# Sign Regulations in Grove City Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Grove City Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/grove-city-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Grove City Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 32 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Signs in the C-1 Commercial District, C-2 Commercial District zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft from side/rear lot line setback (Sec. § 156.132(D), Table 156.131). Most commercial signs in Grove City 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 | 10 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-1A Residential District, R-1B Residential District, R-2 Residential District | 4 | 6 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| P-1 Public District | 5 | 8 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| RLC Residential Limited Commercial District | 5 | Lowest part no more than 12 ft above grade | 32 sq ft | — |
| C-1 Commercial District, C-2 Commercial District | 9 | Lowest part no more than 15 ft above grade | No more than 50% of each window's surface and 25% of all building windows | — |
| HCLI Highway Commercial Light Industrial District | 8 | Lowest part no more than 15 ft above grade | No more than 50% of each window surface, 25% of all building windows | — |
| I-1 Industrial District | 12 | Lowest part no more than 15 ft above grade | 100 sq ft | — |
| R-3 Residential District | 1 | — | See R-1A, R-1B, R-2 regulations | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Civic, Philanthropic, Educational, Religious) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | All zoning districts | — | § 156.126(A) |
| Temporary Sign (Development/Proposed Development) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property, or 1 per street frontage if the property fronts more than one street | On property held in single and separate ownership; one per street frontage. | — | § 156.126(B) |
| Political Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | All zoning districts | — | § 156.126(C) |
| For Sale or Rental Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property, or 1 per street frontage if the property fronts more than one street | Erected on premises for sale or rent. | — | § 156.126(F) |
| Auction, Garage or Yard Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On site of sale | — | § 156.126(G) |
| Directory Sign (Multi-Tenant/Family or Multi-Building Development) | — | 0.5 sq ft per tenant or 2 sq ft per building | — | — | — | For multi-tenant/multi-family/multi-building development | — | § 156.126(H) |
| Temporary Contractor/Builder/Architect, etc. Sign | — | 16 sq ft in residential districts; 32 sq ft in all other districts | — | — | — | On premises where work is being performed | — | § 156.126(I) |
| House/Address Number or Home Occupation/Nameplate Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per permitted use | At dwelling unit | — | § 156.126(N) |

### C-1 Commercial District, C-2 Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All signs allowed in R-1A, R-1B, R-2 Districts | — | See R-1A, R-1B, R-2 regulations | — | — | — | — | — | § 156.132(A) |
| Wall Sign (Facade) | — | — | — | — | 2 permanent signs per street frontage (§ 156.132(B)(1)) | On facade facing each street front | — | § 156.132(D), Table 156.131; § 156.132(E) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from side/rear lot line | 2 permanent signs per street frontage (§ 156.132(B)(1)) | — | — | § 156.132(D), Table 156.131 |
| Projecting Sign | Lowest part no more than 15 ft above grade | 9 sq ft | — | — | 2 permanent signs per street frontage | Projected from building facade | — | § 156.132(D), Table 156.131 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign - C-1 and C-2 (Projecting into ROW) | — | Max. 25% of total canopy area (for name/logo display) | — | Minimum 4 ft from curb/street; minimum 8 ft above sidewalk | — | Within public ROW in areas served by sidewalks, within C-1, C-2 | — | § 156.132(G)(2) |
| Temporary Sandwich Board Sign (C-1 only) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Sidewalks during business hours | — | § 156.132(F)(1) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | No more than 50% of each window's surface and 25% of all building windows | — | — | — | In building windows | — | § 156.132(F)(2)(a) |
| Electronic LED Window Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | In business window | — | § 156.133(B)(1) |

### I-1 Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Facade) | — | — | — | — | See below | On facade facing each street front | — | § 156.132(D), Table 156.131; § 156.132(E) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft from side/rear lot line | See below | — | — | § 156.132(D), Table 156.131 |
| Freestanding Pole Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | One per property | — | § 156.132(D), Table 156.131 |
| Projecting Sign | Lowest part no more than 15 ft above grade | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Projected from building facade | — | § 156.132(D), Table 156.131 |
| Roof Sign | 10 ft above building | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On roof | — | § 156.132(D), Table 156.131 |
| Electronic LED Window Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | In business window | — | § 156.133(B)(1) |
| Pole Sign with Video or Multicolored LED Display (Conditional Use) | — | — | — | 100 ft from R-1A, R-1B, R-2, P-1, or RLC districts; 35 ft from other electronic signs. | 1 electronic sign per property | May be freestanding or façade/wall sign type, as conditional use | — | § 156.133(3) |
| Roof Sign | 10 ft above building | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On roof | — | § 156.132(D), Table 156.131 |

