# Sign Regulations in Columbia Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Columbia Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/columbia-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7744451#7744451)

## At a glance

Columbia Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 11 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Off-Premises Signs in the HC District zoning district are capped at 25 feet above the elevation of the adjacent street, measured at the street center line tall and 300 square feet (or two faces of 150 sq ft each placed approximately back to back), with a 25 feet from all lot lines and street rights-of-way; 200 feet from any existing dwelling for signs over 10 sq ft setback (Sec. §220-56D). Most commercial signs in Columbia Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| P District, C District, Residential Districts | 3 | 8 feet | 20 square feet on each side of a principal building | — |
| DC District, RC District, NC District, MDRB District | 4 | 8 feet | 20 square feet per sign | — |
| HC District | 4 | 25 feet above the elevation of the adjacent street, measured at the street center line | 300 square feet (or two faces of 150 sq ft each placed approximately back to back) | — |
| Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 8 feet | 30 sq ft (nonresidential lots) | — |

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

### DC District, RC District, NC District, MDRB District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Equal to the top of the roof along the wall to which they are attached | — | — | — | — | Attached to wall of building | — | §220-48A; Illumination per Table |
| Window Sign | — | Regulated under wall signs (see wall sign maximum) | — | — | — | Mounted only to the inside surface of windows and doors | — | §220-48A; §220-48C |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 20 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | On the property | — | §220-48A |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 square feet per side (two sides allowed) | — | — | 1 per lot | One sign per lot; attached to building; must meet minimum clearance over sidewalk as provided in Building Code | — | §220-48A Note 1 |

### HC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Equal to the top of the roof along the wall to which they are attached | — | — | — | — | Attached to wall of building | — | §220-48A; Table row: All districts not listed above |
| Window Sign | — | Regulated under wall sign maximums | — | — | — | Mounted only to the inside surface of windows and doors | — | §220-48A; §220-48C; Table row: All districts not listed above |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 50 square feet per sign (may be increased to 80 square feet if lot has six or more principal uses) | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | On the property | — | §220-48A, Table row: All districts not listed above, Note 3 |
| Off-Premises Sign | 25 feet above the elevation of the adjacent street, measured at the street center line | 300 square feet (or two faces of 150 sq ft each placed approximately back to back) | — | 25 feet from all lot lines and street rights-of-way; 200 feet from any existing dwelling for signs over 10 sq ft | 1 per lot | Must be set back a minimum of 25 feet from all lot lines and street rights-of-way; not within 200 feet of dwelling if over 10 square feet | — | §220-56D |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (Not Requiring Permit) | — | 3 square feet | — | — | No maximum | On the same lot it serves | — | §220-47A |
| Identification Sign (Not Requiring Permit) | 8 feet | 1 sq ft (residential); 2 sq ft (principal nonresidential use in residential lot); 6 sq ft (nonresidential lots) | — | — | 1 (residential); 2 (principal nonresidential use in residential lot) | On the lot it identifies | — | §220-47A |
| Time and Temperature Sign (Not Requiring Permit) | — | 30 sq ft (nonresidential lots) | — | — | 1 | — | — | §220-47A, §220-53B |
| Trespassing Sign (Not Requiring Permit) | — | 2 sq ft (residential lots); 4 sq ft (nonresidential lots) | — | — | No maximum | — | — | §220-47A |
| Historic Sign (Not Requiring Permit) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §220-47B(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Columbia Borough

- Portable signs are prohibited in all districts, except for charitable event signs as specified.
- Any moving object used to attract attention to a commercial use is prohibited (except permitted flags or banners).
- Mechanical, including revolving signs of any type, are prohibited, except time and temperature signs may flash. Holiday lighting and displays are allowed.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound, or odor are prohibited.
- Signs which contain information that states or implies illegal uses for a lot are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal, or device or that are likely to confuse or distract motorists are prohibited.
- Signs or displays visible from a lot line that include words or images that are obscene, pornographic, profane, or invoke violence are prohibited.
- Balloons greater than 25 cubic feet tethered to the ground or a structure for periods of over a day and primarily intended for advertising are prohibited.
- Floodlights and outdoor lasers for advertising purposes are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall interfere with sight distance requirements for traffic.
- No sign shall be posted on any property or sign pole or public utility pole without written permission of the owner.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility pole using metal fasteners, except by a utility or government agency.

## Signs exempt from permit in Columbia Borough

- Directional signs (traffic direction, entry/exit, loading/service area, fire lanes, parking, etc.) that do not include advertising and meet specified requirements.
- Identification signs for name/occupation of resident, or name, street address and/or use of a lot, without advertising, within prescribed area limits.
- Time and temperature signs with sole purpose to announce current time/temperature, within regulated quantity and area.
- Trespassing signs (private road, trespassing/hunting/fishing prohibited, activity control) within specific limits.
- Historic signs authorized by the Borough or a county, state, or federal agency.
- Holiday decorations commemorating a holiday recognized by the Borough, county, state, or federal government and not including advertising.
- Signs not readable from any public street or any exterior lot line.
- Official signs erected by or authorized by government entities for public purposes.
- Required signs that only include information required to be posted outdoors by a government agency or the Borough.
- Right-of-way signs posted within the street right-of-way and officially authorized.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit is required for all signs except exempt signs listed in §220-47 and nonilluminated, nonpermanent window signs constructed of paper, cardboard, or similar materials.
- Any new or altered sign in the historic district requires review and recommendation by the Historical Architectural Review Board and approval by Borough Council, including a certificate of appropriateness.
- Permit applications for signs in the historic district must include a written letter of intent with a current color photograph of the property, an illustration of the building facade showing the proposed sign, a scaled sign specification drawing and elevation showing signage detail, size, materials, colors, lighting, lettering and method of attachment (and possibly material samples), engineered wind design load calculations, and lighting specifications including UL-listed certification.
- For any ground signs in the historic district, a site plan indicating sign location, dimensions, and type of illumination and electrical detail is required.
- Only types, sizes and heights of signs specifically permitted by the ordinance within the applicable district are allowed.

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

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