# Sign Regulations in Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/londonderry-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14933025#14933025)

## At a glance

Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania regulates 20 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Directory Sign (Ground Sign for Multiple Tenants/Ues)s in the C District, AB District, GC-I District, C Local Commercial District, AB Agricultural Business District, GC-I General Commercial Industrial District zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a Min 15 ft from street line; 20 ft from driveway setback (Sec. § 170-135C(3)). Most commercial signs in Londonderry Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-2 District, Traditional Neighborhood Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| AP District, RA-2 District, R-1 District, MHP District | 10 | 12 ft | 30 sq ft (ground/wall/window), 100 sq ft (banner) | — |
| C District, AB District, GC-I District, C Local Commercial District, AB Agricultural Business District, GC-I General Commercial Industrial District | 6 | 24 ft | 300 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 3.5 ft if affixed directly to ground; 15 ft for pole-type sign | 25% of total glass area per side (35% for grocery stores, food markets, pharmacies) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### AP District, RA-2 District, R-1 District, MHP District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Contractor/Architect/Mechanic/Artisan Sign (Ground) | 3.5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On property where contracted work is occurring | — | § 170-135B(1)(a), (2) |
| Temporary Contractor/Architect/Mechanic/Artisan Sign (Wall) | 12 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | On property where contracted work is occurring | — | § 170-135B(1)(a), (2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sale/Sold/Rent/Development Sign | 3.5 ft (Ground), 12 ft (Wall) | 6 sq ft (Ground), 10 sq ft (Wall) | — | — | One per realtor | Property to be sold, rented, or developed | — | § 170-135B(1)(b), (2) |
| Professional/Home Occupation/Name Sign (Wall) | 10 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On the dwelling | — | § 170-135B(2)(a) |
| Identification Sign - School, Church, Hospital, etc. | 3.5 ft (Ground), 12 ft (Wall) | 15 sq ft (Ground), 10 sq ft (Wall/Projecting) | — | — | One per organization or use | — | — | § 170-135B(2)(b) |
| Off-site Directional Sign (Public/Institutional) | 3.5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | Max two per event/establishment, one per intersection | Various; not more than 2 in Township by any one establishment/event, only 1 at an intersection | — | § 170-135B(2)(c) |
| Special Event Temporary Sign (Ground/Wall/Window/Banner) | 3.5 ft (ground), 10 ft (wall/window) | 30 sq ft (ground/wall/window), 100 sq ft (banner) | — | — | — | On property of event | — | § 170-135B(2)(d) |
| Temporary Development Sign (Future Uses) | 3.5 ft (Ground), 12 ft (Wall) | 15 sq ft (Ground), 10 sq ft (Wall/Projecting) | — | — | One per tract | One per tract; on developing property | — | § 170-135B(2)(e) |

### C District, AB District, GC-I District, C Local Commercial District, AB Agricultural Business District, GC-I General Commercial Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs Permitted in AP, RA-2, R-1, and MHP districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 170-135C(1) |
| Business/Commercial/Industrial Sign (Ground/Wall/Projecting) | 15 ft | 10% of facade or 25 sq ft, whichever is less (for ground, projecting, or wall signs) | — | — | One per street frontage | On premises, each public street on which property fronts | — | § 170-135C(2)(b-d) |
| Accessory Sign (Auto/Gasoline Service Station or Auto Sales/Service) | — | 4 sq ft (per accessory sign) | — | — | Max 4 | On premises | — | § 170-135C(2)(h) |
| Directory Sign (Ground Sign for Multiple Tenants/Ues) | 15 ft | 50 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft from street line; 20 ft from driveway | Limits per § 170-136A(1) | Ground only; minimum 15 ft from street line, 20 ft from nearest driveway | — | § 170-135C(3) |
| Billboard | 24 ft | 300 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — | Min 50 ft from any property line, may not extend within/into street right-of-way | One per parcel | Freestanding, as principal use of property; not within/into street right-of-way | — | § 170-135C(4) |
| Changeable Display Sign | — | — | — | — | One per property | Freestanding in front yard or on front facade, property must front on Route 41 | — | § 170-137.1B(4-13) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flat Wall Sign) | — | — | — | — | — | On/parallel to the building, fence, wall, or other structure | — | § 170-136B(1), (4) |
| Ground Sign (Freestanding Sign) | 3.5 ft if affixed directly to ground; 15 ft for pole-type sign | — | — | Min 5 ft from ROW; no closer to parks/churches/schools/playgrounds than minimum setback for structures | Max 1 per street, 2 per tract | Freestanding structure; must meet setbacks, not in right-of-way | — | § 170-136A |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of total glass area per side (35% for grocery stores, food markets, pharmacies) | — | — | — | Entirely within a building on a windowpane, visible from street | — | § 170-136C |

