Sign Regulations in Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania
Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania has specific sign regulations covering 54 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Ground Sign (Trespassing), Ground Sign (Auction), Ground Sign (Contractor). Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 28, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania
Sample Sign Requirements in Whitpain Township
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Sign (Residential Estate) | 10 ft (monument-style); cannot project above district building height limit | 1 sq ft | — |
| Ground Sign (Home Occupation) | 10 ft; cannot project above district building height limit | 2 sq ft | — |
| Ground Sign (Real Estate Sale or Rent of Single Family Dwelling) | 10 ft; cannot project above district building height limit | 6 sq ft | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for Whitpain TownshipFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
54
- Ground Sign (Trespassing)
- Ground Sign (Auction)
- Ground Sign (Contractor)
- Ground Sign (New Construction/Land Development)
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
7
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Whitpain Township
Municipal Code3 permit application links available
Other Cities in Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Whitpain Township vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Whitpain Township, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Whitpain Township, regulated sign types include Ground Sign (Trespassing), Ground Sign (Auction), Ground Sign (Contractor), Ground Sign (New Construction/Land Development), and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Whitpain Township vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Whitpain Township are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Whitpain Township has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania Sign Rules at a Glance
Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania regulates 54 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Residential Estate)s in the Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7, R-8, R-9, R-3B Low-Intensity Multifamily District) zoning district are capped at 10 ft (monument-style); cannot project above district building height limit tall and 1 sq ft (Sec. §160-191B, §160-184, §160-189D). Most commercial signs in Whitpain Township require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Whitpain Township (7 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7, R-8, R-9, R-3B Low-Intensity Multifamily District) | 17 | 10 ft (monument-style); cannot project above district building height limit | 32 sq ft | — |
| PR District | 10 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| CSCOD District, SC District, C District, C-1 District, VC District | 15 | 10 ft ground sign; projecting sign must not project above building height district limit | 200 sq ft | — |
| IN Institutional District | 14 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| AR District, A-R-1 District, R-E District, I District | 11 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| Off-Premises Sign Overlay District | 1 | 35 ft (may be increased by Board as conditional use) | 360 sq ft per face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | Up to 35 sq ft (based on lot size); also: 12 sq ft facade sign, 9 sq ft leasing, 32 sq ft "For Sale" sign | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Whitpain Township(sample of 3 of 7 zones)
Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7, R-8, R-9, R-3B Low-Intensity Multifamily District)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Sign (Residential Estate) | 10 ft (monument-style); cannot project above district building height limit | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | 1 per street frontage | — | Unlock | §160-191B, §160-184, §160-189D |
| Ground Sign (Home Occupation) | 10 ft; cannot project above district building height limit | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | 1 per street frontage | — | Unlock | §160-191B, §160-184 |
| Ground Sign (Real Estate Sale or Rent of Single Family Dwelling) | 10 ft; cannot project above district building height limit | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | 1 per street frontage | — | Unlock | §160-191B, §160-188B(6) |
| Ground Sign (Contractor) | 10 ft; cannot project above district building height limit | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | Unlock | §160-191B, §160-188B(7) |
| Ground Sign (Residential Dwellings/Lots for Sale (Subdivision 10 or more lots)) | 10 ft; cannot project above district building height limit | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | 1 per street | — | Unlock | §160-191B |
| Ground Sign (Residential Dwellings/Lots for Sale (Subdivision fewer than 10 lots)) | 10 ft; cannot project above district building height limit | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | 1 per street | — | Unlock | §160-191B |
| Ground Sign (Building Identification Letters/Numerals) | 10 ft; cannot project above district building height limit | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | 1 per street | — | Unlock | §160-191B |
| Ground Sign (Trespassing) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | See §160-186B | As permitted; see citation | — | Unlock | §160-191B, §160-186B |
