# Sign Regulations in Silver Spring Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Silver Spring Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/silver-spring-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-17
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34339665#34339665)

## At a glance

Silver Spring Township, Pennsylvania regulates 26 sign types across 18 zoning districts. Individual Business Sign (Freestanding)s in the Neighborhood Commercial Zone (C-1) zoning district are capped at 20 ft (freestanding); height of wall to which sign is attached (flat wall) tall and 75 sq ft, with a No closer than 10 ft from any lot line (freestanding); height of wall if attached setback (Sec. Permanent Sign Requirements Table). Most commercial signs in Silver Spring Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (18 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservation Zone (C) | 3 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural Zone (A) | 3 | 10 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| Rural Residential Zone (R) | 3 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Estate Zone (RE) | 3 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-1 Residential Zone (R-1) | 3 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| High-Density Residential Zone (R-2) | 3 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Village Residential Zone (R-3) | 3 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial Zone (C-1) | 7 | 20 ft (freestanding); height of wall to which sign is attached (flat wall) | 100-400 sq ft (see formula) | Yes |
| Community Commercial Zone (C-2) | 7 | 20 ft (freestanding); height of wall to which sign is attached (flat wall) | 100-400 sq ft (see formula) | Yes |
| Highway Commercial Zone (C-3) | 7 | 20 ft (freestanding); height of wall to which sign is attached (flat wall) | 100-400 sq ft (see formula) | Yes |
| Professional Office Zone (O) | 2 | 20 ft (freestanding); height of wall to which sign is attached (flat wall) | 100 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial Zone (I-1) | 2 | 20 ft (freestanding); height of wall to which sign is attached (flat wall) | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Industrial Zone (I-2) | 3 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Interchange Zone (INT) | 6 | 20 ft (freestanding); height of wall to which sign is attached (flat wall) | 100-400 sq ft (see formula) | Yes |
| Quarry Zone (Q) | 1 | 20 ft (freestanding); wall height if attached | 75 sq ft | — |
| Floodplain Zone (FP) | 1 | — | 6 sq ft per side | — |
| Conservation Subdivision Overlay Zone (CSO) | 1 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 10 ft (freestanding); height of wall if attached | 64 sq ft combined area (2 per principal use) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 18 zones)

### Neighborhood Commercial Zone (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Individual Business Sign (Freestanding) | 20 ft (freestanding); height of wall to which sign is attached (flat wall) | 75 sq ft | — | No closer than 10 ft from any lot line (freestanding); height of wall if attached | 2 per principal use, max 1 freestanding | On premises | — | Permanent Sign Requirements Table |
| A-frame Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On premises | — | Permanent Sign Requirements Table |
| Planned Center Sign (Freestanding) | 20 ft (up to 300 sq ft); 25 ft (>200,000 sq ft GLA) | 100-400 sq ft (see formula) | — | — | 1 per planned center or per street frontage with entrance/exit | 1 per planned center or per street frontage with entrance/exit (see table) | Yes | Businesses/Planned Center Signage Table; §415-44; Attachment 3. |
| Anchor Tenant Sign | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 75-275 sq ft (see formula) | — | — | 1 per side facing a street, max 2 signs | 1 per side facing a street, max 2 signs | Yes | Businesses/Planned Center Signage Table; §415-44; Attachment 3. |
| Storefront Sign | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 75-200 sq ft (see formula) | — | — | 1 per principal use | 1 per principal use | Yes | Businesses/Planned Center Signage Table; §415-44; Attachment 3. |
| Storefront Under-Canopy Sign | To base of canopy or, where no canopy, 10 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal use | 1 per principal use | Yes | Businesses/Planned Center Signage Table; §415-44; Attachment 3. |
| Nonanchor Sign for Principal Freestanding Use Sharing Common Ingress/Egress | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 75 sq ft | — | — | 2 per principal use, but only 1 per wall | 2 per principal use, but only 1 per wall | Yes | Businesses/Planned Center Signage Table; §415-44; Attachment 3. |

