# Sign Regulations in Bridgewater Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bridgewater Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/bridgewater-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34385161#34385161)

## At a glance

Bridgewater Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 27 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Off-Premises Sign (Commercial District)s in the Commercial District zoning district are capped at 80 feet tall and 200 sq ft, with a Min 10 ft from any nonresidential lot line; min 20 ft from all rights-of-way setback (Sec. § 400-712.E). Most commercial signs in Bridgewater Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 10 feet | 32 sq ft total (residential and other lots) | — |
| Residential District | 3 | 8 feet | Up to 32 sq ft per face | — |
| Commercial District | 5 | 80 feet | 200 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District | 4 | 80 feet | 200 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Products Sign | 10 feet | 8 sq ft (residential lots < 1 acre); 12 sq ft (other lots) | — | — | 2 | On premises of a principal agricultural use | — | § 400-703.A |
| Charitable Event Sign | 10 feet | 8 sq ft (residential <1 acre); 32 sq ft (other lots) | — | — | 2 | On lot of event | — | § 400-703.A |
| Contractor's Sign | 10 feet | 12 sq ft each (residential); 20 sq ft each (other lots) | — | — | 2 | On lot where work is performed | — | § 400-703.A |
| Directional Sign | 10 feet | 3 sq ft each (other than pavement signs) | — | — | No max | On same lot as use it is directing to | — | § 400-703.A |
| Flag, Commercial | 10 feet | 20 sq ft each | — | — | 2 | — | — | § 400-703.A |
| Garage Sale Sign | 10 feet | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | 4 per event | — | — | § 400-703.A |
| Real Estate Sign | 10 feet | 6 sq ft each (residential); 12 sq ft each (other lots) | — | — | 1 per street lot abuts | On property being offered | — | § 400-703.A |
| Service Organization/Place of Worship Sign | 10 feet | 2 sq ft each | — | — | 2 | Off-premises | — | § 400-703.A |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Commercial District) | Height of building | — | — | — | 2 building faces | On wall of principal building, commercial use | — | § 400-704.A, § 400-704.B |
| Window Sign (Commercial District) | — | — | — | — | — | On windows | — | § 400-704.A |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial District) | 15 feet | 20 sq ft per side, each of 2 sides per abutting public street | — | — | 1 sign structure per abutting public street | On lot, facing each abutting public street | — | § 400-704.A |
| Portable Sign (Commercial District) | — | 40 sq ft on each of max 2 sides | — | Not in existing street right-of-way | 1 | On lot of a permitted principal commercial use | — | § 400-704.C |
| Off-Premises Sign (Commercial District) | 80 feet | 200 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from any nonresidential lot line; min 20 ft from all rights-of-way | 1 per lot | Within max 200 ft of existing right-of-way of an arterial street and min 10 ft from any nonresidential lot line | — | § 400-712.E |

### Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Industrial District) | Height of building | — | — | — | 2 building faces | On wall of principal building, industrial use | — | § 400-704.A, § 400-704.B |
| Window Sign (Industrial District) | — | — | — | — | — | On windows, industrial use | — | § 400-704.A |
| Freestanding Sign (Industrial District) | 20 feet | 32 sq ft per side, each of 2 sides per abutting public street | — | — | 2 sign structures per abutting public street | On lot, facing each abutting public street, industrial use | — | § 400-704.A |
| Off-Premises Sign (Industrial District) | 80 feet | 200 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from any nonresidential lot line; min 20 ft from all rights-of-way | 1 per lot | Within max 200 ft of existing right-of-way of an arterial street and min 10 ft from any nonresidential lot line | — | § 400-712.E |

## Prohibited signs in Bridgewater Borough

- No sign shall be erected within or project over any existing or established future street right-of-way except official signs, nameplate signs, public service signs and directional signs.
- No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with sight distance requirements for vehicles or safe sight distances within a lot.
- No signs except permitted off-premises, official, political or public service signs shall be erected on a property to which it does not relate.
- No sign shall be posted on any property, sign pole, or public utility pole unless permission has been received from the owner.
- No sign shall be attached by tacks, staples, or other metal fasteners to utility poles, except by an authorized utility.
- Spinners or any moving object used to attract attention to a commercial use are prohibited.
- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type are prohibited, except time and temperature signs.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor are prohibited.
- Signs which contain information that states or implies that a lot may be used for any purpose not permitted under the applicable provisions of the Zoning chapter are prohibited.
- Signs that are of such character, form, shape or color that they imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device or that have any characteristics which are likely to confuse or distract the operator of a motor vehicle on a public street are prohibited.
- Signs or displays that include words or images that are obscene, pornographic or that an average reasonable person would find highly offensive to public decency are prohibited.
- Signs attached by tacks, staples, or other metal fasteners to utility poles are prohibited.
- Signs advertising a use no longer in existence shall be removed within 180 days of the cessation of such use (abandoned or outdated signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in Bridgewater Borough

- Signs that meet the requirements of § 400-703 (miscellaneous signs not requiring permits) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Window signs that are not of a permanent nature are exempt from permit requirements.
- Change of message, repairs, or repainting of lawfully existing signs that do not increase sign area or increase nonconformity do not require a new permit.
- Signs memorializing an important historic place, event, or person specifically authorized by a government agency are not regulated.
- Holiday decorations commemorating a holiday recognized by the Borough, county, state, or federal government and that do not include advertising are not regulated.
- Signs not readable from any public street or exterior lot line are not regulated.
- Official signs erected by the state, county, Borough, or other legally constituted governmental body, or specifically authorized by ordinance or resolution and which exist for public purposes are not regulated.
- Signs that only include information required to be posted outdoors by a government agency or the Borough are not regulated.
- Signs posted within the existing right-of-way of a public street and officially authorized by the Borough or PennDOT are not regulated.
- Flags of any nation or level of government or that only include colors and no commercial message are not regulated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for all signs unless specifically exempted in § 400-703 (miscellaneous signs not requiring permits) or are non-permanent window signs.
- Only types, sizes, and heights of signs specifically permitted by this Zoning chapter within the applicable district shall be allowed.
- Lawfully existing signs may be painted, repaired or changed in message without a new permit as long as changes do not increase sign area or nonconformity.
- Conditional use approval is required for off-premises signs in commercial and industrial districts.
- For a portable sign, a sign permit is required stating the dates during which the sign may be displayed.
- Replacement of an existing lawful nonconforming sign is permitted only if the new sign is not more nonconforming in any way than the old sign.

## 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 4 zoning districts in Bridgewater Borough — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bridgewater+Borough+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bridgewater-borough

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