# Sign Regulations in Manheim Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Manheim Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/manheim-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/15951961#15951961)

## At a glance

Manheim Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Central Business District (CBD), Conversion Office and Apartment (COA) Zone zoning district are capped at Between 3 ft and 15 ft above curb line; not to exceed 15 ft tall, Per premises total; for sign face, up to 10 linear ft any dimension; up to 2 faces, and Max face dimension: 10 ft wide, with a No closer than 7 ft from curb or 2 ft from ROW, whichever is more restrictive setback (Sec. 220-36M(3)). Most commercial signs in Manheim Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historical Overlay Zone | 2 | — | As per underlying zoning; Historic Commission may recommend reductions | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 12 | — | 18" x 24" | — |
| Central Business District (CBD), Conversion Office and Apartment (COA) Zone | 16 | Between 3 ft and 15 ft above curb line; not to exceed 15 ft | Single sign: 64 sq ft; Total per premises: formula as above | — |
| Highway Commercial Zone (C1) | 16 | Between 3 ft and 15 ft above curb line, no more than 15 ft | Single sign: 64 sq ft (freestanding: 32 sq ft); total per premises: up to 300 sq ft | — |
| Industrial (C-1), Planned Industrial/Corporate Center Zone | 16 | Between 3 ft and 15 ft above curb line, no more than 15 ft | Single sign: 64 sq ft (freestanding: 48 sq ft); total per premises: up to 300 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — |

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

### Central Business District (CBD), Conversion Office and Apartment (COA) Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Garage/Yard Sale and Open House Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage (max 2), 2 directional | 1 per premises frontage (max 2), 2 directional at intersections | — | 220-36F(6) |
| Temporary Contractor, Artisan, Landscaper Sign | — | As permitted by real estate sign in zone | — | — | 1 per premises | Onsite where work is being done | — | 220-36F(7) |
| Temporary Charitable/Public Event Sign | — | Policy determined by Borough | — | — | — | Preapproved public areas | — | 220-36F(8) |
| Projecting Sign | No higher than eave line | No single face to exceed 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant, or 1 per frontage if on corner lot or multi-entrance | From building, toward street/public way; one per commercial tenant, except multiples allowed on corner lots/public entrances | — | 220-36J(3)(e); 220-36M(1) |
| Wall Sign | No higher than top of wall | Aggregate wall sign area not more than 25% of wall area; max single sign: per overall calculation | — | — | Max 2 per tenant per facade | On building facade | — | 220-36M(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | Between 3 ft and 15 ft above curb line; not to exceed 15 ft | Per premises total; for sign face, up to 10 linear ft any dimension; up to 2 faces | Max face dimension: 10 ft | No closer than 7 ft from curb or 2 ft from ROW, whichever is more restrictive | 1 per property | Within property lines, behind right-of-way, not in ROW | — | 220-36M(3) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 2 ft wide x 3 ft high | 2 ft | — | 1 per commercial tenant | In front of business, not blocking sidewalk or sight distance; only when open | — | 220-36F(11) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage (max 2) | On premises for property for sale/lease | — | 220-36J(3)(f) |

### Highway Commercial Zone (C1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Garage/Yard Sale and Open House Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage (max 2), 2 directional | 1 per premises frontage (max 2), 2 directional at intersections | — | 220-36F(6) |
| Temporary Contractor, Artisan, Landscaper Sign | — | As permitted by real estate sign in zone | — | — | 1 per premises | Onsite where work is being done | — | 220-36F(7) |
| Temporary Charitable/Public Event Sign | — | Policy determined by Borough | — | — | — | Preapproved public areas | — | 220-36F(8) |
| Projecting Sign | No higher than eave line | No single face to exceed 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant, or 1 per frontage if corner lot or multi-entrance | From building, toward street/public way; 1 per commercial tenant, except multiples on corner lots/multi-entrance | — | 220-36J(4)(e); 220-36M(1) |
| Wall Sign | No higher than top of wall | Aggregate wall sign area not more than 25% of wall area; max single sign: per overall sign area calculation | — | — | Max 2 per tenant per facade | On building facade | — | 220-36M(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | Between 3 ft and 15 ft above curb line, no more than 15 ft | Up to 32 sq ft per sign face, max face dimension 10 ft any side, up to 2 faces, within premises total area | 10 ft max per face | No closer than 7 ft from curb or 2 ft from ROW, whichever is more restrictive | 1 per property | Within property lines, not in ROW; behind building setback lines | — | 220-36M(3) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 2 ft wide x 3 ft high | 2 ft | — | 1 per commercial tenant | In front of business, not blocking sidewalk or sight distance; only when open | — | 220-36F(11) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises for property for sale/lease | — | 220-36J(4)(h) |

### Industrial (C-1), Planned Industrial/Corporate Center Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Garage/Yard Sale and Open House Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage (max 2), 2 directional | 1 per premises frontage (max 2), 2 directional at intersections | — | 220-36F(6) |
| Temporary Contractor, Artisan, Landscaper Sign | — | As permitted by real estate sign in zone | — | — | 1 per premises | Onsite where work is being done | — | 220-36F(7) |
| Temporary Charitable/Public Event Sign | — | Policy determined by Borough | — | — | — | Preapproved public areas | — | 220-36F(8) |
| Projecting Sign | No higher than eave line | No single face to exceed 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant, 1 per frontage if corner/multi-entrance | From building, toward street/public way; 1 per commercial tenant, except multiples on corner lots/multi-entrance | — | 220-36J(5)(e); 220-36M(1) |
| Wall Sign | No higher than top of wall | Aggregate wall sign area not more than 25% of wall area | — | — | Max 2 per tenant per facade | On building facade | — | 220-36M(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | Between 3 ft and 15 ft above curb line, no more than 15 ft | Up to 48 sq ft per sign face, max face dimension 10 ft any side, up to 2 faces, within premises total area | 10 ft max per face | No closer than 7 ft from curb or 2 ft from ROW, whichever is more restrictive | 1 per property | Within property lines, not in ROW; behind building setback lines | — | 220-36M(3) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 2 ft wide x 3 ft high | 2 ft | — | 1 per commercial tenant | In front of business, not blocking sidewalk or sight distance; only when open | — | 220-36F(11) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises for property for sale/lease | — | 220-36J(5)(h) |

