# Sign Regulations in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hanover Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/hanover-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28

## At a glance

Hanover Township, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the PC District, PUD District, Planned Unit Developed (PUD) Zoning District (residential portion) zoning district are capped at 25 ft (standard), shopping center 20-40 ft tall and Up to 50 sq ft (standard); shopping center up to 100 sq ft/side; business group (non-shopping center) 50 sq ft; see additional for specifics, with a Minimum 10 ft from front lot line; not within 50 ft of residential district boundary. setback (Sec. § 27-707(1)(D), § 27-709). Most commercial signs in Hanover Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LU District, FH District | 9 | — | 36 sq ft | — |
| PR District, MR District, Medium Residential (MR) Zoning District | 1 | — | 8 sq ft | — |
| PC District, PUD District, Planned Unit Developed (PUD) Zoning District (residential portion) | 4 | 25 ft (standard), shopping center 20-40 ft | Up to 50 sq ft (standard); shopping center up to 100 sq ft/side; business group (non-shopping center) 50 sq ft; see additional for specifics | — |
| PIO District, AI District | 8 | 40 ft | 100 sq ft or 20% of building face (whichever is less) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 20 ft (parallel); 8 ft (freestanding) | 40 sq ft (aggregate) | — |

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

### LU District, FH District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Governmental Sign | — | No Limitations | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 27-706, § 27-709 |
| Name & Address Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy per street frontage | On-premises, each street frontage | — | § 27-706, § 27-709 |
| Trespassing/Private Property Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 27-706, § 27-709 |
| Subdivision/Land Development/Community Identification Sign | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | Main entrance | — | § 27-706 |
| Sale/Lease/Rental Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Height and setback as for freestanding identification signs in district | 1 per lot per frontage | On-premises | — | § 27-706, § 27-701 |
| Developer/Contractor Sign (Temporary) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 27-706 |
| Mechanics/Artisans Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft (total) | — | Height and setback as for freestanding identification signs in district | — | On-premises | — | § 27-706 |
| Directional Sign for Temporary Shows/Events (Off-premises) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | Off-premises; for exhibits, shows, events | — | § 27-706(2) |

### PC District, PUD District, Planned Unit Developed (PUD) Zoning District (residential portion)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parallel or Projecting Sign | No part <10 ft or >25 ft above grade, nor project >2 ft above roof line | Lesser of 20% building face or 300 sq ft | — | — | Computed per building/store | Wall/main wall of principal building | — | § 27-707(1)(C), § 27-709 |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft (standard), shopping center 20-40 ft | Up to 50 sq ft (standard); shopping center up to 100 sq ft/side; business group (non-shopping center) 50 sq ft; see additional for specifics | — | Minimum 10 ft from front lot line; not within 50 ft of residential district boundary. | 1 per street; 2 for shopping centers | On-premises, limited to one per street frontage | — | § 27-707(1)(D), § 27-709 |
| Directional Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per approaching lane | At internal driveway intersections | — | § 27-707(1)(E) |
| All signs permitted in § 27-706 (see LU/FH/PR/MR regs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 27-707(1)(A), § 27-706 |

### PIO District, AI District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parallel or Projecting Sign (Street frontage) | — | 100 sq ft or 20% of building face (whichever is less) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Affixed to building facing street | — | § 27-708(1)(B)(1), § 27-709 |
| Parallel or Projecting Sign (Expressway frontage) | — | 75 sq ft or 20% of building face (whichever is less) | — | — | 1 per expressway frontage | Affixed to building facing expressway | — | § 27-708(1)(B)(1), § 27-709 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | On-premises | — | § 27-708(1)(B)(2), § 27-709 |
| Directional Sign (Office/Industrial Park, 5+ tenants) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per park entrance | At park entrance | — | § 27-708(1)(B)(3) |
| Directional Sign (At internal driveway intersections) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per approaching lane | At internal driveway intersections | — | § 27-708(1)(C) |
| Billboard (PIO Only; Off-premises) | 40 ft | 14' x 48' (672 sq ft) | 48 ft | — | 1 per face | Within 100 ft of right-of-way of expressway; on single pole | — | § 27-708(2)(A), Part 5 §§ 502-507 |
| Electronic Message Sign (EMS) | — | Subject to applicable sign type limits | — | — | — | Where permitted for freestanding signs; billboards | — | § 27-708(1)(A), § 27-711 |
| All signs permitted in § 27-706 (see LU/FH/PR/MR regs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 27-708(1)(A), § 27-706 |

