# Sign Regulations in Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/upper-dublin-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania regulates 39 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Freestanding Off-Premises Sign (Billboard)s in the EC Employment Center District, GFW Greater Fort Washington District zoning district are capped at 35 ft tall, 675 sq ft, and 50 ft structure length wide, with a See additional_requirements setback (Sec. § 255-155.A.3). Most commercial signs in Upper Dublin Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 20 feet | 25% of total window area | — |
| Residential Districts | 12 | 6 ft | 35 sq ft per street | — |
| RE Recreational Districts | 1 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| AHS Apartment House Special Districts, MD Multi-Dwelling Districts | 2 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| INST Institutional District | 2 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| DO Dresher Overlay District | 7 | 10 feet | 30% of clear window surface | — |
| FW Ft. Washington Village District | 1 | 10 ft | Not specified; 10 ft height max | — |
| CR Commercial Retail Districts, SC Shopping Center Districts | 4 | 25 ft for freestanding; 6 ft for monument if substituted | 75 sq ft | — |
| EC Employment Center District, GFW Greater Fort Washington District | 8 | 35 ft | 675 sq ft | — |
| M Motel - Motor Inn - Motor Lodge Districts | 2 | 35 ft | 200 sq ft (total for all) | — |
| OC Office Center Districts | 5 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | 6 inches x 18 inches (0.75 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per permitted use/dwelling | On property for permitted business use | — | § 255-153.B |
| Institutional Sign (school, church, hospital, etc.) | 3 ft 6 in for monument sign for >25-acre school | 15 sq ft. Exception: Public school on >25 acres: 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On same lot as institution | — | § 255-153.C |
| Trespassing/Private Property Sign | — | 1 sq ft per sign | — | — | At 100 ft intervals | Edge of property | — | § 255-153.D |
| Real Estate Sign (For Sale/Rent) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | Not in sign setback area | 1 per street | On property for sale/rent | — | § 255-153.E |
| Development Sign | — | ≤9 lots: 15 sq ft; ≥10 lots: 35 sq ft | — | — | see sign_size_restrictions | Within subdivision | — | § 255-153.F |
| Auction Sale Sign | 6 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | On property being auctioned | — | § 255-153.G |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property under construction | — | § 255-153.K |
| Monument Sign (Residential Dev. >10 units) | — | 20 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per street | External street frontage of residential development with >10 units | — | § 255-153.L |

### DO Dresher Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 feet | 10 feet in height (area not specified for general freestanding) | — | — | — | Must be on same lot as use | — | § 255-153.5 |
| Wall Sign | — | Not specified for Overlay; limit as per underlying zone/use | — | — | — | On building | — | § 255-153.5 |
| Awning Sign | — | Not to exceed 6 inch letter height, 3 sq ft logo/emblem | — | — | — | On awning flap | — | § 255-153.5.B.3 |
| Projecting Sign | Not project more than 4 ft; clearance below: 8 ft min | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 bldg permanent sign types per use/facade | Projecting from building | — | § 255-153.5.B.1 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per store | Directly in front of store on sidewalk | — | § 255-153.5.C |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of clear window surface | — | — | — | Inside or on window | — | § 255-153.5.B.2 |
| Directory Sign (Pedestrian-Oriented Monument) | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | Pedestrian area | — | § 255-153.5.D.2 |

### EC Employment Center District, GFW Greater Fort Washington District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Building or freestanding | — | § 255-155.A.2, § 255-155.A.7 |
| Freestanding Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 35 ft | 675 sq ft | 50 ft structure length | See additional_requirements | — | Adjacent to limited-access highway/frontage | — | § 255-155.A.3 |
| Freestanding Sign (Retail Use, Highway Visibility) | See additional_requirements | 200 sq ft (40 ft max actual height, 20 ft/height limit per standards) | — | ≤20' from property line abutting highway or access ramp | 1 | Within 20' of highway/interchange property line | — | § 255-155.B.1 |
| Freestanding Sign (Retail Use, Local Road) | 15 ft | 35 sq ft | — | ≥15' from local road/interchange property line | 1 | ≥15' from property line abutting local road | — | § 255-155.B.2 |
| Wall Sign | — | 35+ sq ft as per setback | — | — | 2 | On building wall | — | § 255-155.B.3 |
| Canopy Sign (Fueling Canopy) | — | 15 sq ft (2 max per canopy) | — | — | 2 per canopy | On canopy over fueling positions | — | § 255-155.B.4 |
| Directional Sign (Entrance/Exit) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 per entrance | Vehicular entrance | — | § 255-155.B.5 |
| Fuel Pump Informational Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | At each dispensing point | — | § 255-155.B.6 |

