# Sign Regulations in South Abington Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Abington Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/south-abington-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-11
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://southabingtonpa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SAPA-FINAL.pdf#page=142)

## At a glance

South Abington Township, Pennsylvania regulates 14 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Name Plates and Identification Signs in the Conservation and Residential Districts (CONSV, R-6, R-8) zoning district are capped at 10 feet above ground level tall and 2 sq. ft., with a Conform to principal building setbacks setback (Sec. Section 8.2.1 Table (a)). Most commercial signs in South Abington Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 45 square feet | — |
| Conservation and Residential Districts (CONSV, R-6, R-8) | 9 | 10 feet above ground level | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Districts (SC, PC, C-1, C-1A, C-2) | 1 | 25 feet above ground level | 150 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Industrial District (LI) | 1 | 25 feet above ground level | 150 sq. ft. per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flat Attached Sign | — | — | — | Exempt from principal building setbacks | — | Attached flat against any building existing at the time of passage of this ordinance | — | Section 8.1 A 1 |
| Freestanding Sign in Residential Districts | — | — | — | Five feet in front of principal building | — | Five feet in front of the principal building | — | Section 8.1 A 2 |
| Business Sign in Setback Area for Drive-in or Parking Facilities | — | 45 square feet | — | Not nearer than 1/3 required setback to ROW | 1 | In any required setback area | — | Section 8.1 A 3 |
| Public Service Sign | — | — | — | Conform to principal building setbacks | — | On property | — | Section 8.1 C 3 |

### Conservation and Residential Districts (CONSV, R-6, R-8)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plates and Identification Signs | 10 feet above ground level | 2 sq. ft. | — | Conform to principal building setbacks | One (1) per dwelling unit, two (2) in corner lots, and one (1) facing each street | Attached to the dwelling | — | Section 8.2.1 Table (a) |
| Sale or Rental Signs | 10 feet above ground level | 6 sq. ft. | — | Conform to principal building setbacks | One (1), unless property fronts upon more than one street, then two (2), one (1) on each frontage | On property | — | Section 8.2.1 Table (b) |
| Institutional Signs | 10 feet above ground level | 20 sq. ft. | — | Conform to principal building setbacks | One (1), unless property fronts upon more than one street, then two (2), one (1) on each frontage | On property | — | Section 8.2.1 Table (b) |
| Accessory to Parking Areas - At Entrances and Exits | 10 feet above ground level | 2 sq. ft. | — | Conform to principal building setbacks | One (1) for each entrance or exit | At entrances and exits, on property | — | Section 8.2.1 Table (b) |
| Accessory to Parking Areas - Containing Instructions on Use of Parking Lot | 10 feet above ground level | 9 sq. ft. | — | Conform to principal building setbacks | One (1) | On property | — | Section 8.2.1 Table (b) |
| Development Signs | 10 feet above ground level | 32 sq. ft. | — | Conform to principal building setbacks | Two (2), unless property fronts upon more than one street, then two (2) on each frontage | On property | — | Section 8.2.1 Table (b) |
| Artisan's Signs | 10 feet above ground level | 12 sq. ft. | — | Conform to principal building setbacks | No limit | On property | — | Section 8.2.1 Table (c) |
| Private Driveway Signs | 10 feet above ground level | 2 sq. ft. | — | Conform to principal building setbacks | No limit | On property | — | Section 8.2.1 Table |

### Commercial Districts (SC, PC, C-1, C-1A, C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | 25 feet above ground level | 150 sq. ft. per sign | — | Conform to principal building setbacks | 2 | On the same zone lot as the principal use | — | Section 8.3 |

## Prohibited signs in South Abington Township

- Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not allowed to become dilapidated.
- No sign will be permitted which is not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled ways or which causes glare or impairs vision of drivers or interferes with motor vehicle operation.
- No sign shall be so illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
- Signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights are prohibited, except those giving public service information such as time, date, temperature, weather, or similar information.
- Signs, other than official traffic signs, shall not be erected within the right-of-way lines of any street.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, or so as to prevent free access from one part of a roof to any other part. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a stand-pipe or fire escape.
- All temporary signs erected for a special event shall be removed by the property owner when the circumstances leading to their erection no longer apply.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of streets so as to obstruct free and clear vision, and if located within the direct line of vision of any traffic control sign or signal, shall not have flashing or intermittent lighting, or red, green or amber illumination.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Abington Township

- Official traffic signs are exempt from the right-of-way prohibition.
- Public service signs providing time, date, temperature, weather, or similar information are exempt from the flashing lights prohibition.

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

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