Sign (Freestanding)s in the Commercial District, Industrial District, C Commercial District, I Industrial District zoning district are capped at 35 feet tall and 100 square feet, with a 5 feet inside lot from street line setback (Sec. § 138-88B(3)). Most commercial signs in Carroll Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservation/Forest District, Residential Agricultural District, Residential District, CF Conservation Forest, R-A Residential-Agricultural District, R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District | 12 | — | 32 square feet (per side) | — |
| Village District | 9 | — | 32 square feet (per side) | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District, C Commercial District, I Industrial District | 10 | 35 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| R-2 Residential District, C Commercial District, I Industrial District | 1 | — | 300 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 6 square feet (per side) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Conservation/Forest District, Residential Agricultural District, Residential District, CF Conservation Forest, R-A Residential-Agricultural District, R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sale or Rental Sign | — | 6 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 per property, 1 per frontage if multiple streets | On the premises for sale or rent | — | § 138-86A |
| Development Sale/Development Sign | — | 32 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 per property, 1 per frontage if multiple streets | On the premises being developed/sold | — | § 138-86B |
| Development Directional Sign (Off-Premises) | — | 6 square feet for single-faced, 12 square feet for double-faced | 4 feet (for single-faced sign) | — | 1 per 500 feet of street frontage, max 5 | Off-premises, not on the parcel being developed | — | § 138-86C |
| Sold/Rented Signs | — | 6 square feet (must comply with § 138-86A) | — | — | As per § 138-86A | On the premises | — | § 138-86D |
| Institutional Sign (Schools, Churches, etc.) | — | 20 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 per property, 1 per frontage if multiple streets | On owned property | — | § 138-86G |
| Home Occupation Identification Sign | — | 4 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 | On property for which home occupation is authorized | — | § 138-86H |
| Business Identification Sign - Option 1 (Wall Sign) | — | 32 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 | On wall of approved business or preexisting nonconforming business | — | § 138-86L(1) |
| Business Identification Sign - Option 2 (Freestanding Sign) | — | 32 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 | On approved business or preexisting nonconforming business property | — | § 138-86L(2) |

### Village District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sale or Rental Sign | — | 6 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 per property, 1 per frontage if multiple streets | On the premises for sale or rent | — | § 138-87A; § 138-86A |
| Development Sale/Development Sign | — | 32 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 per property, 1 per frontage if multiple streets | On premises being developed/sold | — | § 138-87A; § 138-86B |
| Development Directional Sign (Off-Premises) | — | 6 square feet for single-faced, 12 square feet for double-faced | 4 feet (for single-faced sign) | — | 1 per 500 feet of street frontage, max 5 | Off-premises, not on the parcel being developed | — | § 138-87A; § 138-86C |
| Institutional Sign (Schools, Churches, etc.) | — | 20 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 per property, 1 per frontage if multiple streets | On owned property | — | § 138-87A; § 138-86G |
| Business Identification Sign (Wall Sign) | — | — | — | — | 1 | Attached to wall, more than 12 inches from wall, minimum 10 feet above sidewalk; not above roof or parapet | — | § 138-87B(1)(a), § 138-87C |
| Business Identification Sign (Projecting) | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 | Projecting beyond building front, not above roof or parapet. | — | § 138-87B(1)(b), § 138-87C |
| Business Identification Sign (Freestanding) | — | 32 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 | On property | — | § 138-87B(2), § 138-87C |
| Home Occupation Identification Sign | — | 20 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 | On property for which home occupation is authorized | — | § 138-87B(3) |

