# Sign Regulations in Coopersburg Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Coopersburg Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/coopersburg-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/39645503#39645503)

## At a glance

Coopersburg Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 35 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Home Occupation and Accessory Day Care Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 2 sq ft (res); 8 sq ft (nonres) (Sec. §230-52 Table). Most commercial signs in Coopersburg Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 21 | 8 ft | Not permitted (res); 50 sq ft for all such banners, flags, and temporary signs (nonres) | — |
| RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-1/O | 4 | Up to roofline; may attach to a parapet up to 10 ft above structural roof | 40 sq ft per side per principal building | — |
| CG, CN, LIC, GI | 5 | 18 ft (25 ft along arterial street if lot has 2+ principal commercial uses) | Total of allowed per street frontage may be shifted; e.g. 75 sq ft along arterial street, 25 sq ft along second street if normally 50+50 | — |
| TC | 4 | Top of roof/parapet (up to 10 ft above structural roof) | 10 sq ft per side, max 2 sides | — |
| NC, GC | 1 | — | — | — |
| CN | 1 | 40 ft above street/highway centerline; bottom at least 10 ft above ground | 300 sq ft per side, max 2 sides | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Sales or Christmas Tree Sign | — | 12 sq ft per residential lot; 50 sq ft per nonresidential lot (total per lot) | — | — | 2 per lot | On lot where products are actively sold | — | §230-52 Table |
| Contractor's Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign (residential); 20 sq ft per sign (nonresidential), or 1 shared sign max 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per contractor | On lot where work is actively underway | — | §230-52 Table |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign (in addition to pavement signs, both lot types) | — | — | No max | On same lot it pertains to | — | §230-52 Table |
| Home Occupation and Accessory Day Care Sign | 8 ft | 2 sq ft (res); 8 sq ft (nonres) | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | §230-52 Table |
| Identification Sign | 8 ft | 2 sq ft (res); 8 sq ft (nonres) | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | §230-52 Table |
| Political/Issue Sign | — | 12 sq ft per issue/candidate per lot (res); 50 sq ft per issue/candidate per lot (nonres) | — | — | Max 2 sign faces per issue/candidate | On private property with owner consent | — | §230-52 Table |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 12 sq ft (res); 50 sq ft (nonres) | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | On property for sale/rent/lease | — | §230-52 Table |
| Service Organization/Place of Worship Sign | — | 12 sq ft (res); 50 sq ft (nonres) | — | — | 2 per organization/place | Off-premises, with info of recognized org or place of worship | — | §230-52 Table |

### RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-1/O

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (School or Place of Worship) | Up to roofline; may attach to a parapet up to 10 ft above structural roof | 40 sq ft per side per principal building | — | — | Not specified separately | On wall of principal building | — | §230-53 Table |
| Wall Sign (Other Nonresidential Principal Use) | Up to roofline; may attach to parapet up to 10 ft above structural roof | 10 sq ft per side per principal building | — | — | Not specified separately | On wall of principal building | — | §230-53 Table |
| Freestanding Sign (School or Place of Worship) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | One per street the lot abuts | — | §230-53 Table |
| Freestanding Sign (Other Nonresidential Principal Use) | 8 ft | 10 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | One per street the lot abuts | — | §230-53 Table |

### CG, CN, LIC, GI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of roof/parapet (up to 10 ft above structural roof) | — | — | — | Not specified separately | Building wall | — | §230-53 Table; §230-53C |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | §230-53 Table |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Street Frontage) | 18 ft (25 ft along arterial street if lot has 2+ principal commercial uses) | 50 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | One per street the lot abuts | — | §230-53 Table, *notes |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Street Frontages) | 18 ft or 25 ft on arterial as above | Total of allowed per street frontage may be shifted; e.g. 75 sq ft along arterial street, 25 sq ft along second street if normally 50+50 | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | Multiple street frontages. Sign area may be shifted as per footnote. | — | §230-53 Table, ***note |
| Menu Board (Drive-Through Restaurant) | 10 ft | 60 sq ft per side | — | — | 2 per drive-through use | On-premises, not readable beyond property line | — | §230-53 Table, **note |

