# Sign Regulations in Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/hempfield-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28763183#28763183)

## At a glance

Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Outdoor Advertising Structures in the Light Industry (LI), Heavy Industry (HI), Industrial District (LI, HI) zoning district are capped at 20 ft face height; 25 ft face length; 40 ft above roadway tall, 450 sq ft per face; max 2 faces (back to back/V-shape), and 25 ft per face wide, with a Not within 10 ft of ROW, must meet principal structure yards for zone setback (Sec. §87-153). Most commercial signs in Hempfield Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Local Commercial (LC), Regional Commercial (RC), Commercial District (NC, LC, RC) | 10 | See Figures 1008.1.2(1), (2), (3) (not provided) | See Figures 1008.1.2(1), (2), (3) (not provided); for shopping centers/planned parks, two monument signs (each not exceeding 50% of the height and area of a single allowed sign) | — |
| Light Industry (LI), Heavy Industry (HI), Industrial District (LI, HI) | 10 | See Figures 1008.1.2(1)-(3) (not provided) | See Figures 1008.1.2(1)-(3); for planned industrial parks, two monument-style (50% each of allowed area) | — |
| Agricultural (A), Rural Residential (RR), Suburban Residential (SR), Corridor Residential (CR), Village Residential (VR), Residential Zone (A, RR, SR, CR, VR) | 7 | 6 ft | 25 sq ft per sign; 100 sq ft aggregate | — |
| Corridor Enhancement District | 4 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Local Commercial (LC), Regional Commercial (RC), Commercial District (NC, LC, RC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies per setback and building wall length (see formula); not less than 10 sq ft per occupancy | — | — | Computed separately per wall/frontage; only one sign per lot <30,000 sq ft | Affixed to any exterior wall, facing public way or property frontage | — | §87-151A(1), Table 8.1.1(2), §87-147F, §87-150, §87-151C |
| Freestanding Sign | See Figures 1008.1.2(1), (2), (3) (not provided) | See Figures 1008.1.2(1), (2), (3) (not provided); for shopping centers/planned parks, two monument signs (each not exceeding 50% of the height and area of a single allowed sign) | — | — | 1 per entrance; 2 monument-style allowed in shopping centers/industrial parks | At entrance(s) or street frontage; monument style allowed as described. | — | §87-151A(2), Table 8.1.2, §87-152A/B/C |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft per exterior directional sign | — | — | Max 2 per street entrance | On-premises, at street entrance (max 2 per entrance), and interior locations | — | §87-151A(3) |
| Temporary Sign | 15 ft (real estate/construction), 20 ft for certain construction projects | 32 sq ft for special promotions/events; real estate signs up to 50 sq ft and 15 ft high per street front; construction: 75 or 100 sq ft depending on parcel size | — | — | Limit detailed by sign type (see size restrictions above) | On premises, except up to 3 off-premises open house signs allowed (48 hours max) | — | §87-151B(1)-(5) |
| Projecting Sign | No more than 50% above building facade; minimum vertical clearance of 17 ft above street | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy per public street frontage | In lieu of freestanding sign on street frontages with public entrance | — | §87-151C(3) |
| Canopy or Marquee Sign | — | 25% of the face area of the canopy/marquee | — | — | — | Affixed to canopy or marquee | — | §87-151C(1) |
| Awning Sign | — | Lesser of 25% background area of awning or permitted wall sign area | — | — | — | On/affixed to awning | — | §87-151C(2) |
| Under-Canopy/Under-Marquee Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per public entrance | Attached to underside of canopy/marquee per entrance | — | §87-151C(4) |

### Light Industry (LI), Heavy Industry (HI), Industrial District (LI, HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies by setback and wall length; not less than 10 sq ft per occupancy. | — | — | Per wall/frontage, aggregate calculated | Building wall facing frontage | — | §87-151A(1)/Table 8.1.1(2), §87-147F |
| Freestanding Sign | See Figures 1008.1.2(1)-(3) (not provided) | See Figures 1008.1.2(1)-(3); for planned industrial parks, two monument-style (50% each of allowed area) | — | — | 1 per entrance; 2 monument-style if complex | At entrances or frontage | — | §87-151A(2), Table 8.1.2, §87-152A/B |
| Roof Sign | Max 20% above roofline height of elevation parallel to sign face | Assessed against aggregate area for wall signs for that elevation | — | — | — | Main roof or above parapet wall | — | §87-151C(5) |
| Projecting Sign | No more than 50% above building facade; min 17' clearance over street | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy per street frontage | In lieu of freestanding sign per frontage | — | §87-151C(3) |
| Under-Canopy/Marquee Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per public entrance | One per public entrance | — | §87-151C(4) |
| Canopy/Marquee Sign | — | 25% of canopy/marquee face area | — | — | — | On canopy/marquee | — | §87-151C(1) |
| Awning Sign | — | Lesser of 25% of awning or permitted wall sign | — | — | — | Affixed to awning | — | §87-151C(2) |
| Outdoor Advertising Structure | 20 ft face height; 25 ft face length; 40 ft above roadway | 450 sq ft per face; max 2 faces (back to back/V-shape) | 25 ft per face | Not within 10 ft of ROW, must meet principal structure yards for zone | 1 per structure; 2 faces per structure | Conditional use only in LI or HI, with multiple location restrictions: not within 500 ft of SR, CR, VR, schools, churches, cemeteries; not within 500 ft of interchanges/rest areas; 1,000 ft min spacing from other structures. | — | §87-153 |