## Prohibited signs in Upper Dublin Township

- It is unlawful to erect, construct or significantly alter any sign requiring a permit without first obtaining a sign permit.
- No sign may be erected, installed, or maintained if prohibited by the sign ordinance or zoning and unless specifically permitted.
- No sign other than official Township street, directional, or street banner signs shall be erected or maintained within the sign setback area.
- No sign shall project over any public sidewalk or street right-of-way, nor extend beyond any property line, except authorized banners under permit.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be placed in such a position as to endanger traffic by obscuring views or resembling or interfering with traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress and egress to or from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No signs shall be placed on utility poles without the owner's permission or in violation of state statute.
- No freestanding sign shall exceed 20 feet in height (unless otherwise specified by district regulations).
- A parallel wall sign shall not be attached to a wall less than 10 feet above ground level, shall not extend beyond the edge of wall, roofline or surface mounted, and may not project more than 18 inches from the surface.
- A projecting sign shall not project above the wall, roofline, or surface to which mounted and may not interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- No window sign shall exceed 25% of the total window area (unless otherwise specified by district regulations).
- A monument sign shall not exceed 4 feet in height (unless otherwise specified by district regulations).
- No sign shall be erected or painted on the roof of any building, nor project above the wall height.
- Temporary signs shall not be erected in the sign setback area or on Township property.
- Tacking, posting or affixing temporary signs on poles, trees, buildings, fences or structures is prohibited without property owner consent.
- No temporary business sign shall exceed 25 square feet; only one such sign per property or business at any one time; limits on time and frequency apply.
- Temporary business signs require a permit and deposit.
- No freestanding sign can occupy a designated parking, walkway, or driveway area.
- Signs in disrepair, erected without permit, with expired permit, or noncompliant with regulations are subject to removal.
- Signs must maintain clearance and noninterference with utility/communication lines or equipment.
- Animated signs, beacon lighting, flashing or reflective signs, moving or swinging signs, illuminated temporary signs, revolving signs, trailer signs, vehicular signs, obscene signs, snipe signs, painted wall signs, and roof signs are prohibited.
- Illuminated temporary signs are prohibited.
- Illumination by unshielded bare bulbs is prohibited.
- All signs must be constructed of durable materials, be structurally safe, and maintained in a safe and good state of repair.
- No sign shall hide architectural features or block windows/cornices/trim (as specified in some districts).
- Where another regulation is more restrictive, the more restrictive provision governs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Upper Dublin Township

- Government signs (traffic, parking, etc.) do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Legal notices do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Public monument, plaque, or historic identification signs erected by a government agency do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- The flag, insignia or decorative banner of a government agency does not require a permit and is permitted in all zones.
- Public service and information signs for public restrooms, telephones, or similar conveniences (not exceeding three square feet) do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Address signs not exceeding two square feet do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Name plates and identification signs (characters not exceeding 3 inches height and area not exceeding 2 square feet) do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Vending machine signs (provided the machine is not placed in the front yard) do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Incidental signs (aggregate area not exceeding four square feet) do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Home security signs not exceeding one square foot do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Temporary real estate signs for single-family dwellings for sale/rent do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Yard sale signs do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Personal expression signs which are either freestanding, wall, or window signs, not exceeding four square feet (freestanding max height four feet), not illuminated, and not within setback area, do not require a permit and are permitted in all zones.
- Emergency directional signs and physicians providing emergency care upon the premises, as well as governmental signs, are exempt from sign light shut-off timer regulations.
- Incidental signs in excess of four square feet must be included in calculation of permitted sign area, but are otherwise not prohibited.
- Signs legally in existence but nonconforming as to historic or unique architectural value may be exempt from removal upon change/alteration unless they lose that status.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a sign permit must be filed with Upper Dublin Township before erecting, constructing, or significantly altering any sign requiring a permit; application must include information required by the Director of Code Enforcement.
- Real estate signs require a permit; the application must include a description, schematic drawing of location, and number of signs; the permit expires in six months but may be renewed.
- A written, notarized statement from a property owner is required for any permit for an off-premises sign.
- A final, approved land development plan may require specific sign location/design approval (e.g., FW Ft. Washington Village District: location/design must be approved by Board of Commissioners with the land development plan or at another time provided in land development approvals).
- Some sign types or locations (e.g., special exceptions, variances, or conditional uses) may require review/approval by the Zoning Hearing Board or Board of Commissioners.
- Where an application for subdivision or land development is submitted for a site containing nonconforming signs, a sign inventory and status information must be submitted.
- Nonconforming signs may be required to be brought into conformity as part of certain permit approvals or land development/subdivision applications.
- Where the Board of Commissioners has authority, it may determine the total number and location of certain sign types (e.g., Mixed Use Development signs, project identification signs).
- Some districts or overlay zones may have additional sign plan approval or conditional use requirements for certain sign types.
- Permits are required for temporary business signs; a deposit may also be required.
- For off-premises signs, a special exception is required from the Zoning Hearing Board.
- Where regulations are more restrictive in another ordinance (e.g., Building Code), they supersede sign ordinance provisions.

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

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