# Sign Regulations in West Manchester Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Manchester Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/west-manchester-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-09
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/15444670)

## At a glance

West Manchester Township, Pennsylvania regulates 29 sign types across 15 zoning districts. Government Sign (P-1)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Not specified tall and Not specified, with a Not specified setback (Sec. 150 Attachment 2 (Permitted Permanent Signs) – P-1; §150-283A). Most commercial signs in West Manchester Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (15 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 feet | 32 square feet per sign | — |
| Agricultural Zone (A) | 3 | Freestanding: 10 feet | Up to 50 square feet per sign (4% of wall area) | — |
| Rural Residential Zone (R), R-1 Residential Zone (R-1), R-2 Residential Zone (R-2), R-3 Residential Zone (R-3), R-5 Residential Zone (R-5), R-6 Residential Zone (R-6), Open Space Residential-1 Zone (OSR-1), Open Space Residential-2 Zone (OSR-2), Open Space Residential-3 Zone (OSR-3) | 3 | Freestanding: 10 feet | Up to 50 square feet per sign (4% of wall area) | — |
| R-4 Residential Zone (R-4) | 2 | Freestanding: 10 feet | Up to 50 square feet per sign (4% of wall area) | — |
| Local Commercial Zone (LC) | 6 | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 200 square feet per wall (6% of wall area) | — |
| Highway Commercial Zone (HC) | 9 | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 300 square feet per sign (see formula) | — |
| Mixed-Use Zone (MU) | 4 | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 200 square feet per wall (6% of wall area) | — |
| Professional Office Zone (PO) | 4 | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 100 square feet (see formula) | — |
| Regional Commercial Zone (RC) | 8 | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 300 square feet per sign (see formula) | — |
| Industrial Park Zone (I-1) | 6 | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 300 square feet per sign (see formula) | — |
| Light Industrial Zone (I-2) | 7 | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 300 square feet per sign (see formula) | — |
| General Industrial Zone (I-3) | 8 | Not specified in §150-286 | Up to 300 square feet per sign (see formula) | — |
| Open Space Zone (OS) | 1 | Attached: Height of building | Up to 50 square feet per sign (4% of wall area) | — |
| Historical Zone (overlay zone) (H) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Quarry Zone (Q) | 1 | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 feet | 32 square feet per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 15 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Government Sign (P-1) | Not specified | Not specified | — | Not specified | Not specified | All signs and signals owned and operated by the Township | — | 150 Attachment 2 (Permitted Permanent Signs) – P-1; §150-283A |
| Public/Semipublic Facility Identification (P-2) | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 feet | 20 square feet per lot (total) | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 freestanding and/or 1 attached | Freestanding and/or attached | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-2; §150-283A |
| Nameplate (P-3) | Freestanding: 6 feet | 4 square feet per sign | — | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way | 1 per dwelling unit | Attached or freestanding | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-3; §150-283A |
| Private Property Control Sign (P-4) | Freestanding: 6 feet | 4 square feet per sign | — | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way | Not specified | Attached or freestanding | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-4; §150-283A |
| On-site Directional Sign (P-5) | Freestanding: 6 feet; Attached: Height of building | 2 square feet per sign | — | Minimum 2 feet from right-of-way | 2 per street frontage used as access | On-site; attached or freestanding | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-5; §150-283A |
| Construction Identification Sign (T-1) | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 feet | 32 square feet per sign | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 per each separate firm involved in work on the site | On the premises where construction work is proceeding | — | 150 Attachment 3 (Permitted Temporary Signs) – T-1; §150-284A |
| Real Estate Sign (≥1 acre) (T-3) | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 feet | 32 square feet per sign | — | Minimum 25 feet from right-of-way or at building face | 1 per each 150 feet of street frontage | On property 1 acre or more for sale, rent, lease, or subdivision for development | — | 150 Attachment 3 – T-3; §150-284A |
| Proposed Housing/Apartment/Office Development Sign (T-4) | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 feet | 32 square feet per sign | — | Minimum 25 feet from right-of-way or at building face | 1 per street frontage | On site of proposed development | — | 150 Attachment 3 – T-4; §150-284A |

