# Sign Regulations in Folcroft Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Folcroft Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/folcroft-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32747625#32747625)

## At a glance

Folcroft Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 30 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Apartments/Developments/Churches etc.) - Freestanding or Ground Signs in the R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District, R-3 Residential District, Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) zoning district are capped at Lowest edge no more than 6 ft above ground (home-based business only) tall and 16 sq. ft., with a At least 6 feet behind the front property line (§600-91B(2)(c)); residential setback applies. setback (Sec. §600-93A(1)-(4)). Most commercial signs in Folcroft Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District, R-3 Residential District, Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 4 | Lowest edge no more than 6 ft above ground (home-based business only) | 16 sq. ft. | — |
| MC Municipal Center District | 4 | — | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| RS Retail Service and GB General Business Districts | 7 | — | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| GB General Business District | 1 | 50 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| LIB Light Industrial/Business Park and LIB-A Light Industrial/Business Park-A Districts | 5 | — | 60 sq. ft. (combined if two entrances; total not to exceed 60 sq. ft.) | — |
| OSR Open Space/Refuge District | 2 | — | 12 sq. ft. | — |
| TOD Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District | 6 | — | 50 sq. ft. (primary), plus up to 10 sq. ft. per individual business (additional) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District, R-3 Residential District, Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Apartments/Developments/Churches etc.) - Wall Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | No more than one wall sign per frontage. | Per frontage; one per frontage allowed. | — | §600-93A(1)-(4) |
| Identification Sign (Apartments/Developments/Churches etc.) - Freestanding or Ground Sign | Lowest edge no more than 6 ft above ground (home-based business only) | 16 sq. ft. | — | At least 6 feet behind the front property line (§600-91B(2)(c)); residential setback applies. | No more than one freestanding or ground sign per frontage. | Per frontage; one per frontage allowed. | — | §600-93A(1)-(4) |
| Identification Sign for Nonconforming Nonresidential Use | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Wall, freestanding, or ground sign, subject to the same requirements as above | — | §600-93A(2)-(3) |
| Identification Sign (Home Office or No-Impact Home-Based Business) | Lowest edge of freestanding sign max 6 ft above ground | 2 sq. ft. | — | Freestanding must comply with general residential sign setbacks: at least 6 feet behind front property line (per §600-91B(2)(c)) | — | Wall, freestanding, or ground sign | — | §600-93A(5) |

### RS Retail Service and GB General Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (GB District) | — | — | — | — | One per frontage; two with frontage >100 ft (special exception) | One per frontage; two if frontage >100 ft (special exception required) | — | §600-93C(3)-(4), (6) |
| Wall Sign (RS District) | — | — | — | — | One per frontage; two with frontage >100 ft (special exception) | One per frontage; two if frontage >100 ft (special exception required) | — | §600-93C(3), (5), (6) |
| Wall/Window Sign (Apartments above 1st Floor) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One per apartment above 1st floor | For apartment space above 1st floor. One additional per apartment (besides principal wall sign). | — | §600-93C(10) |
| Wall Sign (2nd Floor Business) | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | One | Located on second story. | — | §600-93C(9) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Awning/canopy not to extend more than 5 feet from wall. Substitutes for wall sign. | — | §600-93C(7)-(8), (12) |
| Freestanding/Ground Sign (GB District) | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | §600-93C(11)-(12) |
| Freestanding/Ground Sign (RS District) | — | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | §600-93C(11)-(12) |

### TOD Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Individual Nonresidential Establishment) | — | — | — | — | No more than two wall signs per principal building (different sides) | May be placed on not more than two sides of a principal building | — | §600-93F(2)-(3), (11) |
| Wall Sign (Individual Residential Developments) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §600-93F(4), (11) |
| Wall/Window Sign (Apartments/Residential Above 1st Floor) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Residential spaces above first floor - one additional per permitted principal wall sign. | — | §600-93F(5) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | May be used in place of wall signs | — | §600-93F(6) |
| Freestanding/Ground Sign (Overall TOD Identification - Exterior Roadway) | — | 50 sq. ft. (primary), plus up to 10 sq. ft. per individual business (additional) | — | — | One per exterior roadway frontage | Along each exterior roadway frontage; only one per frontage | — | §600-93F(7)-(8) |
| Freestanding/Ground Sign (Interior Roadways – Individual Buildings) | — | 30 sq. ft. | — | Placed behind right-of-way line | One per respective building | Along interior roads, placed behind right-of-way; one per respective building | — | §600-93F(9)-(10) |

