# Sign Regulations in Economy Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Economy Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/economy-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8161980#8161980)

## At a glance

Economy Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Lots < 1 acre)s in the Residential zoning districts (R1, R2, R3, PRD) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 24 square feet per sign; 16 square feet per lot (aggregate), with a 10 feet from the front lot line setback (Sec. §180-87A, Table (Residential districts, lots < 1 acre)). Most commercial signs in Economy Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural zoning districts (RA) | 3 | Flagpole must not exceed 30 feet | 20 square feet per sign; 40 square feet per lot | — |
| Residential zoning districts (R1, R2, R3, PRD) | 5 | Flagpole must not exceed 30 feet | 45 square feet per flag | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts | 2 | Flagpole must not exceed 30 feet | — | — |
| Commercial District (C1) | 8 | 50 feet | 750 square feet per face; up to 2 faces (back-to-back or V-shape <90°) | — |
| Industrial District (I) | 7 | 40 feet | 750 square feet per face; up to 2 faces (back-to-back or V-shape <90°) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 40 square feet | — |

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

### Residential zoning districts (R1, R2, R3, PRD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Lots < 1 acre) | 6 feet | 24 square feet per sign; 16 square feet per lot (aggregate) | — | 10 feet from the front lot line | 4 signs per lot | — | — | §180-87A, Table (Residential districts, lots < 1 acre) |
| Freestanding Sign (Lots ≥ 1 acre) | 6 feet | 24 square feet per sign; 24 square feet for first acre (aggregate), plus 8 sq ft for each additional acre | — | 10 feet from the front lot line | 6 signs for first acre, 2 additional signs per additional acre | — | — | §180-87A, Table (Residential districts, lots ≥ 1 acre) |
| Wall Sign (Lots < 1 acre) | — | 24 square feet per sign; 16 square feet per lot (aggregate) | — | — | 4 signs per lot | — | — | §180-87A, Table (Residential districts, lots < 1 acre) |
| Wall Sign (Lots ≥ 1 acre) | — | 24 square feet per sign; 24 sq ft for first acre (aggregate); 8 sq ft for each additional 1 acre | — | — | 6 for first acre, 2 per additional acre | — | — | §180-87A, Table (Residential districts, lots ≥ 1 acre) |
| Flag | Flagpole must not exceed 30 feet | 45 square feet per flag | — | — | 2 flags per flagpole | 1 flagpole per lot; up to 2 flags per flagpole | — | §180-84D(2) |

### Commercial District (C1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Ground or Pole | 8 feet (ground sign); 25 feet (pole sign) | 32 square feet | — | 15 feet | 1 sign per property | — | — | §180-87B (C1) |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument (<5 acres) | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | 15 feet | 1 sign per property | — | — | §180-87B (C1) |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument (≥5 acres) | 50 feet | 400 square feet | — | 15 feet | 1 sign per property | — | — | §180-87B (C1) |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 square feet per sign | — | — | — | — | — | §180-87B (C1) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 4 per lot (<1 acre), 6 for first acre plus 2 per addl. acre (≥1 acre) | — | — | §180-87B (C1) |
| Arcade Sign | — | 8 square feet per sign | — | — | 4 per lot (<1 acre), 6 for first acre plus 2 per addl. acre (≥1 acre) | — | — | §180-87B (C1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Off-Premises, Regular) | 35 feet (pole/monument); 8 feet (ground) | 60 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 sign per property | — | — | §180-88C (off-premises in C1 & I) |
| Freestanding Sign (Off-Premises, Large) | 40 feet | 750 square feet per face; up to 2 faces (back-to-back or V-shape <90°) | — | 15 ft from right-of-way of the limited-access federal highway; principal structure setbacks apply to other lot lines | — | Within 400 ft of limited-access federal highways; Not within 500 ft of RA/R1/R2/R3 or schools, churches, cemeteries, interchanges/rest areas; Not over a sidewalk/right-of-way | — | §180-88C(2)-(4) (C1 & I) |

### Industrial District (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Ground or Pole | 8 feet (ground); 25 feet (pole) | 64 square feet | — | 15 feet | 1 sign per property | — | — | §180-87B (I) |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | 15 feet | 1 sign per property | — | — | §180-87B (I) |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 square feet per sign | — | — | — | — | — | §180-87B (I) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 4 per lot (<1 acre), 6 for first acre plus 2 per addl. acre (≥1 acre) | — | — | §180-87B (I) |
| Arcade Sign | — | 8 square feet per sign | — | — | 4 per lot (<1 acre), 6 for first acre plus 2 per addl. acre (≥1 acre) | — | — | §180-87B (I) |
| Freestanding Sign (Off-Premises, Regular) | 35 feet (pole/monument); 8 feet (ground) | 60 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 sign per property | — | — | §180-88C (off-premises in C1 & I) |
| Freestanding Sign (Off-Premises, Large) | 40 feet | 750 square feet per face; up to 2 faces (back-to-back or V-shape <90°) | — | 15 ft from right-of-way of the limited-access federal highway; principal structure setbacks apply to other lot lines | — | Within 400 ft of limited-access federal highways; Not within 500 ft of RA/R1/R2/R3 or schools, churches, cemeteries, interchanges/rest areas; Not over a sidewalk/right-of-way | — | §180-88C(2)-(4) (C1 & I) |

## Prohibited signs in Economy Borough

- Structurally unsafe, unsafely installed, or otherwise hazardous signs are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window, or other required access way to or from a building or site are prohibited.
- Signs not maintained in good condition are prohibited.
- Signs that block a driver's clear line of sight of traffic or pedestrians are prohibited.
- Signs that interfere with the view of, or are confused with, a traffic control sign or device, or mislead/confuse traffic flow are prohibited.
- Signs with material depicting, describing, or relating to nudity or sexual conduct are prohibited.
- Signs nailed, fastened, or affixed to a tree are prohibited.
- Signs located on private property against the wishes of the property owner are prohibited.
- Any sign that otherwise violates this article is prohibited.
- Uncovered light bulbs on signs are prohibited.
- Signs, other than public traffic control signs, must not have elements that are flashing, blinking, rotating, or pulsating.
- A digital display sign containing animation, streaming video, or text or images which flash, pulsate, move, or scroll is prohibited.
- The addition of a digital display to a nonconforming sign is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Economy Borough

- Signs posted by the Borough or a county, state, or federal agency are exempt from permit requirements.
- Street addresses and numbers are exempt from permit requirements.
- All temporary signs are exempt from permit requirements, subject to area and duration limits and maintenance provisions.
- All flags are exempt from permit requirements, subject to height, area, and number limitations depending on zoning district.
- All inflatable signs are exempt from permit requirements, subject to safe attachment and pedestrian clearance requirements.
- All lightweight signs, decals, stickers, or paint placed on vehicles with the vehicle owner's permission are exempt from permit requirements.
- All murals are exempt from permit requirements, subject to location and building owner permission (on buildings in nonresidential zoning districts).
- Changing sign content is exempt from permit requirements.
- The customary maintenance of a sign is exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Before installation, all signs not otherwise exempted from the permit requirement must obtain a permit according to the permitting procedures of § 180-114.
- In the case of new construction of a multitenant development site, the developer must submit an application for a sign package (including proposed monument, pole, or ground signs as well as on-premises directional signs); individual businesses apply for other signs separately.
- Conversion of a permitted nondigital sign to a digital display sign requires the issuance of a sign permit following the procedures of § 180-114.
- Large off-premises signs are permitted as a conditional use and require a conditional use application, engineering certification, insurance, and possibly federal and state (FAA, PennDOT) approvals before permit issuance.

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

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