# Sign Regulations in Heidelberg Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Heidelberg Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/heidelberg-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34882252#34882252)

## At a glance

Heidelberg Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 31 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Ground Sign (Shopping Center, C District)s in the C District (Commercial District), M District (Manufacturing District) zoning district are capped at 11 feet tall, 72 square feet, and 8 feet (any one dimension) wide, with a Min 3 ft from property line; min 10 ft from right-of-way or 15 ft from cartway edge setback (Sec. §112-701.6.c.iii). Most commercial signs in Heidelberg Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2) | 2 | — | 24 square feet | — |
| C District (Commercial District), M District (Manufacturing District) | 16 | 20 feet (top of sign); bottom at least 8 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| M District (Manufacturing District) | 1 | 40 feet from ground to top of structure | 250 square feet per sign face | — |
| Mixed Use Overlay | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Sign (Wall) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed as a wall sign on a church, school, library or similar public/semi-public building | — | §112-701.4.a |
| Bulletin Sign (Freestanding Ground) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per building | Freestanding ground sign for a church, school, library or similar public/semi-public building | — | §112-701.4.a |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | 6 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On each lot in a residential district | — | §112-701.4.b |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On each lot in nonresidential districts | — | §112-701.4.b |
| Development Sign | 8 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On each lot | — | §112-701.4.c |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On a lot | — | §112-701.4.d |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 per building | On face of a public building, church, or nonprofit organization | — | §112-701.4.e |
| Home Occupation or Home Office Identification Sign | — | 1.5 square feet | — | — | 1 per residence | Wall-mounted or affixed to structure supporting the mailbox | — | §112-701.4.f |

### Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Plan Identification Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | Must comply with clear sight triangle | 1 per plan/building/development | Permanent wall or freestanding ground sign on residential subdivision plan, multifamily building or development; may be on decorative wall if it meets requirements and does not obstruct visibility | — | §112-701.5.a |
| Nonresidential Identification Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | Wall or freestanding ground sign for legal nonconforming or specially authorized nonresidential use | — | §112-701.5.b |

### C District (Commercial District), M District (Manufacturing District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Automobile Service Station Fuel Price) | 12 feet | 24 square feet per pump island (aggregate) | — | — | No more than 4 faces per pump island | Permanently mounted to fuel pumps or canopy supports | — | §112-701.6.b.ii |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (Shopping Center, C District) | 11 feet | 72 square feet | 8 feet (any one dimension) | Min 3 ft from property line; min 10 ft from right-of-way or 15 ft from cartway edge | 1 per lot | At retail centers/shopping centers; may contain name of center and individual businesses | — | §112-701.6.c.iii |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (Land Developments other than retail centers, C District) | 11 feet | 32 square feet | 8 feet (any one dimension) | Min 3 ft from property line; min 10 ft from right-of-way or 15 ft from cartway edge | 1 per lot | Land developments other than retail centers in C District | — | §112-701.6.c.iii |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (Shopping Center, M District) | 8 feet | 96 square feet | — | Min 10 ft from property line (or right-of-way); 15 ft from cartway edge if not contiguous | 1 per lot | Shopping centers (M District); may contain name of center and several businesses | — | §112-701.6.c.ii |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (Land Development other than shopping center, M District) | 8 feet | 64 square feet | — | Min 10 ft from property line (or right-of-way); 15 ft from cartway edge if not contiguous | 1 per lot | Land development other than shopping center (M District) | — | §112-701.6.c.ii |
| Freestanding Pole Sign (Shopping Center, C District) | 20 feet (top of sign); bottom at least 8 feet | 96 square feet | — | Min 10 ft from property line/right-of-way or 15 ft from cartway edge | 1 per lot | Shopping center (C District) | — | §112-701.6.c.iv |
| Freestanding Pole Sign (Land Development, M District, <3 businesses) | 20 feet (top of sign); bottom at least 8 feet | 40 square feet | min any dimension 5 feet | Min 10 ft from property line/right-of-way or 15 ft from cartway edge | 1 per lot | Land development other than shopping center (M District), fewer than 3 businesses | — | §112-701.6.c.iv |
| Freestanding Pole Sign (Land Development, M District, ≥3 businesses) | 20 feet (top of sign); bottom at least 8 feet | 64 square feet | min any dimension 5 feet | Min 10 ft from property line/right-of-way or 15 ft from cartway edge | 1 per lot | Land development other than shopping center (M District), 3 or more businesses | — | §112-701.6.c.iv |

