# Sign Regulations in Greenville Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Greenville Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/greenville-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28612077#28612077)

## At a glance

Greenville Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 14 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Central Business District zoning district are capped at 50 sq ft per sign; 50 sq ft per 200 ft frontage; see example table, with a Must meet setback requirements from edge of public cartway; sign face may extend to right-of-way but not beyond. setback (Sec. Article XV §436-82, §436-32, §436-46). Most commercial signs in Greenville Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Central Business District | 5 | Maximum 3 ft sign face height (if permitted) | 50 sq ft per sign; 50 sq ft per 200 ft frontage; see example table | — |
| Residential Zone | 3 | — | As per Table 436-62(1); e.g., Nameplates, address, memorial plaques ≤10 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential Private Property | 6 | — | 50 sq ft per sign per 200 ft frontage | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | Area of the largest single face only. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to any exterior wall of a building or structure, not projecting more than 18 inches. Includes signs on architectural projections, provided copy area remains parallel to facade. | — | Article VIII §436-28, Article VI §436-24, Article X §436-32, Article XIII §436-39, §436-40, §436-46, §436-11, §436-10 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 50 sq ft per sign; 50 sq ft per 200 ft frontage; see example table | — | Must meet setback requirements from edge of public cartway; sign face may extend to right-of-way but not beyond. | Refer to formula based on property frontage. | Freestanding and supported by structure affixed to the ground. | — | Article XV §436-82, §436-32, §436-46 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to awning or canopy of building. | — | Article XV §436-77, §436-24 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to and projecting more than 18 inches from building face. | — | Article XV §436-79, §436-24 |
| Roof Sign | Maximum 3 ft sign face height (if permitted) | — | — | — | — | Mounted on and supported by the main roof or above parapet. | — | Article XV §436-80 |

### Residential Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Residential Use) | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to residential buildings where permitted. | — | §436-39, §436-50 |
| Fee-Exempt Sign (Residential) | — | As per Table 436-62(1); e.g., Nameplates, address, memorial plaques ≤10 sq ft | — | — | — | On residential property/building | — | §436-68, §436-67, §436-73, §436-66 |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | — | As per Table 436-62(1): ≤10 sq ft for real estate, contractor, and campaign signs | — | — | — | Yard or other surface (not public right-of-way) | — | §436-70, §436-71, §436-72, §436-55 |

### Nonresidential Private Property

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 50 sq ft per sign per 200 ft frontage | — | Per §436-32; may also apply under fee-exempt sign if unable to meet setback. | See formula. | Ground-mounted. Must meet required setbacks from edge of public cartway; sign face may extend to right-of-way but not beyond. | — | §436-82, §436-32, §436-46 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to exterior wall of building. May be on architectural projections if copy area remains parallel to facade. | — | §436-28, §436-46 |
| Off-Premises Sign | — | Must comply with maximum allowable area for property. | — | — | — | Nonresidential property only. Not permitted on residential property. | — | §436-42 |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential) | — | ≤10 sq ft for real estate, contractor, campaign; other special announcements as per Table 436-62(1) | — | — | — | Yard or building wall | — | §436-70, §436-71, §436-72 |
| Portable Sign - A-frame (Sandwich Board) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Sidewalk in front of nonresidential use, during normal business hours only. | — | §436-48 |
| Menu Board Sign (Drive-through) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Adjacent to drive-through lane and entirely behind the principal structure. | — | §436-81 |

