# Sign Regulations in Green Lane Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Green Lane Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/green-lane-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35970105#35970105)

## At a glance

Green Lane Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 32 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Billboards in the LI Limited Industrial Districts zoning district are capped at 20 ft from ground elevation (top of billboard) tall, 300 sq ft, and 30 ft wide, with a 25 ft from street right-of-way; 200 ft from adjacent billboard setback (Sec. §415-87C). Most commercial signs in Green Lane Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 12 | — | 35 sq ft | — |
| BC Borough Commercial Districts | 4 | — | 35 sq ft (per street frontage) | — |
| LI Limited Industrial Districts | 7 | 20 ft from ground elevation (top of billboard) | 300 sq ft | — |
| REC Recreational Districts | 1 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | No freestanding/building-mounted sign above 15 ft unless billboard | 100 sq ft (on-site sign, grand opening, BC/LI zone, max 14 days, one time per business); 3 ft x 30 ft (banner across public road, max 15 ft above road) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional, Accessory Use, Home Occupation or Name Sign | — | 2 sq ft (per side) | — | — | 1 per permitted use or dwelling | On the same lot as the dwelling/use | — | §415-85B, §415-90A(1) |
| Conditional Use Sign (Freestanding or Wall-Mounted) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per conditional use | On the same lot as the use | — | §415-85C |
| Institution Sign (School, Church, Hospital, Sanitarium, Club) | — | 15 sq ft (per side) | — | — | One per street frontage | On the same lot as institution | — | §415-85D, §415-90A(2) |
| Trespassing/Private Ownership Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | As restricted by interval requirement | On the same premises | — | §415-85E |
| Real Estate Sign (Advertising Sale or Rent) | — | 6 sq ft (per street frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the premises | — | §415-85F(1), §415-91B(6) |
| Real Estate Sign (Subdivision Fewer Than 10 Lots) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Within subdivision (on the premises) | — | §415-85F(2) |
| Real Estate Sign (Subdivision 10 or More Lots) | — | 35 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Within subdivision (on the premises) | — | §415-85F(3) |
| Contractor's Temporary Sign | — | 6 sq ft per contractor; or up to 32 sq ft if three or more contractors (each max 6 sq ft), all on a common surface | — | 10 ft behind curb or edge of pavement | 1 per contractor or as allowed for three or more contractors | On premises where work is performed | — | §415-85J, §415-89I(1), §415-91B(1) |

### LI Limited Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Permitted in Other Districts | — | — | — | — | — | As permitted | — | §415-87A, §415-90B |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | 15 ft (per §415-89E, unless billboard) | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On same lot as use | — | §415-87B(1), §415-90B, §415-89E |
| Facade (Building-Mounted) Sign | 15 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On building facade | — | §415-87B(2), §415-90B, §415-89E |
| Building Identification Sign (Letters/Numbers Only) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On building exterior | — | §415-87B(3), §415-90B |
| Site Directory Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On the same lot | — | §415-87B(4), §415-90B |
| Directional Sign (Non-Illuminated) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On the same lot | — | §415-87B(5) |
| Billboard | 20 ft from ground elevation (top of billboard) | 300 sq ft | 30 ft | 25 ft from street right-of-way; 200 ft from adjacent billboard | 1 per lot | On individual lot | — | §415-87C |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Requirement - Construction & Safety | No freestanding/building-mounted sign above 15 ft unless billboard | — | — | — | — | — | — | §415-89 (especially C, D, E, F, G, K), §415-91 |
| Contractor's Temporary Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft per contractor, up to 32 sq ft if 3+ contractors (each ≤6 sq ft) | — | 10 feet behind curb/edge | 1 per contractor or per group | On the premises where work is performed | — | §415-89I(1), §415-91B(1) |
| Contractor's Temporary Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 12 sq ft per contractor, up to 64 sq ft if 3+ contractors (each ≤12 sq ft) | — | 10 feet behind curb/edge | 1 per contractor or per group | On the premises where work is performed | — | §415-89I(2), §415-91B(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Yard/Garage Sale) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | Max 3 off-premises per event | — | — | §415-91B(2) |
| Temporary Opening Sign, Bunting or Pennant (Grand Opening, New Business) | 15 ft above road (if banner across) | 100 sq ft (on-site sign, grand opening, BC/LI zone, max 14 days, one time per business); 3 ft x 30 ft (banner across public road, max 15 ft above road) | 30 ft (if banner across) | — | — | On premises or across public road | — | §415-91B(3), §415-91C(1), (2) |
| Temporary Window Signs (Civic/Educ/Religious Drives) | — | 4 sq ft per business | — | — | — | Store or office window | — | §415-91B(4) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §415-91B(5) |
| All Exempted Signs (§415-89J) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §415-89J, §415-91B(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Green Lane Borough

