# Sign Regulations in East Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/east-hempfield-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11090629#11090629)

## At a glance

East Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania regulates 19 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Mixed-Use Development Center Sign (Arterial Road)s in the Enterprise (E) Zone, Campus (C) Zone, Regional Commerce Center (RCC) Zone zoning district are capped at 30 feet tall and 350 square feet, with a 12 feet from ROW setback (Sec. §270-7.4D(2)). Most commercial signs in East Hempfield Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | No more than 30% of total allowed square footage of signs for a lot or tenant space | — |
| Enterprise (E) Zone, Agriculture (A) Zone, Community Business Center (CBC) Zone | 2 | 25 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| Enterprise (E) Zone, Campus (C) Zone, Regional Commerce Center (RCC) Zone | 5 | 30 feet | 350 square feet | — |
| Regional Commerce Center (RCC) Zone | 2 | May not extend higher than 5 ft above the top of the wall (per §270-7.2B(3)) | 150 square feet per sign | — |
| Campus (C) Zone | 5 | 20 feet | 175 square feet per exterior wall | — |
| Low-Density Residential Zone (RL), Medium-Density Residential Zone (RM), Residential zone | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | No portion closer than 5 feet from curbline or cartway | — | Permitted in zones where business and identification signs allowed; may project up to 4 feet from building face and no closer than 5 feet to a curb or cartway | — | §270-7.4B |
| Portable Sign | — | No more than 30% of total allowed square footage of signs for a lot or tenant space | — | Cannot be placed in right-of-way or block clear sight for traffic | One per lot (or for entire lot regardless of number of tenant spaces) | On one lot per use | — | §270-7.3EE |
| Architectural Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Permanent architectural feature of building | — | §270-7.3FF |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not in clear sight triangle; must not block sight for traffic (general regulation) | — | §270-7.3I |

### Enterprise (E) Zone, Campus (C) Zone, Regional Commerce Center (RCC) Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mixed-Use Development Center Sign (Arterial Road) | 30 feet | 350 square feet | — | 12 feet from ROW | One per lot (or two under special circumstances) | Frontage along arterial road within mixed-use development meeting eligibility | — | §270-7.4D(2) |
| Mixed-Use Development Center Sign (Collector or Local Road) | 30 feet | 100 square feet | — | 12 feet from ROW | One per lot (or two under special circumstances) | Frontage along collector or local road within mixed-use development meeting eligibility | — | §270-7.4D(2) |
| Wall Sign (Mixed-Use Development Tenant) | May not extend higher than 5 ft above the top of the wall (per §270-7.2B(3)) | 100 square feet per exterior wall space | — | — | No maximum (limited by total allowed area per wall) | On tenant's exterior building walls in mixed-use development | — | §270-7.4D(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Fueling/Convenience in Mixed-Use) | 30 feet | 260 square feet per sign | — | 12 feet from ROW | One per tenant | At convenience store/gas station in mixed-use development | — | §270-7.4D(4)(c) |
| Fuel Island Canopy Sign (Mixed-Use Development) | Height of canopy | 50% of vertical face of canopy | — | — | No maximum | On fuel canopy in mixed-use development | — | §270-7.4D(4)(c)[5] |

### Campus (C) Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Hospital Campus) | May not extend higher than 5 ft above the top of the wall (per §270-7.2B(3)) | 175 square feet per exterior wall | — | — | No maximum if total per wall not exceeded | On hospital campus buildings | — | §270-7.4F(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Hospital Campus, 5-10 acres) | 20 feet | 150 square feet per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage for lots 5-10 acres | — | §270-7.4F(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Hospital Campus, 10-50 acres) | 20 feet | 150 square feet per sign | — | — | One per street frontage plus one additional sign | One per street frontage plus one additional for lots 10-50 acres | — | §270-7.4F(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Hospital Campus, 50+ acres) | 20 feet | 150 square feet per sign | — | — | One per street frontage plus two additional signs | One per street frontage plus two additional for lots 50+ acres | — | §270-7.4F(2) |
| Directional Sign (Hospital Campus) | 12 feet | 45 square feet per sign | — | 10 ft from ROW | No maximum if size and other criteria met | — | — | §270-7.4F(3) |

