# Sign Regulations in Darby Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Darby Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/darby-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30219056#30219056)

## At a glance

Darby Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 20 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Identification Sign (for apartment buildings/complexes, schools, churches, hospitals, and similar permitted uses, not individual dwellings)s in the R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District, R-3 Residential District, R-4 Residential District zoning district are capped at 4 feet for freestanding or ground signs tall and 20 square feet, with a Freestanding signs in residential areas must be set back at least 6 feet from the front property line (§153-97E(3)). setback (Sec. §153-99A(2), §153-99A(5)). Most commercial signs in Darby Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District, R-3 Residential District, R-4 Residential District | 4 | 4 feet for freestanding or ground signs | 288 square inches | — |
| PRD Planned Residential Development District | 4 | 4 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| I Institutional District | 3 | — | 16 square feet | — |
| CBD Central Business District | 4 | — | 25% of total window area | — |
| HC Highway Commercial District, BI Business Institutional District, IND Industrial District | 8 | Maximum permitted building height plus 20 feet | 150 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | Not more than 50% of the area of the door, window, or wall to which affixed | — |

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

### R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District, R-3 Residential District, R-4 Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 288 square inches | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On dwelling | — | §153-99A(1), §153-99A(5) |
| Identification Sign (for apartment buildings/complexes, schools, churches, hospitals, and similar permitted uses, not individual dwellings) | 4 feet for freestanding or ground signs | 20 square feet | — | Freestanding signs in residential areas must be set back at least 6 feet from the front property line (§153-97E(3)). | 1 wall sign and 1 freestanding or ground sign per frontage | Wall, freestanding, or ground sign on premises | — | §153-99A(2), §153-99A(5) |
| Identification Sign (for nonresidential uses permitted as valid nonconforming uses) | 4 feet for freestanding or ground signs | 20 square feet | — | Freestanding signs must be set back at least 6 feet from the front property line (§153-97E(3)). | See limits for identification signs above | Wall, freestanding, or ground sign on premises | — | §153-99A(3) |
| Accessory Use Sign (for major home occupations and home professional offices) | — | 6 square feet | — | If ground sign is freestanding, must be set back at least 6 feet from front property line (§153-97E(3)). | 1 per use | Ground or wall sign | — | §153-99A(4) |

### PRD Planned Residential Development District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Entrance Identification Sign | 4 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per vehicular entrance | Freestanding or ground sign at each vehicular entrance | — | §153-99B(1) |
| Recreation or Community Center Sign | 4 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per recreation/community center plus 1 directional sign | Freestanding or ground sign on premises of recreation/community center | — | §153-99B(2) |
| Directional Ground Sign (interior road) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per road segment | Along interior road segments | — | §153-99B(3) |
| Apartment Building Identification Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per building or address range | Ground or wall sign on apartment building or for range of addresses | — | §153-99B(4) |

### HC Highway Commercial District, BI Business Institutional District, IND Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage; plus see additional requirements | On building wall | — | §153-99E(4), (9)(e), (9)(f) |
| Freestanding Sign (HC, BI) | — | 36 square feet | — | Freestanding signs must be set back at least 6 feet from the front property line (§153-97E(3)); must comply with §153-97E. | 1 per frontage; see additional for shopping centers | — | — | §153-99E(5), (6), (9) |
| Freestanding Sign (IND) | — | 60 square feet | — | Freestanding signs must be set back at least 6 feet from front property line (§153-97E(3)); must comply with §153-97E. | 1 per frontage | — | — | §153-99E(6) |
| Ground Sign | 5 feet max for ground signs in all districts | 36 square feet in HC and BI; 60 square feet in IND | — | As per freestanding signs: at least 6 feet from front property line (§153-97F(3)) | — | — | — | §153-99E(6), §153-97F, §153-97E(5) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | In lieu of wall sign | On awning or canopy over entrance | — | §153-99E(7) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 25% of total window area | — | — | — | On or within window | — | §153-97G, §153-99E(8) |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign | — | 50 square feet (plus up to 10 sq ft per business identification, not to exceed 1 per road frontage) | — | Must comply with freestanding sign setback requirements | 1 per road frontage | On shopping center premises | — | §153-99E(9)(b)-(d) |
| Billboard | Maximum permitted building height plus 20 feet | 150 square feet | — | Minimum distance 35 feet from street right-of-way | 1 per lot | Freestanding only (not atop or attached to buildings). Must be independently supported. Only allowed in HC district. | — | §153-100(A)-(N) |