### Agricultural (A), Rural Residential (RR), Suburban Residential (SR), Corridor Residential (CR), Village Residential (VR), Residential Zone (A, RR, SR, CR, VR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Family Residential) | — | 10 sq ft per complex | — | — | 1 per frontage | Wall of residential complex | — | §87-151A(1), Table 8.1.1(1) |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Use in Residential Zone) | — | 25 sq ft per sign; 100 sq ft aggregate | — | — | — | Nonresidential use in residential zone | — | §87-151A(1), Table 8.1.1(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single-Family Residential) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft per sign; 30 sq ft aggregate per entrance | — | — | 2 per entrance | At subdivision entrance | — | §87-151A(2), Table 8.1.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple-Family Residential) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft per sign; 30 sq ft aggregate per entrance | — | — | 2 per entry; 1 per driveway | At entrance/driveway | — | §87-151A(2), Table 8.1.2 |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per street entrance | On premises, 2 per street entrance; unlimited internal directional signs | — | §87-151A(3) |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft (real estate), 9 ft (construction on lot), 15 ft (subdivision/other); up to 20 ft for commercial/industrial projects | Real estate: 9 sq ft (1 per lot); Subdivision: 30 sq ft (per entrance); Construction: 6 sq ft (1 per lot, or per entrance for subdivision), 15 sq ft (nonresidential in residential), 75 or 100 sq ft for commercial on >5 acre parcels | — | — | As detailed by sign type above | On premises (exception: up to 3 off-premises open house signs) | — | §87-151B(1)-(2) |
| Window Sign (Nonresidential use only) | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Interior or exterior of window | — | §87-151C(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Hempfield Township

- No sign shall be erected that does not conform to the provisions of this chapter and the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
- No sign other than an official traffic sign or similar sign shall be erected within two feet of the right-of-way of any street, unless specifically authorized.
- No signs are permitted to project over streets.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected at the intersection of any street or driveway so as to obstruct vision or interfere with/obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct/interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
- Signs which revolve, blink, flash or are animated by lighting such that they appear as traffic safety signs, lights or municipal vehicle warnings from a distance are prohibited.
- Banner signs are prohibited except as expressly referenced as exempt or specifically permitted for certain events.
- Portable signs are prohibited except as allowed for temporary signs.
- Any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property is prohibited unless the primary purpose of the vehicle is not display of signs, the signs are integral, and the vehicle is registered, licensed, and used in daily business functions.
- Vehicles and trailers shall not be used primarily as static displays for advertising or as storage/shelter/distribution points for commercial products to the public.
- Balloons, dirigibles, streamers, pinwheels or inflatable devices are prohibited except when temporarily displayed for up to five consecutive days for special sales, promotions or community events.
- Any sign containing more than two faces is prohibited.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, insecure, in danger of falling, or deemed unsafe must be removed or repaired to code; otherwise, the Township may remove it at the owner's/user's expense.
- Obsolete sign copy (that no longer advertises/identifies a use conducted on the property) must be covered or removed within 30 days after written notification.
- No animated, illuminated or electrically activated changeable signs may be within 300 feet of any Agricultural, Rural Residential, Suburban Residential, Corridor Residential, or Village Residential Zoning District.
- No more than one sign of any type is permitted on property abutting a residential zone or use, which must be at least 50 feet from any residential lot/use and not illuminated or animated.
- Signs projecting over public sidewalks may not extend in excess of 50% of sidewalk width and must maintain a specified clear vertical distance.
- Display lighting for outdoor advertising structures shall not operate between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m.
- No outdoor advertising structure, sign face, or display lighting shall move, flash or emit noise, nor shall lighting cause distraction, confusion, nuisance, or hazards to traffic, aircraft, or other properties.
- The use of colored lighting on outdoor advertising structures is not permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hempfield Township

- Official notices authorized by a court, public body, or public safety official.
- Directional, warning, or information signs authorized by federal, state, or municipal governments.
- Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones when cut or carved into masonry or made of noncombustible material integral to the building.
- Flags of a government or noncommercial institution, such as a school.
- Religious symbols and seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season.
- Works of fine art displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise where the enterprise does not receive direct commercial gain.
- Street address signs and combination nameplate/address signs as provided elsewhere in the code.
- Noncommercial signs.
- Real estate signs as set forth in the relevant code section.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan is required for all landlord- or single-owner-controlled multiple-occupancy development complexes on parcels exceeding eight acres prior to issuance of new sign permits (see § 87-152). All applications for sign permits within such a complex must comply with this plan; amendments must be approved by the owner(s) before taking effect.
- In the Corridor Enhancement District, a sign plan shall be submitted with the first land development application. The plan must include all wall, ground, and directional signs and their construction details and is subject to review for coherence, safety, integration, and code compliance (§ 87-106).
- An integrated sign system design is required for all new commercial and residential subdivisions, office complexes, and shopping areas in the Corridor Enhancement 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 5 zoning districts in Hempfield Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Hempfield+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-hempfield-township

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