# Sign Regulations in Lower Swatara Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lower Swatara Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lower-swatara-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30431378#30431378)

## At a glance

Lower Swatara Township, Pennsylvania regulates 25 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Directional Development Sign (Off-Premises)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 sq ft and 4 ft wide (Sec. §27-2303I). Most commercial signs in Lower Swatara Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 5 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Park District, Industrial Park-Limited District, Office Park District, Commercial Highway District (C-H), Airport Industrial District | 2 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Highway District (C-H), Industrial District (I, IP, IP-L, A-I) | 1 | 20 ft vertical | 600 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 8 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District (I, IP, IP-L, A-I) | 3 | 20 ft vertical | 600 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign Advertising Sale or Rental of Residential Premises (Individual Lot) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property (2 per frontage if on more than one street) | On the premises being advertised | — | §27-2303A |
| Sign Advertising Sale or Rental of Residential Premises (Development) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property (2 per frontage if on more than one street) | On the premises being advertised | — | §27-2303A |
| Sign Advertising Sale, Lease or Development of Nonresidential Premises | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property (2 per frontage if on more than one street) | On the premises being advertised | — | §27-2303B |
| Institutional Sign (Schools, Churches, Hospitals, etc.) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property (2 per frontage if on more than one street) | On property | — | §27-2303F |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On dwelling | — | §27-2303G |
| Directional Real Estate Sign (Off-Premises) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per agency per 500 ft of frontage | Off premises | — | §27-2303H |
| Directional Development Sign (Off-Premises) | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft | — | 1 per 500 ft frontage | Off premises | — | §27-2303I |
| Sign Advertising Sale of Farm Products | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Where sale permitted | — | §27-2303J |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 100 sq ft | 10 ft (no dimension may exceed 10 ft) | — | 1 | On the premises of the business | — | §27-2304A |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business unit | Attached to building wall | — | §27-2304B(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft | 6 ft (no dimension to exceed 6 ft) | — | 1 per business unit | Attached to wall | — | §27-2304B(2) |
| Business Identification Sign (on nonconforming structure or land use) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | On nonconforming structure or land | — | §27-2304F |
| Related Business Sign (e.g. real estate, office, apartment name plate) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §27-2304E |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Institutional Sign (Schools, Churches, Hospitals, etc.) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property (2 per frontage if multi-frontage) | On property | — | §27-2303F |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On dwelling | — | §27-2303G |
| Sign Advertising Sale or Rental of Residential Premises (Individual Lot) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property (2 per frontage if on more than one street) | On premises | — | §27-2303A |
| Sign Advertising Sale or Rental of Residential Premises (Development) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property (2 per frontage if on more than one street) | On premises | — | §27-2303A |
| Directional Real Estate Sign (Off-Premises) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per real estate agency per 500 ft | Off premises | — | §27-2303H |
| Private Driveway or Trespassing Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §27-2303E |
| Farm Product/Agricultural Sales Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Where on-premises sale is permitted | — | §27-2303J |
| Business or Professional Office Sign (where office use allowed) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Any yard of premises | — | §27-2303K |

## Prohibited signs in Lower Swatara Township

- Signs which incorporate any flashing or moving illumination or illumination that varies in intensity or color.
- Signs with any visible mechanical movement or apparent movement achieved by electrical pulsations or wind (except clocks, time or temperature signs, or barber poles, if otherwise compliant).
- Signs advertising activities that are illegal under federal, state, or local laws or ordinances.
- Signs that obstruct drivers’ vision at intersections or driveways, or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of traffic control devices.
- Signs that use words, phrases, symbols, lights, or characters like 'stop,' 'look,' 'danger' or similar, in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic or that imitate official traffic signs/signals.
- Signs advertising any activity, business, product or service no longer produced or conducted (must be removed within 30 days of cessation).
- Signs placed or located within the public right-of-way except official governmental signs.
- Signs painted on, pasted, attached to, or supported by utility poles, trees, fences, barns or sheds (except certain recreational signs, banners, and logos as specifically permitted).
- Signs consisting of pennants, spinners, banners, streamers, or searchlights except for permitted grand openings and only with permission from the Zoning Officer (for up to 30 days).
- Unshielded string lights (except temporary holiday lights or for specified events by certain organizations).
- Signs that obstruct free ingress/egress for fire escapes, doors, windows, or other exit ways.
- Signs that are structurally unsafe or in disrepair.
- Signs that project beyond property lines, over public walkways, or within any street right-of-way.
- Signs that project above the district height limit (unless required yards are expanded).
- Signs not constructed of durable materials or not kept in good repair.
- Signs not removed within 14 days after the circumstances that led to their erection no longer apply.
- Signs erected within the right-of-way of a state highway not in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation regulations.
- Sign lighting not shielded, arranged, or directed to protect adjacent properties and streets from glare.
- Unsafe, insecure, or unpermitted signs, or those that become a menace to the public.
- No new signs can be erected, changed, or altered without a permit, unless exempted by ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lower Swatara Township

- Official signs are exempt from permit and fee requirements.
- Temporary signs are exempt from permit and fee requirements.
- Incidental signs (except as required for certain recreational signs, banners, and logos in §27-2303O) are exempt from permit and fee requirements.
- Signs to identify construction and development programs of state, federal, and other public agencies are exempt from size regulations.
- Permit fee waivers for recreational signs, banners, and logos as described in §27-2303O.
- Exemption from permit/fee does not exempt from compliance with other applicable standards, ordinances, codes, or laws.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For recreational signs, banners, and logos under §27-2303O, an application including two copies of a sign plan (with size, colors, material, and attachment method) must be submitted with the permit request.
- A detailed scale drawing (site plan) is required as part of the general sign permit application process (§27-2306.2.A).
- No reference in this ordinance to master sign plans or requirements for a coordinated sign plan/variance meeting beyond the above.

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

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