# Sign Regulations in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Williamsport, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/south-williamsport
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-16
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://southwilliamsport.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021-02-Zoning-Ordinance.pdf#page=141)

## At a glance

South Williamsport, Pennsylvania regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Address Signs in the R-3 Residential District zoning district are capped at 6 feet (if on post) tall and 1 square foot, with a Exempt unless specified; 3 feet from right-of-way setback (Sec. 19.3.1). Most commercial signs in South Williamsport require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1A Residential District, R-1 Residential District | 7 | 6 feet (if on post) | 16 square feet | — |
| R-2 Residential District | 8 | 6 feet (if on post) | 16 square feet | — |
| R-3 Residential District | 12 | 9 feet | 16 square feet | — |
| TC – Town Commercial District, LC – Local Commercial District | 18 | 20 feet | 30 square feet per face (50 square feet if 3 or more uses on lot) | — |
| HC – Highway Commercial District, I – Industrial District | 19 | 50 feet above road grade | 300 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | — | — |

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

### R-3 Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | 6 feet (if on post) | 1 square foot | — | Exempt unless specified; 3 feet from right-of-way | 1 | Attached to building or on rod/post at least 3 feet from right-of-way line; no portion extends into right-of-way | — | 19.3.1 |
| Community Directory Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | Exempt | 1 per property street frontage | Not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.3 |
| Contractor Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | Exempt | — | On lot, building, or structure; not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.4 |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | Exempt | 2 maximum | Not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.5 |
| Free Standing Sign R-3, TC, LC, HC & I Districts (Small Size) | 9 feet | 9 square feet per face | — | Exempt | — | Not obstruct free egress to/from building or public right-of-way; no portion into right-of-way | — | 19.3.7 |
| Individual Letters or Symbols | — | — | Projection not more than 9 inches from building surface | Exempt | — | — | — | 19.3.8 |
| Political Signs | — | 4 square feet | — | Exempt | 2 maximum per lot | Not on public right-of-way; not attached to utility pole, fence, tree, vegetation, or structure (except may be displayed in window) | — | 19.3.10 |
| Temporary Sign for Special Events | — | 8 square feet | — | Exempt | 2 maximum | Not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.15 |

### TC – Town Commercial District, LC – Local Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | 6 feet (if on post) | 1 square foot | — | Exempt unless specified; 3 feet from right-of-way | 1 | Attached to building or on rod/post at least 3 feet from right-of-way line; no portion extends into right-of-way | — | 19.3.1 |
| Community Directory Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | Exempt | 1 per property street frontage | Not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.3 |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | Exempt | 2 maximum | Not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.5 |
| Free Standing Sign TC, LC, HC & I Districts (Large Size) | 20 feet | 30 square feet per face (50 square feet if 3 or more uses on lot) | — | Exempt | 1 (2 if frontage 300 feet or more) | Not obstruct free egress to/from building or public right-of-way; no portion into right-of-way | — | 19.3.6 |
| Free Standing Sign R-3, TC, LC, HC & I Districts (Small Size) | 9 feet | 9 square feet per face | — | Exempt | — | Not obstruct free egress to/from building or public right-of-way; no portion into right-of-way | — | 19.3.7 |
| Political Signs | — | 4 square feet | — | Exempt | 2 maximum per lot | Not on public right-of-way; not attached to utility pole, fence, tree, vegetation, or structure (except may be displayed in window) | — | 19.3.10 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 9 square feet per face (for 3D, area of largest cross-section geometric shape) | Projection not more than 4 feet from building face | Exempt | — | Not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.11 |
| Temporary Sign for Special Events | — | 8 square feet | — | Exempt | 2 maximum | Not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.15 |

### HC – Highway Commercial District, I – Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | 6 feet (if on post) | 1 square foot | — | Exempt unless specified; 3 feet from right-of-way | 1 | Attached to building or on rod/post at least 3 feet from right-of-way line; no portion extends into right-of-way | — | 19.3.1 |
| Community Directory Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | Exempt | 1 per property street frontage | Not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.3 |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | Exempt | 2 maximum | Not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.5 |
| Free Standing Sign TC, LC, HC & I Districts (Large Size) | 20 feet | 30 square feet per face (50 square feet if 3 or more uses on lot) | — | Exempt | 1 (2 if frontage 300 feet or more) | Not obstruct free egress to/from building or public right-of-way; no portion into right-of-way | — | 19.3.6 |
| Free Standing Sign R-3, TC, LC, HC & I Districts (Small Size) | 9 feet | 9 square feet per face | — | Exempt | — | Not obstruct free egress to/from building or public right-of-way; no portion into right-of-way | — | 19.3.7 |
| Off Premises Advertising Sign (Highway Billboard Sign) | 50 feet above road grade | 300 square feet | — | Exempt | — | Only in HC or I Districts; minimum 500 feet separation between signs; not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.9 |
| Political Signs | — | 4 square feet | — | Exempt | 2 maximum per lot | Not on public right-of-way; not attached to utility pole, fence, tree, vegetation, or structure (except may be displayed in window) | — | 19.3.10 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 9 square feet per face (for 3D, area of largest cross-section geometric shape) | Projection not more than 4 feet from building face | Exempt | — | Not on public right-of-way | — | 19.3.11 |

## Prohibited signs in South Williamsport

- Signs, other than municipal traffic signs, located in a public right-of-way.
- Any sign, except for Digital and Electronic Message Board signs, which flashes, rotates, or has a motorized part that is visible from a public street.
- Any sign which, by reason of its size, location, content, coloring or manner of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers or detracting from the visibility of any traffic sign or control device.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required exit way or which obstructs a window, door or other opening for providing light or air or interferes with proper function of the building.
- Any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe, constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment, is not kept in good repair, or is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it.
- Signs which make use of words such as STOP, LOOK, DANGER, etc., or any phrases, symbols, or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- String lights used in connection with commercial premises for commercial purposes other than Christmas decorations.
- Spinners and streamers.
- Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or product sold; to be removed at owner's expense.
- Any sign affixed to a fence, utility pole or utility structure, or tree, shrub, rock or other natural objects.
- Off premise signs except Off Premises Advertising Sign (see Section 19.3.9).
- Portable or moveable signs other than as temporary signs (see Section 19.3.15).
- Signs which depict nudity or sexual conduct.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Williamsport

- Sign types preceded with an asterisk (*) in Section 19.3 are exempt from permitting requirements provided they comply with the standards for that sign type.
- Signs are exempt from setback requirements unless otherwise specified in the Code.
- Public service signs are not included in computing total sign area allowed.

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

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