# Sign Regulations in Upper Southampton Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Upper Southampton Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/upper-southampton-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12733407#12733407)

## At a glance

Upper Southampton Township, Pennsylvania regulates 27 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Business)s in the LI Limited Industrial District, CI Industrial District zoning district are capped at 14 ft tall and 150 sq ft, with a No portion closer to any lot line than half the required yard for the district (or half existing front yard, if requirement cannot be met). setback (Sec. § 185-63D(1)(c)). Most commercial signs in Upper Southampton Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| OPAS Off-Premises Advertising Sign District | 1 | 35 ft (measured to top of sign) | 300 sq ft per side | — |
| LI Limited Industrial District, CI Industrial District | 4 | 14 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| RS Retail Sales District, CC Controlled Commercial District | 5 | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6 | 18 | Not above ceiling of ground floor or 12 ft above curb, whichever is less. | 200 sq in | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | Lower edge 7 ft above ground or curb | 16 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### LI Limited Industrial District, CI Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parallel or Projecting Sign (Business) | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | One per establishment | On building wall or in windows | — | § 185-63D(1)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business) | 14 ft | 150 sq ft | — | No portion closer to any lot line than half the required yard for the district (or half existing front yard, if requirement cannot be met). | One per establishment | On ground, not on building roof. | — | § 185-63D(1)(c) |
| Signs (As permitted in Residential Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 185-63D(1)(a) |
| Off-Premises Signs (As permitted in Residential Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 185-63D(2) |

### RS Retail Sales District, CC Controlled Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parallel or Projecting Sign (Business) | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall or in windows | — | § 185-63C(1)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business) | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — | Yard/lot line requirements per § 185-63A(2)(h) | One per property | On ground; or roof of one-story building up to 4 ft above roofline. | — | § 185-63C(1)(c) |
| Signs (As permitted in Residential Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 185-63C(1)(a) |
| Off-Premises Signs (As permitted in Residential Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 185-63C(2) |
| Electrically or Mechanically Controlled Display Sign (EMCD) | — | 16 sq ft | 6 ft | — | 1 per property | On/part of a freestanding or parallel sign only, along Street Road and Second Street Pike, on properties with at least 100 ft of frontage. | — | § 185-63A(2)(o) |

### R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Produce Sale Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises where sale is permitted. | — | § 185-63B(1)(a) |
| Directional/Safety/Convenience Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 185-63B(1)(b) |
| Mailbox/Doorbell Sign | — | 36 sq in | — | — | 1 | At doorbell or mailbox | — | § 185-63B(1)(d) |
| Name/Address Sign (Occupant) | — | 200 sq in | — | — | 1 | At premises | — | § 185-63B(1)(e) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At home occupation | — | § 185-63B(1)(f) |
| Announcement Board/Identification Sign for Permitted Nonresidential Building or Use | — | See § 185-63D(1)(c) | — | — | 1 | At permitted nonresidential building | — | § 185-63B(1)(g); § 185-63D(1)(c) |
| Nonconforming Use Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At lawfully maintained nonconforming use | — | § 185-63B(1)(h) |
| Real Estate Sign (For Sale/Rental/Sold) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises only | — | § 185-63B(1)(i) |

## Prohibited signs in Upper Southampton Township

- Flashing signs and festoon signs shall not be permitted in any zoning district.
- Advertising signs that constitute an obstruction as defined in Subsection A(2)(b) shall not be permitted in any zoning district.
- No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with traffic through glare, blocking of reasonable sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways, confusion with a traffic control device, or any other means.
- No sign shall violate the corner visibility restrictions of this chapter.
- No signs except those of a duly constituted governing body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notice, shall be allowed within street lines.
- No portable sign shall be permitted in any district.
- No sign shall be permitted to depict any conduct, activity, person or object which depiction would constitute pornographic material if sold to a child under 18 years of age.
- No pennants, streamers or flags may be used for promotional or advertising purposes.
- No sign shall be erected containing information which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of the zoning chapter in the zoning district in which the property to which the sign relates is located.
- Any vehicle to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that carrying such sign or signs no longer is incidental to the vehicle's primary purpose but becomes a primary purpose in itself shall be considered a freestanding sign and subject to the provisions regarding freestanding signs.
- All signs permitted must be constructed of durable materials and must be kept in good condition and repair; any sign allowed to become dilapidated shall be removed by the Township at the expense of the owner.
- No sign shall be located or arranged to interfere with traffic through glare, blocking of sight lines, confusion with traffic control devices, or any other means.
- Freestanding roof signs are prohibited (specifically in residential districts).

## Signs exempt from permit in Upper Southampton Township

- Official signs erected or installed by the state, county or Township, or other governmental unit, giving notice of a permitted or prohibited activity under a statute, ordinance or resolution duly enacted pursuant to law; no permit fee shall be required for such signs.
- Signs necessary for the direction, regulation, and control of traffic, street-name signs, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings, and other official signs similarly authorized or erected by a duly constituted governmental body.
- Temporary signs advertising political parties or candidates for election may be erected or displayed and maintained without an application, permit or escrow, provided size and time limits and placement restrictions are met.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applicant shall submit all applications and plans required by § 185-75 of the Upper Southampton Zoning Chapter and a landscaping plan for off-premises advertising signs in the OPAS District.
- Applications for permits for the erection, construction or alteration of signs shall be accompanied by drawings of the proposed work, drawn to scale, showing the structural details of the sign and such other details as the Department of Licenses and Inspections may require.
- Permit required: It shall be unlawful to erect, construct, or alter any sign in Upper Southampton Township without first filing an application and obtaining a formal permit, unless specifically exempted.

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

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