# Sign Regulations in Hanover, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hanover, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/hanover
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-30
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.hanoverboroughpa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2907/Borough-of-Hanover-York-County-PA-Zoning-Ordinance-2385---Adopted-January-28-2026?bidId=#page=105)

## At a glance

Hanover, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Awning / Canopy / Marquee Signs in the Mixed-Use District (MU) zoning district are capped at Limited by aggregate formula., with a Minimum 8 ft vertical clearance; ≥2 ft from curb/pavement edge. setback (Sec. § 140-702(C); § 140-502(A)-(F); § 140-704(C)-(D), (G), (M).). Most commercial signs in Hanover 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 | — | Per formula: 2 sq ft per linear foot of frontage, capped at 200 sq ft per street frontage. | — |
| Lower Density Residential District (R-1); Medium Density Residential District (R-3); Higher Density Residential District (R-5) | 8 | — | Up to 8 sq ft. | — |
| Mixed-Use District (MU) | 9 | — | Up to 32 sq ft total sign area; when used as part of outdoor display for ground-floor retail/consumer services, each face must not exceed 6 sq ft. | — |
| Downtown District (D); Corridor Business District (CB); Planned Development District (PD) | 12 | — | Up to 80 sq ft. | — |
| Manufacturing District (M); Heavy Industrial District (HI) | 13 | — | Up to 300 sq ft. | — |
| Industrial District (I) | 1 | Up to 22 ft measured from the ground to the top of the sign; if the sign site is not at the grade of the arterial street it faces, the sign may not exceed 40 ft above the curb of that street. | Up to 200 sq ft total surface area (if two-sided, the combined area of both sides together may not exceed 200 sq ft). | — |

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

### Mixed-Use District (MU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula; no separate per-sign cap stated for MU in the provided table. | — | — | — | On-premises. | — | § 140-703 (Business Sign – MU, D, CB, PD – listed); § 140-704(M), (G). |
| Wall Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula. | — | — | — | Affixed to exterior wall, parallel to wall plane. | — | § 140-702(P); § 140-704(M), (G). |
| Ground (Freestanding) Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula (no separate numeric limit provided for MU). | — | — | — | Freestanding on the ground (monument, pole, or ground-mounted). | — | § 140-703 (Ground Sign – MU/D/CB/PD/M/HI – listed); § 140-704(M), (G). |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | At least 2 ft inside curb/pavement; 8 ft minimum clearance if projecting >2 ft. | — | Attached to and projecting from a building facade. | — | § 140-702(J); § 140-704(C)-(E), (I). |
| Awning / Canopy / Marquee Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula. | — | Minimum 8 ft vertical clearance; ≥2 ft from curb/pavement edge. | — | On an awning/canopy/marquee attached to the building. | — | § 140-702(C); § 140-502(A)-(F); § 140-704(C)-(D), (G), (M). |
| Identification Sign | — | Up to 6 sq ft. | — | — | 1 per business/activity. | Attached to the building or structure housing the identified activity. | — | § 140-703 (Identification Sign – MU – 6 sq ft; Section 105.14 reference); § 140-704(N). |
| Directional Sign (On-premises) | — | Up to 8 sq ft. | — | — | — | On-premises to guide traffic circulation. | — | § 140-703 (Directional Sign – R-1/R-3/R-5/MU – 8 sq ft). |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | Up to 32 sq ft total sign area; when used as part of outdoor display for ground-floor retail/consumer services, each face must not exceed 6 sq ft. | — | — | Typically one sandwich board sign per business in conjunction with outdoor display (§ 140-508(A)). | Within street-facing front or side yard areas of the business premises; not in the public right-of-way unless otherwise permitted. | — | § 140-703 (Sandwich Board Signs – MU/D/CB/PD/M/HI – 32 sq ft); § 140-508(A), (C). |

### Downtown District (D); Corridor Business District (CB); Planned Development District (PD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula; no separate per-sign cap stated in the table for these districts. | — | — | — | On-premises. | — | § 140-703 (Business Sign – MU, D, CB, PD – listed); § 140-704(M), (G). |
| Wall Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula. | — | — | — | Affixed to exterior wall. | — | § 140-702(P); § 140-704(M), (G). |
| Ground (Freestanding) Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula. | — | — | — | Freestanding (monument/pole/ground-mounted). | — | § 140-703 (Ground Sign – MU/D/CB/PD/M/HI – listed); § 140-704(M), (G). |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | At least 2 ft inside curb/pavement; 8 ft minimum clearance if projecting >2 ft. | — | Attached to and projects from a building facade. | — | § 140-702(J); § 140-704(C)-(E), (I). |
| Awning / Canopy / Marquee Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula. | — | Minimum 8 ft vertical clearance; ≥2 ft from curb/pavement edge. | — | On awning/canopy/marquee attached to building. | — | § 140-702(C); § 140-502(A)-(F); § 140-704(C)-(D), (G), (M). |
| Identification Sign | — | Up to 20 sq ft. | — | — | 1 per business/activity. | Attached to building/structure housing identified activity. | — | § 140-703 (Identification Sign – D/CB/PD/M – 20 sq ft; Section 105.14 reference); § 140-704(N). |
| Directional Sign (On-premises) | — | Up to 30 sq ft. | — | — | — | On-premises for wayfinding. | — | § 140-703 (Directional Sign – D, CB, PD – 30 sq ft; Section 104.2 reference). |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | Up to 32 sq ft total sign area; when used as part of outdoor display for ground-floor retail/consumer services, each face must not exceed 6 sq ft. | — | — | Typically one per business with outdoor display (§ 140-508(A)). | Within street-facing front or side yard areas of the business premises; not in the right-of-way unless otherwise permitted. | — | § 140-703 (Sandwich Board Signs – MU/D/CB/PD/M/HI – 32 sq ft); § 140-508(A), (C). |

