# Sign Regulations in Upper Moreland Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Upper Moreland Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/upper-moreland-township
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14513222)

## At a glance

Upper Moreland Township, Pennsylvania regulates 45 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Ground Sign - General Construction Limits in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at ≤20 feet above street or adjoining ground level (unless special exception) tall and ≤200 sq ft surface/facing (general construction cap; district caps may be smaller), with a No ground sign shall be nearer the street than the established building line setback (Sec. §263-21A-E; §263-18; §263-12). Most commercial signs in Upper Moreland Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | ≤20 feet above street or adjoining ground level (unless special exception) | ≤200 sq ft surface/facing (general construction cap; district caps may be smaller) | — |
| Conservation Residential District (R); R-1 Residential District (R-1); R-2 Residential District (R-2); R-3 Residential District (R-3); Multiple Dwelling District (MD); High-Rise Overlay District (HRO) | 8 | — | ≤50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Core District (CC) | 8 | ≤20 ft (general ground sign height cap unless special exception) | Sale/Rental: ≤50 sq ft pre-development; ≤6 sq ft post-development; Artisans: ≤12 sq ft; Special Event: no larger than any single sign permitted in district | — |
| Corridor Mixed Use District (CMU); Shopping Center District (SC) | 6 | ≤20 ft (general ground sign cap unless special exception) | Sale/Rental: ≤50 sq ft pre-development; ≤6 sq ft post-development; Artisans: ≤12 sq ft; Special Event: no larger than any single sign permitted in district | — |
| Business Center District (BC); Limited Industrial District (IND) | 6 | ≤20 ft (general ground sign cap unless special exception) | Sale/Rental: ≤50 sq ft pre-development; ≤6 sq ft post-development; Artisans: ≤12 sq ft; Special Event: no larger than any single sign permitted in district | — |
| Town Center 1 District (TC-1) | 15 | ≤15 ft (including base/support) | ≤150 sq ft | — |
| Town Center 2 District (TC-2) | 10 | Vertical clearance ≥10 ft above sidewalk | ≤150 sq ft | — |
| Billboard Overlay District | 1 | Bottom of sign area ≥10 ft above Turnpike road surface; top of sign structure ≤35 ft above Turnpike road surface; by conditional use, height may be up to 60 ft if necessary due to topography for visibility | ≤360 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs - General Placement and Safety | — | — | — | No sign erected in a public right-of-way; overhang ≤24 inches | General rule: No more than one sign per lot; exceptions: one sign per street frontage if lot fronts more than one street; one additional sign may be erected on any building facing a parking lot on the same lot; in SC shopping centers, one additional sign permitted to designate the shopping center name | Not in public right-of-way; may overhang a public right-of-way by no more than 24 inches | — | §350-185B(6), (7), (9); §263-15; §263-16; §263-17; §263-18; §263-19; §263-20 |
| Wall Sign - General Construction Limits | — | 25% of wall area (of the façade where sign is attached) | — | — | — | Attached to exterior front, rear, or side wall; at least 10 feet above sidewalk/ground | — | §263-22C(1)-(3); §263-22D(1)-(2); §263-18; §263-4 |
| Freestanding Ground Sign - General Construction Limits | ≤20 feet above street or adjoining ground level (unless special exception) | ≤200 sq ft surface/facing (general construction cap; district caps may be smaller) | — | No ground sign shall be nearer the street than the established building line | — | On the ground, supported by uprights/braces; not attached to any building | — | §263-21A-E; §263-18; §263-12 |
| Projecting Sign - General Construction Limits | — | Horizontal projecting: ≤50 sq ft per side; Vertical projecting: ≤100 sq ft per side | Thickness (distance between principal faces) ≤18 inches | — | — | Extends beyond building line/surface; ≥10 ft above public sidewalk and ≤2 ft from wall face; does not extend nearer curbline than 1 ft; over driveways/alleys: ≥15 ft clearance | — | §263-24A-F; §263-12 |
| Roof Sign - General Construction Limits | Top of sign ≤20 feet above roof level | ≤25% of frontal area | — | Face of sign ≥5 ft from roof edge/outside wall toward sign face | — | Wholly upon/over the roof; principal support on roof structure | — | §263-23A-D; §263-12; §263-4; §263-15 |
| Temporary Sign - General Construction & Duration | — | ≤100 sq ft (combustible materials); if >60 sq ft must be rigid materials; ≤4 ft in one dimension | — | — | — | Mounted to wall; may not extend into ROW beyond limits | — | §263-25A-G |
| Marquee - General Construction & Sign Attachment | No portion <10 ft above sidewalk/right-of-way; may not extend beyond a point 1 ft inside curbline | — | Width ≤ entrance(s) width + 5 ft each side (continuous between entrances ≤20 ft apart permitted) | — | — | Projecting above entrance over thoroughfare; supported solely by building | — | §263-26A-F |
| Street Clock - General | If on sidewalk: total height ≥15 ft; ≤20 inches from curb; ≥20 ft from street intersection line | — | — | — | ≤1 per business at any one location | On sidewalk (post of ornamental design) or exterior wall/corner (15 to 20 ft above sidewalk; projection ≤5 ft) | — | §263-27A-H |