## Prohibited signs in Londonderry Township

- Signs which use the words "Stop," "Look," "Danger," or any word, symbol, or character that attempts to direct the movement of traffic or imitates/resembles any official traffic sign, signal, or device within 75 feet of a public right-of-way or within 200 feet of a traffic control device, whichever is greater.
- Any banner sign or sign of any other type across a public street or on any private property, except as specifically permitted.
- Any suspended sign which is either a pennant or spinner that blows or spins in the wind, except inside a stadium, arena, or temporary fairground in conjunction with a special event.
- Red or green lights within 75 feet of a public right-of-way or 200 feet of a traffic control signal, except for traffic control signals.
- Any sign erected or maintained on a tree or utility pole, or painted or drawn on a rock or other natural feature.
- Any sign with flashing, revolving, moving, sound-producing, or animated parts, including any sign that has the capability of motion in whole or in part, except those displaying time and/or temperature exclusively and those subject to specific changeable display section.
- Any vulgar, indecent, or obscene advertising matter displayed in any manner.
- Any sign which obscures or interferes with the line of sight at any street intersection or traffic signal, or at any other point of vehicular access to a street.
- Any sign erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Any sign on a mobile stand or wheels which can be moved from place to place and is not permanently affixed to the ground, except for signs specifically permitted.
- Any sign, or any portion thereof, which extends above the roof line of the building to which it is attached.
- Any off-premises or off-site sign (sign unrelated to the property on which it is situated), except for temporary political campaign signs as regulated, off-site directional signs as regulated, and billboards as regulated.
- Any sign utilizing LED technology or similar digital display forms of messaging, whether such sign contains a message that does not change, is animated, or employs changeable copy; with the exception of signs displaying time and/or temperature exclusively and as specifically allowed elsewhere.
- Any sign that is in a state of disrepair, rotting, falling down, illegible, or has loose parts separated from original fastenings.
- Changeable-display signs, except as expressly provided.
- No sign designated as a billboard may utilize changeable displays.
- No permit shall be issued unless sign conforms with regulations except upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board granted by variance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Londonderry Township

- Official highway route number signs, street name signs, directional or other traffic signs erected and maintained on public roads and highways in the interest of public safety or for regulation of traffic.
- Signs indicating prohibition or control of fishing, hunting, trespassing, or private road designation, not exceeding two square feet.
- A sign with area not exceeding one square foot bearing only property number, street address, post box numbers, or occupant names in residential districts, with characters not exceeding three inches in height.
- Legal notices.
- Christmas tree, holiday display, or window display of merchandise, except as otherwise prohibited and provided duration is limited to the immediate period or season.
- Public service and information signs advertising availability of rest rooms, telephones, or similar public convenience.
- A vending machine sign not exceeding two square feet showing brand name or price when displayed on a vending machine selling that product.
- One or more signs applied to a windowpane giving store hours or charge institution names, with a combined total area not exceeding two square feet.
- A sign which is a permanent architectural feature of a building or structure, such as a cornerstone.
- Temporary yard sale or garage sale signs not exceeding two square feet and removed within 24 hours after conclusion.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign not exempt (under § 170-133 or § 170-135B(1)) requires a permit issued by the Zoning Officer; no sign shall be erected, altered, or its content changed (except as part of a directory sign) until a permit is issued.
- Applications for sign permits must include plans or diagrams to scale, showing dimensions, location, construction type, materials, and installation details.
- No permit for any permissible off-site sign shall be issued until property owner's written consent and signature have been filed.
- No permit shall be issued unless the sign conforms with regulations, except if a variance is granted by the Zoning Hearing Board.
- A changeable display sign requires a permit in accordance with the ordinance section and is subject to additional requirements.
- Conditional use approval by the Board of Supervisors is required for billboards.
- For billboard permits, a guarantee bond is required as a condition of approval.
- Permits shall be granted or refused within 15 days from the date of application.
- After installation, signs are subject to inspection and annual inspection by the Zoning Officer.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/londonderry-township