# Sign Regulations in Lower Frederick Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lower Frederick Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lower-frederick-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11221009#11221009)

## At a glance

Lower Frederick Township, Pennsylvania regulates 30 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Business/Church)s in the Nonresidential Districts zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 100 sq ft max, with a Setback line; area increases 1.5 sq ft per foot beyond setback (Sec. §170-138A(1)(b)-(c), §170-138B(1)). Most commercial signs in Lower Frederick Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 6 feet total | Max display area: 8 feet wide by 6 feet high, up to 50% may be electronic message (rest static). | — |
| Residential Districts | 14 | 6 feet | Max 250 sq ft, min 20 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 16 | Max 75% of wall/awning height, up to 15 feet | 150 sq ft | — |
| LI Limited Industrial District | 1 | 20 feet (ground); not allowed on buildings/roofs | 100 sq ft per face (double-faced allowed, both sides = 200 sq ft) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | All districts, wall or vertical surface as permitted | — | §170-134, §170-135, §170-136(A)-(H) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As permitted in relevant zoning district. Not allowed in parking/loading/circulation areas or side/rear yards adjacent to more restrictive districts. | — | §170-134 through §170-136(F) |
| Monument Sign (Electronic Message Center) | 6 feet total | Max display area: 8 feet wide by 6 feet high, up to 50% may be electronic message (rest static). | 8 feet total | — | — | Monument sign only; base must be at least 1 foot and no higher than 3 feet from ground. | — | §170-136(C)(8)(h)-(j) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | 4 feet | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | §170-137A(1), §170-137B |
| Real Estate Sign (Individual Property) | 4 feet | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per property/frontage | On-premises, per frontage | — | §170-137A(2)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Small Development) | 4 feet | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | On-premises, within development of up to 10 dwelling units | — | §170-137A(2)(b) |
| Real Estate Sign (Large Development) | 4 feet | 20 sq ft | — | — | 2 per subdivision | On-premises, within development of more than 10 dwelling units | — | §170-137A(2)(c) |
| Construction Sign | 4 feet | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per contractor | On-premises, per contractor | — | §170-137A(5), §170-137B |
| Business Sign (Home Occupation) | 4 feet | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | On-premises | — | §170-137A(6)(a), §170-137B |
| Business Sign (Commercial Use in Residential District) | 4 feet | 20 sq ft | — | — | One | On-premises | — | §170-137A(6)(b), §170-137B |
| Roadside Stand Sign | 4 feet | 15 sq ft | — | — | One per frontage | On-premises, per street frontage | — | §170-137A(6)(c), §170-137B |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Business/Church) | Max 75% of wall/awning height, up to 15 feet | 150 sq ft | — | — | One per facade | On building facade facing street frontage | — | §170-138A(1)(a), §170-138B(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Business/Church) | 10 feet | 100 sq ft max | — | Setback line; area increases 1.5 sq ft per foot beyond | One per street frontage | At setback line; on lot | — | §170-138A(1)(b)-(c), §170-138B(1) |
| Wall Sign (Multitenant Property, except shopping center/office park/industrial park) | Max 75% of wall/awning height, up to 15 feet | — | — | — | One per facade per tenant | On each building facade facing street frontage | — | §170-138A(2)(b), (c), §170-138B(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multitenant Property, except shopping center/office park/industrial park) | 10 feet | 100 sq ft max | — | Min 10 ft from ROW, more setback increases area | One per entrance (max two if entrances >400ft apart) | At vehicular entrance; minimum 500 ft between signs on same frontage | — | §170-138A(2)(a), (d), §170-138B(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center, Planned Commercial Center, Office/Industrial Park) | 15 feet | 100 sq ft max | — | Min 10 ft from ROW, more setback increases area | One per primary entrance | At primary entrance | — | §170-138A(3)(a), §170-138B(3) |
| Wall Sign (Shopping Center, Planned Commercial Center, Office/Industrial Park) | Max 75% of wall/awning height, up to 15 feet | 150 sq ft | — | — | One per facade per tenant | On tenant building facade | — | §170-138A(3)(b), §170-138B(2) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | One per frontage | On-premises, one per road frontage | — | §170-138A(7) |
| Personal Expression Sign | 4 feet | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | One per lot | — | §170-138A(10) |

## Prohibited signs in Lower Frederick Township

- Flashing, revolving, nonstationary or animated signs are prohibited, except for revolving barber poles in conjunction with a barbershop.
- Festoon lighting or beacon lights are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Trailer signs are prohibited.
- Illuminated temporary signs are prohibited.
- Vehicular signs which do not meet the requirements for a freestanding sign in the district where the vehicle is parked are prohibited.
- Signs affixed with adhesives are prohibited.
- Electronic signage is prohibited unless it complies with specific listed standards (e.g., message display must not change more frequently than once per minute, no scrolling, no flashing, must be monument-type sign, etc.).
- Signs shall not create a hazard to vehicular traffic due to obscuring visibility, confusion with official traffic signs or devices, or due to motion, glare, or excessive brightness.
- No sign, other than official street signs, shall be erected or maintained within the legal right-of-way of any public road unless there is a PennDOT-approved permit.
- No sign projecting over a public walkway shall be less than eight feet above the walk level at its lower edge.
- No sign may be located in the side or rear yard or in a required buffer area adjacent to a zoning district with more restrictive sign requirements.
- No freestanding sign may occupy an area designated for parking, loading, walkways, cartways, driveways, or other areas required to be unobstructed.
- A sign may be ordered removed by the Zoning Officer if it is not maintained in good condition and safe repair and has become a potential safety hazard.
- A sign may be ordered removed if it is erected without an approved sign permit and does not comply with the ordinance.
- A sign may be ordered removed if it exists for a business that no longer occupies the premises.
- Floodlighting must be so shielded that the source of light is not visible from off-lot, and only the sign is illuminated.
- Off-premises signs (except for specific limited categories such as directional signs, political signs, special event signs, service signs, and official signs) are not permitted.
- Signs may not be attached to a bridge.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lower Frederick Township

- Official street signs are exempt from the prohibition on signs in the public right-of-way, provided there is a PennDOT-approved permit.
- Memorial or historical markers, official signs directing traffic, signs identifying communities and street names, legal notices and warnings, and other official signs authorized or erected by appropriate governmental authorities are permitted as off-premises signs.
- Temporary nonilluminated signs advertising political parties or candidates for elections are permitted as off-premises signs subject to requirements.
- Temporary nonilluminated signs directing attention to temporary exhibits, shows, or sales are permitted as off-premises signs subject to requirements.
- Nonilluminated service signs directing people to service clubs, churches, or nonprofits are permitted as off-premises signs within size and content restrictions.
- Directional signs for businesses not situated on major roads may be permitted as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.
- Signs that are less than or equal to two square feet in size are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a sign permit must be submitted to the Zoning Officer prior to erecting, affixing, attaching or installing any sign larger than two square feet; the application must include a site plan showing the location of the sign in relation to buildings, structures, property lines, and rights-of-way.
- Window signs in nonresidential districts must be not internally illuminated and not exceed 25% of the window area to be unregulated under maximum sign area provisions.
- All signs for multi-tenant properties shall be designed with similar style and compatible materials, to project a unified appearance—suggesting a coordinated sign plan is required.
- For on-premises directional signs in nonresidential districts, placement must be 'as approved by the plan.'
- Each off-premises sign requires a conditional use from the Board of Supervisors.
- Signs not maintained, in violation, or for non-existent businesses may be ordered removed 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 Lower Frederick Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Lower+Frederick+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-lower-frederick-township

---

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