# Sign Regulations in West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/west-whiteland-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11700177#11700177)

## At a glance

West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5 ft (exemptions and special cases may differ) tall and 24 sq ft (unless otherwise specified, e.g. real estate signs 6 sq ft, yard sale signs 4 sq ft, see exemptions), with a Temporary non-profit event signs must be set back at least 15 ft from any street or property line. setback (Sec. § 325-95K, § 325-95L, § 325-100). Most commercial signs in West Whiteland Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 35 ft above highway paved surface | 625 sq ft | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, Institutional District | 6 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| NC, O/C, O/L, O/R | 6 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Town Center District (TC) | 6 | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — |
| I-1 Industrial District, I-2 General Industrial District | 4 | 35 ft above nearest paved highway | 625 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | Minimum 15 feet or 1/2 of distance between street ROW and building line at closest point (whichever is less). In Town Center, see TC district rules. | — | Only in front yard (or within street setback in Town Center District); not closer to street line than 15 feet or 1/2 the distance between street ROW and building line (whichever is less) | — | § 325-95A, § 325-95B |
| Projecting Sign | No part less than 8 ft or more than 12 ft above ground/walkway | — | — | — | One per establishment per street frontage | — | — | § 325-95D |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Up to 3 (based on frontage) | Building sides containing public entrances; only where establishment has at least 20 ft street level frontage, except where on upper stories covering at least 80% of floor | — | § 325-95C |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot (per street frontage) | Permanently affixed to ground/structure; designed as a billboard, freestanding, marquee, or canopy sign | — | § 325-95E |
| Canopy Sign | Not less than 12 ft or more than 20 ft above ground | 50 sq ft or 20% of canopy face | — | — | Max two per canopy | On canopy for gas/service stations and similar uses providing cover for outdoor/service areas | — | § 325-95F |
| Directory Sign | 5 ft if freestanding | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance driveway/intersection/main entrance | Within complex/site to allow motorists to leave traffic flow and safely read, or at main entrance | — | § 325-95H |
| Temporary Sign | 5 ft (exemptions and special cases may differ) | 24 sq ft (unless otherwise specified, e.g. real estate signs 6 sq ft, yard sale signs 4 sq ft, see exemptions) | — | Temporary non-profit event signs must be set back at least 15 ft from any street or property line. | One per lot per permit | — | — | § 325-95K, § 325-95L, § 325-100 |
| Billboard | 35 ft above highway paved surface | 625 sq ft | — | 10 - 75 ft from limited access highway ROW; not within 425 ft of dwelling or R-1 zone. | — | I-2 and O/L Districts ONLY, as conditional use, within 10 to 75 ft of limited access highway ROW; not within 425 ft of dwelling unit or R-1 property | — | § 325-95I |

### R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, Institutional District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Home Occupation/Accessory Use) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | On/adjacent to street frontage | — | § 325-96B(1) |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation/Accessory Use) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | On or adjacent to or facing street frontage on property | — | § 325-96B(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Subdivision) | 4 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage where subdivision connects to existing street (new street access) | — | § 325-96B(2) |
| Freestanding/Wall Sign (Multifamily, School, Church, Hospital, etc.) | — | 24 sq ft (maximum) | — | — | — | Per street frontage | — | § 325-96B(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On lot to which it relates only | — | § 325-96C |
| Temporary Project Development Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage (must have final approval for major subdivision or site plan) | — | § 325-96D |

### Town Center District (TC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | At least 25 ft from street line, 15 ft from side lot line | One per eligible street; up to two per lot | One per lot with at least 300 ft street frontage; a second allowed for another qualifying frontage | — | § 325-98A(1)(a) |
| Pylon Sign | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — | — | One per eligible street frontage | Allowed only on tracts (shopping center, office park, residential or mixed-use) with 300 ft street frontage and at least 10 acres; one per eligible street frontage | — | § 325-98A(1)(b) |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing any one street on ground floor | — | § 325-98A(2) |
| Awning Sign / Marquee Sign / Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 325-98A(3)-(4) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On lot to which it relates only | — | § 325-98B |
| Comprehensive Signage Package | — | — | — | — | — | Planned town center mall | — | § 325-98C |

