# Sign Regulations in Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/whitemarsh-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11710355#11710355)

## At a glance

Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania regulates 56 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Freestanding sign (monument)s in the Village Commercial District (VC District, VC-1, VC-2, VC-3) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 25 sq ft per side (≤5 acres); 35 sq ft per side (>5 acres) (Sec. §116-207.1A(6)(a), §116-207.1B(6)). Most commercial signs in Whitemarsh Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 13 | — | 35 sq ft per side | — |
| AR Districts | 3 | — | 25 sq ft face | — |
| CR Commercial Retail Districts | 6 | — | No more than 50% of glazed window area per window | — |
| Limited Industrial District, Industrial District | 2 | — | 200 sq ft (all such signs combined); max 50 sq ft within front yard | — |
| CLI District | 3 | Not to project higher than main cornice line | 300 sq ft (all sides facing road combined) | — |
| CLI-X Campus Limited Industrial – Modified District | 5 | 40 ft from elevation of Turnpike | 672 sq ft | — |
| Institutional (Overlay) District | 1 | 40 ft from elevation of Turnpike | 672 sq ft | — |
| Village Commercial District (VC District, VC-1, VC-2, VC-3) | 11 | 10 ft | 36 sq in | — |
| TDO District, TDO-1 District | 7 | 10 ft | 35 sq ft | — |
| Historic District | 1 | — | As approved by HARB | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | 4 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional, accessory use, home occupation or name sign | — | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per permitted use or dwelling | On same lot with dwelling | — | §116-205B, §116-210A(1) |
| Institution sign (school, church, hospital, club, etc.) | — | 15 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage per property | On same lot as institution | — | §116-205C, §116-210A(2) |
| Trespassing sign / Private ownership sign | — | 1 sq ft per side | — | — | Spaced at intervals ≥100 ft | On same premises | — | §116-205D |
| Real estate sign — Individual sale/rental | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On premises offered for sale/rental | — | §116-205E(1) |
| Real estate sign — Subdivision <10 lots | — | 15 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per subdivision | On premises within subdivision | — | §116-205E(2)&(4) |
| Real estate sign — Subdivision ≥10 lots/retirement community | — | 35 sq ft per side | — | — | Max 2 per subdivision or land development | On premises within subdivision/retirement community | — | §116-205E(3)&(4) |
| Apartment/community entrance sign | — | 16 sq ft per face; 32 sq ft total | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each regular permanent entrance | — | §116-205J, §116-210A(2) |
| Apartment/congregate building identifier | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per building | On each building | — | §116-205K |

### Village Commercial District (VC District, VC-1, VC-2, VC-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 or 2 per use (see above) | Proj. from building facade | — | §116-207.1A(3)(a) |
| Window sign/window graphic | — | 30% of clear window area per building/space; maximum 25 sq ft | — | — | — | On/painted on shop windows | — | §116-207.1A(3)(b), §116-207.1B(3) |
| Wall sign (≤5 acres lot) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | Up to 2 per use (VC-1/VC-3); 1 per use in VC-2 | On wall | — | §116-207.1A(3)(c), §116-207.1B(3) |
| Wall sign (>5 acres lot) | — | 35 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall | — | §116-207.1A(3)(c) |
| Sandwich board sign (sidewalk) | — | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per use | Directly in front, on sidewalk, during business hours only | — | §116-207.1A(5) |
| Freestanding sign (monument) | 10 ft | 25 sq ft per side (≤5 acres); 35 sq ft per side (>5 acres) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On street frontage with landscaped base | — | §116-207.1A(6)(a), §116-207.1B(6) |
| Directory sign (monument) | 10 ft max | 25 sq ft per side (≤5 acres); 35 sq ft per side (>5 acres) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Pedestrian-oriented, at street; landscaped | — | §116-207.1A(6)(b), §116-207.1B(6) |
| Credit for amenity donor sign | — | 36 sq in | — | — | 1 per amenity | On amenity installed in public space | — | §116-207.1A(7) |