## Prohibited signs in Darby Borough

- Any sign not specifically authorized by the provisions of this article shall not be erected in the Borough.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain the following signs: flashing, blinking, twinkling, spinning, animated, inflatable, aerial, crane or lighted moving signs, including automatic color-changing and rotating lamps and other moving objects that call attention to the sign.
- Advertising cloth or paper banner or signs of any similar character suspended or hung on any property, except for temporary banners. (Except for banners and pennants for public purposes in the CBD Central Business District.)
- Wall bulletins or any other signs painted directly on the facade of a building or other structure.
- Curb or sidewalk signs or signs painted, attached or suspended from any outdoor bench, chair or similar structure.
- Swinging and hanging signs.
- Signs, letters, posters and advertisements which are tacked, pasted, tied or otherwise affixed to poles, posts, buildings, fences or other structures located on public property or within public rights-of-way in the Borough of Darby.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the roofline or any structure that extends above the roofline of any building.
- Freestanding signs advertising or identifying a business in the CBD Central Business District.
- Digital movable billboard signs.
- No new projecting signs shall be erected after the date of enactment of this chapter.
- No sign shall be located, arranged or placed in a position where it will cause danger to traffic or will interfere with traffic through glare; block required sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways; or cause confusion with a traffic control device by reason of color, location, shape or other characteristics or through any other means.
- No illuminated sign shall be lighted on days when the business or permitted use is not open.
- Every sign must be kept in good condition and repair. Any sign that is allowed to become dilapidated shall be removed by and at the expense of the landowner or lessee.
- Except for traffic signs, incidental signs and billboards, all permanent signs shall be located on the property to which their text or message applies.

## Signs exempt from permit in Darby Borough

- Public notice, warning or official traffic sign required by a federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building not attached to a window or door that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the property on which such sign is located.
- Building markers that only include building name, date of construction or historical data on an historical site, provided that there is only one per building with a maximum area of six square feet.
- Flags of the United States, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States or any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction, provided that such flag does not exceed 60 square feet in area and shall be flown from a pole not more than 40 feet in height.
- Incidental signs containing no commercial message of any kind, provided that such signs do not exceed eight square feet.
- Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises or lot upon which they are erected, provided that there is no more than one such sign per street frontage, are neither illuminated nor exceed six square feet, and are removed on or before the date of settlement.
- Signs advertising the development of the premises where they are erected, not exceeding six square feet in residential districts and 32 square feet in nonresidential districts, and removed on or before the date of settlement.
- Nameplate signs on private residences, provided that they do not exceed 144 square inches.
- Decorations for an officially designated holiday; provided, however, that they do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
- Yard sale or garage sale signs, provided that they do not exceed two square feet and are removed within 24 hours after such sales.
- Signs announcing educational, charitable, civic, religious or similar campaigns or events, erected for a period not to exceed 30 days or more than four times in any calendar year for a maximum total of 120 days, and not exceeding eight square feet. (If proposed for placement on telephone poles, a permit is required.)
- Changeable copy signs for churches, schools and other uses which by their nature require such signs, provided that only one such sign is permitted (with one additional for a corner property), and the size shall not exceed 16 square feet.
- The provisions of this article shall not apply where signage is erected and maintained by the Borough for Borough purposes, provided that the Borough obtains all other required government permits prior to their use.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign hereafter erected shall conform with the provisions of this article and any other ordinance or regulations of the Borough.
- Any sign not specifically authorized by the provisions of this article shall not be erected in the Borough.
- It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, alter, rebuild, enlarge, extend or relocate signs listed in § 153-99 without first obtaining a permit from the Borough, except for those signs listed specifically in § 153-98 (exempt signs).
- Application for permits shall be made in writing to the Borough in accordance with § 153-102.
- All signs (except those expressly exempt in § 153-98) require a permit process as described in § 153-102.
- For all proposed signs in the CBD Central Business District, the applicant shall be required to meet with the Planning Commission to discuss the proposed sign. The Planning Commission may offer suggestions to modify the proposed sign so that it is in accordance with the goals for the CBD.
- Whenever any sign or sign face is replaced by another sign, enlarged, altered, dismantled, damaged or otherwise destroyed, a permit shall be required.
- For shopping centers and multi-tenant buildings, signage must comply with additional plan requirements as described, including total permitted areas and tenant signage.
- In general, any sign not listed as exempt in § 153-98 requires a permit, and the application must include specifics on size, material, location, and support, and, if the applicant is not the property owner, the owner's written consent.

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

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