# Sign Regulations in Honesdale Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Honesdale Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/honesdale-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12990250#12990250)

## At a glance

Honesdale Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 28 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Contractor Signs in the A-1 District, A-2 District zoning district are capped at 12 square feet (Sec. § 210-20M). Most commercial signs in Honesdale Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 District, R-2 District, R-3 District, R-4 District, R-5 District, R-6 District | 14 | — | 24 square feet | — |
| A-1 District, A-2 District | 18 | — | 40 square feet | — |
| C-1 District | 23 | — | 150 square feet per face | — |
| C-2 District, ID District, Highway Commercial District (C-2) | 25 | — | 300 sq ft; signs within 100 feet of residential districts limited to 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### A-1 District, A-2 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Contractor Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property where construction is taking place | — | § 210-20M |
| Farm Products Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property | — | § 210-20M |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property being advertised | — | § 210-20M |
| Yard Sale Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property | — | § 210-20M; § 210-20F(4) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property | — | § 210-20M |
| Residential Development Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property for residential development | — | § 210-20M |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property, for permitted or existing nonresidential uses | — | § 210-20M |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 2 | On building exterior | — | § 210-20M; § 210-20E(10) |

### C-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Contractor Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property | — | § 210-20M |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property being advertised | — | § 210-20M |
| Yard Sale Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property | — | § 210-20M; § 210-20F(4) |
| Blade Sign | — | 3 square feet per streetfront | — | — | 1 per streetfront | On each streetfront | — | § 210-20M |
| Wayfinding Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property as needed | — | § 210-20M |
| Bench Sign | — | 6 square feet each | — | — | 2 | On benches | — | § 210-20M |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property | — | § 210-20M |
| Residential Development Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property for residential development | — | § 210-20M |

### C-2 District, ID District, Highway Commercial District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Contractor Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property | — | § 210-20M |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property being advertised | — | § 210-20M |
| Yard Sale Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property | — | § 210-20M; § 210-20F(4) |
| Blade Sign | — | 4 square feet per streetfront | — | — | 1 per streetfront | On each streetfront | — | § 210-20M |
| Wayfinding Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 2 | On property as needed | — | § 210-20M |
| Bench Sign | — | 6 square feet each | — | — | 2 | On benches | — | § 210-20M |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property | — | § 210-20M |
| Residential Development Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property for residential development | — | § 210-20M |

## Prohibited signs in Honesdale Borough

- All signs not expressly permitted or exempted under this section from regulation are prohibited in the Borough.
- Roof signs and commercial signs intended to resemble official highway signs or uniform traffic control devices are prohibited.
- Feather signs are specifically prohibited due to pedestrian and other hazards.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escapes, required exit, window, door opening, or wall opening intended as a means of ingress or egress.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to interfere with any opening required for ventilation.
- All signs shall be located to maintain horizontal and vertical clearance of all electrical power lines and communication lines, as required by the National Electrical Code.
- All signs and supporting structures shall maintain clearance and avoid interference with all surface and underground facilities and conduits for storm drainage, water, sewage, gas, electricity, or communications.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to interfere with any existing warning or instructional sign.
- No sign shall be erected so as to interfere with or to confuse traffic, to present any traffic hazard, or to obstruct the vision of motorists, and all signs shall comply with clear sight triangle requirements.
- Signs attached to any public infrastructure or utility poles, including but not limited to light poles, electric poles, fences, street signs, stop signs or parking meters or signs placed in the public right-of-way except as permitted herein (such as banners approved by the Borough) are strictly prohibited and shall be immediately removable by the owner of the affected public or utility property.
- No garage or yard sale signs can be posted on trees, poles, shrubs, vehicles, dwellings or structures.
- No signs are to be attached to Borough street poles, PP&L poles, or state route signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Honesdale Borough

- Signs that are small, unobtrusive, and incidental to principal use of lots on which they are located, subject to the substantive requirements of this section, but without a requirement for permits (e.g., building number signs, hazard warning signs, noncommercial flags).
- Certain signs allowed without permits, though subject to the standards of this section, as listed per zoning district on the Schedule of Sign Regulations.
- Permits shall not be required for routine maintenance or changing of the parts or copy of a sign, provided the maintenance or change of parts or copy does not alter the sign surface area or height, or otherwise render the sign nonconforming.
- Pennsylvania and U.S. flags shall be exempt.
- Garden and house flags used for decorative purposes in conjunction with residential uses shall also be exempt.
- Murals placed on any building, as provided on the Schedule of Sign Regulations, shall not require permits but must comply with illumination standards.
- Historical markers, placement of the year of construction or name of a builder, and retention or repurposing of historical signage relating to a building’s previous use are not considered signage for advertising purposes and are exempt from maximum signage calculations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before the erection, re-erection, construction, alteration, placing, or installation of all signs identified as 'Allowed with Permits from Zoning Officer' on the Schedule of Sign Regulations.
- The sign permit application must include two copies of plans and specifications for each sign.
- Sign permit applications require, at a minimum: applicant and property owner contact information, the location of the sign, a sketch plan, sign plans and specifications, owner consent, and any additional information required by the Zoning Officer.
- In the case of advertising and electronic signs, engineering data as required for compliance must be submitted.
- For developments with two or more nonresidential occupants, the location and arrangement of all building name and address signs are subject to review and approval of the Zoning Officer.
- Any sign permit not completed within 90 days becomes null and void unless extended by the Zoning Officer.
- All electronic message signs must include landscaping subject to review by the Borough Planning Commission and approval by the Zoning Hearing Board.
- Common directory signs require documentation of the organization that will maintain the sign and written permission from the property owner with the application.
- Temporary signs associated with civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious event campaigns must comply with section requirements but may be exempt from strict area or time limitations.

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

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