Lower Paxton, PA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Section 203-1007 lists the signs that are exempt from zoning permit requirements in Lower Paxton Township, and item 13 is opinion and election campaign signs, which must follow the general sign regulations of the underlying zoning district. The same section warns that exempt signs must conform to all the requirements of the sign article and that construction permits can still be necessary. The zoning chapter's definitions describe a political sign as a temporary sign that indicates the name, cause or affiliation of a person seeking public or elected office, or that refers to an issue for which a public election or referendum is scheduled. Section 203-1010(A)(1)(c) confirms the permit rule: a zoning permit is required before any temporary sign goes up, except opinion, election campaign, real estate and on-premises residential sale signs.

Placement is where the limits bite. Under § 203-1010(A)(1)(a), the only temporary signs permitted in a public right-of-way are traffic control devices and emergency signs installed by or at the direction of the authority having jurisdiction, so a campaign sign cannot go on the grass strip between sidewalk and street. Under § 203-1010(A)(1)(b), all other temporary signs go on private property, and an off-premises sign needs the property owner's written permission and must bear the name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for placing it. All temporary signs must sit at least five feet from any adjacent property line, and the closing list in § 203-1010 allows one sign per street frontage with a maximum of two faces per sign. Section 203-1004(A)(2) bars attaching any sign to a tree, shrub, rock, utility structure or utility pole, and § 203-1004(A)(4) bars signs at an intersection that obstruct free and clear vision or a traffic control device.

Height is capped for freestanding temporary signs: 3.5 feet within 10 feet of the dedicated right-of-way line, and from 10 feet back, up to six feet on residential property or 10 feet on nonresidential property. The only temporary signs that can be illuminated are on-premises commercial signs and community event signs on nonresidential properties. The Temporary Sign Table has no row for political signs, so the code prints no day count for them.