# Sign Regulations in Charleroi Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Charleroi Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/charleroi-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32071899#32071899)

## At a glance

Charleroi Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground/Pole Signs in the nonresidential districts zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall and 60 sq ft per side, with a 15 ft from street right-of-way, 5 ft from any building, 10 ft from side property line (+1 ft/10 sq ft over 10 sq ft area). setback (Sec. §338-707C). Most commercial signs in Charleroi Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 5 sq ft | — |
| SFR residential districts | 3 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| nonresidential districts | 11 | 30 ft | 60 sq ft per side | — |
| residential districts | 3 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| IND (Industrial) Zoning District | 1 | 20 ft (top of sign); bottom edge no more than 8 ft above adjacent roadway surface | 300 sq ft (12 ft x 25 ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame (Sandwich Board) Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per premises | On sidewalks, provided it does not obstruct pedestrian travel. | — | §338-704A(13) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | On premises during active construction | — | §338-704A(10) |
| Auction/Garage Sale/Yard Sale Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §338-704A(8) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | — | — | — | Max 2 per property | On property for sale, rent, or lease. | — | §338-704A(12) |
| Directional, Incidental Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | Only in conjunction with site drive entrances and/or internal traffic drive aisles. | — | §338-703 Directional, Incidental |

### SFR residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Placed directly against a building wall. | — | §338-706A, §338-706D, §338-708 |
| Bulletin Sign (Institutional) | — | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way (ground signs only) | 1 per institution | On premises of educational, philanthropic, or religious institutions. | — | §338-706B, §338-706D, §338-708 |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §338-706F |

### nonresidential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Directly against building wall | — | §338-706A, §338-707A |
| Bulletin Sign (Institutional) | — | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way (ground signs only) | 1 per institution | On premises of educational, philanthropic, or religious institutions. | — | §338-706B, §338-707A |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per wall with frontage | Attached to or on a front or side wall of building; face projecting not more than 12 inches. Sign to be at least 9 feet above entrance grade if projecting. | — | §338-707B, §338-708 |
| Ground/Pole Sign | 30 ft | 60 sq ft per side | — | 15 ft from street right-of-way, 5 ft from any building, 10 ft from side property line (+1 ft/10 sq ft over 10 sq ft area). | — | Not permitted in public right-of-way, must be at building setback line; at least 15 ft from street right-of-way; 5 ft from building; 10 ft from side property line. | — | §338-707C |
| Permanent Identification Sign (No Building) | — | 40 sq ft | — | 15 ft from street right-of-way | 1 | For property occupied by business without a building; at least 15 ft from street right-of-way. | — | §338-707D |
| Wall Plaque | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall; no minimum height. | — | §338-707E |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from any property or right-of-way lines | — | On same lot as use advertised; at least 15 ft from property/right-of-way lines. | — | §338-707F |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Installed inside window of nonresidential structures only. | — | §338-707G |

## Prohibited signs in Charleroi Borough

- Signs not expressly permitted by this article are prohibited (§338-701.B, §338-702.A(3)).
- No sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, altered or maintained except in conformance with the standards, procedures, regulations and requirements contained in this chapter (§338-702).
- Signs not authorized by this chapter nor exempt from regulation are prohibited (§338-702.A(3)).
- No sign may be erected on, or applied to, any roof (§338-706.C, applies to all zones, with religious symbol exception for places of worship).
- Flashing, blinking, animated, or moving signs are prohibited in any zoning district (§338-704.B(1)).
- LED signs are prohibited in any zoning district (§338-704.B(2)).
- Signs mounted perpendicular to the wall surface are prohibited (§338-704.B(3)).
- Pennants, flags (other than governmental/corporate), or streamers are prohibited (§338-704.B(4)).
- Signs advertising a property for sale or rent that list an improper use of the property are prohibited (§338-704.B(5)).
- Signs that resemble traffic signals or any sort of traffic device are prohibited (§338-704.B(6)).
- Signs that contain obscene or pornographic material, including the nonrepair of illegal acts of vandalism, are prohibited (§338-704.B(7)).
- Off-premises signs (other than billboards) are prohibited (§338-704.B(8)).
- Roof signs are prohibited (§338-704.B(9)).
- Signs on trees, utility poles, and traffic devices are prohibited (§338-704.B(10)).
- Signs that are hazardous to public safety are prohibited (§338-704.B(11)).
- Any sign installed or placed on public property or within a public right-of-way, except in conformance with the requirements of this article, shall be subject to confiscation (§338-702.E).
- All signs must be non-flashing, non-animated, and have no exterior moving parts (§338-708.F(3)).
- All illuminated signs must be non-flashing, nonglaring, and illuminated to prevent glare and reflection to a public street or adjacent properties (§338-708.F(2)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Charleroi Borough

- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized state and federal holidays (§338-704.A(1)).
- Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public safety official (§338-704.A(2)).
- Memorial/historical plaques (§338-704.A(3)).
- Memorial signs and tablets when cut into any masonry surface or constructed of bronze or sculptured materials (§338-704.A(4)).
- Flags of a government organization or corporate entity (§338-704.A(5)).
- Signs authorized by the Borough such as street signs, safety control signs, and traffic control signs (§338-704.A(6)).
- Public notice/public warning signs (§338-704.A(7)).
- Auction, garage sale or yard sale signs (§338-704.A(8)).
- Address numbering (§338-704.A(9)).
- Construction sign (temporary, only during active construction) (§338-704.A(10)).
- Signs of any type placed on public or parks property by authorization of the Borough (§338-704.A(11)).
- Real estate signs that advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which the sign is located, subject to specific limitations (§338-704.A(12)).
- A-frame (sandwich board) signs on sidewalks, one per premises, not obstructing pedestrian travel and removed each evening (§338-704.A(13)).
- Signs announcing candidacy for public office, with restrictions on utility poles and display period (§338-704.A(14)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require an application for zoning approval, reviewed by the Zoning Officer, showing compliance with the ordinance (§338-702.A(1), §338-708.A).
- A site plan or scale sketch must be submitted as part of the application, showing location, relation to other buildings and structures, materials, manner of construction and mounting, information to be included on sign surfaces, illumination description, and photographs of the proposed sign location (§338-708.B).
- A permit is required prior to construction, alteration, modification or moving of any exterior sign, and all signs (except those exempted) require a permit from the Borough Zoning Officer (§338-708.C, §338-708.H(1)).
- Alterations to sign face or supporting structure, and physical alteration, are considered new construction and require zoning approval (§338-702.D).
- Billboards require submission of a conditional use application, including maps, plans, narratives, and graphics (§338-709.A).
- The Zoning Officer may require engineering certifications for signs over 25 sq ft, ground signs over 10 ft high, or signs exceeding 100 lbs (§338-708.E(1)).
- All illuminated signs must be inspected by the authorized electrical inspection agency (§338-708.F(1)).

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

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