### Commercial District, Industrial District, C Commercial District, I Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sale or Rental Sign | — | 6 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 per property, 1 per frontage if multiple streets | On the premises for sale or rent | — | § 138-88A; § 138-86A |
| Development Sale/Development Sign | — | 32 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 per property, 1 per frontage if multiple streets | On premises being developed/sold | — | § 138-88A; § 138-86B |
| Development Directional Sign (Off-Premises) | — | 6 square feet for single-faced, 12 square feet for double-faced | 4 feet (for single-faced sign) | — | 1 per 500 feet of street frontage, max 5 | Off-premises, not on the parcel being developed | — | § 138-88A; § 138-86C |
| Institutional Sign (Schools, Churches, etc.) | — | 20 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 per property, 1 per frontage if multiple streets | On owned property | — | § 138-88A; § 138-86G |
| Business Identification Sign (Projecting) | — | — | — | 5 feet inside lot from street line | 1 | Shall not project beyond a plane 5 feet inside lot from street line | — | § 138-88B(2) |
| Business Identification Sign (Freestanding) | 35 feet | 100 square feet | — | 5 feet inside lot from street line | 1 | Freestanding, not beyond a plane 5 feet inside lot from street line | — | § 138-88B(3) |
| Shopping Center Projecting Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | Building front, projecting | — | § 138-88C(1)(b) |
| Shopping Center Ground Sign | — | 75 square feet (per side) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage. Location and orientation designated on land development plan. | — | § 138-88C(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Carroll Township

- Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving illumination, or with illumination which varies in intensity or color, and signs which have any visible revolving parts or visible mechanical movement of any description, or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical pulsation or by actions of normal wind currents. (Except clocks, time or temperature signs, barber poles, and hanging signs which simply swing in the wind, provided they otherwise comply.)
- Light sources which cast light on signs shall be shielded by opaque material so that the bulbs, floodlights or tubes are not visible off the property on which the signs are located.
- Signs advertising activities that are illegal under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances as applied to the location of a particular sign or the location of such activities.
- Signs which by reason of size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination obstruct the vision of drivers either when leaving or entering a public street from another street or driveway, and/or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic control device or traffic sign on a public street.
- Signs which make use of words such as 'stop,' 'look,' 'one-way,' 'danger,' 'yield,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' or any similar words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic or which imitate an official traffic sign or signal.
- Signs which advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer produced or conducted. Such sign shall be removed within 30 days after the same is no longer produced or conducted.
- Signs which are placed or located within the public right-of-way, except as provided elsewhere in this chapter.
- Signs painted on, pasted or attached to or supported by utility poles, trees, fences, a stone cliff or other natural object.
- Signs which consist of pennants, spinners, banners, streamers or search lights, except for occasions such as grand openings and then only with permission of the Building Inspector for a use limited to a period of 15 days.
- String lights other than temporary holiday decorations or special events or function of public service, charitable, religious, educational, and civic organizations which are unshielded from off the premises on which they are located.
- Signs which obstruct free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other exitway.
- Signs which are structurally unsafe or in a state of disrepair.
- Signs shall not be constructed of non-durable materials or allowed to become dilapidated.
- Signs projecting beyond the property lines shall be not less than 10 feet above the public sidewalk areas.
- Signs shall not project above the height limit permitted in the district in which they are located.
- All signs erected within the right-of-way of a state highway shall be in accordance with PA Department of Transportation regulations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Carroll Township

- On- and/or off-premises signs necessary for the direction, regulation and control of traffic; street name signs; legal notices; warnings at railroad crossings; and other official signs which are similarly authorized or erected by a duly constituted governmental body. Such signs may be illuminated only as necessary or customary for traffic control or safety.
- Public utility signs required in connection with the identification, operation, or protection of the public utility, provided the area of one side of any such sign shall not exceed eight square feet.
- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized holidays shall be exempted from the provisions of this chapter except as they may cause glare, interfere with traffic safety or in any other way become a public safety hazard.
- Street name signs at all intersections in subdivisions or land developments, provided in conformity with Township specs and installed by developer.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The location and orientation of shopping center ground signs must be designated on, or in connection with, the required land development plan.
- Signs in existence at the effective date of this chapter or amendments may be continued, subject to regulations in Article XII and Article XIII (nonconforming sign requirements).
- Business identification signs for nonconforming uses may be continued and maintained as part of the legal nonconforming use.
- Except for home occupations and permitted business identification signs, a permit shall not be required for the erection, alteration or maintenance of any signs permitted in the CF Conservation Forest, R-A Residential-Agricultural District, R-1 Residential District, and R-2 Residential District.
- A permit is required for the erection, structural alteration, or reconstruction of billboards or advertising signboards.

## 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 5 zoning districts in Carroll Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Carroll+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-carroll-township

---

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