# Sign Regulations in Churchill Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Churchill Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/churchill-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33218998#33218998)

## At a glance

Churchill Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 17 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 72 inches from ground including post tall and 6 sq ft (unless otherwise limited); see also Residential and Commercial restrictions, with a 10 ft from any property line setback (Sec. §304-21N). Most commercial signs in Churchill Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 72 inches from ground including post | 6 sq ft (unless otherwise limited); see also Residential and Commercial restrictions | — |
| Residential districts | 3 | 72 inches from ground | 12 sq ft | — |
| Commercial districts | 11 | 55 in (sign + support) | 250 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 72 inches from ground including post | 6 sq ft (unless otherwise limited); see also Residential and Commercial restrictions | — | 10 ft from any property line | 1 per property | On property with owner's consent; not in public right-of-way or in required clear sight triangle | — | §304-21N |
| Address or Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to the wall of the structure | — | §304-21B(2)(c) |
| Official Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As needed by government/public utility/public interest | — | §304-21B(2)(a), (b) |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Multi-dwelling, Commercial property, Home Occupation) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On wall of property | — | §304-21K(1)(a), (2) |
| Noncommercial Sign (Single-family/Two-family) | 48 inches (including post) | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On property | — | §304-21K(1)(b)[1], (2) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Districts) | 72 inches from ground | 6 sq ft or as otherwise limited | — | 10 ft from any property line | 1 per property | On property; not in right-of-way or clear sight triangle | — | §304-21K(1)(b)[2], §304-21N |

### Commercial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business establishment | On building wall (continuous section unbroken by doors, windows, architectural detail) | — | §304-21L(1)(a), (3)(a), (3)(d) |
| Window Graphic Sign | — | 20% of total window area | — | — | — | Window | — | §304-21L(1)(c) |
| Incidental Window Sign | — | 15% of window area | — | — | — | Any window | — | §304-21L(1)(e) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Business) | 55 in (sign + support) | 6 sq ft | — | 6 ft from street right-of-way, 5 ft from side lot line, not within 40 ft of another freestanding sign (≥6 sq ft) | 1 per qualifying business lot | On property (subject to various requirements, see below) | — | §304-21L(1)(d), (3)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center/Commercial Campus/Complex) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 for the complex | — | — | §304-21L(3)(b) |
| Off-lot Directional Sign | 55 in | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property (with owner permission), possibly along public street with authority approval | — | §304-21L(1)(f) |
| On-lot Directional Sign | 55 in | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | §304-21L(1)(g) |
| Billboard | 25 ft (if freestanding; measured at ground at base) | 250 sq ft | — | 100 ft from nearest street right-of-way; 500 ft from other billboards or specified uses. | 1 per lot | Commercial districts, at least 100 feet from street right-of-way, not less than 500 feet from other billboards, place of worship, school, recreational facility, or residential district | — | §304-21M |

## Prohibited signs in Churchill Borough

- No flashing or animated signs are permitted, except where explicitly permitted as temporary signs.
- No signs painted directly onto a building or structure, except where explicitly permitted as temporary signs.
- No string pennants or banners, except where explicitly permitted as temporary signs.
- No bare bulb, light strings or search lights, except where explicitly permitted as temporary signs.
- No sandwich board signs, except where explicitly permitted as temporary signs.
- No signs which by reason of color, shape, location, or other characteristics or that use admonitions such as 'stop,' 'go,' 'slow,' or 'danger' which might be confused with legitimate traffic-control devices.
- No signs affixed to vehicles when the primary purpose of the vehicle is for advertising, e.g., mobile billboards.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility pole or tree whether on private or public property unless specifically authorized by this section.
- No sign shall obstruct in any way clear sight distances at intersections.
- No sign shall be erected in or projecting over any public right-of-way unless specifically authorized by this section.
- Illuminated signs shall be designed and placed so as not to interfere with, distract, or blind operators of motor vehicles or to create glare on adjacent properties.
- Permanent signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition and repair, and kept clean; otherwise, they may be ordered repaired, replaced, or removed.
- If a use ceases operation for a period of two months, all signs, including any supporting structures, shall be removed.
- No temporary sign shall encroach into the public right-of-way or obstruct the view of motorists in any required clear sight triangle.
- Billboards and other off-site commercial advertising shall not be permitted as a temporary sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Churchill Borough

- Signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body, including but not limited to legal notices, identification and informational signs, signs or banners promoting a civic or educational cause or purpose, and traffic, directional or regulatory signs.
- Official signs of a noncommercial nature erected by public utilities.
- Address or identification signs not exceeding two square feet and attached to a wall of the structure, indicating the address and occupants of the structure, a permitted home occupation, or in the case of a multiple occupancy structure, the name of the owner and/or management agency.
- Temporary signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit shall be obtained from the Zoning Officer prior to the erection, alteration, relocation, or remodeling of any sign, except as specified for exemptions.
- The applicant must provide sufficient information for the Borough to determine whether the proposed sign is permitted in accordance with the ordinance.
- The owner/agent of a multiple-occupancy building shall develop guidelines which promote the use of signs by individual occupants that are similar or compatible in terms of size, type, style, color, lighting, and other design characteristics.
- It is the responsibility of the owner or management agent of a multiple-occupancy building to provide all occupants with suitable sign space in accordance with the ordinance; failure to do so is not grounds for a variance.

## Full detail

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

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