# Sign Regulations in East Lansdowne Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Lansdowne Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/east-lansdowne-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32594555#32594555)

## At a glance

East Lansdowne Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single-family Residential)s in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 4 square feet (Sec. §27-711 [1] Table (Residential District) - Single-family residential). Most commercial signs in East Lansdowne Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 8 | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — |
| Commercial District | 11 | 6 feet | No more than 25% of glass area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 32 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single-family Residential) | 6 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premise, each street the premises faces | — | §27-711 [1] Table (Residential District) - Single-family residential |
| Wall Sign (Single-family Residential) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premise, each street the premises faces | — | §27-711 [1] Table (Residential District) - Single-family residential |
| Freestanding Sign (Multifamily/Institutional) | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premise, each street the premises faces | — | §27-711 [1] Table (Residential District) - Multifamily and Institutional |
| Wall Sign (Multifamily/Institutional) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premise, each street the premises faces | — | §27-711 [1] Table (Residential District) - Multifamily and Institutional |
| Awning Sign (Multifamily/Institutional) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premise, each street the premises faces, on awnings | — | §27-711 [1] Table (Residential District) - Multifamily and Institutional |
| Canopy Sign (Multifamily/Institutional) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premise, each street the premises faces, on canopies | — | §27-711 [1] Table (Residential District) - Multifamily and Institutional |
| Freestanding Sign (Home Occupation/Professional Office/Group Day Care) | 6 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premise, each street the premises faces | — | §27-711 [1] Table (Residential District) - Home occupation/Professional office/Group day care |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation/Professional Office/Group Day Care) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premise, each street the premises faces | — | §27-711 [1] Table (Residential District) - Home occupation/Professional office/Group day care |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign (Multifamily Residential) | — | — | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On awning, facing the street | — | §27-711 [2] Table (Commercial District) - Multifamily residential |
| Canopy Sign (Multifamily Residential) | — | — | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On canopy, facing the street | — | §27-711 [2] Table (Commercial District) - Multifamily residential |
| Freestanding Sign (Multifamily Residential) | 6 feet | 15 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premises, facing the street | — | §27-711 [2] Table (Commercial District) - Multifamily residential |
| Wall Sign (Multifamily Residential) | — | 15 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On building wall, facing the street | — | §27-711 [2] Table (Commercial District) - Multifamily residential |
| Awning Sign (Commercial/Office) | — | — | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On awning, facing the street | — | §27-711 [2] Table (Commercial District) - Commercial/Office |
| Canopy Sign (Commercial/Office) | — | — | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On canopy, facing the street | — | §27-711 [2] Table (Commercial District) - Commercial/Office |
| Movable Digital Sign (Commercial/Office) | — | 10 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premises, facing the street | — | §27-711 [2] Table (Commercial District) - Commercial/Office |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial/Office) | 6 feet | 15 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per premises per street frontage | On premises, facing the street | — | §27-711 [2] Table (Commercial District) - Commercial/Office |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §27-712 [1] |
| Changeable-Copy Sign | — | 16 square feet (one sign per property, except two permitted for corner lots with >100 feet on each of two major roads) | — | — | 1 per property. Exception: 2 for corner properties with >100 ft on each of two major roads. | — | — | §27-712 [2] |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises for sale/lease | — | §27-712 [3] |

## Prohibited signs in East Lansdowne Borough

- No sign shall create a public nuisance by emitting smoke, sound, vapor, beams or rays, particle emission, or odors.
- No sign or structure shall be erected unless it complies with all applicable requirements of the East Lansdowne Building Code.
- All signs and sign structures shall be kept in good repair and in presentable condition so that all sign information is clearly legible.
- No sign or structure shall be placed in the public right-of-way except for permitted sandwich boards, projecting signs, and civic event signs as provided for in this Part.
- Any business that has closed shall remove any signs associated with the business within 60 days after it closes. The owner of the premises shall have the responsibility to ensure that such signs are removed within the sixty-day period.
- It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect any sign in the Borough unless it is specifically permitted in this Part.
- Any sign which, by color, shape, or location, conflicts with or resembles a traffic signal device is prohibited.
- Signs attached to rocks, utility poles, parking meters, traffic signposts, traffic signals or control devices, street signs, or historical markers are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees, shrubs, or any living vegetative matter are prohibited.
- Any sign which advertises or publicizes an activity or business not conducted on the premises, except civic event signs, is prohibited.
- Signs erected without the permission of the property owner or authorized agent are prohibited.
- Signs that create a hazard by obstructing the clear view of vehicles and pedestrian traffic are prohibited.
- Animated signs, except time-and-temperature signs and movable digital signs, are prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exit is prohibited.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- Vehicular signs are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs, except for the time-and-temperature portion of a sign, are prohibited.
- Beacon lights are prohibited.
- Revolving signs are prohibited.
- Tethered balloons filled either by gas or heated air are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Wall signs that cover windows or architectural detail are prohibited.
- Pennants longer than 150% of the street frontage of the premises are prohibited.
- Signs with reflective backgrounds are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Lansdowne Borough

- Governmental or regulatory signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Public notice, warning, or official traffic signs required by federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance are exempt from permit requirements.
- Public interest signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Address signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Interior signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Incidental signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Civic/church event signs on premises are exempt from permit requirements.
- Pennants as permitted in this Part are exempt from permit requirements; pennants may only be used on nonresidential premises.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- From §27-710: Applications for sign permits must include two copies of a plan drawn to scale depicting lot dimensions, building frontage, existing cartways, rights-of-way, driveways, the design of each sign face and structure including dimensions, total area, sign height, depth, color scheme, structural details, materials, lighting scheme, proposed location, sign message, building elevations, existing and proposed facades, parapet walls, cornices, the location and size of all proposed and existing permanent signage, and current photographs showing existing signs on the premises.
- A master or comprehensive sign plan is not specifically required by name; however, a detailed plan meeting sign plan elements described above is required as part of every permit application unless otherwise exempted.
- Conditional use signs (murals, marquee signs) require approval by Borough Council, including a review of appropriateness, nearby property owner testimony, and impact on Borough character.

## Full detail

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

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