# Sign Regulations in Hatboro Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hatboro Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/hatboro-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31748091#31748091)

## At a glance

Hatboro Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 31 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Nonilluminated Private Ownership/Trespassing Signs in the O Office District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 2 sq ft per sign, with a At least 25 ft from any right-of-way or property line setback (Sec. §27-1905.1.D.(1)). Most commercial signs in Hatboro Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 15 sq ft | — |
| FP Floodplain Conservation District | 2 | 6 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-1 and R-2 Residential Districts | 2 | 6 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-3 and R-4 Residential Districts | 3 | 12 ft (from first or main floor level) | 15 sq ft | — |
| O Office District | 5 | 20 ft | 25 sq ft (per sign) | — |
| RC-1 and RC-2 Commercial Districts | 10 | 14 ft | ≤50% of total allowable sign area for lot | — |
| HB-Highway Business District | 8 | 6 ft | Total all signs: determined by formula. No single sign >25 sq ft unless freestanding ground sign is ≤10 ft in height, which may be up to 32 sq ft. | — |
| LI and HI Industrial Districts | 5 | 6 ft | Total all signs: determined by formula. No single sign >25 sq ft except as allowed for specific sign types. | — |
| LI Limited Industrial District | 1 | 25 ft (from road centerline to top of sign structure) | 75 sq ft per face, max two faces | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### O Office District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonilluminated Private Ownership/Trespassing Sign | 6 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — | At least 25 ft from any right-of-way or property line | Unlimited, at least 25 ft apart | On property | — | §27-1905.1.D.(1) |
| Parallel Sign (Building/Occupant Name/Address/Use) | — | 25 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | One per lot | Affixed to building | — | §27-1905.1.D.(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Building/Use/Occupant Name/Address) | 20 ft | 25 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | One per lot | On ground on lot | — | §27-1905.1.D.(2) |
| Office Suite/Building Number/Occupant Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per building number/name/occupant | At office suite or building | — | §27-1905.1.D.(3) |
| All Sign Types (Cumulative Total) | — | Total all signs: determined by formula. No single sign >25 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1905.1.D.(4) |

### RC-1 and RC-2 Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonilluminated Private Ownership/Trespassing Sign | 6 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — | At least 25 ft from any right-of-way or property line | Unlimited, at least 25 ft apart | On property | — | §27-1905.1.E.(1) |
| Parallel Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | Affixed to building | — | §27-1905.1.E.(2), (4), (7) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | Perpendicular to building, over pedestrian routes | — | §27-1905.1.E.(2), (7) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground) | 14 ft | If height ≤10 ft: 32 sq ft; If height >10 ft and ≤14 ft: 25 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On ground | — | §27-1905.1.E.(5), (4) |
| Freestanding Roof Sign | 12 ft (from attachment point on roof) | ≤50% of total allowable sign area for lot | — | — | One per building | On roof of building | — | §27-1905.1.E.(6) |
| Movable Sign (Sidewalk Sandwich Board/Menu) | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On public sidewalk in front of business | — | §27-1905.1.E.(9) |
| Window/Door Sign | — | May not obscure more than 20% of window/door | — | — | — | Window/door | — | §27-1905.1.E.(11) |
| Changeable-text Electronic Message Board | — | 10 sq ft (per message board portion) | — | — | — | Portion of permanent monument/freestanding sign | — | §27-1902.Definitions (Changeable-text Electronic Message Board); §27-1905.1.E.(12) |

