# Sign Regulations in Shippensburg Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Shippensburg Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/shippensburg-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8123754#8123754)

## At a glance

Shippensburg Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 33 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial (C-1), Neighborhood Commercial (N-C), Transitional Commercial East (T-C East), Transitional Commercial West (T-C West) zoning district are capped at 18 ft (C-1, N-C, T-C East); 20 ft (T-C West) tall and 70 sq ft per face, with a Within setback area setback (Sec. §150-68B(1); §150-75; §150-72B). Most commercial signs in Shippensburg Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), Institutional District (I-1), Open Space District (O-S) | 13 | — | 35 sq ft (one side) | — |
| Commercial (C-1), Neighborhood Commercial (N-C), Transitional Commercial East (T-C East), Transitional Commercial West (T-C West) | 10 | 18 ft (C-1, N-C, T-C East); 20 ft (T-C West) | 150 sq ft per face | — |
| Historic Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Manufacturing Districts (M-1, M-2), Industrial Districts, Industrial and Manufacturing Districts | 2 | 10 ft (freestanding); wall signs = height of principal building | 200 sq ft (total) | — |
| All nonresidential districts | 1 | — | 36 sq ft (max two sides) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 50 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), Institutional District (I-1), Open Space District (O-S)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Professional/Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft (one side) | — | — | 1 per permitted use or dwelling | Same lot as dwelling/occupant | — | §150-67A; §150-72A |
| Institutional Sign | — | 25 sq ft (one side) | — | — | 1 per 100 ft street frontage | Same lot as school, church, hospital, college, university or nursing home | — | §150-67B; §150-72A |
| No-trespassing/Private Ownership Sign | — | 1 sq ft (one side) | — | — | — | On same premises | — | §150-67C |
| Directional Sign (House of Worship) | — | 6 sq ft (one side) | — | — | — | As authorized by Zoning Hearing Board | — | §150-67D |
| Real Estate Sign (Advertising Sale or Rental) | — | 4 sq ft (per street frontage) | — | — | — | On premises of property for sale/rent | — | §150-67E(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Subdivision < 10 lots) | — | 35 sq ft (one side) | — | — | 1 per abutting street | On premises for sale/development | — | §150-67E(2), (4) |
| Real Estate Sign (Subdivision ≥ 10 lots) | — | 35 sq ft (one side) | — | — | 2 per abutting street | On premises for sale/development | — | §150-67E(3), (4) |
| Contractor's Sign | — | 12 sq ft (one side) | — | — | 1 per contractor | On premises where work is being performed | — | §150-67G |

### Commercial (C-1), Neighborhood Commercial (N-C), Transitional Commercial East (T-C East), Transitional Commercial West (T-C West)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 18 ft (C-1, N-C, T-C East); 20 ft (T-C West) | 70 sq ft per face | — | Within setback area | 1/building (2 in T-C if lot ≥5 ac.) | Mounted within setback area, not connected to building | — | §150-68B(1); §150-75; §150-72B |
| Wall Sign | Equal to the height of the principal building | — | — | — | No stated limit; total area regulated | Building front, side or rear | — | §150-68B(2), §150-75, §150-72B |
| Flag with Commercial Advertising | — | 3 ft x 5 ft | — | — | 1 per business | Wall mount, bottom ≥7 ft above sidewalk/street, cannot project >6 ft over right-of-way | — | §150-68B(3) |
| Portable Freestanding Sign | — | 2 ft x 3 ft per face | — | — | 1 per business | Adjacent to permitted business/sign, on private property or public sidewalk (min 5 ft clear walkway, not in sight triangle) | — | §150-68B(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Building frontage | — | §150-68B(6) |
| Shopping Center Sign | — | 150 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Frontage street | — | §150-68C(1) |
| Electronic Message Board (T-C East) | — | 32 sq ft | — | ≥20 ft from right-of-way edge of intersection | 1 per lot | On lot | — | §150-68.1A |
| Electronic Message Board (T-C West) | — | 38 sq ft | — | ≥20 ft from right-of-way edge of intersection | 1 per lot | On lot | — | §150-68.1B |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parking/Traffic Control Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §150-71A |
| Special Information Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building or equipment | — | §150-71C |
| Garage/Yard/Auction Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 2 per event | — | — | §150-71D |
| Political Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §150-71E |
| Freestanding Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At entrance | — | §150-71F |
| Signs not visible from beyond a lot line | — | — | — | — | — | Not visible beyond lot line | — | §150-71G |

## Prohibited signs in Shippensburg Borough

- Any sign placed over a public sidewalk, except as permitted in §150-68B(6).
- Any sign that flashes, moves or emits smoke, steam, other visible particulates or odor.
- Any sign that projects above the roofline of the building on which it is mounted.
- Spinners, pennants, streamers and any moving object used for commercial advertising purposes, whether or not any of the aforesaid items contain a message, except that banners and flags are permitted when authorized under another provision.
- Flashing, electronically changing messages; blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type, except those portions of sign that indicate time and temperature changes. This restriction includes window signs and signs on mobile stands. This shall not prohibit Christmas lighting or displays.
- Signs which contain information that states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance in the zoning district in which the property to which the sign relates is located.
- Signs that imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device or have any characteristics likely to confuse or distract motor vehicle operators on public streets.
- Signs that use reflective materials to give the appearance of flashing, blinking, twinkling or electronically changing messages.
- Signs or displays that include words or images that are obscene, pornographic or highly offensive to public decency.
- Balloons of greater than five cubic feet that are tethered to the ground or a structure and are primarily intended for advertising purposes.
- Signs permanently affixed, placed, maintained, erected, constructed or displayed upon any public property, public street, public sidewalk, public right-of-way, tree, utility pole, stone, cliff and other natural objects; except those signs erected by a governmental body or so placed by order of a governmental body.

## Signs exempt from permit in Shippensburg Borough

- Signs erected by a governmental body or so placed by order of a governmental body are exempt from the prohibition on signs placed on public property, public rights-of-way, or natural objects.
- Christmas lighting or displays are not prohibited under flashing/blinking/animated sign prohibitions.
- Parking and traffic control signs, not exceeding six square feet, authorized by the Zoning Officer on the advice of the Chief of Police or by Borough Council, are permitted and do not require a permit as a legal use in the district.
- Traffic control, parking or signs identifying services of hospitals or medical centers may be authorized by the Borough Council.
- Special information signs (e.g. restrooms, hours of operation, credit cards accepted, membership, barber poles, state inspection station, gasoline pump identification, gallonage register, identity of type of work done in service area) are permitted only where attached to the building or equipment, with total area not included in calculating permitted areas.
- Political signs (not exceeding four square feet, on private property, subject to timing/removal requirements) do not require a permit as a legal use in the district.
- One freestanding sign not exceeding 50 square feet is permitted at each entrance to a subdivision (10+ lots), for identification only.
- Signs not visible from beyond a lot line do not require a permit as a legal use in the district.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No general requirement is specified in the provided text for a master sign plan, sign plan, or required variance/exception for all signs across all zones. However, off-premises signs for service/fraternal/civic/religious organizations in nonresidential districts require a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, with specific standards and limitations detailed in section 150-70.
- Enlarged or additional signs for public utility or municipal activities may be granted by the Zoning Hearing Board if public health or safety requires them.
- Approval from the Shippensburg Historical Architectural Review Board is required for neon signs within the Historic Overlay District.
- Directional signs for houses of worship in residential/institutional districts require authorization from the Zoning Hearing Board.

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

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