# Sign Regulations in South Middleton Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Middleton Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/south-middleton-township
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-29
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.smiddleton.com/DocumentCenter/View/117/Article-17-PDF)

## At a glance

South Middleton Township, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 3 zoning districts. C-8 Billboards in the Industrial Light (I-1), Industrial Manufacturing (I-2), Industrial Transportation (I-3) zoning district are capped at 35 ft. above ground level tall, 300 sq. ft. (unlimited access); 672 sq. ft. (limited access highway I-81), and 48 ft. horizontally (for I-81 facing; 14 ft. vertical) wide, with a Not less than 40 lineal ft. from legal right-of-way of any street, road, or highway or dedicated right-of-way on approved plans setback (Sec. Sections 1706 and 1708). Most commercial signs in South Middleton Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 10 ft. (freestanding) | 48 sq. ft. | — |
| Suburban Commercial (SC), Commercial (C-1, C-2) | 5 | 35 ft. | 160 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial Light (I-1), Industrial Manufacturing (I-2), Industrial Transportation (I-3) | 6 | 35 ft. | 300 sq. ft. (unlimited access); 672 sq. ft. (limited access highway I-81) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| I-1 Nameplate Sign | 6 ft. (freestanding) | 5 sq. ft. per sign | — | 5 ft. from street right-of-way | 1 per dwelling unit | Freestanding or attached to building | — | Section 1708 |
| I-2 Memorial or Historical Marker Sign | 10 ft. (freestanding) | 5 sq. ft. per sign | — | 5 ft. from street right-of-way | 1 per event | Freestanding or attached to building | — | Section 1708 |
| C-1 On-Site Directional Sign | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 5 ft. | 5 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from street right-of-way | 4 per building | Attached to building or freestanding | — | Section 1708 |
| T-1 Construction Sign | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign | — | Setback shall be equal to the height of the sign | 1 per each separated firm involved in work on the site | Attached to building or freestanding | — | Section 1709 |
| T-2 Real Estate Sign | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign | — | 10 ft. or building face | 2 per street frontage | Attached to building or freestanding | — | Section 1709 |
| T-3 Development Announcement Sign (Housing/Office) | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign | — | 10 ft. or building face | 2 per street frontage | Attached to building or freestanding | — | Section 1709 |
| T-4 Development Announcement Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign | — | 10 ft. or building face | 2 per street frontage | Attached to building or freestanding | — | Section 1709 |
| T-5 Grand Opening or Change of Use Sign | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign | — | 10 ft. per sign | 1 per lot (attached or freestanding) | Attached to building or freestanding | — | Section 1709 |

### Suburban Commercial (SC), Commercial (C-1, C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-2 Freestanding Sign | 35 ft. | 160 sq. ft. | — | Setback shall be equal to the height of the sign | 1 per street frontage (additional by special exception) | Freestanding | — | Section 1708 |
| C-3 Attached Sign | On or below fascia | 160 sq. ft. | — | Same as building setback | 2 per street frontage (additional by special exception) | Attached to building | — | Section 1708 |
| C-6 Freestanding Sign for Shopping Centers | 35 ft. | 160 sq. ft. | — | Setback shall be equal to the height of the sign | 1 per street frontage | Freestanding | — | Section 1708 |
| C-7 Attached Sign for Individual Businesses in Shopping Center | Height of building | 160 sq. ft. | — | Same as building setback | 1 (additional by special exception) | Attached to building | — | Section 1708 |
| C-9 Projecting or Canopy Sign | No less than 8 ft. clearance above sidewalk | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per individual store | Projecting from building or canopy over sidewalk | — | Section 1708 |

### Industrial Light (I-1), Industrial Manufacturing (I-2), Industrial Transportation (I-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-2 Freestanding Sign | 35 ft. | 160 sq. ft. | — | Setback shall be equal to the height of the sign | 1 per street frontage (additional by special exception) | Freestanding | — | Section 1708 |
| C-3 Attached Sign | On or below fascia | 160 sq. ft. | — | Same as building setback | 2 per street frontage (additional by special exception) | Attached to building | — | Section 1708 |
| C-6 Freestanding Sign for Shopping Centers | 35 ft. | 160 sq. ft. | — | Setback shall be equal to the height of the sign | 1 per street frontage | Freestanding | — | Section 1708 |
| C-7 Attached Sign for Individual Businesses in Shopping Center | Height of building | 160 sq. ft. | — | Same as building setback | 1 (additional by special exception) | Attached to building | — | Section 1708 |
| C-9 Projecting or Canopy Sign | No less than 8 ft. clearance above sidewalk | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per individual store | Projecting from building or canopy over sidewalk | — | Section 1708 |
| C-8 Billboard | 35 ft. above ground level | 300 sq. ft. (unlimited access); 672 sq. ft. (limited access highway I-81) | 48 ft. horizontally (for I-81 facing; 14 ft. vertical) | Not less than 40 lineal ft. from legal right-of-way of any street, road, or highway or dedicated right-of-way on approved plans | Spacing: minimum 1,000 lineal ft. between signs on same side of road | Freestanding; attached to ground by single vertical metal or concrete post, pillar, pole, or column | — | Sections 1706 and 1708 |

## Prohibited signs in South Middleton Township

- Signs of such design and location that they interfere with, compete for attention with or may be mistaken for a traffic signal, including any sign visible from the public right-of-way which uses an arrow device or the word 'stop', or uses red and green colors in direct illumination or high reflection.
- Any sign located in or extending into a public right-of-way, except those owned or operated by duly constituted government.
- Any freestanding or projecting sign within a clear sight triangle or creating a danger to traffic and pedestrian safety which creates a hazard.
- Signs projecting over a public sidewalk area more than eighteen inches (18").
- Animated, flashing, rotating, or oscillating signs.
- Open flames used to attract public attention to a place of business or to an advertising sign.
- Freestanding signs for individual uses within a commercial center.
- No sign shall be placed on the roof or be higher than the vertical walls of any structure.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Middleton Township

- All signs and signals owned or operated by the Township or other governmental agencies for public safety, traffic control, and official traffic signs.
- Normal name and address on or attached to a mailbox, which are not subject to the regulations of this Article.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for South Middleton Township, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=South+Middleton+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-south-middleton-township

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