# Sign Regulations in Greensburg, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Greensburg, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/greensburg
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10952625#10952625)

## At a glance

Greensburg, Pennsylvania regulates 27 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Special exception)s in the Residential District (R1, R2, R3) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 6 square feet, with a 5 feet setback (Sec. § 265-115A, Table 1). Most commercial signs in Greensburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R1, R2, R3) | 3 | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| S | 3 | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (C1, C2) | 9 | 42 inches (3.5 feet) | 80 square feet | — |
| Industrial District (M) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Downtown District | 2 | 42 inches (3.5 feet) | 7 square feet (42 in x 24 in max) | — |
| Gateway District | 1 | 42 inches (3.5 feet) | 7 square feet (42 in x 24 in max) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 10 feet (standard); 16.5–23 feet if over travel lanes | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Residential District (R1, R2, R3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | Main wall of building; must be for a legal home occupant | — | § 265-115A, Table 1; § 265-113A |
| Wall Sign (Special exception) | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | 5 feet | 1 | — | — | § 265-115A, Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign (R3, PRD Uses) | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 | Planned residential developments, as part of site plan approval only | — | § 265-115A, Table 1; § 265-115A, Table 2 |

### Commercial District (C1, C2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 | On building; shall not project more than 12 inches from building surface | — | § 265-115A, Table 1; Table 2 |
| Freestanding Pole Sign | 18 feet | 80 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 265-115A, Table 1; Table 2 |
| Freestanding Post Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 | — | — | § 265-115A, Table 1; Table 2 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 265-115A, Table 1; Table 2 |
| Directory Sign | 20 feet | 20 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 | — | — | § 265-115A, Table 1; Table 2 |
| Street Banner | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 265-115A, Table 1 |
| Letter-by-letter Wall Sign | 3 feet; must be on main wall of building | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 265-115A, Table 1; Table 2 |
| Temporary Sandwich Board Sign | 42 inches (3.5 feet) | 7 square feet (42 in x 24 in max) | 24 inches (2 feet) | — | 1 | Sidewalk (Downtown, see details in Downtown/Gateway zones) | — | § 265-115A, Table 1; § 265-115B |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Announcing Sign (Temporary) | — | 16 sq ft in residential districts; 32 sq ft in other districts | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage of building under construction or repair | — | § 265-111A(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | 4 sq ft (residential district) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage of premises being advertised | — | § 265-111A(2) |
| Subdivision Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street entrance | One per street entrance to the subdivision; on property to be subdivided | — | § 265-111A(3) |
| Special Event Display/Portable Sign; Window Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | Premises of establishment having grand opening or special event | — | § 265-111A(4) |
| Mechanic/Painter/Artisan Sign (Temporary) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises where work is being performed | — | § 265-111A(5) |
| Institutional Sign / Bulletin Board | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street front | On premises of institution | — | § 265-111B |
| Subdivision/Tract Name Sign | — | 24 sq ft (one sign) or two signs of 12 sq ft each | — | — | 1 or 2 | Exclusive entrance to subdivision or tract | — | § 265-111D |
| Directional Sign (Wayfinding System) | 10 feet (standard); 16.5–23 feet if over travel lanes | — | — | 75 feet from street intersection (unless excepted); driveway/ramps exempt | Up to two per pole | Wayfinding routes, arterial/collector streets, specified downtown circuits (see text) | — | § 265-117.1 |

## Prohibited signs in Greensburg

- No person, firm, corporation or association shall affix or locate any signs, posters, banners, bumper stickers or otherwise, on utility and/or traffic poles in the city, except for authorized notices.
- No sign, poster, banner or bumper sticker shall be posted longer than 15 days unless it is an official notice.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign not included under the types of signs permitted in district regulations or in the ordinance.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign which advertises or publicizes an activity not conducted on the premises upon which such sign is maintained.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any window sign, except as permitted under the provisions of the ordinance.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any portable sign, except as permitted under § 265-115B for temporary sandwich board signs in the Downtown and/or Gateway Districts with City Council approval.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any flashing or oscillating sign, except EMCs as described under §265-7.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign erected upon or attached to the roof of any building.
- No banner shall be hung across any streets or highways in the City.
- Banners exceeding 50 square feet in area are prohibited.
- No signs shall be placed on poles without prior consent of the owner and formal permission from the city.
- Abandoned signs (on property vacant/unoccupied for three months or signs pertaining to a time/event/purpose which no longer applies) are prohibited and must be removed.
- No person shall maintain or permit any dangerous or defective sign.
- No sign may be maintained in a dangerous or defective condition.
- Directional signs must not be inadequately maintained so as to show evidence of deterioration (peeling, rust, dirt, fading, etc.).
- No directional sign shall represent an entity which is no longer in existence or remain after expiration of permit.
- No directional sign shall obstruct free and clear vision at a street intersection; or interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with authorized traffic controls.
- No directional sign shall constitute a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate design, construction, repair or maintenance.
- No other directional signs or directional sign systems will be permitted in the City of Greensburg aside from the City-approved system.
- Any widespread display of outdoor advertising is deemed inappropriate and shall be confined to designated industrial districts.

## Signs exempt from permit in Greensburg

- Temporary announcing signs for buildings under construction, limited to one per street frontage and size restrictions per district.
- Temporary real estate signs, one per street frontage and size limits per district.
- Temporary subdivision signs, one per street entrance to the subdivision, limited in size and subject to time/display restrictions and Planning Director approval for extension.
- Special event display signs (portable and window) may be erected on the premises of an establishment with a grand opening or special event, for a period not to exceed seven days within any six-month period, but not permitted in public right-of-way.
- Signs of mechanics, painters, and other artisans (not exceeding 16 square feet) during work on premises, to be removed upon completion of work.
- One institutional sign or bulletin board per street front for public, charitable, or religious institutions on their premises, up to 24 square feet.
- Public signs of a noncommercial nature (community service, transit, utility info, safety, danger, trespassing, scenic/historical, and those erected by public officers in performance of duty).
- One nonilluminated subdivision or tract name sign per exclusive entrance, subject to size limits.
- Official government flags.
- Commemorative plaques placed by recognized historical agencies.
- Address signs not exceeding one square foot.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect, alter, repair, or relocate any sign without first obtaining a zoning permit from the Department of Planning and Development; a permit will only be issued upon determination of compliance with requirements.
- Every zoning permit application for a sign must be accompanied by plans drawn to scale and include details such as sign dimensions, supporting members, heights, location relative to building and lot boundaries, and a photo if attached to a building.
- A zoning permit for an Electronic Message Center (EMC) sign must be obtained and must be reviewed by the City's Planning Commission and approved by the City Council before issuance.
- For shopping centers, plazas, and other multi-tenant developments, sign numbers must conform to the standards and restrictions provided in §265-115A, typically as part of site plan approval.
- Application for a permit for directional signs must be in accord with §265-138, and requires stakeholder approval; new stakeholders require a zoning permit from Planning and Development.
- Directional signs for the City of Greensburg Wayfinding System require sealed approval certified by a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania traffic engineer for each location, and PennDOT approval for state rights-of-way.
- No permit is required for repair or maintenance that does not involve structural change or for change of copy or message due to manufacturing errors for directional signs, but fees may apply for other message changes.
- Special exceptions, variances, or City Council approval may be required in certain cases (e.g., temporary sandwich board signs as noted in §265-115B) as part of the application process.

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

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