## Prohibited signs in Greenville Borough

- It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, install, place, construct, alter, enlarge, repair, maintain or remove any sign in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.
- Any sign not explicitly permitted in this chapter may be allowed only upon approval of the Code Board of Appeals, provided that the sign is similar to and not more objectionable to the general welfare than other signs permitted in this chapter.
- Abandoned and obsolete signs are not permitted and shall be removed at the expense of the property owner.
- Signs fabricated of painted wood sheathing (plywood, OSB) or of any paper product and exposed to the elements shall be prohibited.
- Lighted signs for residential uses are prohibited.
- Any sign that by its location, color, size, shape, message, illumination or nature may be confused with an official traffic control sign, signal or device shall be prohibited.
- Any sign that uses admonitions such as STOP, GO, SLOW, LOOK, DANGER or YIELD that may be confused with official signs of a government, public utility or emergency service shall be prohibited.
- Signs, sign structures, or sign frameworks, shall not be permitted on public property or in a right-of-way except as provided elsewhere in this chapter.
- Signs which blink, flash or have animated, rotating, pulsating or scrolling light shall not be permitted except when in use as a temporary holiday decoration.
- The operation, by a person, of any light fixture that produces blinking, flashing, rotating, pulsing or scrolling light visible from any point on public property or in the right-of-way shall be prohibited regardless of its association with any sign.
- Any sign which obstructs the free ingress or egress of any window, door, stairway, fire escape or any means of egress location shall be prohibited. No sign shall be attached to a fire escape, standpipe, hose cabinet or similar fixture except as permitted by the Fire Department.
- No sign shall be placed in a manner that obstructs light or air from entering the building as may be required by Borough Code or in a location that interferes with the proper functioning of a building.
- Portable signs, not of a temporary or transitory nature, shall be prohibited. Exception: One sign of an A-frame design may be placed on the sidewalk of a nonresidential use during normal business hours only, provided the sign is commercially manufactured, has a sign area not exceeding six square feet, and does not interfere with pedestrian traffic in any way.
- Any sign attached to or placed upon a trailer or an abandoned vehicle on either public or private property shall be prohibited.
- Nuisance, novelty and home occupations signs shall be prohibited.
- A sign containing information which states or implies that a property is or may be used for a purpose not permitted under the provisions of Chapter 550, Zoning, or any other unlawful use shall be prohibited.
- Pennants, streamers, pinwheels, balloons, inflatable signs and tethered balloons shall be prohibited except those temporarily displayed as part of a special sale, promotion or community event.
- Signs prohibited by state or federal law shall be prohibited in the Borough of Greenville.
- Signs and billboards not in compliance with the Pennsylvania Outdoor Advertising Act shall be prohibited.
- Multiple-sided signs shall be prohibited.
- Signs projecting over a street or alley are prohibited.
- Roof signs shall not be permitted on any building fronting Main Street from the Shenango River to the west side of Mercer Street.
- No person shall willfully or maliciously destroy, remove, deface, obliterate or cover up any lamp, warning sign or barricade erected by the authorities of the Borough or by any person doing work by permission of the authorities of the Borough on any street, alley, sidewalk or bridge.

## Signs exempt from permit in Greenville Borough

- Unless specifically exempted, a permit shall be obtained from the Code Official before the erection, placement or installation of any sign within the Borough.
- Exemptions from the necessity of securing a permit does not relieve the sign owner or property owner from the responsibility of conforming with the provisions of this chapter.
- Fee-exempt signs shall be subject to the standards set forth in Table 436-62(1).
- Signs and notices authorized by a court, government, or government agency shall be fee exempt.
- The flag of a government, government agency or school shall be fee exempt.
- Appropriate, noncommercial public utility, transit and emergency signs shall be fee exempt.
- Religious symbols and displays of seasonal decorations within the public holiday season shall be fee exempt.
- Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones, when cut into a masonry surface or when made of noncombustible materials and installed as an integral part of the building or structure, shall be fee exempt.
- Nameplates, street address identification or combination nameplate/street address signs shall be fee exempt, provided such signs do not contain a commercial message and do not exceed the dimensional requirements set forth in Table 436-62(1).
- Incidental signs shall be fee exempt, provided such signs do not contain a commercial message and do not exceed the dimensional requirements set forth in Table 436-62(1).
- Real estate sign advertising the sale or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located shall be fee exempt, provided the sign does not exceed 10 square feet in area and the sign is removed within 10 days of the sale, rental or leasing of the premises.
- Election and political campaign signs located on private property shall be fee exempt, provided the signs do not exceed 10 square feet in area and do not contain any commercial message.
- Contractors, developers, architects, artisans and the like may display, without a fee, a sign at the location where they are performing work, provided the sign does not exceed 10 square feet in area.
- Works of fine art displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise where the enterprise does not receive direct commercial gain shall be fee exempt.
- Signs located in the building interior which cannot be viewed from the right-of-way shall be fee exempt.
- Signs displayed temporarily to advertise special promotions, grand openings, community events or the like shall be fee exempt, provided the sign does not exceed the dimensional requirements set forth in Table 436-62(1).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit application requirements include construction documents showing the dimensions, materials, construction and installation details and the sign copy, and a sketch depicting the location of the sign installation on the property and its relationship to other signs and improvements on the lot.
- Unless specifically exempted, a sign permit shall be obtained from the Code Official before the erection, placement or installation of any sign within the Borough.
- Applications not conforming to the provisions of this chapter shall be denied by the Code Official.
- Any sign not explicitly permitted in this chapter may be allowed only upon approval of the Code Board of Appeals, provided that the sign is similar to and not more objectionable to the general welfare than other signs permitted in this chapter.
- Fee-exempt signs must still conform to the standards set forth in Table 436-62(1) and other applicable requirements, even though a permit or fee is not required.
- All individual sign types and requirements for dimensions and standards are set forth in attachments including Table 436-76(1) and Table 436-62(1); referenced in multiple sections.
- There is no explicit requirement for a 'master sign plan' or variance meeting stated in the provided ordinance text. Appeals or variances proceed through appeal to the Code Board of Appeals per Article V.

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

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