# Sign Regulations in West Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/west-hempfield-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32128927#32128927)

## At a glance

West Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Home Occupation Sign (Identification)s in the Rural Agricultural (R), Rural Residential (R-R), Residential 1 (R-1), Residential 2 (R-2), Residential 3 (R-3) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 2 sq ft, with a 10 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. Table 1, Part A; Table 2, Part A; § 708.6F, § 708.6G).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rural Agricultural (R), Rural Residential (R-R), Residential 1 (R-1), Residential 2 (R-2), Residential 3 (R-3) | 11 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Commercial 1 (C-1), Commercial 2 (C-2), Industrial 1 (I-1), Industrial 2 (I-2) | 14 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft per face; 2 messages (back-to-back or <45°) | — |
| Traditional Village District (TV) | 2 | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Mixed-use Developments | 3 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 6 ft | 35 sq ft | — |

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

### Rural Agricultural (R), Rural Residential (R-R), Residential 1 (R-1), Residential 2 (R-2), Residential 3 (R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign (Identification) | 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 freestanding and 2 building signs per lot; total of 2 signs per lot | On the premises of the home occupation | — | Table 1, Part A; Table 2, Part A; § 708.6F, § 708.6G |
| Incidental Sign | 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way unless 30 inches or less in height | 2 per driveway | On premises | — | Table 1, Part A; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6H |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per sale | On premises | — | Table 1, Part A; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6E |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per street frontage, max 2/lot | On premises | — | Table 1, Part A; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6K |
| Contractor Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from cartway or at building face, whichever is less; not in side yard setback | 1 per contractor | On premises | — | Table 1, Part A; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6C |
| Election Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | No limit | On premises | — | Table 1, Part A; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6D |
| Special Event Sign (On-premises) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per lot per event | On premises | — | Table 1, Part A; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6L |
| Development Sign | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per entrance up to max 2 | At principal entrance(s) to development | — | Table 2, Part B; § 708.6G.1 |

### Commercial 1 (C-1), Commercial 2 (C-2), Industrial 1 (I-1), Industrial 2 (I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign - Freestanding | 20 ft | 80 sq ft (max per sign) | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per street frontage; max 2 per lot (4 if corner lot) | On premises, per street frontage | — | Table 1, Part B; Table 2, Part A, Notes (C),(D),(E); § 708.6B |
| Incidental Sign | 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way unless ≤30 inches high | 2 per driveway | On premises (e.g., at driveways) | — | Table 1, Part B; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6H |
| Special Event Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per lot per event | On premises | — | Table 1, Part B; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6L |
| Contractor Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from cartway or at building face, whichever is less; not in side yard setback | 1 per contractor | On premises | — | Table 1, Part B; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6C |
| Election Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | No limit | On premises | — | Table 1, Part B; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6D |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per sale | On premises | — | Table 2, Part B; § 708.6E |
| Real Estate Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per street frontage, up to 2 per lot | On premises | — | Table 1, Part B; Table 2, Part B; § 708.6K |
| Center Sign | 20 ft (I-1, I-2), 6 ft (C-1, C-2) | 80 sq ft (I-1, I-2), 20 sq ft (C-1, C-2) | — | 10 ft | 1 per entrance, up to max 2; more if 1,200 ft apart | At principal entrance(s) to center | — | Table 2, Part B; § 708.6B.1 |

### Mixed-use Developments

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Center Sign | 20 ft | 80 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft | 1 per entrance, up to 3 | At entrances (max 3, min 200 ft apart) | — | § 1305.2.A (1)-(4) |
| Development Sign | 10 ft | 60 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft | 1 per entrance, up to 2 | At entrance(s) into residential portion of development | — | § 1305.2.B (1)-(4) |
| Building Sign | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per commercial use (with exception above) | On facade of building | — | § 1305.2.C |

