# Sign Regulations in Butler, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Butler, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/butler
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12071456#12071456)

## At a glance

Butler, Pennsylvania regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the C-1, M-1 and M-2 Districts zoning district are capped at 25 ft above average ground level tall and 300 sq ft, with a 300 ft from any residential use, 50 ft from lot lines abutting residential. setback (Sec. § 260-113B(3), § 260-113D). Most commercial signs in Butler require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 9 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| C-2 Central Business District | 6 | 20 ft | 75 sq ft per face | — |
| C-1, M-1 and M-2 Districts | 6 | 25 ft above average ground level | 300 sq ft | — |
| R-O District | 2 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| Rotary Arts and Cultural District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification of Property Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | In the area between front or side wall and adjacent street; may be freestanding or attached to building/fence/private lamppost. One per street frontage. | — | § 260-111A(1), § 260-111B(1) |
| For Sale or Rent Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Same as other signs; see above. | — | § 260-111A(2), § 260-111B(1) |
| Public or Semipublic Institution Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Same as other signs; see above. | — | § 260-111A(3), § 260-111B(1), § 260-111C |
| Seasonal Sale Temporary Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property | Same as other signs; see above. | — | § 260-111A(4), § 260-111B(1) |
| Development Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | Up to 4 per subdivision/development/tract | Same as other signs; see above. | — | § 260-111A(5), § 260-111B(2) |
| Artisan Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Same as other signs; see above. | — | § 260-111A(6), § 260-111B(1) |
| Apartment/Building Identification Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Same as other signs; see above. | — | § 260-111A(7), § 260-111B(1) |
| Wall Sign (Commercial or Professional Business other than Home Occupation) | — | 10% of wall or 30 sq ft, whichever is greater | — | — | — | Over first floor windows and doors, but below sills of the second floor windows, roof eaves, or tops of parapet walls (whichever is lower) | — | § 260-111D(2,3,4,5) |

### C-2 Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On wall surface; shall not project above or beyond the wall edge. | — | § 260-112B(1), § 260-112C(1-2), § 260-112D(1), § 260-112E |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Applied to/painted on window surface. | — | § 260-112B(1), § 260-112C(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 75 sq ft per face | — | — | — | Attached to and projecting from building wall. May extend up to 4 ft into public right-of-way if minimum clearance is met. | — | § 260-112B(2), § 260-112C(3), § 260-112D(3,5), § 260-116 |
| Marquee Sign (Side/Front Edge) | — | — | — | — | One per business occupying the building (underside sign) | May not extend closer than 3 ft to the street curb. No sign allowed on top of a marquee. | — | § 260-112B(3), § 260-112C(4), § 260-112D(3,5) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 75 sq ft per face (up to 2 faces); total: 150 sq ft | — | Abutting residential: setback as for a structure. | — | Not attached to building or marquee. Lowest edge must be at least 10 ft above pavement. Support must be outside all public right-of-ways. | — | § 260-112B(4), § 260-112C(5), § 260-112D(3-4,6), § 260-112E |
| Upper Floor/Basement Entrance Identification Sign | — | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | One per building | Flat or hung adjacent to entrance (max 18 inch projection from wall). | — | § 260-112D(2) |

### C-1, M-1 and M-2 Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Signs (all types from residential districts) | — | As per zoning for R-1, R-2, R-3 | — | — | — | — | — | § 260-113A(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per property (two if abutting two or more streets) | On building face abutting principal access street or between building and such street. Two of each kind allowed on corner/through lots. | — | § 260-113B(2), § 260-113C(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per property (two if abutting two or more streets) | Over area established for public pedestrian/vehicular use: min 10 ft over pedestrian way, 14 ft 6 in. over vehicular way. | — | § 260-113B(1), § 260-113C(2), § 260-116 |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft above average ground level | 300 sq ft | — | 300 ft from any residential use, 50 ft from lot lines abutting residential. | One per property (two if abutting two or more streets) | Between building and street. Must not face/partially face a dwelling in residential zone district less than 300 ft away. | — | § 260-113B(3), § 260-113D |
| Billboard (M-1 and M-2 only) | 25 ft above average ground level | 300 sq ft | — | 300 ft from any residential use, 50 ft from lot lines abutting residential. | — | As with freestanding sign | — | § 260-113A(3), § 260-113B(3), § 260-113D |
| Portable Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | One per property, only if no other sign present | — | — | § 260-113B(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Butler

- No person shall tack, paste or post any advertisements or other matter to or upon any telegraph, telephone, electric light, trolley or other poles or attach any advertisement, poster or other matter on any wire of any telegraph, telephone, electric light or street railway company.
- No person shall tack, paste or post advertisements, posters or other matter on any railing, tree or bridge on or within any of the streets, lanes, alleys or public grounds within the city.
- No sign shall be permitted to be placed upon the roof of any structure or to project above the cornice or eave line of any structure.
- No animated signs, signs illuminated by a flashing, pulsating or intermittent source, or signs lighted in such a manner to create glare on adjacent properties or any adjacent highway shall be permitted.
- All signs must be constructed of durable materials and maintained in good condition.
- Signs may be erected only in compliance with the regulations contained in this Article and the Butler Building Code.
- Building permits are required for all signs.
- The support of a freestanding or projecting sign must be entirely outside any public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be permitted that creates a traffic or pedestrian hazard or an obstruction to adjoining properties.

## Signs exempt from permit in Butler

- Official traffic signs and other similar signs erected by the City of Butler or the Department of Transportation, as authorized by the City Council and the owners of utility poles.
- Temporary signs in the public interest may be approved by the Zoning and Code Management Officer for erection for up to 30 days, subject to other applicable requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Plans for all signs or artwork painted on a wall surface must be presented to the City Planning Commission and Council for approval if the area of the sign exceeds 12 square feet (C-2 Central Business District).
- Persons desiring to erect a sign or signs must apply to the Zoning and Code Management Officer and submit a plan indicating the location, size, message content, and construction details of the sign.
- The Zoning and Code Management Officer shall issue a building permit if all applicable parts of this chapter are adhered to.
- Building permits are required for all signs.

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

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