# Sign Regulations in Hummelstown Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hummelstown Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/hummelstown-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30985993#30985993)

## At a glance

Hummelstown Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 39 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Business Signs in the Commercial-Residential Neighborhood District (C-RN) zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 24 square feet (any one side), with a Within setback area, not in public right-of-way. setback (Sec. §27-1805.B, §27-1816.B, §27-1810.2). Most commercial signs in Hummelstown Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservation District, Residential Single-Family District (R-SF), Residential Two-Family Apartments District (R-TF), Institutional District (IN) | 7 | Up to 12 feet | 30 square feet | — |
| Residential-Cluster District (R-C) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial-Central Business District (C-CB, C-CBD) | 5 | 10 feet | Total for all wall signs: 36 sf; any one sign max: 12 sf (plus increase by formula per frontage over 25') | — |
| Commercial-Residential Neighborhood District (C-RN) | 8 | 10 feet | 150 square feet per face of sign | — |
| Commercial-General District (C-G) | 7 | 10 feet | 150 square feet per face | — |
| Commercial-Warehousing District (C-W) | 3 | 10 feet | Total for all wall-mounted signs: 50 sf; any one sign max: 24 sf | — |
| Manufacturing/Light Industrial District (M/LI, I-L), Manufacturing Zoning Districts (M) | 3 | 10 feet | Total for all wall-mounted signs: 200 sf; any one sign max: 100 sf | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 19 | 9 inches vertical per letter | 125 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Conservation District, Residential Single-Family District (R-SF), Residential Two-Family Apartments District (R-TF), Institutional District (IN)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Apartment Building Sign | — | 6 square feet per street frontage (any one side) | — | — | One per apartment building | On each separate apartment building | — | §27-1803.A, §27-1810.1 |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 square feet | 4 feet | — | One per each 500' frontage, max five | On premises, indicating public facility direction | — | §27-1803.B, §27-1810.1 |
| Professional, Accessory Use, Home Occupation or Name Sign | — | 6 inches by 18 inches (0.75 square feet) | — | — | One per permitted use or dwelling | On same lot as use | — | §27-1803.C, §27-1810.1 |
| Public Utility Sign | — | 8 square feet per street frontage | — | — | — | On same lot as utility/municipal activity | — | §27-1803.D, §27-1810.1 |
| Wall Sign (Nonconforming Business) | Up to 12 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | One per business | Wall-mounted; for legal nonconforming businesses | — | §27-1803.E, §27-1816, §27-1810.1 |
| Sign for Schools, Churches, Sanitariums, Special Exception Use (excluding Home Occupations) | Up to 12 feet | 30 square feet | — | — | Two per street frontage | On property of use | — | §27-1803.F, §27-1816, §27-1810.1 |
| Event/Show/Exhibit Sign | — | 15 square feet | — | — | — | On site of exhibit, show, or event | — | §27-1803.G |

### Commercial-Residential Neighborhood District (C-RN)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All sign types permitted in Conservation, R-SF, R-TF, IN District (if use permitted in district) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1805.A |
| Freestanding Business Sign | 10 feet | 24 square feet (any one side) | — | Within setback area, not in public right-of-way. | One per business | Within building setback area, not connected to building | — | §27-1805.B, §27-1816.B, §27-1810.2 |
| Wall-Mounted Business Sign | Equal to height of principal building | Total for all wall signs: 24 sf; any one sign max: 12 sf (plus formula for building frontage over 25') | — | — | One or more, subject to total size cap | Front, sides, or rear of building | — | §27-1805.C, §27-1816.B, §27-1810.2 |
| Advertising and Poster Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to facade, wall, or window | — | §27-1805.D |
| Shopping Center Sign | — | 150 square feet per face of sign | — | — | One per street frontage | Along each street frontage | — | §27-1805.E |
| Auto Service Station Price Sign | — | 20 square feet per face | — | — | One per service station | On service station premises | — | §27-1805.F |
| Auto Service Station Portable/Advertising Sign | — | 8 square feet per face | — | — | Two per service station | On service station premises | — | §27-1805.F |
| Overhanging Business Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per property | Overhangs pedestrian sidewalk | — | §27-1805.G |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parking and Traffic Control Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | As authorized by Zoning Officer/Police Chief/Borough Council | — | §27-1808.A |
| Auction Sign | — | 12 sf on property; 4 sf for off-property (max 2) | — | — | max 1 per frontage (onsite); 2 offsite allowed | Property of auction (max 1 per street frontage), plus 2 off-site | — | §27-1808.C |
| Contractor's Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per contractor | On premises where work performed | — | §27-1808.J |
| No Trespassing Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | Spaced every 50 feet | On premises | — | §27-1808.K |
| Real Estate Sign (For Sale/Rental) | — | 6 square feet per side, per street frontage | — | — | One per street frontage | On property for sale or rental | — | §27-1808.L |
| Real Estate Sign (Subdivision Sales/Development) | — | 20 square feet per side | — | — | One per street frontage | On premises for sale by developer | — | §27-1808.L |
| Billboard Sign (Off-Premises Advertising Sign Structure) | — | 125 square feet | — | Min 500' separation, min 50' from adjacent residential district if visible | Two faces per structure | C-G, C-W, M/LI, M districts only | — | §27-1807.1, §27-1809.E |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Off-Premises, Commercial Districts) | — | 8 square feet per side | — | — | One per business | Placed where permitted by property owner, directing to businesses off main street | — | §27-1807.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Hummelstown Borough

