# Sign Regulations in Lancaster Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lancaster Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lancaster-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33242982#33242982)

## At a glance

Lancaster Township, Pennsylvania regulates 18 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Center Signs in the Commercial zoning districts, Industrial zoning districts zoning district are capped at 15 ft. tall and Up to 64 sq. ft., with a 20 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. § 280-1206C. Center signs; Table 12-2-B.).

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | Not higher than zoning district height limit | — | — |
| Residential zoning district, Rural zoning district, Agricultural zoning district, Open space zoning district | 9 | 10 ft if combined | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial zoning districts, Industrial zoning districts | 8 | 48 inches (next to curb) or 72 inches (next to building with obstructions) | 300 sq. ft. per face (2 faces max) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Sign Types | Not higher than zoning district height limit | — | — | — | — | Cannot be within street right-of-way (except government sign, public utility sign, sidewalk sign, nonprofit organization sign, or other approved sign). Must not obstruct egress, light, ventilation, or clear sight triangle. | — | § 280-1203. Sign area and sign height; § 280-1204. General regulations. |

### Residential zoning district, Rural zoning district, Agricultural zoning district, Open space zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per entrance | At entrance to the development. | — | § 280-1206H, Table 12-2-B (Development Sign) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | — | — | § 280-1206F, Table 12-2-A (Home Occupation Sign) |
| Identification Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | Table 12-2-A (Identification Sign) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from right-of-way unless under 30" high | — | — | — | § 280-1206I, Table 12-2-B (Incidental Sign) |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 280-1206E (Garage/yard sale signs) |
| Contractor Sign | 10 ft if combined | — | — | 10 ft from cartway or building line, whichever is less | — | — | — | § 280-1206D. Contractor Signs. |
| Real Estate Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 280-1206L. Real estate signs. |
| Open House Sign | — | — | — | — | Two off-premises per open house; one per intersection | — | — | § 280-1206K. Open house signs. |

### Commercial zoning districts, Industrial zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | Freestanding: up to 15 ft.; Wall: limited to height of wall | See Table 12-2-A: Typically up to 32 sq. ft. per sign, varies by lot frontage and district, generally cumulative max area per lot of 2 sq. ft. per linear ft. of building frontage on primary street. | — | Minimum 10 ft from right-of-way for freestanding signs | — | On premise, identified with individual business | — | § 280-1206B. Business Signs; Table 12-2-A. |
| Center Sign | 15 ft. | Up to 64 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft from right-of-way | 1 per major entrance | At entrance to center/shopping center/office complex/industrial park | — | § 280-1206C. Center signs; Table 12-2-B. |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per lot frontage | On premise, must meet setback | — | Table 12-2-A. Business Signs. |
| Wall Sign | Cannot exceed height of wall to which attached | 32 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | — | On facade facing street | — | § 280-1203B(3), 1206B; Table 12-2-A, Table 12-2-B. |
| Temporary Sign (Special Event, Contractor, Real Estate, etc.) | — | — | — | — | — | See respective sign type regulations | — | § 280-1206, relevant subsections |
| Billboard | — | 300 sq. ft. per face (2 faces max) | — | Front: 30 ft, Side: 15 ft, Rear: 15 ft or as per district, whichever greater | 1 billboard structure at any point | — | — | § 280-1206A. Billboards. |
| Sidewalk Sign | 48 inches (next to curb) or 72 inches (next to building with obstructions) | — | 24 inches (next to curb), 42 inches (next to bldg with obstructions) | — | — | On sidewalk adjacent to commercial activity | — | § 280-1206M. |
| Flag (Commercial/Industrial Use) | — | 35 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On an approved standard flagpole, on premises | — | § 280-1204W. |

## Prohibited signs in Lancaster Township

- No temporary signs shall be permitted except as authorized elsewhere in this Article.
- No sign shall be located within a street right-of-way, except a government sign, a public utility sign, a sidewalk sign, a nonprofit organization sign, or another sign approved by the governing body or PennDOT.
- No sign shall be permitted within the clear sight triangle as required in § 280-1617.
- No signs shall be painted, pasted, nailed, stapled, or otherwise attached to utility poles, trees, fences, fire hydrants, or in an unauthorized manner to walls or other signs, except as permitted by formally adopted rules, regulations, or policies.
- Any freestanding sign within a floodplain must receive approval as a special exception.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any door, stairway, window, fire escape, or other means of egress or ingress.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct ventilation or light from a building.
- No overhead sign shall have a clearance of less than eight feet between any pedestrian walk and the lowest part of the sign.
- No sign that is parallel to and attached to the face of a building shall project more than 18 inches over a public sidewalk.
- No sign that is perpendicular to and attached to the face of a building shall project more than 48 inches from the building.
- No sign shall have lights or other illuminating devices that constitute a public safety or traffic hazard.
- No sign shall be permitted which imitates or which might be confused with an official traffic sign or signal, such as by containing the word 'stop' or 'danger', or by including red, green, or yellow lights.
- No sign or window display shall include a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling an emergency vehicle or facility.
- No sign shall advertise activities or products which are illegal under federal, state, or local municipal laws or regulations.
- No sign shall include statements, words, or pictures that are considered to be vulgar, obscene, or pornographic.
- No streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, or similar materials shall be displayed outside a building, except as otherwise regulated.
- No animated, sequential, intermittent, flashing, rotating, or oscillating signs shall be permitted except for time-and-temperature signs.
- No sign shall emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor.
- No sign shall be placed on an automobile, truck, or other vehicle if that vehicle is being used primarily for displaying such sign.
- No inflatable signs shall be permitted.
- No open flames shall be permitted as part of a sign or in any other way to attract attention.
- No lighting shall be permitted to outline buildings or structures, or parts thereof, through the use of exposed neon tubing, strings of lights, or other means, with the exception of customary holiday decorations, that may be installed 30 days prior to and be removed not later than 21 days after the holiday.
- Business signs in other than commercial or industrial zoning districts shall not be illuminated when the business is closed.
- All electrically illuminated signs shall comply with Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and the current National Electrical Code, as part of the current township building code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lancaster Township

- Any sign which has been authenticated as historically significant and accurate for its specific location, whether original or a replica, shall be exempt from the regulations of this Article.
- Editor’s notes indicate that standards for historically significant signage may be in referenced tables (Tables 12-1 and 12-2).
- Advertising painted upon or displayed upon a barn or other structure shall be considered a sign and shall comply with the regulations of this Article.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permits for the placement of signs are required as indicated by Tables 12-1. Sign permit application requirements, such as forms, plans, and fees, shall be established by the governing body.
- The ordinance refers to a sign permitting process (§ 280-1201I) and enables the enforcement of such permits (§ 280-1201J).
- No signs may be installed without completion of permitting procedures as outlined in § 280-1207.
- Tables 12-1 and 12-2 (not shown here) provide the specifics of which signs require permits and associated requirements (including possible sign plans).
- Sign plan (forms/plans) may be required by administrative procedure but are not explicitly detailed except referencing governing body requirements.
- Any freestanding sign within a floodplain requires a special exception (variance-type meeting required).

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Lancaster Township, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Lancaster+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-lancaster-township

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