# Sign Regulations in Springfield Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Springfield Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/springfield-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28

## At a glance

Springfield Township, Pennsylvania regulates 19 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Off-lot Advertising Signs in the Highway Commercial District (HC), Planned Industrial District (PI), Highway Commercial and Planned Industrial Districts (HC, PI) zoning district are capped at 25 ft. tall and 150 sq. ft., with a Min. 25 ft from property line, min. sign height or 15 ft from R.O.W., 50 ft from buildings, 25 ft from R.O.W. setback (Sec. § 906). Most commercial signs in Springfield Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | Flagpole max 30 ft. | 24 sq. ft. (residential); 35 sq. ft. (non-residential) | — |
| Watershed District (WS), Agricultural District (AD), Resource Protection District (RP), Rural Residential District (RR), Village Residential District (VR), Development District (DD), Non-Commercial Districts (WS, AD, RP, RR, VR, DD) | 5 | 8 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — |
| Village Commercial District (VC) | 9 | 8 ft. | 15 sq. ft. + 5 sq. ft. per tenant, up to 30 sq. ft. | — |
| Highway Commercial District (HC), Planned Industrial District (PI), Highway Commercial and Planned Industrial Districts (HC, PI) | 12 | 25 ft. | 200 sq. ft. (total per marquee structure) | — |

_2 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 3.5 ft. (on-lot); 10 ft. (off-lot permitted directional signs – see § 910.H) | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per intersection movement (2 per principal use max.) | On-lot or off-lot, must not occupy a clear sight triangle, not within street right-of-way, minimum 20 ft. to side lot line, not more than 100 ft. from intersecting street right-of-way. | — | § 905.H, § 910 |
| Small Sign - Type A | 8 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | On-lot | — | § 905.J.3.a |
| Small Sign - Type B | 8 ft. | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | Formula: lot perimeter/100 | On-lot | — | § 905.J.3.b |
| Temporary Sign | 3.5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 3 per lot (6 if 2 street frontages) | On-lot | — | § 905.J.4 |
| Window Sign (Exempt) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | — | In window; only exempt when ≤1 sq. ft. | — | § 905.J.5 |
| Flag | Flagpole max 30 ft. | 24 sq. ft. (residential); 35 sq. ft. (non-residential) | — | — | 2 (resid.); 3 (others); see additional | Not in any right-of-way | — | § 905.J.11 |
| Incidental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 905.J.15 |
| Art or Mural | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | § 905.J.16 |

### Village Commercial District (VC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Small Sign - Type A | 8 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | On-lot | — | § 908.A, § 907.A |
| Small Sign - Type B | 8 ft. | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | Formula: lot perimeter/100 | On-lot | — | § 908.A, § 907.A |
| Temporary Sign | 3.5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 per lot (6 if 2 street frontages) | On-lot | — | § 908.A; § 907.B |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft. | 15 sq. ft. + 5 sq. ft. per tenant, up to 30 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage; up to 2 per lot | On-lot, non-residential uses | — | § 908.B |
| Wall Sign | Eave line or bottom of second story window sill, whichever is lower | 12 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1 per tenant per street frontage; up to 2 per tenant | On-lot, non-residential, facing street or parking lot | — | § 908.C.1 |
| Projecting Sign | Eave line or bottom of second story window sill, whichever is lower | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per ground floor establishment, plus 1 per building entrance (where applicable) | On-lot, projecting from building face | — | § 908.C.3 |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 15% of total window area of any single storefront | — | — | 1 per establishment (interpreted per window) | In window | — | § 908.D.1-2, F |
| Portable Sign (e.g., Sandwich Board) | 3.5 ft. | 8 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1 per establishment | On-lot, near business | — | § 908.E |

### Highway Commercial District (HC), Planned Industrial District (PI), Highway Commercial and Planned Industrial Districts (HC, PI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Small Sign - Type A | 8 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | On-lot | — | § 909.A; § 908.A |
| Small Sign - Type B | 8 ft. | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | Formula: lot perimeter/100 | On-lot | — | § 909.A; § 908.A |
| Temporary Sign | 3.5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 per lot (6 if 2 street frontages) | On-lot | — | § 909.A; § 908.A |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft. | 50 sq. ft. plus 10 sq. ft. per tenant, up to 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage (max. 2 per lot); drive-thru exception | On-lot, 1 per street frontage (up to 2 per lot); additional for gas station/drive-thru | — | § 909.B.4 |
| Wall Sign | Eave line | 32 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1 per tenant per street frontage; up to 2 per tenant | On-lot, facing street or parking lot | — | § 909.B.1.a |
| Projecting Sign | Eave line | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per ground floor establishment, plus 1 per entrance (if no ground floor entrance) | On-lot, projecting from building | — | § 909.Table |
| Marquee Sign | Eave line | 200 sq. ft. (total per marquee structure) | — | — | 1 per building | Attached to marquee structure | — | § 909.B.3 |
| Off-lot Advertising Sign | 25 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | Min. 25 ft from property line, min. sign height or 15 ft from R.O.W., 50 ft from buildings, 25 ft from R.O.W. | 1 per property | Lots with frontage on arterial roadways. Set back from ultimate right-of-way by the greater of sign height or 15 ft, at least 25 ft from property line; at least 50 ft from buildings/structures; not attached to or above buildings. | — | § 906 |