### Highway Commercial Zone (HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign - Freestanding (P-8C) | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 150 square feet (see formula) | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding on lot frontage | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-8C |
| Business Sign - Attached (Wall Sign) (P-8E) | Attached: Height of building | Up to 200 square feet per wall (6% of wall area) | — | No specific setback for attached signs | 4 per street frontage plus 4 on one non-frontage wall (when only one street frontage) | Attached to building walls | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-8E |
| Complex Identification Sign - Freestanding (Shopping Center/Mall/Industrial Park) (P-9A) | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 300 square feet per sign (see formula) | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 per vehicular access drive serving all uses within the complex | Freestanding at vehicular access drives serving all uses within the complex | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-9A |
| Complex Identification Sign - Attached (Shopping Center/Mall) (P-9B) | Attached: Height of building | Up to 300 square feet (see formula) | — | Not specified | 1 per street frontage | Attached to principal structure in a shopping center/mall | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-9B |
| Commercial Office Park Identification - Freestanding (P-9C) | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 50 square feet (see formula) | — | Not specified | 1 per vehicular access drive serving all uses within the complex | Freestanding at access drives for commercial office parks | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-9C |
| Individual Tenant Sign - Attached (Within Shopping Center/Mall) (P-9D) | Attached: Height of building | Up to 100 square feet (see formula) | — | Not specified | 1 per outside wall | Attached to outside wall of individual use within permitted shopping center/mall | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-9D |
| Flashing/Oscillating Display Sign (Temporary) (T-8) | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 feet | Per underlying temporary sign category | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way or at building face | 1 per lot | On-site | — | 150 Attachment 3 – T-8; §150-284A |
| On‑site Special Event Sign (T-10) | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way | 1 per lot | On-site special event | — | ZONING Temporary Signs table (T-10); §150-285 |

### Regional Commercial Zone (RC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign - Freestanding (P-8C) | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 150 square feet (see formula) | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding on lot frontage | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-8C |
| Business Sign - Attached (Wall Sign) (P-8E) | Attached: Height of building | Up to 200 square feet per wall (6% of wall area) | — | No specific setback for attached signs | 4 per street frontage plus 4 on one non-frontage wall (when only one street frontage) | Attached to building walls | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-8E |
| Complex Identification Sign - Freestanding (Shopping Center/Mall/Industrial Park) (P-9A) | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 300 square feet per sign (see formula) | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 per vehicular access drive serving all uses within the complex | Freestanding at vehicular access drives serving all uses within the complex | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-9A |
| Complex Identification Sign - Attached (Shopping Center/Mall) (P-9B) | Attached: Height of building | Up to 300 square feet (see formula) | — | Not specified | 1 per street frontage | Attached to principal structure in a shopping center/mall | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-9B |
| Commercial Office Park Identification - Freestanding (P-9C) | Freestanding: 25 feet | Up to 50 square feet (see formula) | — | Not specified | 1 per vehicular access drive serving all uses within the complex | Freestanding at access drives serving all uses within a commercial office park complex | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-9C |
| Individual Tenant Sign - Attached (Within Shopping Center/Mall) (P-9D) | Attached: Height of building | Up to 100 square feet (see formula) | — | Not specified | 1 per outside wall | Attached to outside wall of individual uses within a permitted shopping center/mall | — | 150 Attachment 2 – P-9D |
| Flashing/Oscillating Display Sign (Temporary) (T-8) | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 feet | Per underlying temporary sign category | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way or at building face | 1 per lot | On-site | — | 150 Attachment 3 – T-8; §150-284A |
| Proposed Nonresidential Development Sign (T-5) | Attached: Height of building; Freestanding: 10 feet | 32 square feet per sign | — | Minimum 25 feet from right-of-way or at building face | 1 per street frontage | On site of proposed commercial/industrial/other nonresidential development | — | 150 Attachment 3 – T-5; §150-284A |

## Prohibited signs in West Manchester Township

- Signs designed or located so they interfere with, compete for attention with, or may be mistaken for a traffic signal; includes any sign visible from a public right-of-way that uses an arrow device or the word “stop,” and signs using red, green, or amber in direct illumination or high reflection (e.g., fluorescent treatments).
- Any sign located in or extending into a public right-of-way, except signs owned or operated by a duly constituted government.
- Signs within or interfering with a required clear sight triangle; freestanding signs are prohibited within the clear sight triangle except directional signs less than 3 feet in height; any sign that interferes with the safe movement of traffic is prohibited.
- Freestanding signs on or over a public sidewalk area.
- Signs attached perpendicular to a building and projecting over a public sidewalk area.
- Signs erected upon or attached to the roof of any building.
- Freestanding signs for individual uses within an approved shopping center complex.
- Sign illumination that transmits direct light to other properties or public rights-of-way is prohibited; illumination must be nonglaring and flood/spotlights must be shielded.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Manchester Township

- Government-owned or -operated signs may be located in a public right-of-way (exception to the right-of-way prohibition).
- Directional signs less than 3 feet in height are allowed within a clear sight triangle (exception to the sight triangle prohibition).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Building permits are required for all permanent signs (§ 150-283A).
- Building permits are required for temporary sign types T-1, T-3, T-4, T-5, T-8, T-9 and T-10 (§ 150-284A).
- For T-10 signs, a permit is required each time the sign is used; the application must state the dates of placement and period of placement and include a location map showing the sign’s relationship to roads and driveways (§ 150-285E).
- Freestanding billboards are permitted only by special exception in the I-3 Zone, subject to §§ 150-302D and 150-315 (§ 150-286).
- No master sign plan or sign plan requirement is stated in the provided sections.

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

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