# Sign Regulations in East Petersburg Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Petersburg Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/east-petersburg-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/13338594#13338594)

## At a glance

East Petersburg Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 8 sign types across 1 zoning district. Interior Non-visible Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 feet for freestanding sign; not taller than building for building sign tall and 20 square feet max (40 sq.ft. for drive-through menu board) (Sec. § 124-704A(36)). Most commercial signs in East Petersburg Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (1 zone)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 8 feet for freestanding sign; not taller than building for building sign | 35 square feet | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May be at any height on the wall to which they are attached, except they may not extend higher than the top of the wall. | — | — | — | — | Attached to or painted on the wall of a building. | — | § 124-703B(3), § 124-704A(15), § 124-704A(16), § 124-704A(31),(32),(34), § 124-706 |
| Freestanding Sign | Height controlled by zone or tables. In no case higher than the district height limit. | — | — | — | — | Not attached to or painted on a building. | — | § 124-703B(2), § 124-704A(6),(8),(11), § 124-706 |
| Roof Sign | May extend no more than five feet above the lowest point where attached and not above the highest roof point. | — | — | — | — | Attached to or painted on a roof. | — | § 124-703B(4), § 124-704A(31),(32), § 124-706 |
| Window Sign | Not taller than attached building. | — | — | — | — | Attached to or visible through a window. | — | § 124-702, § 124-704A(24)(a), § 124-706 |
| Overhead Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Located such that pedestrian or vehicular traffic might pass beneath any part. | — | § 124-704A(14), § 124-706 |
| Flags with Business Logo | — | 35 square feet | — | — | 1 per commercial/industrial property | On commercial or industrial property. | — | § 124-704A(23) |
| Temporary Signs (General) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 124-704A(7) |
| Interior Non-visible Signs | 8 feet for freestanding sign; not taller than building for building sign | 20 square feet max (40 sq.ft. for drive-through menu board) | — | — | — | Not readable from any street and from any lot line. | — | § 124-704A(36) |

## Prohibited signs in East Petersburg Borough

- All signs shall reflect the general character of the neighborhood.
- All signs shall be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and secured in a safe manner.
- When a sign becomes unsafe, the owner must make it safe or remove it immediately upon notice from the Zoning Officer.
- The areas surrounding all signs shall be maintained in a neat, clean and attractive condition.
- All signs shall be removed within three months if the purpose for which they were erected no longer exists.
- No temporary signs shall be permitted except as authorized elsewhere in this article.
- No sign shall be located within a street right-of-way, except a government sign, a public utility sign or an allowed sidewalk sign.
- No sign within the clear sight triangle should obstruct vision between the heights of three feet and 10 feet above the elevation of the center line of the street.
- No signs shall be painted, pasted, nailed, stapled or otherwise attached to utility poles, trees or fire hydrants, except for government signs, public utility signs on utility poles, or 'no trespassing' and 'no hunting' signs on trees if the tree is not harmed.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any door, stairway, window, fire escape, sidewalk or other means of egress or ingress.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct ventilation or light from a building.
- No overhead sign shall have a clearance of less than eight feet over pedestrian walks and less than 17.5 feet over roadways/accessways.
- No sign parallel to and attached to the face of a building shall project more than 18 inches over a public sidewalk.
- No sign perpendicular to and attached to the face of a building shall project more than 48 inches from the building.
- No sign shall have lights or illuminating devices that constitute a public safety or traffic hazard.
- No sign shall imitate or be confused with official traffic signs or signals, such as by containing 'stop' or 'danger' or including red, green, or yellow lights.
- No sign or window display shall include a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling an emergency vehicle or facility.
- No sign shall advertise activities or products that are illegal under federal, state, or Borough laws or regulations.
- No sign shall include statements, words or pictures that are vulgar, obscene or pornographic.
- No streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, balloons over 50 cubic feet or similar materials shall be displayed outside a building.
- No animated, mechanically or electronically moving, sequential, intermittent, flashing, rotating, or oscillating signs are allowed except for time and temperature signs, with additional timing restrictions for message changes.
- Flashing lights visible from a street shall not be used to attract attention to a business (including window signs), except customary holiday lighting.
- No sign shall emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor.
- No sign over 20 square feet shall be placed on a motor vehicle or trailer that is used primarily for sign display and remains parked at the same spot for over seven consecutive days.
- No inflatable signs shall be permitted.
- No open flames shall be permitted as part of a sign or to attract attention in any way.
- Advertising painted or displayed on barns or other structures is regulated as a sign under this article.
- No lighting shall outline buildings or structures through neon, strings of lights, etc., except customary holiday decorations (allowed between Oct 30–Jan 10).
- Business signs outside commercial/industrial districts shall not be illuminated when the business is closed.
- Electrically illuminated signs must comply with the electrical code in effect in the Borough.
- No sign shall be placed on private property without the permission of the property owner, except for official signs within a street right-of-way.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Petersburg Borough

- Government signs, public utility signs, and allowed sidewalk signs may be placed within the street right-of-way.
- Government signs, public utility signs may be attached to utility poles; 'no trespassing' and 'no hunting' signs may be attached to trees if not harmful.
- Center signs are exempt from the requirement to display street address on a permanent freestanding sign.
- Routine Christmas lighting is not prohibited by flashing light restrictions.
- Holiday decorations/outlining by lighting are allowed between October 30 and January 10.
- Certain types of flags are exempt per the definition of 'sign.'
- Signs not readable from any street and any lot line are not regulated by this chapter in number or sign area, provided they meet maximum heights and areas specified (max 8' height for freestanding, not taller than attached building for building signs, max 20 sq ft area, max 40 sq ft for outdoor restaurant menu board). Exemption does not apply to shopping center signs except drive-through menu boards.
- Temporary window signs made of paper on a commercial building are not regulated by this chapter.
- Architectural features, non-lettered backlit awnings, certain interior signs, specified government flags, residential seasonal/holiday banners, and merchandise displays (as further detailed in the 'sign' definition) are not considered signs for the purposes of this article.
- Historically significant and authenticated signs (or replicas) may be exempted as a special exception.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs are regulated through a sign permitting process.
- Permits for the placement of signs are required as indicated in Sign Tables 1 and 2.
- Sign permit application requirements (such as forms, plans, and fees) are established by Borough Council.
- A site or sign plan may be required as part of the sign permit application, depending on Borough Council requirements (details likely found in referenced Sign Tables 1 and 2).

## Full detail

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

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