## Prohibited signs in Springfield Township

- No sign shall be placed in a position as to endanger pedestrians, bicyclists, or traffic by obscuring the view or by interfering with or imitating official street signs or signals by virtue of position, color, or reflective surface.
- No sign may occupy a clear sight triangle.
- Signs and their supporting structures shall maintain clearance and noninterference with all surface and underground utility and communications lines or equipment.
- No sign or other advertising device shall be located within any street right-of-way line except for official traffic signs and signals.
- No signs shall emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor.
- No roof signs shall be permitted.
- No sign or any guy, stay or attachment thereto shall be erected or placed on any electric light, power, telephone wires, or supports thereof.
- Electronic Message Centers (EMCs) shall be prohibited in all zoning districts within the Township.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Signs incorporating beacon lighting are prohibited.
- Any sign of any type suspended across a public street, without the permission of the owners of the properties and road, is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Springfield Township

- Official highway route number signs, street name signs, and other official traffic signs that are in the interest of public safety or the regulation of traffic.
- Signs that are not visible from a public right-of-way and not visible at a property line not in single ownership.
- Small, on-lot signs: Small sign - Type A (>1 sq. ft. but < 2 sq. ft.), one per lot; Small sign - Type B (<1 sq. ft.), number permitted equals total lot perimeter length/100, minimum spacing 100 ft.
- Temporary signs, provided area per side does not exceed 6 sq. ft., height does not exceed 3.5 ft., displayed for no more than 90 days in a 6-month period, must be marked with posting date, and removed within 5 days after a specific event.
- Window signs when the total area of all such signs does not exceed 1 square foot.
- Cornerstone or historical plaque/sign affixed to a building wall not exceeding 1.5 sq. ft.
- Bunting, pennants, and similar materials to announce the opening of a new structure, business or industry, provided removed not later than 14 days after opening.
- Official and governmental signs including flags or insignia, safety signs, signs indicating points of interest, signs identifying official Township buildings or facilities; these may be illuminated by exterior lights.
- Holiday and seasonal decorations.
- Personal expression signs of any type, including flags, provided they do not exceed 8 sq. ft. per side, are non-commercial in nature, and are not illuminated.
- Flags: Not located within any right-of-way, max height 30 ft, no more than 2 per lot in residential districts and 3 in other districts, max size 24 sq. ft. in residential districts or 35 sq. ft. in others. Flags containing commercial messages are regulated as permitted freestanding or projecting signs.
- Vending machine signs.
- Memorial signs, public monument or historical identification signs up to 6 sq. ft. in area, erected by Springfield Township.
- Signs advertising the variety of crop growing in a field, provided removed after growing season.
- Incidental signs, including incidental window signs.
- Art and murals, provided that such signs do not contain any commercial messaging.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except for exempt signs under § 906 hereof, a zoning permit must be obtained prior to the installation, moving, enlarging, changing or extension of any sign regulated under this ordinance.
- Plans submitted for off-lot advertising signs must include: (1) sign location with setbacks, (2) location and species of existing trees, (3) distance to nearest existing off-lot advertising sign, (4) distances to nearest right-of-way, property line, building, structure, on-site sign, intersection, interchange, safety rest area, bridge, residential district, institutional use, sewer and utility pipelines, (5) a site plan containing applicable zoning ordinance requirements, and (6) certification (under seal of licensed engineer) showing compliance with all laws, codes, and professional standards.
- A zoning permit is required for directional signs per § 902.
- A sign permit is required for all signs unless specifically exempted under § 905.J.
- A process for the review and approval of sign permit applications is established (§ 901.F), with further procedure in § 1202, § 1203, and § 1204.
- Owners of illuminated signs must provide a certification of compliance with brightness standards by an independent contractor prior to issuance of a sign permit.

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

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