### Community Commercial Zone (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Individual Business Sign (Freestanding) | 20 ft (freestanding); height of wall to which sign is attached (flat wall) | 75 sq ft | — | No closer than 10 ft from any lot line (freestanding); height of wall if attached | 2 per principal use, max 1 freestanding | On premises | — | Permanent Sign Requirements Table |
| A-frame Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On premises | — | Permanent Sign Requirements Table |
| Planned Center Sign (Freestanding) | 20 ft (up to 300 sq ft); 25 ft (>200,000 sq ft GLA) | 100-400 sq ft (see formula) | — | — | 1 per planned center or per street frontage with entrance/exit | 1 per planned center or per street frontage with entrance/exit (see table) | Yes | Businesses/Planned Center Signage Table; §415-44; Attachment 3. |
| Anchor Tenant Sign | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 75-275 sq ft (see formula) | — | — | 1 per side facing a street, max 2 signs | 1 per side facing a street, max 2 signs | Yes | Businesses/Planned Center Signage Table; §415-44; Attachment 3. |
| Storefront Sign | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 75-200 sq ft (see formula) | — | — | 1 per principal use | 1 per principal use | Yes | Businesses/Planned Center Signage Table; §415-44; Attachment 3. |
| Storefront Under-Canopy Sign | To base of canopy or, where no canopy, 10 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal use | 1 per principal use | Yes | Businesses/Planned Center Signage Table; §415-44; Attachment 3. |
| Nonanchor Sign for Principal Freestanding Use Sharing Common Ingress/Egress | Height of wall to which sign is attached | 75 sq ft | — | — | 2 per principal use, but only 1 per wall | 2 per principal use, but only 1 per wall | Yes | Businesses/Planned Center Signage Table; §415-44; Attachment 3. |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs owned and associated with uses operated by the Township; official traffic signs | Unlimited | Unlimited | — | Unlimited | Unlimited | All zones | — | Permanent Sign Requirements Table |
| Signs identifying semi-public uses (schools, churches, parks, fire stations, etc.) | 10 ft (freestanding); height of wall if attached | 64 sq ft combined area (2 per principal use) | — | 10 ft from any lot line (freestanding) | 2 per principal use | On premises | — | Permanent Sign Requirements Table |
| Temporary Contractor Sign | 5 ft | 64 sq ft (area exceeding 12 sq ft requires permit) | — | — | 1 per contractor | On site | — | Temporary Sign Requirements Table |
| Real Estate Sale or Rent Sign (<3 acres) | 5 ft | 12 sq ft residential; 32 sq ft commercial | — | — | 1 per frontage, max 2 | On property being sold/rented | — | Temporary Sign Requirements Table |
| Real Estate Sale or Rent Sign (>3 acres) | 10 ft | 64 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per frontage, max 2 | On property being sold/rented | — | Temporary Sign Requirements Table |
| Proposed Development Sign (Residential/Office) | 10 ft | 1 per unit of occupancy, not to exceed 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage, max 2 | On site, after final plan approval | — | Temporary Sign Requirements Table |
| Proposed Development Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | 10 ft | 1 per 1000 sq ft GLA, not to exceed 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage, max 2 | On site, after final plan approval | — | Temporary Sign Requirements Table |
| Special event sign and banner for business | 10 ft | 32 sq ft if freestanding; 48 sq ft if attached to wall | — | — | 6 per business per year | C-1, C-2, C-3 only | — | Temporary Sign Requirements Table |