- No sign shall be permitted on or over a public sidewalk, except in districts that specifically permit them.
- No sign shall be permitted which flashes, moves or emits smoke, steam, or other visible particulates or odors.
- No sign shall project above the roofline of the building on which it is mounted.
- Signs which consist of pennants, spinners, banners, streamers, or search lights, except for occasions such as grand openings and then only with permission of the Borough for a period of 15 days.
- Electronically flashing, blinking, twinkling, scrolling, animated, or moving signs of any type, including window and signs on mobile stands, except electronic signs which change from one static image to another static image with a minimum of 10 seconds between changes.
- Signs which contain information that states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter in the zoning district in which the property to which the sign relates is located.
- Signs that are of such character, form, shape or color that they imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device or have any characteristics likely to confuse or distract motorists.
- Signs that use reflective materials to give the appearance of flashing, blinking, twinkling, or electronically changing messages.
- Signs or displays that include words or images that are obscene, pornographic or highly offensive to public decency.
- Balloons of greater than five cubic feet tethered to the ground or a structure and primarily intended for advertising purposes.
- Signs advertising activities that are illegal under federal, state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances.
- Signs which by reason of size, location, movement, content, coloring, or illumination obstruct the vision of drivers or detract from visibility or effectiveness of any traffic control device or street sign. Only official traffic and street signs shall be placed within the required clear sight triangle.
- Signs which make use of words such as 'stop,' 'look,' 'one-way,' 'danger,' 'yield,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' or any similar words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic or imitate an official traffic sign or signal.
- Signs which advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer produced or conducted. Such sign shall be removed within 30 days after discontinuation.
- Signs within the public right-of-way, except those of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices, except as noted for wall signs in certain districts.
- Signs painted on, pasted or attached to or supported by utility poles, fences, trees, or other natural object on any street in the Borough.
- Signs which obstruct free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window, or other exitway.
- Signs which are structurally unsafe or in a state of disrepair.
- Signs erected, enlarged or relocated until a permit for doing so has been issued by the Zoning Officer, except those permitted in this chapter.
- Signs painted, pasted, branded, stamped or in any manner whatsoever placed on or attached to any tree, telegraph, electric light or other pole on any street in the Borough.
- Free standing sign located closer to any lot line than 1/2 the required yard for the district in which it is located.
- Signs containing information that states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under applicable district provisions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hummelstown Borough

- Parking and traffic control signs not exceeding six square feet and authorized by the Zoning Officer on the advice of the Police Chief or Borough Council, and not describing products of the business.
- Special information signs attached to the building or equipment indicating restrooms, hours, credit cards, membership, barber poles, inspection stations, pump identification, gallonage register, types of work done in service areas, with no letter over nine inches tall; total area not included in permitted sign area calculations.
- Garage sale signs (not exceeding four square feet, up to four per event, erected no earlier than five days prior, removed within 24 hours after event) and auction signs (on-site up to 12 square feet, off-site up to two at four square feet each, time limits apply).
- Signs not visible from beyond a lot line.
- Official state and municipal signs required by law.
- All temporary signs as defined in the ordinance.
- Memorial plaques and historic tablets authorized by governmental units not exceeding 1.5 square feet.
- Signs on mailboxes with printing not exceeding three inches in height.
- Building cornerstones.
- Temporary contractor's signs (up to 12 square feet, one per contractor per property, removed within 30 days of work completion).
- No trespassing signs and signs indicating private street/property ownership, not exceeding one square foot, spaced at least 50 feet apart along frontage.
- Real estate signs advertising sale or rental (up to six square feet per frontage; subdivision/development signs up to 20 square feet; other details and removal requirements apply).
- Official and governmental directional, regulatory, and traffic control signs, street name signs, legal notices, railroad warnings, as authorized or erected by a governmental body.
- Personal expression signs/flags expressing noncommercial messages on-premises, within stated size limits by district.
- Any sign not requiring a permit according to § 27-1808.
- Sandwich board off-premises temporary signs in commercial districts per business (not exceeding eight square feet per side, displayed only during business hours, with property owner's permission, no permit required).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan, sign plan, or variance meeting is identified in the ordinance text provided.
- Permit applications for non-exempt signs must be made to the Zoning Officer with detailed drawings, description, authorization from property owner, and fee per § 27-1802.
- A permit is not required for temporary signs made of paper or cardboard that are attached to a wall or window in certain commercial districts.
- Permit is not required for specific types of exempt signs listed in § 27-1808 and for sandwich board off-premises temporary signs per § 27-1807(2)(D).

## 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 8 zoning districts in Hummelstown Borough — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Hummelstown+Borough+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-hummelstown-borough

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