# Sign Regulations in East Greenville Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Greenville Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/east-greenville-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/40872249#40872249)

## At a glance

East Greenville Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 41 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Business or Identification Signs in the Commercial Districts, Industrial District, BC District zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 35 sq ft, with a 10 ft from curbline/shoulder; 20 ft/55 sq ft w/conditional use setback (Sec. § 95-136A, § 95-137A). Most commercial signs in East Greenville 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 | 11 | 4 ft (for freestanding) | 4 sq ft | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, BR Districts | 13 | 10 ft (freestanding); Not specified (wall) | 35 sq ft per side | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial District, BC District | 18 | 18 ft copy height, total structure height per code | 100 sq ft (subject to wall area limit) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Not within the legal street right-of-way; must not endanger traffic or obscure official signage. | — | § 95-133B(5), § 95-134H |
| Personal Expression Sign | 4 ft (for freestanding) | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Freestanding, wall, or window signs only. | — | § 95-133B(6) |
| Public Service/Information Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 95-133B(7) |
| Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 95-133B(8) |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 95-133B(9) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 4 sq ft aggregate per property | — | — | — | — | — | § 95-133B(11) |
| Home Security Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 95-133B(12) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 95-133B(13) |

### R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, BR Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional/Accessory Use/Home Occupation/Name Sign | — | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per use or dwelling | On the same lot with, and indicating the name, profession, or activity of the occupant of the dwelling. | — | § 95-135B |
| BR District - General Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | § 95-135C |
| Institutional Use Sign (Freestanding or Wall) | 10 ft (freestanding); Not specified (wall) | 20 sq ft per side (freestanding); 10 sq ft (wall) | — | — | 2 per street frontage (freestanding); 1 per institutional building (wall) | On the same lot therewith (for schools, churches, hospitals, sanitariums, clubs, or similar institutions). | — | § 95-135D |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Residential Development >10 units) | 4 ft (freestanding); 6 ft (monument) | 15 sq ft (freestanding); 15 sq ft, 6 ft height (monument) | — | — | 1 per external street frontage | Per external street frontage. | — | § 95-135E |
| Real Estate Sign (Subdivision Sale) | — | 35 sq ft per side | — | — | 2 per subdivision | On the premises. | — | § 95-135G(2) |
| Directional Subdivision Sign (Off-Premises) | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 3 per development (off-premises only) | Off-premises. Permission required from property owner. | — | § 95-135H |
| Contractor/Mechanic/Painter/Artisan Temporary Sign | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per property | On the premises where work is performed. | — | § 95-135I |
| Auction Sign | 6 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | On property where auction is conducted. | — | § 95-135L |

### Commercial Districts, Industrial District, BC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Business or Identification Sign | 12 ft | 35 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curbline/shoulder; 20 ft/55 sq ft w/conditional use | 1 per street frontage (see condition for gas stations) | One per street frontage | — | § 95-136A, § 95-137A |
| Painted Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft (subject to wall area limit) | — | — | 1 per side | Each side of building facing street or parking lot | — | § 95-136B(2), § 95-137B |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | Included in 25% wall area limitation | — | — | 1 per side | Each side of building facing street or parking lot | — | § 95-136B(3), § 95-137B |
| Projecting Wall Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | 5 ft from curbline/shoulder (outermost projection) | 1 per side | Each side of building facing street or parking lot | — | § 95-136B(4), § 95-137C |
| Off-Premises Event Directional Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | Up to 2/event | Off-premises. With property owner permission. | — | § 95-137D(5) |
| Electronic Message Center | Conforms to 12 ft maximum of freestanding sign (§ 95-137A) | Not to exceed 40% of total sign face area; within BC District: Only as part of permitted on-premises freestanding sign. | — | Same as sign (10 ft from curb; 20 ft for 55 sq ft option) | 1 per premises (BC District) | Attached to a permitted on-premises freestanding sign (in BC District - one per premises). | — | § 95-136I(2-10), § 95-137A |
| LED/Digital Sign | Conforms to freestanding sign height | ≤35 sq ft (placed as part of permitted on-premises freestanding sign) | — | Same as sign | 1 per premises (BC District) | Attached to permitted on-premises freestanding sign. (BC District only) | — | § 95-136I(1-10) |
| Off-Premises Advertising Sign | 18 ft copy height, total structure height per code | 100 sq ft total copy area | 20 ft length | 75 ft from ROW, 100 ft from property line. | — | Industrial District only. 75 ft from ultimate ROW or 100 ft from any property line. Not within 500 ft of another off-premises sign or a school/religious institution. | — | § 95-138A |