## Prohibited signs in Folcroft Borough

- No sign shall be erected or located so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any window, or door or fire escape of or upon any building; nor shall any sign be attached to any fire escape.
- No sign shall be so erected or located that, by reason of its location, shape or color, or the color, shape or location of the lights used in conjunction therewith, such sign might interfere with traffic or be confused with or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic sign, traffic signal or traffic marking.
- No sign painted or printed on paper or fabric or other similar material or substance which is particularly flammable or flimsy material shall be posted or otherwise secured to any projecting sign, awning, or canopy.
- No lewd, vulgar, indecent or obscene advertising matter, as these words are interpreted by the courts, shall be displayed upon any sign.
- No sign nor any posts, supports or braces therefor shall be constructed, erected or located upon any sidewalk, street or Borough property.
- No sign shall be located, arranged, or placed in a position where it will cause danger to traffic or will interfere with traffic through glare; block required sight lines for streets, sidewalks, or driveways; or cause confusion with a traffic control device by reason of color, location, shape, or other characteristics.
- No illuminated sign shall be lighted on days when the business or permitted use is not open for business.
- All permanent signs over four square feet in size shall be constructed by a professional sign company.
- Every sign must be kept in good condition and repair. Any sign that becomes dilapidated or abandoned shall be removed by or at the expense of the landowner or lessee.
- Signs that display vulgar, indecent, or obscene advertising matter.
- Flashing, blinking, spinning, animated, inflatable, aerial, or lighted moving signs, including automatic color-changing and rotating lamps and other moving objects that call attention to the sign, are prohibited (except rotating searchlights as permitted by the Borough).
- Advertising cloth or banner or signs of any similar character suspended or hung on any property are prohibited.
- Wall bulletins or any other signs painted directly on the facade of a building or other structure are prohibited.
- Curb or sidewalk signs or signs painted, attached, or suspended from any outdoor bench, chair, or similar structure are prohibited.
- Swinging and hanging signs are prohibited.
- Signs pasted, tied, pulled, or otherwise attached to a vehicle that refer to a business or activity unrelated to the purpose or activity for which the vehicle is used are prohibited.
- Signs placed, inscribed, or supported upon the roof line or any structure that extends above the roof line of any building are prohibited.
- Signs that state or imply that the property on which they are placed is used for purposes not permitted by ordinance are prohibited.
- Neon signs are prohibited.
- New projecting signs shall not be erected after enactment of the ordinance; existing projecting signs are nonconforming.
- Signs, letters, posters and advertisements which are tacked, pasted, tied or otherwise affixed to poles, posts, buildings, fences or other structures located on public property or within the public rights-of-way are prohibited, except for temporary, nonpermanent signs providing notice of community and civic events.

## Signs exempt from permit in Folcroft Borough

- Public notice, warning, or official/traffic sign required by a federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building not attached to a window or door that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line.
- Building markers that only include building name, date of construction, or historical data on a historical site (maximum one per building, maximum area six square feet).
- Flags of the United States, Pennsylvania, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, or any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction, provided flag does not exceed 60 square feet and is flown from a pole not more than 40 feet in height.
- Decorative flags not exceeding 12 square feet.
- Incidental signs containing no commercial message, not exceeding eight square feet.
- Temporary window signs advertising the sale or price change of goods, provided they do not exceed 50% of total window coverage and do not obstruct the interior view.
- Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises or lot upon which they are erected (one per frontage, non-illuminated, max eight square feet in residential districts and 32 square feet in nonresidential districts, removed on or before settlement).
- Signs advertising the development of the premises (max 16 square feet in residential districts, 40 square feet in nonresidential districts; removed on or before settlement).
- Nameplate signs on private residences, provided they do not exceed 144 square inches.
- Decorations for a recognized, officially designated holiday, provided they do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
- Yard sale or garage sale signs, provided they do not exceed two square feet and are removed within 24 hours after such sales.
- Signs announcing educational, charitable, civic, religious, or similar campaigns or events (max eight square feet, for up to 30 days, no more than four times per year, totaling 120 days annually).
- Changeable copy signs for churches, schools, and similar uses (one per property, max 16 square feet; a second sign permitted for corner properties).
- Directional signs.
- Freestanding signs of an official nature identifying a civic event.
- Signs, letters, posters, and advertisements which are tacked, pasted, tied, or otherwise affixed to poles, posts, buildings, fences, bus shelters, or other structures located on public property or within public street lines; to be removed within 10 days of the event’s end.
- A-frame, sandwich board, or similar temporary signs.
- Anything lettered directly upon the wall of any building or upon any part thereof.
- Any nameplate or professional sign not over one square foot in area attached directly to the wall of a building occupied by the person to whom the sign is applicable.
- Any official sign erected under the Vehicle Code or any related ordinances.
- Any street name sign or directional sign erected by or under direction of Borough authorities.
- Any danger sign.
- Any legal notice.
- Any 'no trespassing' sign.
- Any bulletin board not over eight square feet in area for a public, charitable, religious or educational institution located entirely on that institution’s premises.
- Any nonilluminated real estate sign not exceeding eight square feet advertising sale or rental of the premises.
- Any sign not in excess of 15 square feet announcing the name of an architect, engineer, contractor or artisan on a building under construction, alteration or repair.
- Any sign that is embedded or set into a building or so constructed as to become part of the building, provided it only bears the owner, building name, date of erection, or nature of business.
- Any commemorative tablet of stone, metal, or other incombustible material built into or firmly attached to the wall of a building, provided it only contains the aforementioned information or reading matter commemorating a person or event.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required to erect, repair, alter, relocate, or enlarge a sign unless specifically exempt per §600-92.
- Application for a sign permit must be submitted in writing, including full particulars about the sign’s size, shape, material, supports, sketches, location, distance from curbline, and height.
- The Zoning Officer may refer permit requests to the Planning Commission for evaluation, which may suggest modifications based on district purposes and development objectives.
- Replacement, enlargement, alteration, dismantling, damage, or destruction of a sign requires a new permit before such work is done.
- Special exceptions or variances for signs may be sought through appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board or Borough Council, as provided for refusal or impracticality of strict compliance.
- Complete plans and specifications may be required by the Building Inspector for any sign, depending on the application.
- All permanent signs over four square feet must be constructed by a professional sign company.
- All permanent signs within zoning districts must comply with both zoning regulations (Chapter 600) and construction standards (Chapter 255), and permits are subject to those standards.
- For multiple tenants or complex developments (such as light industrial/business parks), sign consistency and harmony may be required, and a comprehensive submission of sign types and placements may be reviewed.
- A sign plan is not explicitly required by name, but approval depends on submission of detailed descriptions and plans for all proposed sign types and placements for a property, subject to approval by the Borough or its designees.

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

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