## Prohibited signs in Grove City Borough

- It is unlawful to attach any sign, placard, notice or advertisement of any kind or description upon any signposts, trees, fire hydrants, utility poles, traffic poles, and streetlight poles owned by the borough and located adjacent to public streets, alleys, or highways.
- No signs shall be permitted within public rights-of-way, except PennDOT-approved traffic signs and devices; signs and banners specially approved by the borough for decoration or promotion of community events; temporary signs not exceeding nine square feet under specific circumstances.
- No person shall construct, erect, place, use or permit the use of any permanent or temporary sign or sign structure on private or public property except for the property owner or tenant.
- No sign structure may block a vehicular line of sight for a driveway, access lane or public street, or be placed at any location where by its position, shape or color it may interfere with or obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No signs shall be permitted which are posted, stapled or otherwise attached to public utility poles, trees, fire hydrants, traffic signposts, light posts or any borough-owned structure.
- No sign shall employ intermittent light, electronic or movable text, strobes or other animations that may serve to distract motorists or abutting homeowners (except as specifically provided for electronic signs).
- Lighting for signs shall not create a hazardous glare for pedestrians or vehicles either in a public street or on any private premises.
- No temporary signs shall be illuminated by direct means.
- No signs may be constructed or maintained in a manner that is unsafe or present a public hazard; deteriorated or hazardous signs must be removed or repaired.
- No freestanding signs within specified districts may be erected within ten feet of a side or rear lot line, or ten feet from a public right-of-way.
- Signs which become deteriorated or otherwise present a public hazard shall be removed or repaired by the sign’s owner or by the property owner if the sign owner cannot be identified.

## Signs exempt from permit in Grove City Borough

- Temporary signs announcing a campaign, drive or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization (not exceeding 16 square feet, removed at event end).
- Temporary signs for development or proposed development of premises (not exceeding 16 square feet, one per street frontage; removed within ten days after completion/occupancy and after all approvals are obtained).
- Political signs announcing candidates, referenda or similar speech (not exceeding 16 square feet).
- Religious or holiday displays or messages with no commercial content.
- The flag of the United States, Commonwealth or any state or nation.
- Signs offering the sale or rental of the premises upon which the sign is erected (not exceeding ten square feet and limit of one per street frontage).
- Auction, garage or yard sale signs (not exceeding four square feet and removed after event).
- Directory signs listing occupants of a multi-tenant or multiple-family building or buildings in a multi-building development (limited area).
- Temporary signs of contractors, developers, architects, engineers, builders and artisans on premises where work is performed (limited size, removed upon completion of work).
- Any signs not visible from outside a lot or building.
- Displays of time and temperature, including electronic displays.
- Rest room, exit, public telephone, handicapped parking or access, and similar directional or informational signs for the benefit of the public or tenants.
- No trespassing signs, signs indicating the private nature of a road, driveway or premises, and signs controlling fishing on the premises (not exceeding two square feet).
- House and address numbers, home occupation/nameplate signs displaying name/address and profession of occupant (one per permitted use, not exceeding four square feet, not illuminated).
- Memorial signs or tablets denoting date of erection of a building.
- Temporary signs for announcing the birth of a child, birthday, marriage, graduation or similar event (not exceeding 32 square feet).
- Any sign warning of a hazard that contains no other information or commercial content.
- Signs erected by the borough or authorized entity for public recreational, dedication/memorial, or historical purposes (not exceeding 16 square feet; may include sponsor names/logos).
- Traffic signs and similar regulatory notices placed by a duly constituted governmental body.
- Signs erected for scoring athletic events taking place upon the site.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Unless specifically exempted, a permit must be obtained from the borough for the erection or alteration of all signs. Exemptions from permitting do not relieve owners from responsibility for safe erection and maintenance and compliance with other regulations.
- All applications for signs, as required, must be submitted to the Zoning Officer, including detailed information on type, area, number, illumination, placement concerning site features, and visual renderings.
- In the case of permanent signs within public right-of-way, Borough Council must approve; Zoning Officer (or designee) may approve temporary signs.
- Application information for a sign may be integrated into the borough’s land development plan application and approval process where applicable.
- Land development plans must illustrate the location of all freestanding signs upon plan submittal.
- The development plan shall show precisely the location of all freestanding sign structures relative to ingress/egress, buildings, parking, rights-of-way, utility easements and property lines.
- All sign locations depicted on plats must adhere to zoning regulations.
- For pole signs with video or multicolored LED displays (I-1 Industrial), the developer shall submit a programming plan (includes proposed use of animations, message timings, transition effects, etc.) as a conditional use.

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

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