## Prohibited signs in East Greenville Borough

- Any sign or object with flashing or intermittent lighting, revolving, moving, sound-producing or animated parts, with the exception of signs that display time and/or temperature exclusively, barber poles, on-premises electronic message centers and on-premises LED/digital signs.
- Beacon lighting.
- Festoon lighting.
- Flashing, moving or reflective signs.
- Illuminated temporary signs.
- Snipe signs.
- Revolving signs, except barbershop poles.
- Roof signs.
- Trailer signs.
- Vehicular signs in residential areas.
- Political signs on Borough property.
- Signs erected without the permission of the property owner or authorized agent.
- Signs that exhibit statements, words or pictures of obscene or pornographic subjects as determined by the Borough.
- Any sign inconsistent with this article.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position as to endanger traffic on a street by obscuring a clear view or by confusion with official street signs or signals.
- No sign, other than official Borough street or directional signs, street banner signs, or political signs, shall be erected or maintained within the legal street right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress and egress to or from any door, window or fire escape.
- Signs (not including historical markers and banners approved by the Borough) shall not be affixed to a utility pole or structure, lighting standard, parking meter, park bench, tree, shrub, rock, or natural object except plaques of a maximum one square foot.
- Every sign permitted in this article shall be kept in good condition and repair as determined by the Borough Zoning Officer.
- Any sign which does not conform to the provisions of this section at the time of adoption of this chapter is hereby declared a nonconforming sign.
- The Borough shall have the authority to require the removal and/or demolition of signs under the following circumstances: when it is determined that the sign has deteriorated to the point of becoming a danger to the public; when a sign is erected without an approved sign permit; when a sign is erected which does not comply with the requirements of this chapter; a nonconforming sign which has not been removed or brought into conformity under the provisions of this chapter.
- Animation, streaming video, or text or images which flash, pulsate, move, or scroll are prohibited on electronic message centers and LED/digital signs.
- Each message displayed on electronic message centers and LED/digital signs shall be static or depicted for a minimum of one minute before a new message appears.
- Any sign which causes glare is prohibited.
- The addition of any electronic message center or digital/LED sign to a nonconforming sign is prohibited.
- Signs or sign lighting resembling traffic signals is prohibited within 100 feet of a public right-of-way or within 200 feet of a traffic control device, whichever is greater.
- Off-premises advertising signs may not be electronic message centers and/or LED/digital signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Greenville Borough

- Government signs (i.e., traffic signs, parking signs, etc.).
- Legal notices of a governmental agency.
- Public monument, plaque, historic identification sign erected by a government agency.
- Government flag, insignia, or decorative banners.
- Directional signs, provided that they do not contain advertising (including logos), do not exceed four square feet, and do not obstruct the sight triangles at internal intersections on the premises.
- Personal expression signs, provided that they are not illuminated and are either freestanding, wall or window signs. Such signs may not exceed four square feet and, in the case of freestanding signs, four feet in height.
- Public service and information signs advertising availability of public restrooms, telephones, or similar public conveniences, not exceeding three square feet in area.
- Address signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Nameplates and identification signs, provided that characters do not exceed three inches in height and an area not exceeding two square feet.
- Vending machine signs, where a product name is an integral component of the vending machine, provided that the machine is not placed in the front yard of a property.
- Incidental signs, provided that the aggregate area of incidental signs on a property does not exceed four square feet; incidental sign area in excess of four square feet shall be included in the calculation of a property's permitted sign area.
- Home security signs not exceeding one square foot.
- Temporary political signs.
- Real estate signs.
- Yard sale signs.
- Barbershop poles.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- It shall be unlawful to erect, construct, or significantly alter any sign which requires a sign permit without first filing with East Greenville Borough an application, in writing, in order to obtain a formal permit.
- All applications for permits for the erection, construction, or alteration of signs shall, at the time of making application, be paid to the Borough, in accordance with the respective fee schedule adopted by the Borough Council from time to time.
- The Building Inspector or Zoning Officer shall either approve or deny the application or refer the application back to the applicant in any instance where insufficient information has been submitted.
- Signs not conforming at the time of adoption are declared nonconforming signs, and must be removed or brought into conformity upon significant alteration, relevant subdivision/land development application, or change in land use, at which time certain information about existing signs must be submitted to the Borough Zoning Officer.
- Removal of prohibited or nonconforming signs or signs erected without a permit may be required by the Borough Zoning Officer, and owners/lessees must take remedial action including application for permit or bringing into conformity within 30 days of written notice.

## Full detail

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

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