CSCOD District, SC District, C District, C-1 District, VC District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground/Projecting Sign (Identification Option 1) | 10 ft ground sign; projecting sign must not project above building height district limit | 35 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Unlock | §160-191D |
| Ground/Facade/Projecting Sign (Identification Option 2) | 10 ft ground sign; projecting sign must not project above building height district limit | 25 sq ft ground sign, 16 sq ft facade/projecting | — | — | 1 ground sign + 1 facade/projecting per establishment per street frontage | 1 ground sign per street frontage and 1 facade or projecting per individual establishment | — | Unlock | §160-191D |
| Ground/Facade/Projecting Sign (Corner Lot Identification Option 3) | 10 ft ground sign; projecting sign as above | 50 sq ft ground, 16 sq ft facade/projecting | — | — | 1 ground + 1 facade/projecting per lot | 1 ground sign per lot, 1 facade/projecting per establishment | — | Unlock | §160-191D |
| Ground Sign (Shopping Center Identification, SC only, single lot) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | 1 per lot/street | — | Unlock | §160-191D |
| Facade/Projecting Sign (Mall/Contiguous Anchor, 30,000+ sq ft GFA) | Must not project above building height district limit | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Unlock | §160-191D |
| Facade/Projecting Sign (Nonanchor; Individual Establishment ID) | Must not project above building height district limit | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | 1 per individual establishment | — | Unlock | §160-191D |
| Facade Sign (Nonanchor with Canopy Overhang >=3 ft - Door/Window Sign only) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | 1 per establishment | — | Unlock | §160-191D Note 4 |
| Ground/Facade Sign (Real Estate Sale) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Unlock | §160-191D |
IN Institutional District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Sign (Identification Option 1 - Religious/Educational/Municipal) | 10 ft | 30 sq ft (up to 75 sq ft arterial, 60 sq ft collector with formula) | — | — | 1 per street | 1 per street | — | Unlock | §160-191E |
| Facade/Projecting Sign (Identification Option 2 - Religious/Educational/Municipal) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | 1 per street | — | Unlock | §160-191E |
| Ground Sign (New Construction/Land Development) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | 1 per street | — | Unlock | §160-191E |
| Ground Sign (Real Estate Sale) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | 1 per street | — | Unlock | §160-191E |
| Ground/Facade Sign (Real Estate Rent/Lease) | — | 4 sq ft (freestanding) or 8 sq ft (facade) | — | — | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | Unlock | §160-191E |
| Ground Sign (Directional at Street) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 per curb cut | 2 per curb cut | — | Unlock | §160-191E |
| Ground Sign (Trespassing) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | See §160-186B | See §160-186B | — | Unlock | §160-191E, §160-186B |
| Ground Sign (Changeable Text Electronic Message Board) | 10 ft | See formula | — | — | N/A (may be part of permitted ground sign for district) | As permitted above for ground signs | — | Unlock | §160-191E, §160-189O, §160-184E(6) |
PermitPal covers all 7 zoning districts in Whitpain Township — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 7 zones for Whitpain Township — start freeProhibited Signs in Whitpain Township
- It shall be unlawful to affix posters, stickers, placards or signs of any nature to utility poles, street signs or upon any other structures within the rights-of-way of public streets or highways within Whitpain Township at any time.
- Any sign erected within 75 feet of a public right-of-way or within 200 feet of a traffic control device which uses the words 'stop,' 'look,' or 'danger'; contains red or green lights; contains any word, place, symbol or character which interferes with, imitates or resembles an official traffic sign; or contains a light source visible from the public right-of-way.
- Any banner or sign hung across a public street or private property, except those of general municipal benefit or public necessity, and subject to Department of Transportation regulations.
- A pennant which blows in the wind or a spinner which spins in the wind, except when located inside a temporary fairground or when used with a special event.
- Any sign, except those specifically permitted as exempted, that is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, hung, glued or otherwise attached to a tree, pole, stake, lightstand, fence or other object.
- Any sign or part of any sign with flashing or intermittent lighting, sequential lights, revolving, moving, sound-producing or oscillating parts, or which has movable parts or reflectors; or with changing colors or intensity of illumination which utilize electrical energy; or which changes sign image or text more than once every 24 hours; or which flaps in the wind. Exception: signs displaying time, date, or temperature exclusively and barber poles.
- Mobile or portable signs, except as noted in specific sections (§ 160-183C(4) and § 160-185E).
- Advertising vehicles, meaning vehicles used for the primary purpose of advertising or direction, except for ordinary vehicle signage.
- Roof signs. (Prohibited as per amendment)
- No sign shall be placed in a position to endanger traffic by obscuring view or by confusion with official street signs or traffic signals by virtue of position, color, shape, glare, or other characteristics.
