# Sign Regulations in Burnham Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Burnham Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/burnham-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27151330#27151330)

## At a glance

Burnham Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 19 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Development Direction Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 6 sq ft and 4 ft wide (Sec. § 602.2B). Most commercial signs in Burnham Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 10 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, C-1 General Commercial District, I-1 Industrial District | 7 | — | 220 sq ft total; not more than 110 sq ft per side | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | As approved by Borough Council | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sale or Rental Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per property, or 2 per frontage if multi-frontage | Premises being sold or rented | — | § 602.2A |
| Development Direction Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft | — | 1 per 500 ft frontage | Not on premises being developed; directional | — | § 602.2B |
| Sold or Rented Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Per § 602.2A | Premises affected by sale/rental | — | § 602.2C |
| Artisan Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | During work period on-premises | — | § 602.2D |
| Trespassing/Private Driveway Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On subject property | — | § 602.2E |
| Institutional Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property, or per frontage if multi-frontage | Premises of institution (school, church, hospital, etc.) | — | § 602.2F |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of home occupation | — | § 602.2G |
| Political Temporary Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft | — | 2 per property/frontage | On private property | — | § 602.2J |

### Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, C-1 General Commercial District, I-1 Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign (C-1 District) | — | 220 sq ft total; not more than 110 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On the premises (wall or freestanding) | — | § 602.3, § 602.4H |
| Business Identification Sign - Wall | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to the building | — | § 602.4M, § 602.4R |
| Business Identification Sign - Freestanding | — | 110 sq ft per side | — | — | One per street frontage | Freestanding on premises | — | § 602.4M |
| Billboard - Freestanding | — | 110 sq ft per side; total 220 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Freestanding on premises (permitted in C-1 and I-1 only) | — | § 602.4P |
| Billboard - Wall Attached | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | § 602.4P, § 602.4R |
| Animated, Sequential, or Rotating Sign | — | 50 sq ft per side; 100 sq ft total | 9 ft length | — | — | C-1 and I-1 Districts only | — | § 602.4S, § 602.5 |
| Portable or Movable Business Identification Sign | — | 50 sq ft per side; 100 sq ft total | 9 ft length | — | One per street frontage | C-1 General Commercial Districts only; must be firmly anchored | — | § 602.4T, § 602.4U |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Civic or Religious Temporary Sale/Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As allowed | — | § 602.4L |
| Signs at Borough Recreational Facilities (Nonprofit) | — | As approved by Borough Council | — | — | — | Borough recreational facilities, subject to approval | — | § 602.7 |

## Prohibited signs in Burnham Borough

- It is unlawful to erect any awning, sign, or obstruction over any cartway, alley, or sidewalk (or area where a sidewalk would normally be), without prior approval of the Borough Council, and in no event is approval given for any obstruction less than seven feet above the surface of such sidewalk or sidewalk area or which interferes with vehicular travel.
- No sign may be placed in such a position as to cause danger to street traffic by obscuring the view.
- No sign (other than an official traffic sign) shall be erected within the right-of-way of any street, unless authorized by Borough Council.
- No sign shall project over a public sidewalk area more than 18 inches.
- Overhead signs must be at least nine feet above the ground or pavement.
- No sign shall exceed 20 feet in length.
- Rotating, revolving, or flashing lights similar to those on authorized police or emergency vehicles are prohibited in any district.
- Any sign that, by reason of intensity, color, location, or movement, may interfere with traffic signals or endanger public safety or welfare is prohibited in any district.
- All lighting associated with signs must be shielded and not reflect or beam onto adjacent properties, and must not constitute a nuisance to neighboring properties or to public streets/alleys.
- No light may be higher than 10 feet above the maximum building height.
- Advertising painted or displayed on a barn, building, or other structure is regulated as an advertising sign board.
- Each sign must be removed when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.

## Signs exempt from permit in Burnham Borough

- No permit is required for the erection, alteration, or maintenance of any signs permitted in § 602.2 (Signs in Residential Districts), including: sale/rental signs, directional development signs, 'sold' or 'rented' signs, mechanic/contractor signs (while work ongoing), trespassing or private driveway signs, signs of educational/religious/medical institutions, signs for home occupations (with limitations), official traffic/street name signs with Borough Council approval, identification/utility signs, and temporary election signs (per their provisions).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign or awning to be erected over any cartway, alley, or sidewalk (or area where a sidewalk would normally be) requires prior approval of the Borough Council.
- A permit is required for the erection or alteration of business identification signs (including portable or movable signs) or billboards.
- Nonprofit community organizations wishing to place signs at Borough recreational facilities must submit a written proposal, including drawings and specifications, and appear before Borough Council at a regular meeting for approval.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Burnham Borough, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Burnham+Borough+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-burnham-borough

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