# Sign Regulations in West Manheim Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Manheim Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/west-manheim-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28515812#28515812)

## At a glance

West Manheim Township, Pennsylvania regulates 6 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Internally Lighted Sign with Changeable Messages in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district must be set back Must not be located within 300 feet of a residential use. (Sec. § 270-186G). Most commercial signs in West Manheim Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | — | — |
| BC Zoning District, C/I Zoning District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Floodplain Protection Overlay | 1 | — | 6 square feet per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the building wall; not on the roof or higher than the wall to which attached. | — | § 270-186C, § 270-186S, § 270-186T |
| Internally Lighted Sign with Changeable Message | — | — | — | Must not be located within 300 feet of a residential use. | — | — | — | § 270-186G |
| Sign Near Traffic Signal or Device | — | — | — | — | — | Within 300 feet of a traffic signal or similar traffic device | — | § 270-186H |
| Building-Attached Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to a building | — | § 270-186S, § 270-186T |

### BC Zoning District, C/I Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directly Illuminated Sign (Neon, LED, etc.) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 270-186F |

### Floodplain Protection Overlay

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Any Sign | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | — | Within Floodplain Protection Overlay | — | § 270-186O |

## Prohibited signs in West Manheim Township

- No sign shall be maintained in such a state of disrepair as to have the appearance of complete neglect, which is rotting or falling down, which is illegible, or has loose parts separated from original fastenings.
- No sign shall be structurally unsafe or endanger the safety of the building, premises, or public.
- Each sign shall be removed when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
- Any lighted sign that becomes damaged so as to cause an electrical hazard shall be turned off and electrically isolated until timely repairs are made.
- Internally lighted signs with changeable messages or displays shall not change messages more than once every 45 seconds; flashes, bursts of light, streaming, zooming, or animated effects are prohibited on electronic signs.
- Electronic signs shall not visually dissolve or fade between messages.
- No sign located within 300 feet of a traffic signal or similar traffic device shall be illuminated with red, green, yellow, or amber lights, or have highly reflective surfaces such as fluorescent paint or glass.
- Signs must not interfere with any clear sight triangle.
- No loud, vulgar, indecent, or obscene advertising matter shall be displayed, including any graphic illustration pertaining to specified sexual activities or anatomical areas, or any sign which sends a message of hate or discrimination, or which violates any other law.
- No sign shall be erected or located as to prevent free ingress or egress from any window, door or fire escape.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will obscure light or air from a building or create a traffic danger.
- No sign shall be permanently attached to public utility poles, trees or living matter, traffic sign post, traffic signal control devices, street sign, or historical monument within the right-of-way of any street.
- No point of any sign, including trim, border, and supports, shall be located within 10 feet of any property or street right-of-way line.
- Any sign attached to a building shall not be placed on the roof or be higher than the wall to which it is attached.
- No point of a wall-projecting sign shall be located less than 8 1/2 feet above the grade directly below the sign.
- No sign shall refer to services, materials, or products not made, sold, or displayed on the premises, except for billboards and directional signs.
- No sign shall be erected or located within a Floodplain Protection Overlay that exceeds six square feet per side.
- The existence of a legally nonconforming sign does not exempt it from requirements regarding safety, maintenance, and repair.
- Nonconforming signs may not be expanded, enlarged, or structurally changed; any repair or replacement over 50% of value must fully conform to code.
- Signs of such a design and location that they interfere with, compete for attention with, or may be mistaken for a traffic signal are prohibited, including use of arrows or words like 'stop' and use of red, yellow, or green illumination or reflection.
- Any sign located in or extending into a public right-of-way is prohibited, except those owned or operated by government.
- Any freestanding or projecting sign within an area bounded by the intersection of two rights-of-way and 20 feet from such intersection is prohibited (except permanent on-site directional signs less than three feet in height).
- Freestanding signs utilizing motor vehicles or trailers are prohibited, except trailers manufactured with a permanent sign face.
- Flashing or rotating signs or signs with moving illumination which varies in color or intensity are prohibited.
- Freestanding signs on or over a public sidewalk area are prohibited.
- Freestanding signs for individual uses within an approved shopping center complex are prohibited.
- Signs with reflective backgrounds are prohibited.
- Beacon lights are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Manheim Township

- Signs intended for viewing principally from within a building or signs temporarily attached to the inside face of a display window, announcing a sale or similar feature, are not prohibited provided they do not occupy more than 33 1/3% of the total display window area for a period not to exceed 10 days.
- Signs owned or operated by a duly constituted government may be located in or extend into a public right-of-way.
- Permanent on-site directional signs less than three feet in height are allowed within 20 feet of intersection of rights-of-way.
- Trailers manufactured with a sign face permanently attached specifically for the purpose of being used as a portable sign are allowed as freestanding signs.
- Any person who is the owner or lawful occupant of private property may post a 'No Peddling or Soliciting' sign which is reasonably visible.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit reference to a master sign plan or sign plan requirement appears in the provided ordinance sections.
- Permit applications for signs require scaled drawings showing the location and all dimensions of the sign, including an accurate representation for directional or on-premises advertising signs.
- No sign permit shall be issued except in conformity with the ordinance regulations, except upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board granted pursuant to variance procedures.
- Any change in location, dimensions, or advertising/informative contents of a sign requires a new permit.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for West Manheim Township, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=West+Manheim+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-west-manheim-township

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