# Sign Regulations in Carbondale, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Carbondale, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/carbondale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-17
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yFH4fNWzEfvvx_AN_PVRyXkHJD0lh8R0/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=101062894407531391560&rtpof=true&sd=true)

## At a glance

Carbondale, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Outdoor Advertising Sign (Billboard)s in the General Commercial (C-3) zoning district are capped at Max 35 ft above the level of the roadway directly below where the sign is located tall and Individual sign: 672 sq ft; Total on lot: ≤ 4 × lot frontage (sq ft), with a At least the height of the sign from any property line; and at least 25 ft from any property line setback (Sec. §5.963(a)-(h); §9.620). Most commercial signs in Carbondale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Low Density Residential (R-1), Medium Density Residential (R-2) | 10 | No sign in R-District shall project higher than one story or 20 ft (whichever is lower) | 20 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (C-1) | 4 | Bottom of any projecting sign must provide at least 10 ft clearance above grade; no sign higher than building; no signs on roofs (business sign may be affixed to parapet) | 20% of building side area | — |
| Central Business (C-2), Interchange Activity Center (IAC) | 5 | Max 35 ft above mean ground level | 100 sq ft (in any 'C' District) | — |
| General Commercial (C-3) | 4 | Max 35 ft above mean ground level | Individual sign: 672 sq ft; Total on lot: ≤ 4 × lot frontage (sq ft) | — |
| Light Industrial (M-1), Heavy Industrial (M-2) | 7 | Max 35 ft above mean ground level | 150 sq ft (in any 'M' District) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | No free-standing sign shall extend more than 35 ft above mean ground level where it is located | Up to 10% of applicable vertical wall areas (per above) | — |

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

### Low Density Residential (R-1), Medium Density Residential (R-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign (Dwelling) | No sign in R-District shall project higher than one story or 20 ft (whichever is lower) | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit; Corner lots: up to 2 (one per frontage) | On each street front of the zone lot; attached to the dwelling | — | §5.961(a)(1); §5.961(i); §5.964(e); §9.620 |
| Identification Sign (Non-dwelling in Residential District) | No sign in R-District shall project higher than one story or 20 ft (whichever is lower) | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property; Corner lot: up to 2 | On property of building other than dwellings (e.g., building name/management) | — | §5.961(a)(2); §5.961(i); §5.964(e) |
| Sale or Rental Sign (Residential) | No sign in R-District shall project higher than one story or 20 ft (whichever is lower) | 6 sq ft | — | — | No more than 2 signs per property; if multi-frontage, 2 additional signs per additional frontage | On the premises being offered for sale or rental | — | §5.961(b)(1)-(2); §5.961(i) |
| Institutional Sign (Residential District) | No sign in R-District shall project higher than one story or 20 ft (whichever is lower) | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property; Corner lot: up to 2 | On premises of schools, colleges, churches, hospitals, sanatoria, or similar public/semi-public institutions | — | §5.961(c)(1)-(2); §5.961(i) |
| Parking Entrance/Exit Sign (Accessory to Parking Areas) | No sign in R-District shall project higher than one story or 20 ft (whichever is lower) | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per exit/entrance for each direction of traffic flow | At each entrance and exit to/from a parking area; one per direction of traffic flow | — | §5.961(d) (first paragraph); §5.961(i) |
| Parking Area Conditions/Identity Sign | No sign in R-District shall project higher than one story or 20 ft (whichever is lower) | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parking area; Corner lot: up to 2 | At parking area (designating conditions of use and identity) | — | §5.961(d) (second paragraph); §5.961(i) |
| Development Sign (On-premises, Builder/Developer) | No sign in R-District shall project higher than one story or 20 ft (whichever is lower) | 20 sq ft | — | — | No more than 2 per property; if multi-frontage, up to 2 per additional frontage | On premises under development by builder/contractor/developer | — | §5.961(e)(1)-(3); §5.961(i) |
| Directional Sign (Off-premises, Development) | — | 6 sq ft | Max length 4 ft | — | No more than 1 per 500 ft of street frontage | Off the premises; indicates location/direction of premises available for or in process of development; may include owner/developer/builder/agent name | — | §5.961(f)(1)-(2) |