### Town Center 1 District (TC-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parallel Wall Sign | — | ≤15% of front first-story facade | — | — | Per nonresidential occupied unit: max 2 signs; max 3 signs if more than one street frontage (≤2 signs per frontage) | On facade of building | — | §350-186C(1)(a)-(b); §350-186F(2)-(5) |
| Parallel Wall Sign - Electronic Message Display (TC-1) | ≤15 ft (including base/support) | ≤35 sq ft overall (except marquee signs) | — | — | ≤1 electronic message display sign per property | Parcel frontages facing Route 611, Route 63, York Road, or Davisville Road | — | §350-186E(1)(b)-(g); §350-186G; §350-186H(1)(a)-(f) |
| Projecting Sign | Top of sign ≤ eave line or parapet top (whichever lower); bottom ≥8 ft above grade | ≤10 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building facade | — | §350-186C(2)(a)-(d); §350-186F |
| Freestanding Sign | ≤6 ft | ≤20 sq ft | — | — | ≤1 per property | On-premises freestanding | — | §350-186C(5)(a)-(e); §350-186E-H; §350-186F |
| Marquee Sign | Vertical clearance ≥10 ft above sidewalk | ≤150 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to marquee projecting over sidewalk | — | §350-186C(6)(a)-(c); §350-186E-H |
| Monument Sign | ≤6 ft | ≤20 sq ft | — | — | — | At-grade monument style | — | §350-186C(7)(a)-(e); §350-186E-H; §350-186F |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Portable A-frame) | — | ≤8 sq ft | — | — | ≤1 per business | On sidewalk; maintain ≥5 ft pedestrian pathway | — | §350-186C(8)(a)-(f) |
| Temporary Signs (TC-1) | — | Sale/Rental: ≤50 sq ft pre-development; ≤6 sq ft post-development; Artisans: ≤12 sq ft; Special Event: no larger than any single sign permitted in TC District | — | — | See permit requirements | On premises | — | §350-186C(9)(a)-(c) |

### Town Center 2 District (TC-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parallel Wall Sign | — | ≤15% of front first-story facade | — | — | Per nonresidential occupied unit: max 2 signs; max 3 signs with more than one street frontage (≤2 signs per frontage) | On facade of building | — | §350-186C(1)(a)-(b); §350-186F(2)-(5) |
| Projecting Sign | Top of sign ≤ eave line or parapet top; bottom ≥8 ft above grade | ≤10 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building facade | — | §350-186C(2)(a)-(c); §350-186F |
| Freestanding Sign | ≤6 ft | ≤20 sq ft | — | — | ≤1 per property | On-premises freestanding | — | §350-186C(5)(a)-(d); §350-186F |
| Marquee Sign | Vertical clearance ≥10 ft above sidewalk | ≤150 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to marquee projecting over sidewalk | — | §350-186C(6)(a)-(c); §350-186E(1)(c) (EMD limited to TC-1) |
| Monument Sign | ≤6 ft | ≤20 sq ft | — | — | — | At-grade monument style | — | §350-186C(7)(a)-(e); §350-186E(1)(c) (EMD limited to TC-1); §350-186F |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Portable A-frame) | — | ≤8 sq ft | — | — | ≤1 per business | On sidewalk; maintain ≥5 ft pedestrian pathway | — | §350-186C(8)(a)-(f) |
| Temporary Signs (TC-2) | — | Sale/Rental: ≤50 sq ft pre-development; ≤6 sq ft post-development; Artisans: ≤12 sq ft; Special Event: no larger than any single sign permitted in TC District | — | — | See permit requirements | On premises | — | §350-186C(9)(a)-(c) |
| TC-2 General Limits (On-Premises Only; Total Area & Count) | — | Total permanent sign area ≤20% of primary building frontage OR ≤5% of street frontage (whichever greater) | — | — | As stated | On the same property as the activity/business | — | §350-186A-B; §350-186E(1)(c) (limits EMD to TC-1 only) |

