# Sign Regulations in Elizabethtown Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Elizabethtown Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/elizabethtown-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27499826#27499826)

## At a glance

Elizabethtown Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 17 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Individual Business Freestanding Signs in the Central Business District zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 32 square feet per sign face, double-faced permitted, with a 1/2 the required yard of district or 10 feet, whichever is greater setback (Sec. §1702 (Definition); §1703[4]; Table of Sign Requirements.). Most commercial signs in Elizabethtown Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 4 | 4 feet | 6 square feet for each sign face (single- or double-faced) | — |
| Central Business District | 10 | 10 feet | 40% of window area per façade | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 8 feet | 32 square feet per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On residential property | — | §1702; §1703(22); Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On residential property | — | §1702; §1703(22); Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Advertising and Real Estate Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet for each sign face (single- or double-faced) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the subject property | — | §1702 (Definition); Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the subject property | — | §1702 (Definition); Table of Sign Requirements. |

### Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Individual Business Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall area facing street, up to maximum 50 square feet per business frontage | — | — | 1 per business frontage | Building facade facing street | — | §1702 (Definition); §1703; Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Individual Business Freestanding Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet per sign face, double-faced permitted | — | 1/2 the required yard of district or 10 feet, whichever is greater | 1 per lot frontage | On the same lot as business, outside public ROW and required setbacks | — | §1702 (Definition); §1703[4]; Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Individual Business Projecting Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Facade fronting street | — | §1702 (Definition); Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet per side, double-sided permitted | — | Not in public accessway; not in street right-of-way | 1 per business frontage | On sidewalk adjacent to business it advertises | — | §1702 (Definition); §1703[3]; Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Individual Business Special Event Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet per event | — | — | 1 per event | On the lot of business holding the event | — | §1702 (Definition); Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Advertising and Real Estate Sign | 6 feet | 12 square feet per sign face, double-faced permitted | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the subject property | — | §1702 (Definition); Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Development Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per project | On property under development | — | §1702 (Definition); Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Towable Sign (Community Event Only) | 8 feet | 32 square feet per side | — | — | 1 per community event | Within CBD for community events only | — | §1703[17] |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for which direction is given or for special real-estate events, per definition | — | §1702 (Definition); Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected by/for government agency | — | §1702 (Definition); Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Political Sign | 4 feet in residential, 6 feet otherwise | 6 square feet in residential, 16 square feet in all other districts | — | — | 1 per candidate or issue per property | On private property only | — | §1702 (Definition); Table of Sign Requirements. |
| Electronic Message Center Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet per side | — | Same as freestanding sign | 1 per property | On commercial premises only | — | §1702; §1703; Table of Sign Requirements. |

## Prohibited signs in Elizabethtown Borough

- No sign shall be erected, enlarged or relocated until a permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer, unless otherwise stated in this chapter.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger or hazard on a street or sidewalk by obscuring view and in no case, except for official signs, shall signs be placed within the required clear-sight triangle.
- No sign, except official signs and sidewalk signs, shall be allowed within the street right-of-way. A sidewalk sign shall not be located in a public accessway.
- No portion of any individual business freestanding sign shall be located closer to any lot line than 1/2 the required yard for the district in which it is located or 10 feet from the property line, whichever is greater.
- No person shall paint, paste, brand, stamp, or in any manner whatsoever permanently attach to any tree, telegraph, electric light or other pole on any street in the Borough any written, printed, painted or other advertisement, bill, notice, sign, card or poster.
- No sign shall be erected containing information on which it states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the applicable district provisions of this chapter.
- No sign, except for yield, regulatory or official municipal signs, shall use the words "stop," "caution," or "danger," or shall use "stop" or "yield" signs in shape or color, or shall simulate a traffic or regulatory sign.
- Every sign must be constructed of durable materials, be kept in good repair, not be allowed to become dilapidated, and be in compliance with other applicable State and local codes and ordinances.
- If a sign is unsafe, insecure, or a menace to the public, or has been constructed, erected or is maintained in violation, the Zoning Officer may require removal or alteration. Failure to comply may result in the Borough removing or altering the sign at the owner's expense.
- No sign shall be erected or located as to prevent free ingress or egress from any window, door or fire escape.
- No signs shall be permitted which are permanently attached to public utility poles or trees within the right-of-way of any street.
- No vulgar, indecent or obscene advertising matter shall be displayed in any manner.
- Signs which emit smoke, steam or other visible particles or odor are prohibited.
- No signs shall be placed so as to create a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Towable or portable signs or changeable message boards (whether placed on the yard or a truck or trailer) shall not be permitted in any residential districts, with limited exception for community events in the Central Business District.
- Only signs identified or defined in this chapter are permitted. Other signs not so identified or defined are prohibited.
- Any sign erected on a property is limited to the use of that property, except for directional signs. Off-premises advertising is not permitted.
- Internally illuminated signs are not permitted in the residential zones. Such signs must still comply with regulations for their type.

## Signs exempt from permit in Elizabethtown Borough

- Official signs erected by and for federal, state, county or municipal agencies are exempt from certain location and content restrictions (e.g., allowed within street right-of-way, permitted to use regulatory wording or resemble regulatory signs).
- Signs exempted in the ordinance are not required to obtain a permit. (Note: The ordinance refers generally to exemptions but does not enumerate them in the provided sections; readers are advised to refer to elsewhere in the chapter for detailed exemptions.)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, enlarged or relocated without a permit issued by the Zoning Officer, unless otherwise stated in the chapter.
- Application for a sign permit must include: detailed scale drawing, description of type/construction/installation/materials, written authorization from property owner (if different from applicant), and applicable fee.
- Nonconforming signs may continue until replacement or rebuilding becomes necessary, at which point a permit and full compliance is required.
- Except for signs explicitly exempted in the ordinance, a permit is required before erection, alteration, or change of any sign.

## Full detail

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

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