# Sign Regulations in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lancaster, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lancaster
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8119628#8119628)

## At a glance

Lancaster, Pennsylvania regulates 28 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Billboards in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 40 feet above street grade to which it is oriented. tall and 300 sq ft normally; up to 672 sq ft if oriented toward US Rtes 283/30., with a 20' front, 10' secondary front, 12' side, 25' rear. setback (Sec. §255-12(D)). Most commercial signs in Lancaster require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | No taller than 75% of existing building facade (excluding eaves/roof); never over 35 ft. | 300 sq ft normally; up to 672 sq ft if oriented toward US Rtes 283/30. | — |
| R1, R2 | 1 | — | Total signage not to exceed 20 sq ft. | — |
| R3 | 1 | — | 24 sq ft total max size per sign. | — |
| R4, RO | 1 | — | 30 sq ft max per sign | — |
| PO | 1 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| MU, C1, C2 | 1 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| CB, CB1 | 1 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| C3 | 2 | 40 ft above street grade to which it is oriented | 300 sq ft (unless oriented to US 283/30: 672 sq ft) | — |
| HC, DF | 1 | — | 75 sq ft | — |
| CM | 2 | 40 ft max | 300-672 sq ft (see §255-12D) | — |
| SM | 2 | 40 ft max | 300-672 sq ft (see §255-12D) | — |
| CO Campus Overlay District | 4 | 8 ft | 80 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | Advertising copy/symbols may not exceed 50% of area of awning surface on which it is located. | — | — | — | Attached or incorporated into the awning surface | — | §255-12(B), §255-13(F) |
| Banner | Shall not exceed 25 feet above grade; shall not be less than 8 feet above grade. | — | — | — | — | Affixed to a building wall; if attached to pole/support affixed to building, support must not project more than 4 feet from wall. | — | §255-12(C), §255-15(I) |
| Billboard | 40 feet above street grade to which it is oriented. | 300 sq ft normally; up to 672 sq ft if oriented toward US Rtes 283/30. | — | 20' front, 10' secondary front, 12' side, 25' rear. | Maximum two faces. | Must comply with setbacks: 20 ft from front lot line, 10 ft from secondary front, 12 ft from side, 25 ft from rear. No billboards within 100 ft of residential district. | — | §255-12(D) |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Districts) | 6 ft in residential districts. | — | — | 5' side/rear, 3' front | — | Not in public right-of-way, not in sight triangle. | — | §255-12(E) |
| Freestanding Sign (C2, C3, SM Districts) | Varies by setback: 3-5 ft setback max 10', 6' setback max 13', 7' setback max 16', 8' setback max 19', 9' setback max 22', 10' setback max 25' | — | — | See height table | — | Not in public right-of-way or sight triangle. | — | §255-12(E) |
| Freestanding Sign (Other Nonresidential Districts) | 3-5' setback: 10'; 6': 13'; 7' or more: 16' | — | — | See height table | — | — | — | §255-12(E) |
| Sidewalk Sign (Near Curb) | Max 36" | — | Max 24" | — | — | On sidewalk in front of advertised business | — | §255-12(I) |
| Sidewalk Sign (Near Property Line) | Max 60" | — | Max 42" | — | — | On sidewalk, adjacent to building where steps or building elements project. | — | §255-12(I) |

### C3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business/Commercial Advertising Sign (Wall, Projecting, Freestanding, Monument, Roof, Awning, Arcade, Marquee) | — | 100 sq ft (<300' from property line), 200 sq ft (>300') | — | — | — | — | — | §255-19(I) |
| Billboard | 40 ft above street grade to which it is oriented | 300 sq ft (unless oriented to US 283/30: 672 sq ft) | — | 20' front, 10' secondary front, 12' side, 25' rear; 400 ft to next billboard, 100 ft from residential. | Max two faces per structure. | Setback as per §255-12(D) | — | §255-12(D), §255-19(C) |

### CO Campus Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (Wall, Projecting, Freestanding, Arcade, Awning, Marquee, Roof) | — | 75 sq ft (if visible from public street) | — | — | — | — | — | §255-19(M) |
| Campus Directional Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 2 per building/location | Freestanding | — | §255-19(M)(6) |
| Campus Identification Sign | — | 80 sq ft | — | — | One per vehicular entrance and one per single pedestrian entrance | Freestanding | — | §255-19(M)(7), (8) |
| Campus Identification Sign (Electronic or Internally Illuminated) | — | 80 sq ft per side | — | — | See identification sign limits | Freestanding at campus entrance; must be at least 100 ft from a residential district. | — | §255-19(M)(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Lancaster

- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any window, door, stairway or other opening intended for ingress or egress or which would obstruct ventilation and/or light.
- No sign, whether illuminated or not, shall be located in a manner which would confuse, interfere with or obstruct the vision or line of vision between a motorist and an official traffic sign or marking or traffic signal.
- No sign shall violate the corner visibility provisions set forth in the City Zoning Ordinance.
- No sidewalk sign shall block the flow of pedestrian traffic or create a hazard for persons with disabilities, nor shall a sign be placed at any bus stop, loading zone, or driveway or obstruct corner visibility for drivers.
- No sidewalk sign shall be fastened or attached in any manner to any tree, utility pole, parking meter, street sign or other structure.
- No sign, visible from a public street, except a public sign, shall use the word 'stop,' 'danger,' or any other word, phrase, symbol, color, character or representation which could be interpreted by a motorist as being a public safety warning or traffic sign.
- No revolving beam or beacon of light resembling any emergency vehicle or facility shall be permitted to be erected as part of any sign or window display.
- Flashing signs or signs with strobe effects shall be prohibited in all districts except that temporary detour or road construction signs may flash warning messages.
- No flashing, illusionary movement or other form of illuminated sign shall be programmed, illuminated or operated in a fashion that would distract or impair a motorist's ability to see or drive safely.
- Signs shall not be erected, altered, maintained or used without compliance with the provisions of this chapter and appropriate permits.
- Internally lit and neon lighting must be UL (Underwriters Laboratory) approved, constructed according to the National Electrical Code, and must be inspected by the City Electrical Inspector prior to being electrified.
- Freestanding inflatable signs shall not be permitted within 20 feet of any public right-of-way.
- No flag or banner attached to a freestanding pole shall be placed within, on or upon any sidewalk right-of-way, except for a governmental flag or banner.
- No flag or banner shall be attached to any tree, utility pole, sign post or other structure within the sidewalk right-of-way.
- No sign shall be attached to a tree, fence, utility pole or other object not intended for the use as a sign facility unless authorized by the City Engineer or Bureau of Police.
- Billboards shall not project into any public right-of-way.
- In residential districts and in the CB and CB1 Districts, no moving sign or display, such as pennants, spinners, tinsel, signs with physically moving elements, or rotating panel signs, shall be permitted. Flags and banners shall be exempt from this provision.
- No sign shall create glare for motorists; spotlighting of signs must be aimed/shielded to prevent direct visibility to motorists.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lancaster

- Signs within a building which are obviously intended to be seen primarily from within the building are not considered signs under this chapter.
- Display of merchandise either behind store windows or outdoors is not considered a sign.
- Flags and insignia of governments or government agencies or of any civic, educational, or religious organization are not considered signs.
- National flags, state or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution shall not be considered banners.
- Temporary detour or road construction signs may flash warning messages, even where flashing signs are otherwise prohibited.
- Customary holiday decorations may use exterior neon tubing, strings of lights or other means 30 days prior to and removed not later than 21 days after the holiday.
- Public signs, such as official highway route number signs, street name signs, and other official directional and traffic signs erected in the interest of public safety or for traffic regulation are allowed in all districts without permits.
- Signs identifying points of historical interest in accordance with size and location limitations may be exempt from permits.
- Noncommercial signs (personal, political, religious, or social expression not advertising a product or service), provided no internal illumination and total area does not exceed 12 sq ft, are allowed in all districts without permits.
- Identification signs for residential and related uses, within specific size limits, are exempt from permits.
- Temporary business or advertising signs and temporary public signs, meeting certain size and placement criteria, may be allowed in all districts without permits.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require a sign permit unless specifically exempted; the permit application must be completed by the installer or property owner/occupant prior to installation.
- A separate building permit may be required for electrical signs, structural or combustible signs, in addition to a sign permit.
- Design review by HARB and a certificate of appropriateness by City Council is required prior to the issuance of any sign permit for signs located within the City of Lancaster Historic District.
- Design review and approval by the Sign Commission is required before a sign permit is issued for signs in the CB and CB1 Districts (excluding the Historic District), except those permitted by right under § 255-17.
- The Sign Administrator may grant limited modifications (up to 25% increase in size), and the Sign Commission may grant broader modifications or hear appeals regarding sign requests.
- Appeals from any decision of the Sign Commission may be taken to the Court of Common Pleas in accordance with state law.
- For modifications of sign regulations (variance-type requests), review and approval by the Sign Administrator or Sign Commission is explicitly required.
- In nonconformance or for historic signs, additional review by the Historic Preservation Specialist or as otherwise required may be necessary.
- The maximum sign sizes and types permitted vary by zoning district, and a master sign plan is not explicitly required by this text, but compliance with district regulations and approval by relevant bodies is required.

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

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