## Prohibited signs in West Hempfield Township

- All signs must reflect the general character of the neighborhood.
- All signs must be constructed of durable materials and maintained in good condition.
- Signs must be made safe or removed if they become unsafe.
- Areas surrounding all signs must be maintained in a neat, clean, and attractive condition.
- All signs must be removed within three months if the purpose for which they were erected no longer exists.
- No temporary signs are permitted except as authorized elsewhere in this section.
- No sign shall be located within a street right-of-way, except certain approved types (government, public utility, nonprofit, or other signs approved by authority).
- No sign more than 30 inches high, other than a government sign, shall be located within the one-hundred-foot clear sight triangle of any street intersection or in any other position where it could endanger traffic by obstructing vision.
- No signs shall be painted, pasted, nailed, stapled, or otherwise attached to utility poles, trees, fences, fire hydrants, or in an unauthorized manner to walls or other signs, except in compliance with adopted rules.
- Any freestanding sign within a floodplain must receive approval as a special exception.
- No signs shall obstruct any door, stairway, window, fire escape, or other egress or ingress.
- No sign shall obstruct ventilation or light from a building.
- No overhead sign shall have a clearance of less than eight feet above any pedestrian walk.
- No sign parallel to and attached to a building face shall project more than 18 inches over a public sidewalk.
- No sign perpendicular to and attached to a building face shall project more than 48 inches from the building.
- No sign shall have lights or other illuminating devices which constitute a public safety or traffic hazard.
- No sign is permitted that imitates or might be confused with an official traffic sign or signal, including use of the words 'Stop' or 'Danger' or use of red, green, or yellow lights.
- No sign or window display shall include a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling an emergency vehicle or facility.
- No sign shall advertise activities or products illegal under federal, state, or local laws.
- No sign shall include statements, words, or pictures considered vulgar, obscene, or pornographic.
- No streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, or similar materials shall be displayed outside a building (except certain banners as special event signs).
- No animated, sequential, intermittent, flashing, rotating, or oscillating signs are permitted except for time and temperature signs.
- No sign shall emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor.
- No sign may be placed on a vehicle if the vehicle is being used primarily for displaying the sign.
- No inflatable signs are permitted.
- No open flames shall be permitted as part of a sign or to attract attention.
- Advertising painted or displayed on barns or other structures is considered a sign and must comply with all regulations.
- The light from any illuminated sign shall not adversely affect (1) the safe vision of drivers, (2) any residential district, or (3) any property or building used for residential purposes.
- No lighting shall outline buildings or structures or parts through use of exposed neon tubing, strings of lights, or other means, except for holiday decorations (with specified time limitations).
- Business signs outside commercial and industrial districts shall not be illuminated when the business is closed.
- All electrically illuminated signs must meet Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. standards and the National Electrical Code.
- No sign shall artificially increase its height by altering the ground/base grade.
- No sign shall be higher than the district's height limitation.
- Roof signs may not extend above the roof's highest point or more than five feet above their attachment point.
- Wall signs may not extend higher than the top of the wall they are attached to.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Hempfield Township

- Center signs are exempt from the requirement to display the property address on a permanent freestanding sign.
- Historically significant and accurate signs (original or replica) authenticated for their specific location are exempt from these regulations.
- Customary holiday decorations (lighting outlining buildings/structures), provided they are installed no more than 30 days prior to and removed within 21 days after the holiday.
- Government signs, public utility signs, and nonprofit organization signs are exempt from right-of-way prohibitions when approved by the appropriate authority.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permitting process is required for all signs, with permits required as indicated by Table 1.
- Sign permit application requirements, including forms, plans, and fees, are established by the Board of Supervisors.
- Some types of variance/special exception (e.g., freestanding signs in a floodplain or government/nonprofit signs in the right-of-way) require special approval.
- Sign plans as such are referenced in the context of permit requirements and are a condition for permit review (see §708.7 and Table 1).
- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan for an entire development is included in the text provided, but plans (layouts, etc.) are required for permit applications.

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

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