### TDO District, TDO-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All signs permitted in Residential Districts | — | — | — | — | — | If use is permitted | — | §116-327B(1) |
| Wall sign | — | 35 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use/facade | On building facade along street | — | §116-327B(2), §116-327A(5) |
| Directory sign (building attached) | — | Total 30 sq ft per sign; max 3 sq ft per business | — | — | 1 per building | Attached to building | — | §116-327B(3) |
| Monument sign (TDO-1) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At property entrance in TDO-1 | — | §116-327B(4) |
| Parking/traffic control sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On property, as required | — | §116-327B(5) |
| Riverfront identification sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On building or as monument sign facing trail | — | §116-327B(6) |
| Freestanding (monument) sign | 10 ft | 10 ft height | — | — | — | Anchored in ground | — | §116-327A(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Whitemarsh Township

- No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with traffic through glare, through blocking of reasonable sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways, through confusion with a traffic control device (by reasons of color, location, shape or other characteristics), or through any other means.
- 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 Ordinance in the zoning district in which the property to which the sign relates is located.
- No sign or portion of any sign shall project more than 24 inches over a public walkway, and the lower edge of such projecting sign shall be not less than 10 feet above the walk level.
- No sign shall project above the roofline of a building unless it has been screened so as to be visible only from the street on which the building fronts.
- No sign shall be erected upon any property or within any building which contains flashing, revolving, moving, sound-producing or animated parts, with the exception of a sign that displays time and/or temperature exclusively or barber poles.
- No illumination of a flashing, intermittent or moving type is permitted for any sign.
- Signs shall not be internally illuminated or use neon lights (except window graphics as permitted in the Village Commercial District).
- Signs shall not hide architectural features of the associated buildings.
- Once an existing sign is removed for any reason other than maintenance or repair, replacement signs must comply with all current provisions.
- Modernization or changes in graphics, format or copy in the sign exceeding 50% require the sign to conform to current regulations.
- Any sign or its support deemed dangerous and/or hazardous to public health or safety must be immediately removed upon notification from the Zoning Officer.
- Any sign which violates the sign ordinance and does not have a valid zoning permit must be brought into compliance or removed.
- Abandoned signs (signs for vacant properties for 12 months, signs for former businesses or events) are prohibited and must be removed.
- Plastic, backlit awning signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Whitemarsh Township

- Official street and traffic signs and any signs required by law.
- Interior property parking and traffic control signs not exceeding four square feet, where authorized by the Zoning Officer on the advice of the Police Department.
- Legal display of the flag of the United States of America, the flag of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the flag of Whitemarsh Township, and the flag of any recognized governmental authority.
- Special information signs (e.g. 'men,' 'women,' 'rest rooms,' 'hours of operation,' 'credit cards accepted,' 'state inspection station,' gasoline pump identification and gallonage register) attached to the building or equipment, letters not exceeding four inches high, area not counted in permitted sign areas.
- A sign with an area not exceeding one square foot bearing only property number, street address, post box numbers or names of occupants in residential districts.
- Governmental insignia, public monuments, historic identification signs or plaques, and municipal identification signs.
- A legal notice.
- One or more signs applied to a windowpane, giving store hours or the names of credit or charge institutions, not exceeding two square feet in total area.
- A sign which is a permanent architectural feature of a building or structure, such as a cornerstone or identifying letters carved into or embossed on a building, provided not reflective and not contrasting in color.
- An emblem, logo, insignia or badge displayed to signify membership in or affiliation with any trade association, craftsman group, labor union, civic or fraternal group or similar organization, not exceeding one square foot.
- Off-site real estate signs for the purpose of directing and identifying the location of homes for sale can be placed on private property with the owner's permission on the day of an open house and must be removed within one hour after the event.
- Display of the flag by individuals as an expression of patriotism is exempt.
- Signs required for temporary posting of notice upon certain applications for change in zoning districts (§116-244).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected other than those provided in §116-205A and E as pertains to the sale or rental of single-family dwellings and §116-208A and B except pursuant to the provisions of a permit (§116-211).
- Historic District: No sign or permanent external advertising display shall be erected, altered or used except after review by the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) for conformity to historic requirements and issuance of a permit (§10-8A).
- For certain temporary and nonprofit signs, written permission of the property owner and indemnification of the Township may be required (§116-208C(3)).
- Signs in certain overlays or special districts (e.g., TDO District, Village Commercial, AR, CLI-X) must conform to the design concept/master sign plan or overall development plan as regulated by district-specific provisions.
- Multiuse developments in the Village Commercial District may have only one freestanding sign or directory sign for each street the development fronts, in addition to per-use signage.

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

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