# Sign Regulations in Smith Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Smith Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/smith-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/26892494#26892494)

## At a glance

Smith Township, Pennsylvania regulates 24 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Billboards in the I-1 zoning district are capped at 40 ft above curb tall, 300 sq ft per face (max 2 faces), and 25 ft length; 15 ft height per face wide, with a Min 10 ft from public street right-of-way; must meet side and rear yard requirements for structures in the district setback (Sec. § 1406). Most commercial signs in Smith Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| R-1, R-V | 2 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| B-1 | 8 | 25 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| I-1 | 3 | 40 ft above curb | 300 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — |
| C-D | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per use | In connection with any church, school, library or similar public or semipublic building | — | § 1403.A |
| Real Estate Sign - C-D, R-1, R-V | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On each lot | — | § 1403.B |
| Real Estate Sign - Other Zones | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On each lot | — | § 1403.B |
| Development Sign - Residential | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per site | On each site of an approved subdivision or land development | — | § 1403.C |
| Development Sign - Nonresidential | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per site | On each site of an approved subdivision or land development | — | § 1403.C |
| Contractor's Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On lot where work is being performed | — | § 1403.D |
| Home Occupation Identification Sign | 4 ft if freestanding | 1 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any street right-of-way line or property line if freestanding | One per approved home occupation | Attached to dwelling or freestanding, minimum 10 ft from right-of-way or property line | — | § 1403.F |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | No more than 10 ft from edge of right-of-way if outside public right-of-way | Up to 4 per business or agency | Along arterial or collector street; up to 4 per business or agency; up to 3 miles away | — | § 1403.G |

### B-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Special Event Display | — | 40 sq ft per establishment; 100 sq ft max per lot if multiple establishments | — | — | Max 2 per establishment at a time | Building or supporting structure of freestanding pole business identification sign | — | § 1405.A |
| Changeable-Copy Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | Permanently affixed to building wall or supporting structure of authorized freestanding sign | — | § 1405.B |
| Wall Sign (Business Identification) | Shall not be located on roof nor extend above building height | 100 sq ft | — | — | Aggregate area limit applies | On building wall; not on roof | — | § 1405.C(1) |
| Ground Sign (Business Identification) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line or right-of-way | One per lot | Freestanding; at least 10 ft from property line and from public right-of-way | — | § 1405.C(2) |
| Pole Sign (Business Identification - One Business) | 20 ft (top of sign), min 8 ft (bottom of sign) | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line or right-of-way | One per lot | Freestanding; at least 10 ft from property line or public right-of-way | — | § 1405.C(3) |
| Pole Sign (Business Identification - Multiple Businesses) | 20 ft (top of sign), min 8 ft (bottom of sign) | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line or right-of-way | One per lot | Freestanding; at least 10 ft from property line or public right-of-way | — | § 1405.C(3) |
| Monument Sign (Shopping Center Entrance) | 25 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public right-of-way or property line | One per entrance | At each entrance to shopping center, at least 10 ft from right-of-way or property line | — | § 1405.C(4) |
| Arcade Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One per business | In shopping centers/multi-tenant buildings with covered pedestrian accessways | — | § 1405.C(5) |

### I-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Business Identification) | 6 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line or right-of-way | One per lot | Freestanding; at least 10 ft from property line and public right-of-way | — | § 1405.C(2) |
| All Signs Allowed in B-1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 1405 |
| Billboard | 40 ft above curb | 300 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | 25 ft length; 15 ft height per face | Min 10 ft from public street right-of-way; must meet side and rear yard requirements for structures in the district | No explicit numerical limit; 1000 ft spacing | Within 500 ft of arterial street; not within 500 ft of residential, school, church, cemetery; not within 500 ft of highway interchange/rest area; not over sidewalk or ROW; not on roof, wall, building, or other structures | — | § 1406 |

## Prohibited signs in Smith Township

- A-frame or sandwich-board signs are not permitted in any zoning district.
- Portable or wheeled signs are not permitted, other than temporary special event displays authorized by this chapter.
- Banners and pennants are not permitted, other than temporary special event displays authorized by this chapter.
- Inflatable structures of any kind are not permitted.
- Moving or flashing signs are not permitted, except for that portion of an authorized sign that indicates time or temperature or an authorized electronic changeable-copy sign.
- Signs attached to trees, utility poles or official traffic control devices or signs are not permitted.
- Signs that imitate traffic control devices are not permitted.
- Signs painted on walls or chimneys of a building or on fences or walls are not permitted.
- Strings of lights, flashers, flags, pennants or other display paraphernalia are not permitted, except those displays specifically authorized by this Part.
- Overhanging signs, as defined herein, are not permitted.
- Roof signs, as defined herein, are not permitted.
- Signs on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers that are parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property, other than temporarily for overnight storage on the site of a business or for maintenance, repair, loading, unloading or rendering a service at any location, that are visible from the public right-of-way and whose apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property, are not permitted.
- No sign shall be located in such a position that it will cause a hazard by obstructing visibility for traffic on a street or obscuring a traffic signal or other traffic control device.
- No sign, other than official traffic signs and off-premises directional signs, shall hang over or be erected within the right-of-way of any street.
- No sign shall be located within the clear sight triangle defined by § 1203D.
- Flashing or oscillating signs are not permitted. Lighting shall be stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times, except for an approved electronic changeable-copy sign.
- The intensity of any source of illumination of any sign, whether indirect or internal, shall be controlled so as to not create glare and to be compatible with the intensity of ambient light and illumination on surrounding properties.
- All signs must be constructed of a durable material and maintained in good condition. Any sign found to be in an unsafe condition shall be declared a public nuisance and must be repaired or removed within 30 days of notice. Upon failure to comply, the Township shall remove the sign at the owner's expense.
- Whenever any business is discontinued or vacated, all signs relating to the discontinued or vacated business shall be removed within 30 days of the vacation or discontinuance. Upon failure to comply, the Township shall remove the sign at the owner's expense.
- Except for billboards and off-premises directional signs, all signs shall be located on the premises that they are intended to serve.

## Signs exempt from permit in Smith Township

- Political signs are exempt from these regulations.
- Residential identification signs are exempt from these regulations.
- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized Federal or State holidays are exempt, provided that they do not interfere with traffic safety or otherwise become a public hazard.
- Memorial/historical plaques are exempt from these regulations.
- Window displays are exempt, provided they do not exceed 20% of the gross surface area of all windows in an establishment.
- Signs erected by a governmental agency, including street signs and official traffic signs, are exempt, but not including off-premises directional signs regulated by § 1403G.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No permit is required for notification signs, real estate and contractor's signs, and off-premises directional signs erected by a governmental agency, as described in § 1401B.
- Permits are required for all other signs authorized by §§ 1403 through 1406.
- The Zoning Officer shall issue required permits upon submission of an application that complies with all applicable provisions and payment of the required fee.
- Permits for erection, alteration, replacement or relocation of any sign expire automatically within six months of issuance if work authorized by the permit has not been initiated and diligently pursued.
- For billboards, approval of the use by special exception is required, including a variance meeting with the Zoning Hearing Board, and various additional approvals (e.g., FAA or PennDOT) may be required before a permit is issued.

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

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