## Prohibited signs in Coopersburg Borough

- Any moving object used to attract attention to a commercial use is prohibited, except certain flags and banners under 'Special sale signs'.
- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated, scrolling, rotating or moving signs of any type are prohibited. A sign shall not display electronically moving images.
- Flashing lights visible from a street shall not be used to attract attention to a business, including window signs (does not prohibit Christmas-season lighting/displays within § 230-52).
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor are prohibited.
- Signs which contain information that states that a lot may be used for a purpose not permitted under this Ordinance are prohibited.
- Signs that resemble an official traffic control sign, signal or device, or that could likely confuse or distract vehicle operators (such as prominent use of the word 'Danger'), are prohibited.
- Signs or displays visible from a lot line that include words or images that are obscene or pornographic are prohibited.
- Balloons of greater than 50 cubic feet, tethered to the ground or a structure for over one day and primarily intended for advertising, are prohibited.
- Floodlights and outdoor lasers for advertising purposes are prohibited.
- Portable signs (including 'signs on mobile stands') are prohibited in all districts, except as temporary charitable event signs permitted by § 230-52.
- No sign shall be located within the existing street right-of-way, except allowed projecting and sandwich board signs.
- No signs except permitted off-premises, official, political or public service signs shall be erected on a property to which it does not relate.
- No sign shall be posted on any property unless permission has been received from the owner or entity leasing the property.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility pole or street sign post, except by a utility or government agency.
- No sign shall be attached to a tree, except allowed temporary signs may be attached with string.
- Signs shall be prohibited that involve electrical cords laying across parking lots, driveways or sidewalks, except for temporary Christmas season lighting.
- Destruction, removal, defacement, obliteration or covering up of any lamp, sign or barricade erected as a warning of danger by the authorities or by authorized workers is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Coopersburg Borough

- Signs meeting the requirements of § 230-52 (miscellaneous signs not requiring permits), and nonilluminated window signs, are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Signs changed only in logo or message, painted, repaired, or replaced with a new face without increasing area/height or increasing nonconformity, do not require a permit (except digital signs).
- Signs specifically listed in § 230-52, including: agricultural sales or Christmas tree signs, charitable event signs, contractor's signs, directional signs, flags, garage sale signs, home occupation and accessory day care signs, identification signs, open house signs, political/issue signs (meeting certain criteria), public service signs, real estate signs, service organization/place of worship signs (off-premises), special sale signs (temporary banners, flags and other signs for special sales events), time and temperature signs, and trespassing signs.
- Historic signs authorized by the Borough or a county, state, or federal agency.
- Holiday decorations commemorating holidays recognized by government or individual's own religious holiday, that do not include advertising, and that are posted no more than 90 days per calendar year.
- Signs not readable from any public street or any exterior lot line.
- Official signs erected by the state, county, Borough or other legally constituted governmental body, or specifically authorized by Borough ordinance, motion or resolution, and which exist for public purposes.
- Signs that only include information required to be posted outdoors by a government agency or the Borough.
- Signs posted within the existing right-of-way of a public street and officially authorized (including decorative banners authorized by the Borough).
- Official signs (including those erected and maintained by PennDOT or by the Borough, which may include official directional signs).
- The setbacks for official signs, nameplate signs, public service signs and directional signs do not apply (§ 230-56A(3)).
- The ordinance does not regulate the placement of tourist-oriented directional signs posted along a public street right-of-way in a manner allowed under PennDOT regulations or approved by the Borough.
- Temporary nonilluminated window signs are not regulated.
- Flags of governments and flags that simply include colors, or non-commercial art or patterns are not regulated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit is required for all signs except those meeting the requirements of § 230-52 and nonilluminated window signs.
- Any change to a digital sign requires a zoning permit.
- Only types, sizes and heights of signs that are specifically permitted by this article within the applicable district shall be allowed.
- No explicit mention of a 'master sign plan', 'sign plan', or required variance meeting in the provided ordinance text. Variance or special exception for certain signs (such as new box-type wall signs in the TC district) may require Zoning Hearing Board approval.

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

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