# Sign Regulations in Cecil Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cecil Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/cecil-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31000716#31000716)

## At a glance

Cecil Township, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Nonresidential Districts zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 50 sq ft + 10 sq ft/tenant, up to 100 sq ft max, with a 5 ft from ROW setback (Sec. §240-79G, §240-74F, §240-72G). Most commercial signs in Cecil Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 5 | 8 ft (freestanding); 24 ft (banner) | 16 sq ft (freestanding, window, or wall); 32 sq ft (banner) | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 11 | 30 ft | 60/100/150/200/300 sq ft based on road speed | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 30 ft | 24 sq ft (residential); 35 sq ft (other districts) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Large) | 8 ft (freestanding); 24 ft (banner) | 16 sq ft (freestanding, window, or wall); 32 sq ft (banner) | — | — | 1 per property meeting size/frontage/floor area requirement | On private property, one per property if >5 acres and 400 ft frontage or >10,000 sq ft floor area. | — | §240-76B(2)(a), §240-76C, §240-76E, §240-76G |
| Temporary Sign (Small) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On private property, one per property. | — | §240-76B(2)(b), §240-76C, §240-76E, §240-76G |
| Limited Duration Sign (Large) | 8 ft (freestanding) | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per eligible property | On private property, one per property if >5 acres and 400 ft frontage or >10,000 sq ft floor area. | — | §240-77B(2)(a), §240-77C, §240-77E |
| Limited Duration Sign (Small) | 6 ft (freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On private property, one per property. | — | §240-77B(2)(b), §240-77C, §240-77E |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Development or Apartment Building >10 Units) | 8 ft | 15 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | §240-78C, §240-72G |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Large) | 8 ft (freestanding); 24 ft (banner) | 20 sq ft (freestanding, window, wall); 32 sq ft (banner) | — | — | 1 per property (with potential for additional if conditions met) | On private property, one per property. If >5 acres/400 ft street frontage or >10,000 sq ft floor area, one additional sign may be permitted (200 ft spacing required). | — | §240-76B(1)(a), §240-76C, §240-76E, §240-76G |
| Temporary Sign (Small) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (+1 if large property requirements met) | On private property, one per property (possible second if property is >5 acres/400 ft frontage or >10,000 sq ft floor area, 200 ft apart). | — | §240-76B(1)(b), §240-76C, §240-76E, §240-76G |
| Limited Duration Sign (Large) | 8 ft (freestanding) | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (+1 if large property requirements met) | On private property, one per property. If >5 acres/400 ft street frontage or >10,000 sq ft floor area, one additional sign may be permitted (200 ft minimum spacing). | — | §240-77B(1)(a), §240-77C, §240-77E |
| Limited Duration Sign (Small) | 6 ft (freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (+1 if large property requirements met) | On private property, one per property (+1 if large property requirements met, 200 ft apart). | — | §240-77B(1)(b), §240-77C, §240-77E |
| Wall Sign (Primary Facade) | Eave line | 5% of front facade area | — | — | 1 per frontage | On wall facing roadway access or public off-street parking area | — | §240-79B, §240-79C, §240-74A, §240-72G |
| Wall Sign (Secondary Facade) | Eave line | 2.5% of facade area | — | — | 1 per secondary frontage | On wall facing secondary street (corner lot buildings) | — | §240-79B(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 50 sq ft + 10 sq ft/tenant, up to 100 sq ft max | — | 5 ft from ROW | 1 per frontage, up to 2 per property | One per street frontage, up to two per separately owned property | — | §240-79G, §240-74F, §240-72G |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 30 ft | 60/100/150/200/300 sq ft based on road speed | — | Greater of sign height or 15 ft from ROW; 25 ft from property line, 50 ft from building/other sign, 1,500 ft from other billboards, 500 ft from intersection/interchange, 1,000 ft from parks, schools, churches, cemeteries, 0 ft from sewer/water/pipelines or bridges (prohibited) | 1 per lot | Not within 300 ft of residential district/use; not attached to buildings or over ROW | — | §240-75 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Sign - Official Traffic/Street/Highway/Emergency Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Where required for public safety | — | §240-71A |
| Exempt Sign - Trespassing/Private Road/Hunting/Fishing | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Along street or property line | — | §240-71B |
| Exempt Sign - Incidental (restroom, hours, credit cards) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises, window, restroom, etc. | — | §240-71C |
| Exempt Sign - Other Flags | 30 ft | 24 sq ft (residential); 35 sq ft (other districts) | — | — | Up to 2 (residential), 3 (others) per lot | Not in right-of-way | — | §240-71E |
| Exempt Sign - Legal Notice / Historical Plaque / Cornerstone | — | 2 sq ft (historical plaque/cornerstone) | — | — | — | Affixed to building | — | §240-71F, §240-71G |
| Exempt Sign - Governmental Signs | — | — | — | — | — | As needed for governmental identification, safety, or events | — | §240-71H |
| Exempt Sign - Directional Sign (Noncommercial) | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On property | — | §240-71I |
| Exempt Sign - Personal Expression | — | 3 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On property | — | §240-71J |