## Prohibited signs in Hanover Township

- Signs which in any way simulate official, functional, directional or warning signs erected or maintained by government or similar agencies concerned with public health or safety.
- Banners, spinners, flags, pennants or any moving object used for commercial advertising purposes whether containing a message or not, except where specifically permitted.
- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated, twirling or moving signs of any type, including signs with changing messages or graphics, except those indicating time and temperature or specifically permitted by the ordinance.
- Signs containing information that states or implies a property may be used for any purpose not permitted in the zone in which the property is located.
- On-premises signs advertising a use no longer in existence or a project no longer available shall not be maintained and must be removed or changed immediately after cessation of the original use.
- No signs except those of a duly constituted governmental body (including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices) are allowed within street lines unless specifically authorized and in compliance with other Township and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulations.
- No vehicle may have a sign affixed in such a manner that the carrying of the sign is no longer incidental to the vehicle’s primary purpose, but becomes the primary purpose.
- No sign shall be located or arranged to interfere with traffic through glare, blocking sight lines for streets, sidewalks, or driveways, confusion with traffic control devices, or through any other means.
- No sign, other than official governmental signs, shall be erected within the official right-of-way of any street unless authorized by other ordinances or regulations.
- No sign in a Non-Residential District shall be located so as to face any Residential District, except for signs at right angles to the street line.
- Free standing signs in other than a Residential District shall not extend within 50 feet of any Residential District boundary line.
- Special promotional devices, such as flood lights, flags, spinners, banners, pennants, sandwich-type sidewalk or curb signs, are generally prohibited except by permit and only under stated circumstances.
- Devices (as above) are not permitted for an existing business on property with an Electronic Message Sign (EMS).
- Such devices (as above) are not permitted in the Medium Residential (MR) Zoning District, or the residential portion of the Planned Unit Developed (PUD) Zoning District.
- Such devices are not permitted without a permit at any other time.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hanover Township

- Official traffic signs and other official Federal, State, County, and Township governmental signs.
- Signs displaying only the name and address of the occupant of the premises, subject to specified size and placement limitations.
- Temporary signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of property, subject to size, quantity, and duration limits.
- Trespassing signs, signs indicating the private nature of a road, driveway, or premises, subject to size limit.
- Signs erected to identify a major subdivision, land development, mobile home park, or apartment complex (one at main entrance, subject to area limit).
- Temporary signs erected for development or contractor purposes, with size, quantity, and duration limits.
- Directional signs for internal traffic at apartment complexes, shopping centers, office parks, or similar uses, subject to size and visual clearance standards.
- Signs necessary for direction, regulation and control of traffic, street name signs, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings, and other official signs authorized or erected by a governmental body.
- Permits are not required for temporary signs used within a period of less than 30 days.
- No permit required to repaint any sign, provided there are no changes or alterations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All permanent on-premises and off-premises signs require the issuance of a Zoning Permit from the Zoning Officer before erection or replacement.
- Permits issued for signs are subject to other provisions and must be acted upon within six (6) months of issuance or will expire.
- Permits are not required for temporary signs to be used within a period of less than thirty (30) days.
- The permit for temporary development signs may be renewed at the end of each 12-month period.
- Application for a large sign (area 400 sq. ft. or more) requires a large sign permit from the Township Manager, subject to annual renewal and fees.
- Work bringing a nonconforming sign into conformity is considered repair, alteration, or relocation and requires a permit.
- If there is a question of impairment of property rights (potential unconstitutional taking), the Zoning Hearing Board may permit continued maintenance of a nonconforming sign.
- For shopping centers, the location and orientation of certain free-standing signs must be shown on the development plan.

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

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