## Prohibited signs in West Whiteland Township

- Any sign, marking, banner, or advertising matter placed within any public street right-of-way, other than those exceptions noted, is deemed a public nuisance and may be removed by the Township.
- No sign shall be erected without first obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Officer, unless exempt.
- No sign shall be erected that imitates, resembles, confuses, or distracts like an official traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign shall be erected at street intersections within the sight triangle (formed by right-of-way lines and a line connecting them at 25 feet from their intersection) unless the topmost portion is less than three feet, nor shall any sign impede the vision or endanger the safety of motorists or pedestrians.
- Spot lighting for signs must not have a visible source of light from off the lot and should be concealed by landscaping.
- No sign shall contain information implying or stating that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted in the applicable zoning district.
- No sign shall be erected except as related to a lawful principal or permitted accessory use on the premises. (Billboards, off-site directional signs, and official traffic signs are exempt from this prohibition.)
- No sign shall be placed on any tree, telegraph, electric light or public utility pole, or upon rocks or other natural features.
- No roof signs shall be permitted and no sign shall project above the main cornice line of the building.
- No sign shall be erected containing moving text, video, graphics, animated displays, scrolling text messages, or static images changing more frequently than once every 10 seconds, except for government agency signs.
- No sign shall contain words, symbols, or lighting that compete with or distract from traffic signals, imitate traffic control commands, or may be confused with official traffic control signage.
- No sign shall be painted with or composed of fluorescent, phosphorescent, or holographic material.
- No sign shall be erected on property used by the public projecting or overhanging without posting a certificate of insurance or indemnity bond.
- No sign shall be placed on a premises except as may be related to a lawful principal or accessory use on that premises.
- All signs must be kept in proper repair and may be removed by the Township if in disrepair following notice.
- No sign shall be so constructed or maintained as to obstruct any fire escape, window, door, or other opening used for ingress or egress.
- No inflatable balloons and similar devices intended to attract attention.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited, other than permitted billboards.
- Billboards are only permitted as a conditional use in specific districts and must not include prohibited elements.
- No sign, other than those exempted, may be erected within any public right-of-way (except specific exemptions).

## Signs exempt from permit in West Whiteland Township

- Traffic, informational, and warning signs (either temporary or permanent) placed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Township, or another governmental agency having jurisdiction.
- Warning signs placed by a public utility, pipeline company, or contractor doing work within the right-of-way with necessary permissions.
- Signs (including advertising) placed on bus shelters, provided they do not extend beyond the end wall of the shelter and are part of the shelter design.
- Decorations for a recognized officially designated holiday, provided they are not a traffic or fire hazard and are removed within 30 days after the holiday.
- Official municipal, county, state, or federal governmental signs.
- Memorial or historic markers approved by the Board of Supervisors (upon Historical Commission recommendation) not exceeding six square feet.
- Change in the copy of a changeable copy sign or marquee sign, once a permit is obtained for that sign.
- Political signs on private property not exceeding 16 square feet, posted within 30 days prior and removed within three days after an election or referendum.
- Signs advertising meeting times and places of nonprofit service, government, religious, educational, charitable clubs/organizations (so long as they do not primarily advertise commercial products/services, except public utilities).
- Street number designations, names on mailboxes or residences, postal boxes, 'private property', 'no hunting', 'no trespassing', on-site directional and parking signs, and warning signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Temporary yard or garage sale signs (up to 4 sq. ft.), erected no more than seven days prior and removed within 48 hours after the sale, not exceeding two times per year per premises.
- Temporary real estate signs (on the lot for sale/rent/lease) up to six square feet (or more if included in total allowable sign area and incorporated into permitted freestanding or wall sign) and removed within seven days after sale/rental/lease.
- Temporary signs announcing an event sponsored by a nonprofit organization, at least 15 feet from property lines/streets, not more than 24 square feet, not more than five feet high, only erected within 14 days prior and removed within three days after the event.
- Emergency warning signs erected by a public utility, pipeline company or authorized contractor (may be illuminated).
- Flags of the United States, state, municipality, approved foreign nations, or other officially adopted flags not exceeding 60 sq ft in area nor flown from a pole exceeding 35 feet in height. Other flags considered as freestanding signs per district regulation.
- Residential freestanding signs up to four sq. ft. in area and four feet high, minimum 15 feet from street/property line.
- Temporary contractor/mechanic/paint/paperhanger/artisan signs on the lot of work being done (up to six sq. ft./four feet high), removed within seven days after completion.
- Advertising signs in bus shelters (limited to the size of the end wall and by agreement with the Township regarding placement and content).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications for signs larger than two square feet must be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing details of the sign, its size and location on the building and/or lot.
- All applications for sign permits shall be accompanied by the property owner's written consent if the property owner is not the owner of the sign.
- The developer, owner, or operator of a planned town center mall may apply for a permit for a comprehensive signage package (i.e., master or comprehensive sign plan) instead of individual sign permits. The comprehensive signage package must include all signs, sizes, locations, materials, colors, and content, and demonstrate consistent format/theme and compliance with design standards.
- The Board of Supervisors may require public meetings for review of a comprehensive signage package.
- Modifications to a comprehensive signage package require permit modifications and compliance with review standards.
- Signs (except exempt signs) require a permit, with the application accompanied by scaled plans for signs over two square feet.
- For VCT signs on pylon signs in the Town Center, approval as a conditional use is required, and a changeable copy (electronic message center) protocol must be agreed upon as a condition of approval.
- Conditional use applications for billboards or certain pylon signs in applicable districts must include screening and may be subject to review and approval of plans as a condition.

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

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