### HB-Highway Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonilluminated Private Ownership/Trespassing Sign | 6 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — | At least 25 ft from any right-of-way or property line | Unlimited, at least 25 ft apart | On property | — | §27-1905.1.F.(1) |
| Any Sign Permitted in RC-1/RC-2 Commercial Districts (Excluding Freestanding Roof Signs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1905.1.F.(2) |
| Festoon Lighting and Nonstationary Permanent Sign (Special Exception Option 1) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1905.1.F.(3) |
| Vehicular Sign (Special Exception Option 2) | — | — | — | — | One per lot | Affixed to operable vehicle parked in designated parking area, not to remain in same position for more than 60 days. | — | §27-1905.1.F.(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (Required Yard) | — | — | — | 15 ft from any right-of-way or property line; 25 ft if abutting residential district. | One per lot | On ground in required yard area | — | §27-1905.1.F.(5) |
| All Sign Types (Cumulative Total) | — | Total all signs: determined by formula. No single sign >25 sq ft unless freestanding ground sign is ≤10 ft in height, which may be up to 32 sq ft. | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1905.1.F.(6) |
| Window/Door Sign | — | May not obscure more than 20% of window/door; counts towards total allowable sign area for lot | — | — | — | Window/door | — | §27-1905.1.F.(7) |
| Changeable-text Electronic Message Board | — | 10 sq ft (per message board portion) | — | — | — | Portion of permanent monument/freestanding sign | — | §27-1905.1.F.(8); §27-1902 (Changeable-text Electronic Message Board) |

## Prohibited signs in Hatboro Borough

- No sign shall be erected or placed which interferes with traffic through glare, blocks reasonable sight lines for streets, sidewalks, and driveways, or causes confusion with traffic control devices by reason of color, location, shape, or other characteristic.
- No sign shall be permitted within rights-of-way without the approval of the Borough Council, except those erected by a duly constituted governmental body.
- No sign shall overhang any walkway or public right-of-way, except as provided elsewhere in the ordinance.
- No projecting sign shall be permitted to rotate or swing.
- No person shall erect or place any sign to advertise or direct attention to any commodity, political activity, public event, industry, home occupation, or other similar activity sold/offered/conducted elsewhere than on the lot, unless permitted as a billboard.
- No electronic or reader-board-type signs shall be permitted, except for billboards as defined and permitted.
- No temporary sign may be illuminated.
- No temporary sign shall be permitted on public property except as specifically provided for in the ordinance.
- No sign of any type shall be affixed in any fashion to any utility pole, street light standard, tree, or any pole/post/other structure within the public right-of-way in the Commercial Districts, except those required by law or erected by a duly constituted governmental body.
- No billboard sign structure or any part thereof shall be erected or maintained within required distances from rights-of-way, property lines, residential districts, or other billboards, per specific measurements.
- No sign image shall be interactive or display interactive/three-dimensional images, nor shall any sign produce sound of any kind.
- No sign shall flash, scroll, fade, revolve, move, or have intermittent lighting, movable characters, or animated parts.
- Floodlighting for signs must be shielded so the light source is not visible from off the lot and only the sign is directly illuminated.
- No projected or changeable copy on any sign may change more frequently than allowed (e.g., not more than once per 30 seconds, except as specified otherwise for specific sign types).
- It shall be a violation to erect, post, or cause to be posted any sign, banner, poster, or broadside within park/open space/recreational facilities, except as authorized by named authorities (e.g., Little League, pool manager, snack bar manager, Borough for official purposes).
- No sign shall be destroyed, removed, defaced, obliterated, or covered up if erected as a warning of danger by Borough authorities or persons working by permission.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hatboro Borough

- Any sign required by law or erected by a duly constituted governmental body, including street and traffic signs and signs strictly for convenience, safety, and direction of the public (such as restrooms, telephone booths, parking entrances/exits, loading zones, etc.), shall be permitted in all zoning districts.
- Signs erected by a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices, shall be allowed within the right-of-way.
- All signs erected by churches, schools, similar institutions, and nonprofit charitable organizations are exempt from payment of fees under this Part, but must file applications and receive permits.
- Applications and permits are not required for signs erected by a duly constituted governmental body.
- Temporary signs announcing events sponsored by civic or other nonprofit organizations and which do not exceed four square feet in area are not included in the calculation of permitted square foot sign area in any district.
- None of the park/open space/recreational facility sign regulations prevent the erection of signs by the Borough or any municipal, county, state, or federal entity for purposes of public information, safety, health, or welfare.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement or mention of a master sign plan or sign plan procedure is present in the reviewed sections of the ordinance.
- A permit is required for erection or maintenance of permanent signs; temporary signs generally do not require a permit except for those erected on private property in the public right-of-way.
- Special exceptions or variances for signs may be sought via the Zoning Hearing Board, after which a permit is still required prior to erection.

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

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