### Manufacturing District (M); Heavy Industrial District (HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | Up to 200 sq ft per sign (also subject to the overall aggregate cap of 2 sq ft per linear foot of frontage, not to exceed 200 sq ft per frontage). | — | — | — | On-premises. | — | § 140-703 (Business Sign – M/HI – 200 sq ft); § 140-704(M), (G). |
| Wall Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula; see Business Sign limits above. | — | — | — | Affixed to exterior wall. | — | § 140-702(P); § 140-704(M), (G). |
| Ground (Freestanding) Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula unless a smaller site-specific cap is imposed. | — | — | — | Freestanding (monument/pole/ground-mounted). | — | § 140-703 (Ground Sign – MU/D/CB/PD/M/HI – listed); § 140-704(M), (G). |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | At least 2 ft inside curb/pavement; 8 ft minimum clearance if projecting >2 ft. | — | Attached to and projects from a building facade. | — | § 140-702(J); § 140-704(C)-(E), (I). |
| Awning / Canopy / Marquee Sign | — | Limited by aggregate formula; for M/HI business signs also see 200 sq ft per sign cap under Business Sign entry. | — | Minimum 8 ft vertical clearance; ≥2 ft from curb/pavement edge. | — | On awning/canopy/marquee attached to building. | — | § 140-702(C); § 140-502(A)-(F); § 140-704(C)-(D), (G), (M). |
| Identification Sign | — | Up to 300 sq ft. | — | — | 1 per business/activity. | Attached to the building or structure housing the identified activity. | — | § 140-703 (Identification Sign – M/HI – 300 sq ft; Section 105.14 reference); § 140-704(N). |
| Directional Sign (On-premises) | — | Up to 50 sq ft. | — | — | — | On-premises for wayfinding. | — | § 140-703 (Directional Sign – M/HI – 50 sq ft). |
| Animated Sign (Non-residential) | — | Up to 300 sq ft. | — | — | — | On-premises within M or HI districts. | — | § 140-703 (Animated Sign – M/HI – 300 sq ft); § 140-507(D). |

## Prohibited signs in Hanover

- It is unlawful to erect, place, alter, locate, relocate, or maintain any sign without complying with this ordinance’s procedures and requirements (§140-700).
- No sign may be erected that, due to position, shape, or color, interferes with, obstructs the view of, or could be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device (§140-704.A).
- No sign may be painted directly on any surface that is not itself the sign structure, except as specifically exempted for identification on doors/windows/trim (§140-704.B).
- No part of any sign may project beyond a point two feet inside the curb line or edge of street pavement (§140-704.C).
- No part of any sign may project over a pedestrian walkway more than four feet; any sign projecting more than two feet must maintain at least eight feet of clear height beneath all projecting parts (§140-704.D).
- No signs may be attached to or placed on any public utility pole or tree located within any public right-of-way (§140-704.F).
- Sign illumination must be indirect, shielded, or otherwise arranged to prevent glare (§140-704.G).
- Signs must not block free ingress to or egress from any window, door, or fire escape (§140-704.I).
- Indecent or obscene sign matter is prohibited (§140-704.J).
- A nonconforming sign damaged to 50% or more of its replacement value may not be rebuilt (§140-704.L).
- All temporary signs are limited to a maximum duration of 45 days unless otherwise provided by the ordinance (§140-704.P).

## Signs exempt from permit in Hanover

- Flags or emblems of any nation, organization of nations, state, political subdivision, or any fraternal, religious, or civic organization are not considered signs (§140-202, Sign definition).
- Works of art that do not identify a product or business are not considered signs (§140-202, Sign definition).
- Scoreboards located on athletic fields are not considered signs (§140-202, Sign definition).
- Religious symbols are not considered signs (§140-202, Sign definition).
- Exception to the prohibition on painting signs directly on surfaces: identification signs or lettering placed directly on a door, store window, door/window frame, or building trim that identify the occupant or activity are allowed (§140-704.B).

## Sign permit fees & timelines in Hanover

| Item | Details | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Sign Permits (included in Building Permits) | Tiered fee — full schedule with a free account | cite: 7 |
| Permit Issuance | A decision either approving or disapproving an application for a Zoning Permit shall be rendered within 90 days after the application is filed. (starts when Application for a Zoning Permit is filed) | § 140-902 |

_The full published fee and review-timeline schedule for Hanover is available in PermitPal (free account)._

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

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