# Sign Regulations in Lower Southampton Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lower Southampton Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lower-southampton-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/29170538#29170538)

## At a glance

Lower Southampton Township, Pennsylvania regulates 13 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the C-1, TC District zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 50 sq ft (≤100 ft frontage); up to 120 sq ft (≥100 ft frontage), with a 5 ft from right-of-way, street line, 5 ft from side property line, not within 15 ft of cartway edge setback (Sec. §27-2008.1.A(9,13-15), §27-2008.1.A(12-14), §27-2008.2, §27-2011). Most commercial signs in Lower Southampton Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| OPAS Off-Premises Advertising Sign Overlay District, nonresidentially zoned property within 50 feet of the Pennsylvania Turnpike | 1 | 30 ft measured to the top of the sign | 672 sq ft per side | — |
| C-1, TC District | 4 | 35 ft | 50 sq ft (≤100 ft frontage); up to 120 sq ft (≥100 ft frontage) | — |
| C-2, BT District, I, M Zoning Districts | 4 | 35 ft | 50 sq ft (≤100 ft frontage); up to 120 sq ft (≥100 ft frontage) | — |
| all commercial and industrial zones | 2 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| residential zones | 4 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| other zoned districts | 1 | 5 ft | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 10 ft above roofline | ≤50% of allowable wall sign area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### C-1, TC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 20 ft | 50 sq ft (≤100 ft frontage); up to 120 sq ft (≥100 ft frontage) | — | 5 ft from right-of-way, street line, 5 ft from side property line, not within 15 ft of cartway edge | 1 per parcel per street frontage | At right angles: No closer than 5 ft to right-of-way or street line. Parallel to street or other angle: within property lines, not closer than sign height to street/property line. Not within 15 ft of edge of cartway; not within 5 ft of side property line. | — | §27-2008.1.A(9,13-15), §27-2008.1.A(12-14), §27-2008.2, §27-2011 |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of wall area | — | — | 1 per business | Front wall of each business establishment | — | §27-2008.1.B, §27-2011 |
| Plaza Sign | 35 ft | 50 sq ft (≤100 ft frontage); up to 120 sq ft (≥100 ft frontage) | — | Same as ground sign | 1 per plaza per frontage | On property of plaza/mall. 1 per street frontage. | — | §27-2007.13, §27-2008.1.A(12,13,15) |
| Temporary Advertising Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §27-2007.1.A, §27-2007.9 |

### C-2, BT District, I, M Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 35 ft | 50 sq ft (≤100 ft frontage); up to 120 sq ft (≥100 ft frontage) | — | 5 ft from street/ROW, 5 ft from side property line, 15 ft from edge of cartway | 1 per parcel per street frontage | At right angles: ≥5 ft to street/ROW. Other angles: within property line, not closer than height to street/property line. Not within 15 ft of cartway, or ≤5 ft from side property line. | — | §27-2008.1.A(10,13-15), §27-2011 |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of wall area including windows | — | — | 1 per business | Front wall of business establishment | — | §27-2008.1.B, §27-2011 |
| Plaza Sign | 35 ft | 50 sq ft (≤100 ft frontage); up to 120 sq ft (≥100 ft frontage) | — | Same as ground sign | 1 per plaza per frontage | On property of plaza/mall, 1 per street frontage | — | §27-2007.13, §27-2008.1.A(10,12) |
| Temporary Advertising Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §27-2007.1.A, §27-2007.9 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of wall area | — | — | 1 per business | Front wall of business establishment | — | §27-2008.1.B, §27-2009(B), §27-2011 |
| Window Display (Temporary, Interior) | — | 40% of window area | — | — | — | Attached to inside of windows | — | §27-2008.1.F |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted to wall/vertical surface, meets above restrictions | — | §27-2008.1.H |
| Roof Sign | 10 ft above roofline | ≤50% of allowable wall sign area | — | — | 1 per premises | On roof, not beyond building walls | — | §27-2008.1.G |
| Movable Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §27-2008.1.D |