- No sign shall be placed in a position that endangers traffic by obscuring a clear view or by confusion with official street signs or signals by virtue of position or color.
- No sign, other than official street signs, shall be erected or maintained within the street right-of-way.
- No sign shall project more than 24 inches over a public walkway, and the lower edge of such projecting sign shall be not less than 10 feet above the walk level.
- No freestanding or façade or building-mounted sign shall exceed a height of 15 feet at its highest elevation, except as may be provided for billboards.
- No sign shall project above the building height restriction for the district nor be mounted on the roof of any building.
- No sign shall be erected within 75 feet of a public right-of-way or within 200 feet of a traffic control device if it uses the words 'stop,' 'look,' or 'danger'; contains red or green lights; contains any word, symbol, or character which interferes with or resembles an official traffic sign; or contains a light source visible from the public right-of-way.
- Banners or signs hung across public streets or private property are prohibited except those of general benefit to the municipality or for public convenience, and are subject to PennDOT regulations.
- Pennants that blow in the wind or spinners that spin in the wind are prohibited except at temporary fairgrounds or in conjunction with a special event.
- Any sign, except as permitted, that is attached to a tree, pole, stake, light stand, fence, or other object is prohibited.
- Any sign or part of sign with flashing or intermittent lighting, sequential lights, revolving, moving, sound-producing, or oscillating parts, movable parts, reflectors, or changing colors/intensity of illumination using electrical energy; or which changes image or text more than once every 24 hours; or which flaps in the wind, with exceptions for signs displaying time, date, temperature exclusively and barber poles.
- Mobile or portable signs are prohibited.
- Advertising vehicles are prohibited if their basic purpose is advertisement or direction as defined in the ordinance.
- It is prohibited to destroy, remove, deface, obliterate, or cover up any lamp, sign, or barricade erected as a warning of danger by Borough authorities or authorized persons.

## Signs exempt from permit in Green Lane Borough

- Official highway route number, street name, directional or other traffic signs, including those on private or public property.
- Signs indicating prohibition or control of fishing, hunting, or trespassing or private nature of a road, not exceeding one square foot in area and spaced no less than 100 feet apart on street frontages and 50 feet apart along other boundaries.
- A sign not exceeding one square foot bearing only property number, street address, post box numbers, or names of occupants in residential districts.
- Governmental flags or governmental insignias, public monuments, historic identification signs or plaques, and municipal identification signs erected by or with government agency permission.
- A legal notice.
- Christmas trees, other holiday displays, or window displays of merchandise (except as specifically prohibited). Holiday or seasonal non-identification flags without letters, words or numbers are permitted.
- Public service signs, signs promoting public safety, and information signs for restrooms, telephones, or similar public conveniences.
- Signs on a vending machine advertising the sale of the contents therein.
- One or more window signs giving store hours or names of credit/charge institutions, total area not exceeding two square feet.
- A sign not exceeding four square feet as a permanent architectural feature of a building or structure such as a cornerstone or identifying letters carved or embossed, provided the letters are not reflective and do not contrast in color with the building.
- An emblem, logo, insignia, or badge signifying membership or affiliation with any trade association, group, or organization, not exceeding one square foot.
- American flags, not exceeding 40 square feet each.
- On-premises directional signs devoid of any reference to business activity, giving only traffic or pedestrian information, no-parking signs, and handicapped parking signs.
- Religious symbols in conjunction with places of worship in permitted districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must be accompanied by detailed plans and specifications sufficient to determine the location and construction details of such signs.
- A permit is required for all signs except those specifically exempted or not requiring a permit as listed (e.g., certain temporary, real estate, political, or exempt signs).
- Permits are not required for exempt signs listed at § 415-89J and for certain temporary signs as specified in § 415-91B.
- No sign, signboard, billboard, or advertising device existing at the time this chapter was passed that does not conform in use, location, height, or size with the regulations of the district in which it is located may continue in such use for more than two years after the passage of this chapter; after two years, nonconforming signs are in violation.
- Review and approval by the Code Enforcement Officer (and where applicable, special exception for billboards) is required prior to sign erection and installation.

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

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