## Prohibited signs in Cecil Township

- No sign may be erected, altered, or relocated without first obtaining a sign permit, unless specifically exempt.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position as to endanger traffic by obscuring the view or by confusion with official street signs or signals because of position, color, or reflective surface.
- Only traffic signs and similar regulatory notices of a duly constituted governmental body are permitted within a street right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained nearer to a street line or lot line than a distance equal to the height of the top of the sign, or five feet, whichever is greater, unless the sign is by a governmental authority.
- A sign shall not project over a public walkway, except for signs of a governmental entity. Where projected, the lowest edge must be at least eight feet above the sidewalk.
- If a sign is on a public or private sidewalk, a minimum of four feet of unobstructed sidewalk clearance must be maintained.
- Signs must maintain clearance and noninterference with all surface and underground utility and communications lines or equipment.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape; no sign (except safety sign) shall prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or access from one part of a roof to any other.
- Signs painted directly on the surface of any building are prohibited.
- Roof-mounted signs and building-mounted signs that extend above the roof line are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Mobile billboards are prohibited, except business logos or advertising on vehicles primarily and actively used for business/personal transportation.
- Inflatable devices or balloon signs are prohibited, except balloons in temporary, noncommercial situations.
- Billboards are prohibited in residential districts or within 300 feet of a residential district or use.
- Business or industrial signs facing an abutting residential zoning district are prohibited, except when authorized as special exception.
- Banners as permanent signs are prohibited.
- Signs containing information stating or implying that a property may be used for any purposes not permitted under ordinance are prohibited.
- Any sign that promotes illegal activity is prohibited.
- Signs that exhibit statements, words, or pictures of sexual conduct as defined by ordinance are prohibited.
- Signs erected without the permission of the property owner are prohibited (except those authorized or required by local, state, or federal government).
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors, particulate matter, sound, odor or contain open flames are prohibited.
- Signs containing flashing, moving, neon, or oscillating lights or elements are prohibited, except for time and temperature devices.
- Signs that are unsafe, in danger of falling, deteriorated, a nuisance, or unlawfully erected must be removed upon written notice by the Township.
- Temporary signs and limited duration signs may not be illuminated.
- Signs must be constructed with durable materials, conform with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, and be kept in good condition and repair.
- Any sign allowed to become dilapidated may be removed by the Township.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cecil Township

- A sign permit is not required for the erection, structural repair, alteration, moving, removal or demolition of exempt signs in any zoning district.
- Exempt signs (no illumination unless specified): official highway route number signs, street name signs, emergency signs, official traffic signs (may be illuminated according to law).
- Trespassing signs, signs for private roads/driveways, or signs controlling fishing/hunting (area limit: 2 sq ft per side, spacing: minimum 100 feet apart).
- Incidental signs (e.g., restrooms, store hours, credit/charge institution names) not advertising a commercial establishment/product/service, not exceeding 2 sq ft per sign.
- Governmental flags or insignia (may be illuminated consistent with state and federal flag laws).
- Non-governmental flags complying with standards (max height, number, size, location restrictions).
- Legal notice signs.
- Cornerstones, historical plaques or signs affixed to a building wall not exceeding 2 sq ft.
- Governmental signs (including safety signs, points of interest, identification of governmental buildings/facilities/events) may be illuminated.
- Directional signs not containing commercial messaging (limit 4 sq ft area, 4 ft height).
- Personal expression signs up to three sq ft per side.
- Signs advertising the variety of crop growing in a field (must be removed after the growing season).
- Temporary signs located on private property are exempt from standard permit requirements, if requirements in §240-76 are met.
- Limited duration signs require a permit but are not included in aggregate sign area/number/type calculations if they comply with §240-77.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All plans and applications for subdivision and land developments must include information describing all proposed signs (size, location, style, materials, text, lighting, colors) to demonstrate compliance with regulations (see §240-70B).
- Applicants for a sign permit must provide a site plan and two copies of a scaled sign plan showing locations, setbacks, dimensions, design details, materials, lighting, and existing/proposed signage (§240-79.1B).
- Building elevations, photographs, and design details must be included in sign permit applications for all sign types.
- For off-premises signs, plans submitted must include the location/species of existing trees, distances to various features, and certification by a licensed engineer (§240-79.1B(9)).
- Replacement or substantial repair of a sign (costs exceeding 50% of replacement) requires a new sign permit (§240-79.1E).
- Nonconforming signs may continue to exist, but if replacement or rebuilding becomes necessary, a zoning permit and conforming status are required (§240-79.2).

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Cecil Township, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Cecil+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-cecil-township

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