## Prohibited signs in Manheim Borough

- Animated signs and signs which incorporate any flashing or moving illumination, illumination which varies in intensity or color, or visible moving/revolving parts or mechanical movement, or apparent movement by electrical pulsations or wind, are prohibited. Exceptions: clocks, hanging signs or symbols moved by air, time/temperature signs, and barber poles, if they comply with other code provisions.
- Light sources that cast light on signs are prohibited unless shielded by opaque material so bulbs are not visible from off the property.
- Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety or health is prohibited.
- Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or illumination distract or obstruct the vision of drivers or obstruct/detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign, control device, or public street/road are prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs free ingress or egress from a fire escape, door, window, or required exit is prohibited.
- Signs which make use of the words (or similar to) 'Stop,' 'Look,' 'One-Way,' 'Danger,' 'Yield,' or similar, in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic are prohibited.
- Any sign which advertises a defunct business or a product no longer sold is prohibited.
- Signs on public property or public rights-of-way, unless erected by or required by governmental bodies, or in compliance with specific exemptions, are prohibited.
- Signs painted on, inappropriately attached to, or supported by a street sign, street light, or any natural object unless specifically permitted are prohibited.
- Searchlights, pennants, spinners, banners, streamers, inflatable balloons, and similar devices are prohibited except for temporary occasions (up to 15 days, e.g., grand openings), and only with prior special permission from the Zoning Officer.
- Manual changeable copy signs not permanently affixed to the ground or business structure, including those on wheels or in movable frames, are prohibited. Such signs require review through the special exception process.
- Electric message signs, whether illuminated or not, are prohibited. Such signs require review through the special exception process.

## Signs exempt from permit in Manheim Borough

- Signs erected by a governmental body or under its direction and bearing no commercial advertising (e.g., traffic, railroad crossing, safety, public school/playground signs) are exempt from permit and square footage calculations.
- Name and address signs for residents, provided there is no commercial advertising and sign does not exceed two square feet.
- No trespassing and similar property use regulation signs (e.g., 'No Hunting', 'No Fishing'), not exceeding two square feet in residential districts or five square feet in nonresidential districts, placed not closer than 50 feet apart.
- Signs regulating on-premises traffic and parking or functional subjects (e.g., 'In-Out', 'Enter-Exit'), not exceeding two square feet in residential or five square feet in nonresidential districts, provided they bear no commercial advertising.
- Memorial signs or tablets and signs denoting the date of erection of buildings.
- Garage/yard sale and open house signs (max five square feet), limited in number and duration, including two directional signs at intersections with owner permission, provided public right-of-way and sight distance are not blocked.
- Temporary contractor, artisan, landscaper, and similar service signs: one per premises, size per real estate sign rules for the zone, must be on-site and removed within seven days of work completion. Larger signs may be required by government agencies.
- Temporary signs announcing special events of charitable or public service groups, posted in preapproved public areas by Borough Codes Compliance Official, subject to Borough policy.
- Temporary booster club signs (max 18x24 inches), installed no sooner than three days before an event and removed within 24 hours after, with placement and mounting restrictions, and property owner permission.
- Symbol sign (non-lettered), max four square feet, one per business frontage, compliant with zone regulations.
- Sandwich board sign (one per business frontage, or per tenant for multi-tenant buildings with sufficient frontage), max two feet wide by three feet high, only during business hours, not blocking sidewalk or sight distance.
- Temporary, nonpermanent signs are allowed without a permit if not displayed for more than one month.
- Certain kinds of signs (as listed above and in section F) across all zoning districts do not require permits and are not included in the calculation of total sign square footage, but must otherwise comply with applicable regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for a permit to erect, alter, or modify permanent signs must include a dimensional sketch or scale plan indicating the shape, size, height, and location of all signs to be erected, altered, or moved, along with any other information required by the Zoning Officer.
- No permanent sign may be erected or altered until a sign permit is issued by the Zoning Officer.
- Violations include installing, creating, erecting, or maintaining any sign in a way inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or premises.
- Nonconforming signs (signs legally existing before the current code but not complying) may be maintained but require permit applications for maintenance, repainting, or resurfacing; fee is waived if location and size do not change.
- If a sign does not conform to the requirements for the zone/district, it may require a special exception approval from the Zoning Hearing Board (e.g., in the Historical Overlay Zone or for specific sign types such as luminous signs, electric message signs, manual changeable copy signs).
- A master sign plan per se is not explicitly required, but submission of plans/drawings is required for all new permanent signs as part of permit process.
- In districts where Historic Commission review is required, a recommendation for new permanent signs must be obtained prior to Zoning Hearing Board action if the proposed sign does not meet the criteria of the zone.

## 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 Manheim Borough — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Manheim+Borough+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-manheim-borough

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