## Prohibited signs in Silver Spring Township

- No sign shall be maintained in such a state of disrepair as to have the appearance of complete neglect, be rotting or falling down, illegible, or have loose parts separated from original fastenings.
- No sign shall be maintained within the Township that is structurally unsafe or endangers safety; such a sign must be made safe or removed within five days of notice.
- Each sign shall be removed when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
- No sign shall be maintained that does not refer directly to services, materials or products made, sold, or displayed on the premises (except for billboards).
- No sign shall interfere with visibility for motorists at street or driveway intersections or block any required clear sight triangle.
- No sign located within 300 feet of any traffic light shall be illuminated with red, green or yellow lights or neon tubing.
- Animated, sequential, flashing, rotating, or oscillating signs are expressly prohibited.
- Open flames used to attract public attention to a place of business or to an advertising sign are expressly prohibited.
- Any sign, banner, pennant, balloon, valance, or advertising display constructed of cloth, fabric, cardboard, or other light material, intended to be displayed for a short period of time, is expressly prohibited (except as a special event sign).
- No sign shall display loud, vulgar, indecent or obscene advertising matter, including any graphic illustration pertaining to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
- No sign shall be located so as to interfere with ingress or egress from any window, door, or fire escape.
- No sign shall be permitted which is permanently attached to public utility poles or to trees within the right-of-way of any street.
- No sign shall obstruct light or air from a building or create a traffic danger.
- No sign located within the Floodplain Zone shall exceed six square feet of area per side.
- No sign, including trim, border, and supports, shall be located within 10 feet of any property or street right-of-way line except as specially provided for signs along the Carlisle Pike.
- No sign shall be placed on the roof or be higher than the wall to which it is attached.
- No point of a wall projecting sign shall be located less than 8.5 feet above the grade directly below the sign.
- Signs are prohibited if they resemble or can be mistaken for a traffic signal or use arrows or the word 'Stop,' or red and green lights in a context that may cause confusion with traffic signals.
- Any freestanding or projecting sign is prohibited within an area bounded by the intersection of two rights-of-way and 20 feet from such intersection.
- No sign or signs may be attached to, placed on, or painted onto any vehicle or trailer in excess of 10 square feet per side or 20 square feet in total, for the purpose of advertising, unless the vehicle is actively used as a delivery or service vehicle.
- No loud, vulgar, indecent or obscene advertising matter shall be displayed on any sign.
- No sign attached to a building shall be placed on the roof or be higher than the wall to which it is attached.
- Prohibited signs: balloons, pennants, streamers, feather flags, and similar attention-getting devices are not permitted except as authorized for special events and within time limits established by ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Silver Spring Township

- Signs owned and associated with uses operated by the Township, and official traffic signs are exempt from the requirements.
- Signs identifying semipublic uses (e.g., schools, churches, public utilities, hospitals, libraries, parks, fire stations, post offices) are permitted as listed and are generally exempt from strict business signage controls, subject to size and number limits.
- Property control signs (such as 'No Trespassing', 'Posted', etc.) are permitted as exempted with specified size and spacing limits.
- Residential nameplates and address markers (up to one per dwelling unit and two square feet in size) do not require a permit.
- Garage/yard sale signs (up to two, of maximum six square feet each, for properties conducting such sales) are exempt from permits.
- Political signs are exempt from permit requirements, subject to display timing limitations (no more than 30 days prior to and 5 days after an election).
- Real estate sale or rent signs of twelve square feet or less do not require a permit.
- Roadside stand signs for agricultural products may be displayed seasonally and do not require permits.
- On-site directional, entrance, exit, restroom, and other information signs are allowed subject to specified numbers and sizes.
- Residential development/neighborhood signs (one per street entrance, up to two per development, not exceeding 32 square feet each and 10 feet high) are permitted, subject to review and maintenance agreement but do not require the same approval as business signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Planned center, master site, or shopping center signage must comply with the additional requirements for planned centers as specified in the Planned Center Signage Tables. These include limits based on gross leasable area, frontage, number, size, and height of signs, and sometimes require a sign plan as part of the land development review process.
- A site plan (which may constitute a master sign plan) is required for land development and/or for planned centers to determine location and size of planned center signage, and must be approved by the Planning Commission through the land development review process.
- Any application for a sign permit for a planned center must include sufficient detail of overall center dimensions and signage to ensure compliance with the regulations on total signage allowed for the center and per-tenant allowances.
- Amortization of nonconforming signs: Existing signs that were legally established but do not conform to current standards must be brought into compliance at such time as 75% or greater of the sign area is changed in any way. This implies consideration in sign plans and during sign program updates.
- Where the interpretive application of sign area limitations is unclear due to complex development (such as a campus or multi-parcel project), the Zoning Officer or Planning Commission may require a comprehensive sign plan to ensure aggregate sign areas for all tenants and uses comply with the zone's overall numeric and area restrictions.

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

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