## Prohibited signs in Heidelberg Borough

- Attention-getting devices are not permitted in any zoning district.
- Portable signs are not permitted in any zoning district.
- Festoon lighting is not permitted in any zoning district.
- Moving or flashing signs are not permitted in any zoning district, except for that portion of a permitted sign which indicates time or temperature.
- Signs on trees, utility poles, or official traffic control devices or signs are not permitted in any zoning district.
- Signs which imitate traffic control devices are not permitted in any zoning district.
- Signs painted on walls or chimneys of a building or on fences or walls are not permitted in any zoning district.
- Overhanging signs, as defined, are not permitted in any zoning district.
- Signs on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers parked on public or private property, visible from the public right-of-way, where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity, are not permitted except when temporarily parked for overnight storage at the business site or for maintenance, repair, loading, unloading, or rendering a service.
- No sign shall be located in a position that causes a hazard by obstructing visibility for traffic or obscuring a traffic signal or control device.
- No sign, other than official traffic signs and off-premises directional signs, shall hang over or be erected within the right-of-way of any street.
- No object (including signs) over three feet in height, measured from the lowest elevation of the centerline of any abutting street, shall be placed within the required clear sight triangle at intersections.
- Flashing or oscillating signs shall not be permitted.
- Lighting for signs shall be stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times.
- The maximum intensity of sign illumination shall not exceed 1.0 footcandle at the property line.
- Signs must be maintained in good, safe condition; unsafe signs are deemed public nuisances and must be repaired or removed within 10 days of notice.
- Signs relating to discontinued or vacated businesses must be removed within 30 days of the vacation or discontinuance; otherwise, the Borough may remove the sign at the owner’s expense and place a lien.
- Except for billboards, political signs, and off-premises directional signs where authorized, all signs must be located on the premises they are intended to serve.
- Any sign permit expires within six months if installation is not initiated and diligently pursued.

## Signs exempt from permit in Heidelberg Borough

- Residential identification signs not exceeding one square foot in surface area are exempt from these regulations and permit requirements.
- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized federal or state holidays are exempt, provided they do not interfere with traffic safety or otherwise become a public safety hazard.
- Real estate signs are exempt.
- Political signs are exempt.
- Construction signs are exempt.
- Memorial/historical plaques are exempt from regulations and permit requirements.
- Public signs are exempt.
- Off-premises directional signs erected by a governmental agency are exempt.
- National and/or state flags are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign permit shall be issued for a shopping center or other multitenant land use or for any individual establishment or occupant therein, unless a uniform sign plan has been submitted and approved for the entire development.
- After reviewing the proposed uniform sign plan, the Zoning Officer shall submit the plan to the Planning Commission for a recommendation and to the Borough Council for final approval.
- The uniform sign plan must ensure that sizes, locations, and materials used in the signs are consistent throughout the property, or establish a hierarchy with consistent size and materials within each category, be consistent with the design/materials of the served buildings, and conform to all other requirements of this article.
- Permits must be obtained for all signs except those specifically listed as exempt in § 112-701.3.b.
- Billboards are only permitted as conditional uses in the M District and require recommendation by the Planning Commission and a public hearing by Borough Council.
- Billboard applications must include approvals from relevant agencies (such as county or federal aviation authorities) when applicable.
- Billboard permits are contingent upon approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for those along state highways.

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

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