## Prohibited signs in Upper Moreland Township

- No sign may be erected, repaired, altered, relocated, or maintained without first obtaining a Township sign permit (§263-2).
- Unsafe or insecure signs, or signs that are a menace to the public, are prohibited; the Building Inspector may require correction or removal (§263-9).
- Signs may not obstruct free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape; no sign may be attached to a standpipe or fire escape (§263-15).
- Signs may not be placed so as to obstruct clear vision at intersections, interfere with or be confused with traffic signs, signals, or devices, or use words or symbols (e.g., “stop,” “look,” “drive in,” “danger”) in a manner that misleads or confuses traffic (§263-16).
- Signs constructed on or within five feet of a street line must have smooth faces; no nails, tacks, or wires may protrude from the sign surface (except permitted electrical devices) (§263-17).
- It is unlawful to maintain any sign that extends over public property and is illuminated by floodlights or spotlights (§263-19).
- Obscene, indecent, or immoral matter is prohibited on any sign (§263-20).
- No sign may be erected in a public right-of-way or overhang a public right-of-way by more than 24 inches (§350-185B(7)).
- No movable or swinging sign may be placed within two feet of any public right-of-way (§350-185B(9)).
- No sign may be placed in a position that will cause danger to traffic (§350-185B(6)).
- No sign may be painted directly on the surface of any building or wall (§263-14(C); §350-185B(12)).
- Any sign not kept in good condition and repair or that no longer serves a useful purpose must be removed (§350-185B(8)); signs that no longer advertise a bona fide business or product must be removed upon notice (§263-13).
- All electrical/illuminated signs must comply with the National Electrical Code in effect in the Township (§263-4; §350-185B(10)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Upper Moreland Township

- Real estate signs not exceeding 9 square feet that advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises on which the sign is located (§263-14(A)); subject to unsafe/unlawful sign provisions (§263-9).
- Professional nameplates not exceeding 1 square foot (§263-14(B)); subject to unsafe/unlawful sign provisions (§263-9).
- Bulletin boards not over 25 square feet for public, charitable, or religious institutions, located on the premises of said institutions (§263-14(D)); subject to unsafe/unlawful sign provisions (§263-9).
- Temporary signs denoting the architect, engineer, or contractor placed upon work under construction, not exceeding 16 square feet (§263-14(E)); subject to unsafe/unlawful sign provisions (§263-9).
- Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building, public institutional building, or dwelling, not exceeding 2 square feet (§263-14(F)); subject to unsafe/unlawful sign provisions (§263-9).
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials (§263-14(G)); subject to unsafe/unlawful sign provisions (§263-9).
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs, and temporary, emergency, or nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the Board of Commissioners (§263-14(H)); subject to unsafe/unlawful sign provisions (§263-9).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan requirement is stated in the ordinance.
- A Township sign permit is required for all signs; permits must be renewed annually by January 1 (§263-2; §263-8).
- Permit applications must include plans/specifications, structural calculations, method of attachment, electrical permit (if applicable), owner consent, insurance policy or bond, and any other information required by the Building Inspector (§263-3; §263-6).
- Roof signs are permitted only by special exception of the Zoning Hearing Board (§263-23(A)).
- Ground signs over 20 feet in height require a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board (§263-21(C)(1)).
- Wall sign placement and area limits may be varied only by special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board (§263-22(C)(1)).
- Projecting sign maximum area limits may be varied only by special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board (§263-24(B)(5)).
- Street clocks located on sidewalks require special written permission from the Zoning Hearing Board (§263-27(E)).
- Temporary special‑event signs require a special permit from the Department of Code Enforcement (§350-185B(1)(e)[3]; §350-186(C)(9)(c)).
- Portable A‑frame (sandwich board) signs require an annual permit from the Department of Code Enforcement and acceptance of liability (§350-185B(3)(c)[6]; §350-186(C)(8)(f)).
- Billboards require a billboard permit application including plot plans, screening/landscaping, lighting details, and structural engineer certification; annual registration and inspection are required; freestanding billboard heights above 35 feet (up to 60 feet) may be approved by conditional use (§350-185C(4)(d); §350-185C(5); §350-185C(6)).
- Applications for electronic message display signs may be referred by Township staff to the Zoning Hearing Board for interpretation and recommendation (§350-186(E)(1)(g)).

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

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