# Sign Regulations in Catawissa Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Catawissa Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/catawissa-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/41159592#41159592)

## At a glance

Catawissa Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 19 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Enterprise Identification Signs in the B-1 (Central Commercial District), I-1 (Light Industrial District) zoning district are capped at 18 ft or height of principal building, whichever is less tall and 100 sq ft, with a No sign closer than 5 ft from street right-of-way or front property line setback (Sec. §269-4B(1)). Most commercial signs in Catawissa Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 (Low-Medium Density Residential), R-2 (Medium-High Density Residential) | 10 | — | 10 sq ft | — |
| B-1 (Central Commercial District), I-1 (Light Industrial District) | 12 | 20 ft above average grade | 100 sq ft | — |
| C-1 (Conservation District) | 7 | — | 10 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 6 ft in R-1, R-2, C-1; 18 ft or principal building height, whichever less, in B-1 and I-1 | — | — |

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

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Posting Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property to indicate private nature, driveway, or restricted activity | — | §269-3A(1) |
| Residential Nameplate or Personal Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property to display owner name and/or address | — | §269-3A(2) |
| Institutional Sign (School or Church) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property of school or church | — | §269-3A(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property for directional information | — | §269-3A(4) |
| Temporary Sign - Political Election | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per issue/candidate | On property | — | §269-3A(5)(a) |
| Project Development Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On project/development property | — | §269-3B(1) |
| Farm Product Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property selling farm products | — | §269-3B(2) |
| Promotional Device | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property | — | §269-3B(3) |

### B-1 (Central Commercial District), I-1 (Light Industrial District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Posting Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-4A; §269-3A(1) |
| Residential Nameplate or Personal Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-4A; §269-3A(2) |
| Institutional Sign (School or Church) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-4A; §269-3A(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-4A; §269-3A(4) |
| Temporary Sign - Political Election | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per issue/candidate | On property as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-4A; §269-3A(5)(a) |
| Enterprise Identification Sign | 18 ft or height of principal building, whichever is less | 100 sq ft | — | No sign closer than 5 ft from street right-of-way or front property line | 1 freestanding + 1 wall or projecting per lot; Max 2 signs if corner, area limit applies | On premises (can be freestanding, parallel or projecting wall sign) | — | §269-4B(1) |
| Advertising Sign Board (Billboard) | 18 ft or height of principal building, whichever is less | 100 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from street right-of-way or front property line; see §269-2C(3) | 1 per property (2 if corner, area limit applies) | On premises or as billboard | — | §269-4B(1) |
| Digital Message Board | 20 ft above average grade | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business structure | On external wall or freestanding pole, only within B-1 District with special exception | — | §269-4B(3) |

### C-1 (Conservation District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Posting Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property, as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-5A; §269-3A(1) |
| Residential Nameplate or Personal Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property, as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-5A; §269-3A(2) |
| Institutional Sign (School or Church) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property, as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-5A; §269-3A(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (1 per frontage if corner lot) | On property, as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-5A; §269-3A(4) |
| Temporary Sign - Political Election | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per issue/candidate | On property, as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-5A; §269-3A(5)(a) |
| Temporary Sign - Zoning Notification | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | On property, as in R-1/R-2 | — | §269-5A; §269-3A(5)(b) |
| Temporary Sign - Sale or Rental | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On property being sold or leased | — | §269-5A; §269-3A(5)(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Catawissa Borough

- No sign shall be hereafter erected, re-erected, constructed, altered or maintained except as provided by this chapter.
- Signs shall not be allowed to become dilapidated or endanger public health, safety or welfare.
- All signs shall be securely fastened in order to prevent their displacement by the elements.
- Each sign shall be removed when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer exist, or if its condition deteriorates.
- No sign (whether temporary or permanent) shall be placed within the clear sight triangle of any intersection nor at any other location that could obstruct or impair a motorist's clear vision.
- No sign shall be located where it could be an impediment to pedestrian traffic.
- No sign, other than an official traffic sign, shall be erected within the right-of-way of any street, unless authorized by the Borough Council for a special purpose.
- No portion of a freestanding sign (whether temporary or permanent) shall be located closer to a street right-of-way or front property line than five feet, except for official traffic signs or as may be provided otherwise in these regulations.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained which could prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, nor shall any sign be attached to a standpipe, fire escape, or the eave of any building.
- Signs placed in a general floodplain district may not substantially impede natural drainage or the flow of water.
- No sign shall be painted, erected, affixed or maintained on a tree, stone (except for ornamental or architectural stones that may be used to identify a business or personal property), or other natural object, except for property posting signs.
- No person(s) shall artificially increase the maximum height of a sign by altering the grade at the base of the sign.
- No portion of a wall sign, whether parallel or projecting, shall extend above the top of the wall to which it is attached.
- Parallel wall signs may not extend more than 12 inches from the surface to which they are mounted or attached, nor in any way interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Projecting wall signs shall not extend or project more than six feet from their supporting structure or wall, nor shall any such sign extend over a public street or walkway more than 18 inches.
- Illuminated signs shall cause no glare or other disturbance incompatible with the nature of the neighborhood or which would impair the vision of passing motorists.
- Illumination shall be steady in nature, not flashing, moving or changing in brilliance, color or intensity. No flashing or animated signs shall be permitted except for digital message boards, which are permitted only as special exceptions in the Central Commercial (B-1) District.
- No illuminated signs are allowed in the Conservation District (C-1).
- All applicable state regulations shall be met where signs are proposed in areas adjacent to highways included in PennDOT's primary highway systems.
- Obscene signs are prohibited. No sign shall utilize sexually explicit or suggestive language or graphics nor any illustration of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas," nor shall it bear language, images, or graphics deemed obscene by the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.
- All nonconforming signs shall be eliminated within five years of the effective date of this chapter.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape, nor attached to a standpipe or a fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of streets so as to obstruct free and clear vision.
- If located in direct line of vision, signs shall not have flashing or intermittent lighting.

## Signs exempt from permit in Catawissa Borough

- Painting, repainting, cleaning, or repair maintenance shall not be considered an erection or alteration, unless a structural change is made.
- Exemptions to this regulation shall apply only to a sign which advertises either the sale or rental of the premises upon which it is maintained.
- A zoning permit shall not be required for sign types specifically exempted pursuant to §§ 269-3A, 269-4A, and 269-5A (e.g., certain property posting, residential nameplates, temporary political, sale/rental signs, etc., as detailed per district).
- There shall be no fee for the erection of any sign necessary to the public welfare.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit is required for the placement, erection, or alteration of all temporary and permanent signs, except those specifically exempted.
- Applications for signs being erected on property other than that owned by the applicant shall also include notarized permission from the property owner.
- All applicable state (PennDOT) determinations/regulations must be included with applications for signs adjacent to highways.
- Digital message boards require approval as a special exception, with an application process outlined for the Central Commercial (B-1) District. Such applications must be filed by the landowner.

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

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