## Prohibited signs in Lower Southampton Township

- No sign shall be erected, attached to, suspended from or supported on any building, structure or site except in accordance with this ordinance or pursuant to an authorized variance.
- No sign shall be altered in any manner which enlarges or extends it, nor shall it be relocated, except in accordance with this ordinance.
- Signs which incorporate any flashing or moving illumination, or illumination which varies in intensity or color, or which have any visible moving or revolving parts, or visible mechanical movement, or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical pulsations or by normal wind currents, are prohibited except when not visible from motor vehicles traveling on public roadways.
- Signs which constitute a hazard to public safety or health are prohibited.
- Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination obstruct the vision of drivers or detract from or obstruct the visibility/effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device are prohibited.
- Signs on any nonresidential accessory structures are prohibited.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window, or other required exitway is prohibited.
- Signs which display words, symbols, lights or characters such as STOP, LOOK, ONE WAY, DANGER, YIELD, or any similar, in a manner to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic, are prohibited.
- Signs on public grounds or public rights-of-way are prohibited, unless erected by or approved by a governmental body or approved as a conditional sign by the Board of Supervisors; and no such sign in the right-of-way may bear commercial advertising.
- Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a tree, stone, cliff or other natural object, are prohibited.
- String lights, other than temporary holiday decorations, which are unshielded from off the property, are prohibited.
- Searchlights, pennants, spinners, banners and streamers are prohibited except for occasions such as grand openings and then only with special permission and for no more than thirty days.
- No signs, nor their supports, chains, or braces, may be so placed or constructed as to obstruct or interfere with any door, window, fire escape, or other required means of light, ventilation, or egress.
- No sign shall be so located as to cause danger to traffic by obscuring the view.
- No sign of an individual or private corporation shall be affixed to any public utility line pole, street sign pole, traffic sign or signal pole, or light pole.
- No pole enclosure, support encasement or other device not defined as a sign, and which does not support or brace the sign, shall exceed 75% of the sign area.
- Signs for gentlemen's clubs, adult entertainment, or adult businesses are prohibited on off-premises advertising signs (billboards).
- Signs on commercial or industrial areas bordering a residential district shall not be less than 30 feet from the property line bordering residential districts.
- Signs facing any dwelling in a residential district may not be illuminated if within 200 feet of such dwelling.
- It is unlawful to erect, repair, or maintain any electrical sign or any non-electrical sign higher than 20 feet above grade without submitting a certificate of insurance as specified.
- It is required, before erecting or repairing electrical signs, or non-electrical signs over 20 feet above grade, that a $1,000 performance bond be posted as specified.
- It is a requirement before a permit is issued for a bonded contractor to provide the Underwriters' Laboratory label number and construct the sign to that specification.
- Signs must be constructed of durable materials and kept in good condition; dilapidated signs not repaired or removed after 30 days following written notice are deemed nuisances.
- Outdoor electrical illumination of off-site advertising signs is prohibited between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise.
- Existing nonconforming outdoor signs must be brought into conformity within 10 years from the adoption of this provision.
- In general, signs shall not be located within public rights-of-way unless an exception is provided by law.
- No ground sign shall exceed 25 feet in length.
- Only one ground sign per parcel per street frontage is permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lower Southampton Township

- No permit is required for name and address of resident signs (no commercial advertising), up to two square feet.
- No permit is required for no-trespassing and similar regulatory signs (e.g., 'No Hunting', 'No Fishing'), up to two square feet in residential zones and five square feet in commercial/industrial zones.
- No permit is required for real estate signs as specified (area limits apply and one per street frontage; must be removed within specified period after sale/rental/lease).
- No permit is required for bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions on their premises (size limit, noncommercial only).
- No permit is required for small signs regulating on-premises traffic, parking, or functional subdivision, up to five square feet, without commercial advertising.
- No permit is required for signs erected by a governmental body or under its direction bearing no commercial advertising (including traffic, safety, playground, or school identification signs).
- No permit is required for memorial signs/tablets or signs denoting the date of building erection.
- No permit is required for flags, pennants, or insignia of any government or of any religious, charitable or fraternal organization.
- No permit is required for temporary signs no larger than five square feet advertising the sale of edible farm products grown on site or advertising auctions/special events by charitable/public service groups.
- No permit is required for permanent residential development signs not exceeding 25 square feet at major entrances, with no commercial advertising, and located within setbacks.
- No permit is required for signs identifying places of worship on their premises with sign area up to 25 square feet.
- No permit is required for address signs for nonresidential buildings/offices (no commercial advertising, up to two square feet), provided there is no other sign on the property; otherwise, a permit is required.
- Window displays of a temporary, non-illuminated nature, not exceeding 40% of window area, do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must include plans and specifications setting forth the character of the sign in all its structural parts, and an accurate sketch of the property designating the location of all existing and proposed signs.
- A landscaping plan meeting minimum requirements must be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the Township Engineer for the installation of off-premises advertising signs (billboards).
- Signs for plazas, malls, shopping centers, professional office buildings, or industrial parks which designate the names of individual businesses are conditional signs and require specific approval of the Board of Supervisors.
- Conditional signs (as defined) require approval from the Board of Supervisors, with consideration of various factors (traffic, visibility, sign size, neighborhood, etc.).
- For electrical signs or non-electrical signs exceeding 20 feet in height, a certificate of insurance and a $1,000 performance bond must be submitted before erection or repair.
- Any sign that does not conform to ordinance must have a variance authorized by proper authority as set forth in ordinance.
- The provisions of the sign ordinance apply to all signs maintained or erected unless lawfully nonconforming or specifically exempted.

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

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