- No sign or portion thereof shall be permitted within the clear sight triangle at any intersection of streets or driveways except official traffic and highway signs.
- No sign, other than an official street sign, shall be erected or maintained within the legal right-of-way of any street.
- No sign shall project more than 24 inches over a public walkway, and projecting signs must be at least 10 feet above walkway level.
- No sign shall project above the building height restriction of the area. Monument-style ground signs may not exceed 10 feet in height.
- Blinking or flashing signs or festoon lights are not permitted in any district.
- Only on-premises signs related to the property/business are permitted. Off-premises signs are regulated separately.
- No sign shall state or imply a property use not permitted by zoning.
- Any sign or object intended to attract attention that is capable of free movement, oscillation, or designed to rotate or move is not permitted.
- Abandoned signs (signs on vacant properties for 6+ months) and discontinued signs (not in use for 30+ days) are prohibited and must be removed.
- A sign and/or its supports must be immediately removed if dangerous to public safety, or erected/altered without a permit.
- Discontinued or illegal off-premises advertising signs must be removed.
- Off-premises advertising signs cannot advertise adult/sexually oriented businesses or contain obscene/profane language, emit sounds, or display prohibited content.
- Off-premises advertising signs cannot display moving, flashing, scrolling, fading, brightening, or animated text or video.
- Animated, flashing, revolving, scrolling, rotating, or oscillating style off-premises advertising signs are prohibited.
- No festooning, lighting, or other decorations shall be permitted on temporary directional signs.
Exempt Signs in Whitpain Township
- Official highway route number, street name, directional or other traffic signs, including those on private or public property.
- A sign indicating the prohibition or control of fishing, hunting or trespassing or signs indicating the private nature of a road, if area does not exceed one square foot and spacing requirements are met.
- A sign with area not exceeding one square foot bearing only property number, street address, post box numbers or occupant names in residential districts.
- Governmental flags or insignias, public monuments, historic identification signs or plaques, and municipal identification signs erected by or with permission of a government agency.
- A legal notice.
- A Christmas tree, other holiday display or window display of merchandise, except where specifically prohibited. Holiday or seasonal nonidentification flags without letters, words, or numbers are permitted.
- Public service signs, signs promoting public safety, and information signs advertising availability of rest rooms, telephones, or similar conveniences.
- A sign on a vending machine advertising its contents.
- One or more signs applied to a windowpane giving store hours or name(s) of credit/charge institutions, if the total area does not exceed two square feet.
- A sign not exceeding four square feet that is a permanent architectural feature (such as a cornerstone or carved/embossed letters) not made of reflective or contrasting material.
- An emblem, logo, insignia, or badge for group membership/affiliation not exceeding one square foot.
- American flags, not exceeding 40 square feet each.
- On-premises directional signs devoid of reference to business activity, giving only traffic/pedestrian info, no-parking, or handicapped parking signs.
- Political campaign signs, provided they are outside the dedicated legal road right-of-way.
- Religious symbols in conjunction with places of worship where permitted.
- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized federal or state holidays, except as they may interfere with glare, traffic safety, or pose a public hazard.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Whitpain Township
- Permits are required for all signs except those indicated as exempt or as otherwise outlined in Schedule of Sign Regulations (§ 160-191).
- Before construction, placement, or modification of a sign, landowners should contact the Code Enforcement Officer.
- Sign permit applications must be accompanied by detailed plans and specifications.
- Illuminated signs require separate electrical permits, which must be filed at the same time as the sign permit application.
- Special monument signs, certain identification/community signage, and some permanent community/subdivision signs require approval by the Board of Supervisors (often upon recommendation from Planning Commission and/or with homeowners’ associations and covenants) as noted in regulation footnotes.
- Permits for off-premises advertising signs are by conditional use in the Off-Premises Sign Overlay District, subject to additional Board of Supervisors approval, and must be accompanied by a written agreement from the property owner.
- Special dimensional allowances for institutional ground signs with changeable message boards are granted only as per additional requirements (see schedule notes and district tables).
- No reference to a 'master sign plan' or formal sign plan process is explicit in this ordinance, but multiple references are made to detailed permit plans and, for certain signage types (e.g., subdivision/community ID), Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission approvals.
Source: ecode360 municipal code