# Sign Regulations in Greencastle Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Greencastle Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/greencastle-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11171323#11171323)

## At a glance

Greencastle Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 20 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Commercial Signs in the Community Commercial District (CC) zoning district are capped at 20 ft (measured from the base of the building) tall and 20 sq ft (up to 75 ft frontage); 32 sq ft (over 75 ft frontage) (Sec. 205-27D(1), 205-27D(3), 205-27D(4)). Most commercial signs in Greencastle Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 8 ft off the ground | 500 sq ft | — |
| R-1, R-2 | 3 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Community Commercial District (CC) | 5 | 20 ft (measured from the base of the building) | 50% of awning face | — |
| Community Commercial-II District (CC-II), Highway Commercial District (HC), Mixed Use District (MX), Industrial District (I) | 8 | 25 ft | 96 sq ft each (2 allowed), total signage (business ID + service ID + awning) not to exceed 5% of surface area of front of building | — |
| Highway Commercial District (HC) | 3 | 25 ft (from roadway grade; bottom edge max 8 ft above roadway) | 300 sq ft per face, 1 face per side, all displays within area | — |
| Community Commercial-II District (CC-II) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Industrial District (I) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Institutional District (INS) | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### R-1, R-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Customary Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | — | — | 205-27C(1) |
| Residential Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per accessway | At each accessway into the residential development. | — | 205-27C(2) |
| Accessory Sign to Special Exception | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per special exception | Accessory to special exception. | — | 205-27C(3) |

### Community Commercial District (CC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial Sign | 20 ft (measured from the base of the building) | 20 sq ft (up to 75 ft frontage); 32 sq ft (over 75 ft frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage per commercial use | For each street frontage for each commercial use. | — | 205-27D(1), 205-27D(3), 205-27D(4) |
| Awning Sign | — | 50% of awning face | — | — | No explicit limit | On awning attached to building facade. | — | 205-27D(1) |
| Projecting/Overhanging Sign | — | — | — | — | — | May project beyond property line abutting street; min. 8 ft above sidewalk; at least 3 ft horizontal from curbline; cannot project over cartway/street/alley. | — | 205-27D(2) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | — | 3 ft per side | — | 1 per business (max 2 if on 2 streets) | Adjacent to the business facade; must allow a 5-foot wide clear pedestrian path; not to interfere with traffic or emergency access. | — | 205-27D(5) |
| Information Kiosk Sign | — | — | — | — | — | District-wide | — | 205-27F |

### Community Commercial-II District (CC-II), Highway Commercial District (HC), Mixed Use District (MX), Industrial District (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign (Single Use, Single Building, 500+ ft frontage) (HC and MX only) | — | 96 sq ft each (2 allowed), total signage (business ID + service ID + awning) not to exceed 5% of surface area of front of building | — | — | 2 per street frontage (HC and MX only for this provision) | Attached to and parallel with premises facing each street. | — | 205-27E(1)(a)[2][a], 205-27E(1)(d) |
| Business Identification Sign (All other uses) | — | 96 sq ft or 10% of the front facade, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Attached to and parallel with premises facing each street. | — | 205-27E(1)(a)[2][b] |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 96 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 100 ft of frontage or fraction thereof | For each street frontage of 100 ft; not in right-of-way. | — | 205-27E(1)(b) |
| Awning Sign | — | 50% of awning face | — | — | No explicit limit | On awning attached to building's facade. | — | 205-27E(1)(d) |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 96 sq ft | — | — | 1 per road frontage | Announcing the shopping center. | — | 205-27E(2)(a) |
| Shopping Center Individual Tenant Business Identification Sign | — | 96 sq ft per tenant, total not to exceed 10% of front building surface area | — | — | — | On building facade(s) | — | 205-27E(2)(b) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | — | 3 ft per side | — | 1 per business (max 2 if on 2 streets) | At building facade or curb; not in any state right-of-way; minimum 5-ft unobstructed pedestrian clearance; not to obstruct vehicle operator sight-lines. | — | 205-27E(3) |
| Information Kiosk Sign | — | — | — | — | — | District-wide | — | 205-27F |

## Prohibited signs in Greencastle Borough

- Signs must not be constructed of non-durable materials or allowed to become dilapidated.
- Signs must not be placed in positions that cause danger to street traffic by obscuring views.
- No sign (except scoreboard permitted electronic message center) shall rotate or cause interruption or flashing of light; illuminated signs must use steady, stationary, shielded light directed solely at the sign without glare.
- Signs advertising a use no longer in existence must be removed within 30 days of cessation of such use.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility pole except by a utility or government agency.
- No sign shall be attached to a tree or governmental- or municipal-owned infrastructure (e.g., stop signs, yield signs).
- Signs or displays visible from a lot line that include any explicit sexual materials, as defined by 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5903, are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device or have characteristics likely to confuse or distract motorists (e.g., use of the word 'danger') are prohibited.
- Signs placed on the roof of a building are prohibited except in the (HC) Highway Commercial and (I) Industrial districts.
- No sign shall be located in the established right-of-way of any street.

## Signs exempt from permit in Greencastle Borough

- Real estate signs announcing the sale or rental of the property where located are permitted in all districts without the necessity to obtain a permit from the Borough.
- Civic and religious signs or bulletin boards not exceeding 20 square feet are permitted in all districts without the necessity to obtain a permit from the Borough.
- Construction signs announcing the architect, engineer and/or contractor(s), placed upon the property only during active construction and not exceeding 32 square feet, are permitted in all districts without the necessity to obtain a permit from the Borough.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, except for those specifically identified as exempt and signs placed in windows of permitted commercial uses, require a Borough permit prior to installation or erection.
- Outdoor advertising signs require the submission of a site development plan containing information as required in the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and this chapter.
- No outdoor advertising sign shall be constructed or erected until an application is made (including lease proof if not the landowner), the applicable fee is paid, and a permit is received from the Borough.
- Before outdoor advertising signs are erected, required state and/or federal permits must be obtained and copies filed at the Borough Office prior to issuance of a signed Borough permit.

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

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