# Sign Regulations in Hemlock Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hemlock Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/hemlock-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33028394#33028394)

## At a glance

Hemlock Township, Pennsylvania regulates 26 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Business Identification Sign - Freestandings in the C General Commercial, IC Interchange Commercial, I Industrial District zoning district are capped at 30 feet in General Commercial or Industrial; 50 feet in Interchange Commercial tall and 200 square feet per sign; no wall sign to occupy more than 20% of wall; no projecting wall sign to exceed 20 feet vertical, with a See § 27-703(C), set back equal to height/no less than 20 ft setback (Sec. § 27-705(C)). Most commercial signs in Hemlock Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 200 feet | — | — |
| RR Rural Residential, SR Suburban Residential, UR Urban Residential | 10 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| C General Commercial, IC Interchange Commercial, I Industrial District | 14 | 200 feet | 500 square feet per face | — |
| A Agricultural District | 8 | — | 20 square feet per sign; if 2 frontages (corner), max total 36 sq ft/site | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### RR Rural Residential, SR Suburban Residential, UR Urban Residential

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Posting Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | As needed | On private property | — | § 27-704(A)(1) |
| Name Plate or Personal Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On property | — | § 27-704(A)(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On site | — | § 27-704(A)(3) |
| Property Sale or Rental Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per property (or 1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property for sale/rent/lease | — | § 27-704(A)(4) |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | Not exceeding four per facility | As needed, not exceeding four per facility in the Township | — | § 27-704(A)(5) |
| Artisan's Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On premises, temporary while work ongoing | — | § 27-704(A)(6) |
| Residential Development Identification Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per property (or 1 per frontage if corner/multiple entrance) | One per property, or one per frontage if corner/multiple entrance | — | § 27-704(A)(7) |
| Institutional Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per property (or 1 per frontage if corner) | One per property or one per frontage for corners; for schools, churches, group homes, parks, or institutions | — | § 27-704(B) |

### C General Commercial, IC Interchange Commercial, I Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Posting Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | As needed | On private property | — | § 27-705(A), § 27-704(A)(1) |
| Name Plate or Personal Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On property | — | § 27-705(A), § 27-704(A)(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On site | — | § 27-705(A), § 27-704(A)(3) |
| Property Sale or Rental Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per property (or 1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property for sale/rent/lease | — | § 27-705(A), § 27-704(A)(4) |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | Not exceeding four per facility | As needed, not exceeding four per facility in the Township | — | § 27-705(A), § 27-704(A)(5) |
| Business Identification Sign - Freestanding | 30 feet in General Commercial or Industrial; 50 feet in Interchange Commercial | 200 square feet per sign; no wall sign to occupy more than 20% of wall; no projecting wall sign to exceed 20 feet vertical | — | See § 27-703(C), set back equal to height/no less than 20 ft | 1 freestanding per property; 1 wall sign per building face | No more than 1 freestanding sign per property | — | § 27-705(C) |
| Business or Industrial Complex Identification Sign | 200 feet | 500 square feet per face | — | 50 feet | 1 per frontage or entrance | Freestanding, 1 per frontage or entrance | — | § 27-705(D) |
| Advertising Sign Board (Billboard) | 50 feet max (or district principal structure height); not closer to ground than 15 feet if in circulation area | 300 square feet per face (max 2 parallel faces, not doubled) | — | 50 feet | — | Freestanding only; not closer than 1,200 ft from another billboard, 150 ft from residence | — | § 27-705(F) |

### A Agricultural District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Posting Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | As needed | On private property | — | § 27-706(A), § 27-704(A)(1) |
| Name Plate or Personal Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On property | — | § 27-706(A), § 27-704(A)(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On site | — | § 27-706(A), § 27-704(A)(3) |
| Property Sale or Rental Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per property (or 1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property for sale/rent/lease | — | § 27-706(A), § 27-704(A)(4) |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | Not exceeding four per facility | As needed, not exceeding four per facility in the Township | — | § 27-706(A), § 27-704(A)(5) |
| Artisan's Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On premises, temporary while work ongoing | — | § 27-706(A), § 27-704(A)(6) |
| Institutional Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per property (or 1 per frontage if corner) | One per property or one per frontage for corners; for schools, churches, group homes, parks, or institutions | — | § 27-706(B), § 27-704(B) |
| Business Identification Sign | — | 20 square feet per sign; if 2 frontages (corner), max total 36 sq ft/site | — | — | 1 per property (or 1 per frontage if corner; total not to exceed 36 sq ft) | Freestanding or wall sign, 1 per property (or 1 per frontage if corner) | — | § 27-706(C) |

## Prohibited signs in Hemlock Township

- Signs shall not be allowed to become dilapidated or endanger public health, safety or welfare.
- No sign (whether temporary or permanent) shall be placed within the clear sight triangle of any intersection or at any other location that could obstruct or impair a motorist's clear vision.
- No sign shall be located where it could be an impediment to pedestrian traffic.
- No sign, other than an official traffic sign, shall be erected within the right-of-way of any public street or roadway, unless authorized by the Township Supervisors for a special purpose.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained which could prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, nor shall any sign be attached to a vent pipe, fire escape, or the eave of any building.
- No signs shall be affixed to the roof of any building.
- No sign shall be painted, erected, affixed or maintained on a tree, stone (except for ornamental or architectural stones used to identify a business or personal property), or other natural object, except for property posting signs.
- No sign shall be painted, erected, affixed, supported, or maintained on an accessory storage trailer.
- No person(s) shall artificially increase the highest maximum height of a sign by altering the grade at the base of the sign.
- No portion of a wall sign, whether parallel or projecting, shall extend above the top of the wall or roof line of the wall to which it is attached.
- Parallel wall signs may not extend more than 12 inches from the surface to which they are mounted or attached, nor interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Projecting wall signs shall not extend or project more than five feet from their supporting structure or wall, nor shall any such sign extend over a public street or walkway.
- Illuminated signs shall not cause glare or other disturbance incompatible with the neighborhood or impair the vision of passing motorists. Illumination shall be steady in nature, not flashing, moving, or changing in brilliance, color or intensity, except as permitted for certain signs in approved districts.
- All applicable state regulations shall be met where signs are proposed in areas adjacent to highways included in PennDOT's Primary and Interstate Highway Systems. A written copy of PennDOT's determination shall accompany all applications for signs in such areas.
- Signs in any floodplain area may not substantially impede natural drainage or the flow of water.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hemlock Township

- No zoning permits shall be required for property posting signs.
- No zoning permits shall be required for name plates or personal identification signs.
- No zoning permits shall be required for property sale or rental signs.
- No zoning permits shall be required for event or political signs.
- No zoning permits shall be required for artisan's signs or other temporary signs.
- No zoning permits shall be required for public service signs, including those advertising the availability of rest rooms, public telephones, or other public conveniences, provided that such signs do not advertise any commercial establishment, activity, product, or goods.
- There shall be no fee for the erection of any sign necessary to the public welfare.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan, sign plan, or sign variance meeting is noted in the provided ordinance text. All permanent signs (except for those specifically exempted) require a zoning permit and are subject to specific placement, height, and design requirements per district.

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

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