## Prohibited signs in East Hempfield Township

- No sign shall be higher than the height limitation of the zone in which it is located.
- No person(s) shall artificially increase the maximum height of a sign by altering the grade at the base of the sign by any means.
- No sign shall include mirrors.
- No sign shall be placed within the clear sight triangle or clear sight stopping area of any motorized, nonmotorized, or pedestrian traffic using streets, parking areas, sidewalks, or trails. No sign within the clear sight triangle should obstruct vision between the heights of 30 inches and eight feet above the elevation of the centerline of the street.
- No signs shall be painted, pasted, nailed, stapled, or otherwise attached to utility poles, trees, fences, fire hydrants, or in an unauthorized manner to walls or other signs, except insofar as such signs comply with generally applicable rules, regulations, or policies formally adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any door, stairway, window, fire escape, or other means of egress or ingress.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct ventilation or light into a building.
- No overhead sign shall have a clearance of less than eight feet between any pedestrian walk and the lowest part of the sign, and less than 17 feet six inches (or PennDOT required height) between any street and the lowest part of the sign.
- No sign shall have lights or other illuminating devices that constitute a public safety or traffic hazard and shall not exceed 0.2 lumens at the lot line.
- No sign shall be permitted that imitates or that might be confused with an official traffic sign or signal, such as containing the words 'Stop' or 'Danger' or including red, green, or yellow lights.
- No sign or window display shall include a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling an emergency vehicle or facility.
- No sign shall advertise activities or products that are illegal under federal, state or local laws or regulations; nor shall any sign include statements, words or pictures that are considered to be vulgar, obscene or pornographic.
- No flashing, rotating or oscillating signs shall be permitted except for time and temperature signs.
- No sign shall emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound or odor.
- No sign shall be placed on an automobile, truck or other vehicle if that vehicle is being used primarily for displaying such sign.
- No open flames shall be permitted as part of a sign, or in any other way to attract attention.
- No lighting shall be permitted to outline buildings or structures, or parts thereof, through the use of exposed neon tubing, strings of lights or other means, with the exception of customary holiday decorations, which may be installed 30 days prior to, and removed no later than 21 days after, the holiday.
- No sign shall display animated messages, including flashing, blinking, fading, rolling, shading, dissolving, or any other effect that gives the appearance of movement (applies to digital signs and digital billboards).
- No sign shall include any audio message (applies to digital signs and digital billboards).
- The addition of a digital sign to an existing nonconforming sign is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Hempfield Township

- Architectural features that may be identified with a particular business.
- Signs located on approved public or private bus shelters.
- Backlit awnings that include no lettering, logos, or other symbols.
- Signs within a building that are obviously intended to be seen primarily from within the building.
- Outdoor signs intended for use within a lot, such as menu signs by fast food restaurant drive-through lanes, signs with regulations within a park, internal development signs (in accordance with Table 270-7.4.1), and building identification signs within a campus.
- Flags of governments or government agencies.
- Decorative seasonal and holiday banners.
- Displays of merchandise either behind store windows or outdoors.
- Birthday and special event displays.
- PennDOT signs, logo signs, street and traffic signs.
- Signs advertising events sponsored by East Hempfield Township.
- Any sign that has been authenticated as historically significant and accurate for its specific location, whether original or a replica, may be exempted from the regulations of this article by the East Hempfield Township Zoning Officer.
- Permits will not be required for signs which are a permanent architectural feature of a building or structure, such as a cornerstone; or identifying letters carved into or embossed on a building, provided the letters are not made of a reflective material nor contrast in color with the building.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permits for the placement of signs are required as indicated by the last column in Tables 270-7.4.1 and 270-7.4.2. Sign permit application requirements, such as forms, plans, and fees, shall be established by the Township Board of Supervisors by resolution from time to time.
- Digital signs: Prior to the issuance of a sign permit, the owner/applicant of a digital sign shall provide a certification, by a qualified third party, stating compliance with the technical requirements listed.
- Digital billboards: Conversion of a standard billboard into a digital billboard requires that a sign permit be obtained; prior to the issuance of a sign permit, the owner/applicant of a digital billboard shall provide a certification, by a qualified third party, stating compliance with the technical requirements listed above. Where required, approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shall be obtained prior to construction.
- All signs in mixed-use developments (§270-7.4D), commercial developments (§270-7.4E), and hospital campuses (§270-7.4F) require a permit.
- Justification must be provided as part of the permit application package when freestanding sign or sign structure height is measured from a roadway grade level higher than the sign base.

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

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