### General Commercial (C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Business Sign (Wall Sign) | No sign higher than building; no signs on roofs (business signs may be affixed to parapet) | 20% of building side area | — | — | — | Attached to a building | — | §5.962(b),(d),(f); §5.964(b),(d); §9.620 |
| Projecting Business Sign (Attached) | Bottom must provide at least 10 ft clearance above grade; no sign higher than building; no signs on roofs (business sign may be affixed to parapet) | Included within 20% attached sign area limit | Projection max 3 ft toward public street or public walkway | — | — | Attached to building | — | §5.964(c),(d); §5.962(d); §9.620 |
| Freestanding Business Sign (Detached) | Max 35 ft above mean ground level | 100 sq ft (in any 'C' District) | — | Not nearer to any property line than the height of the sign; in all cases at least 20 ft from any property line | — | On site; freestanding signs permitted | — | §5.962(a),(c),(d); §5.964(d); §9.620 |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign (Billboard) | Max 35 ft above the level of the roadway directly below where the sign is located | Individual sign: 672 sq ft; Total on lot: ≤ 4 × lot frontage (sq ft) | — | At least the height of the sign from any property line; and at least 25 ft from any property line | Spacing: no two outdoor advertisements closer than 2,000 ft | On site within C-3; off-premises advertising permitted only in C-3 (Special Exception) | — | §5.963(a)-(h); §9.620 |

### Light Industrial (M-1), Heavy Industrial (M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Business Sign (Wall Sign) | No sign higher than building; no signs on roofs (business signs may be affixed to parapet) | 20% of building side area | — | — | — | Attached to a building | — | §5.962(b),(d),(f); §5.964(b),(d); §9.620 |
| Projecting Business Sign (Attached) | Bottom must provide at least 10 ft clearance above grade; no sign higher than building; no signs on roofs (business sign may be affixed to parapet) | Included within 20% attached sign area limit | Projection max 3 ft toward public street or public walkway | — | — | Attached to building | — | §5.964(c),(d); §5.962(d); §9.620 |
| Freestanding Business Sign (Detached) | Max 35 ft above mean ground level | 150 sq ft (in any 'M' District) | — | Not nearer to any property line than the height of the sign; in all cases at least 20 ft from any property line | — | On site; freestanding signs permitted in M-Districts | — | §5.962(a),(c),(d); §5.964(d); §9.620 |
| Revolving Illuminated Sign (Special Exception) | — | — | — | — | — | On site in M-Districts | — | §5.962(d) (revolving illuminated signs by Special Exception in M-Districts) |
| Portable Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | On site | — | §5.962(e) |
| Window Display Sign (Self-Illuminating) | — | Included within attached sign area limit | — | — | — | Within display windows of the business | — | §5.962(f); §9.620 |
| Business Sign (Adult Business - M-2 only) | — | — | — | — | — | On site of adult business (Adult businesses are allowed only as Special Exception in M-2) | — | §5.510(C), §5.510(F)(1)-(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Carbondale

- All signs must be maintained in good condition and may not be allowed to become dilapidated (Section 5.964(a)).
- Wall signs may not extend more than 15 inches from the building wall; wall signs exceeding 40 square feet must be of non-combustible material (Section 5.964(b)).
- Projecting signs may not project more than 3 feet toward a public street or public walkway and may not extend over a public street or walkway; a clear space of at least 10 feet must be maintained below all parts of projecting signs; projecting signs exceeding 40 square feet must be of non-combustible material (Section 5.964(c)).
- No sign (except a free-standing sign) may be higher than the building on which it is located; no sign may be located upon the roof of any building; free-standing signs may not exceed 35 feet above mean ground level (Section 5.964(d)).
- No obstruction to vision (including signs) exceeding 30 inches in height may be placed within the clear-sight triangle at street intersections (Section 4.140).
- No sign, structure, or fence may be installed if it would materially affect the efficiency of an established solar energy system on adjoining or nearby properties (Section 4.230).

## Signs exempt from permit in Carbondale

- Building permits are not required for temporary political signs, signs provided under Section 5.971 (temporary tract office, tract sign, model home), and other accessory residential signs (Section 5.964(e)).
- No fee is charged for the erection of a sign necessary to the public welfare; the Zoning Officer may issue a temporary permit for public information/convenience signs upon approval by the Zoning Hearing Board (Section 5.964(e)–(f)).
- Glare performance standards do not apply to signs otherwise permitted by the ordinance (Section 6.450).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Zoning permit applications must include plans showing the exact size and location of any sign (Section 9.220).
- Large-scale commercial/manufacturing developments: plans showing the proposed location and design of all signs (including directional and parking signs) must be submitted to the Planning Commission for review and to the Zoning Hearing Board for approval (Section 5.632(i)).
- Indoor recreational facilities: the required site development plan must show the size and location of signage (Section 5.110(d)).
- Motels/motor hotels: the required site development plan must show the size and location of signage (Section 5.424(a)).
- Drive-in and drive-through businesses: the required site development plan must show the location and size of signage (Section 5.773).
- Planned, integrated shopping centers and industrial parks: the required site design plan must show the size and location of signage (Section 5.643).

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

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