HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled that a Pennsylvania town’s restrictions on lawn signs violate the First Amendment, siding with residents who argued the ordinance unlawfully suppressed political expression.
A three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s decision Thursday, declaring Camp Hill Borough’s 2025 sign ordinance unconstitutional. The town of roughly 8,000 residents, located near Harrisburg, had imposed stricter limits on noncommercial signs—including political messages—while allowing more leniency for commercial and holiday displays.
In an 11-page opinion, Judge Stephanos Bibas rejected the borough’s defense that the law merely regulated the “time, place, and manner” of signage. Instead, the court found the ordinance discriminated based on content, was overly broad, and failed to justify its restrictions with a compelling government interest.
While acknowledging Camp Hill’s concerns about traffic safety and community aesthetics, Bibas ruled these interests were insufficient to override free speech protections. The decision reinforces longstanding legal precedent that content-based restrictions on signs face strict constitutional scrutiny.
The ruling prevents the borough from enforcing the ordinance, ensuring residents can display political messages without disproportionate limitations. Legal experts say the case underscores the judiciary’s role in safeguarding expressive freedoms at the local level.
