# Sign Regulations in Lawrence Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lawrence Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lawrence-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30236233#30236233)

## At a glance

Lawrence Township, Pennsylvania regulates 10 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at May not extend higher than top of wall; may be at any height on attached wall tall and See Table 1 for maximum area; wall signs must be minimum distances from ends of facade: 25 ft or less - 4 ft; 25-50 ft - 6 ft; 50 ft or more - 10 ft (Sec. §98-5B(1), §98-7A(1), §98-7A(2), §98-8S, §98-8U, §98-11). Most commercial signs in Lawrence Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C, I, RA | 1 | — | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | Max clearance 18" from ground; total height as per Table 1 and zone height limit | See Table 2 | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### C, I, RA

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dynamic Message Display Sign | — | 300 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On-premises, visible from streets with permitted speed limits. | — | §98-9 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not extend higher than top of wall; may be at any height on attached wall | See Table 1 for maximum area; wall signs must be minimum distances from ends of facade: 25 ft or less - 4 ft; 25-50 ft - 6 ft; 50 ft or more - 10 ft | — | — | — | On building facade; must be minimum distances from ends | — | §98-5B(1), §98-7A(1), §98-7A(2), §98-8S, §98-8U, §98-11 |
| Freestanding Pole Sign | May not be higher than height limit of the zone; see Table 1 | See Table 1 | — | — | — | Minimum clearances: 18" min from ground (pole sign) to bottom of sign; not within 10' of street right-of-way except allowed signs. | — | §98-5B(3), §98-7A(2), §98-8C, §98-8S, §98-11 |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | Max clearance 18" from ground; total height as per Table 1 and zone height limit | See Table 1 | — | — | — | Affixed to ground foundation; limited to clear sight triangle | — | §98-5B(3)(b), §98-7A(2), §98-8E, §98-11 |
| Roof Sign | May extend no more than 5 ft above the lowest point attached or above the flat roof/wall/facade | See Table 1 | — | — | — | On or above roof | — | §98-5B(8), §98-7A(2)(c), §98-11 |
| Overhead Sign | Min clearance: 8 ft over pedestrian walk, 18 ft over roadway | See Table 1 | — | — | — | Located above walkways, driveways, etc. | — | §98-5B(6), §98-8I |
| Window Display | — | See Table 1 | — | — | — | Behind windows, visible to exterior | — | §98-5B(9), §98-4 SIGNS – GENERALLY |
| Sandwich Board Sign / Frame Board / Sidewalk Sign | — | See Table 2 | — | — | — | On sidewalk or area adjacent to business | — | §98-6B(5), §98-9H |
| Temporary Signs - General | — | See Table 2 | — | — | 3 (on residential property) or unlimited if in strip mall or shopping center and over 75 feet from curb | Location as per event/use; not within street right-of-way except as allowed. | — | §98-6, §98-8D |

## Prohibited signs in Lawrence Township

- No sign within the clear sight triangle should obstruct vision between the heights of 30 inches and eight feet above the elevation of the centerline of the street or be in a position that causes a hazard by obstructing visibility for traffic or obscuring a traffic signal or other traffic control device.
- No sign, other than official traffic signs, shall hang over or be erected within 10 feet of the right-of-way of any street.
- 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 in accordance with the ordinance.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any door, stairway, window, fire escape, or other means of egress or ingress, or 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, or less than 18 feet between any roadway 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 illuminating devices which imitate traffic control devices or constitute a public safety or traffic hazard; no sign shall be permitted that imitates or that might be confused with an official traffic sign or signal (e.g., by containing the words 'STOP' or 'DANGER' or 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 animated, sequential, intermittent, flashing, rotating, or oscillating signs permitted, except for time and temperature signs and dynamic signs as authorized elsewhere.
- No sign shall advertise activities or products that are illegal under federal, state, or local laws, or include statements, words, or pictures considered to be vulgar, obscene, or pornographic.
- No streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, balloons, or similar materials shall be displayed outside a building, other than temporary special event display signs as authorized.
- No sign, either permanent or temporary, shall be affixed to vehicles, trailers, or equipment if being used primarily for displaying such sign for advertising purposes, regardless of location.
- No sign shall be permitted to have open flames, emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor as part of the sign or in any way to attract attention.
- The light from any illuminated sign shall not adversely affect the safe vision of vehicle operators, any residential zones, or any part of a building or property used for residential purposes.
- No lighting shall be permitted to outline buildings or structures with exposed neon tubing, strings, or lights, except for holiday decorations (which are restricted to certain dates).
- All electrically illuminated signs must meet Underwriters Laboratories and National Electrical Code standards.
- No temporary signs shall be permitted except as provided for in Table 2 or elsewhere in the article.
- No sign shall be located within a street right-of-way, except government, public utility, sidewalk, nonprofit organization signs or other signs approved by the governing body or PennDOT.
- No more than three temporary signs of any type are allowed on a residential property at the same time.
- No residential property shall have temporary signs with a combined total area exceeding 18 square feet.
- No permanent inflatable signs are permitted.
- No sign shall be higher than the height limitation of the zone in which it is located.
- Kinds of signs not provided for in the regulations or tables are not allowed, except as permitted by the Board of Supervisors in their discretion.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lawrence Township

- Government signs placed by governmental units (traffic, directional, informational, street name signs, historical markers).
- Flags and insignia of governments or government agencies.
- Flags of civic, charitable, religious, fraternal, patriotic, or similar organizations.
- Decorative seasonal and holiday flags and banners on residential properties.
- Signs within a building that are obviously intended to be seen primarily from within the building.
- Outdoor signs intended for use within a property, such as park regulations signs or building identification signs within a campus.
- Architectural features that may be identified with a particular business (not including lettering, logos, or symbols).
- Backlit awnings with no lettering, logos, or symbols.
- Displays of merchandise behind store windows or outdoors.
- The area taken up by the address on a permanent freestanding sign does not count as sign area.
- Holiday decorations lighting is allowed 30 days prior to a holiday and must be removed not later than 21 days after the holiday.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs may be erected and maintained only when in compliance with the provisions of this article and any and all ordinances and regulations of Lawrence Township relating to erection, alteration, or maintenance of signs.
- Sign permit application requirements, such as forms and plans, shall be approved by the Zoning Officer.
- Permits for the placement of signs are required as indicated by the last column in Tables 1 and 2 as referenced and attached.
- Any specific, unique, or nonconforming sign installations or display type regulations not specifically addressed are to be reviewed by the Lawrence Township Board of Supervisors for approval and possible conditions.
- Any sign erected after the date of adoption of this chapter must comply with all regulations of the Lawrence Township Sign Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
- Any sign regulations not specifically addressed, at the determination of the zoning officer, shall be regulated by the latest version of the International Building Code.

## Full detail

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

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