# Sign Regulations in Jim Thorpe Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Jim Thorpe Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/jim-thorpe-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44967572#44967572)

## At a glance

Jim Thorpe Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 13 sign types across 3 zoning districts. A-Frame or Sandwich Board Signs in the C-1, C-2 zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 8 sq ft per face, and 30 inches wide, with a 20 ft from edge of road surface, 10 ft from property line. setback (Sec. §500-164G, §500-156B). Most commercial signs in Jim Thorpe Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1, C-2 | 7 | 25 ft (min 9 ft above grade) | 75 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-1 | 1 | 35 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 15 ft | 64 sq ft per side (main sign); Directory sign: 10 sq ft per use (affixed) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### C-1, C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Individual Nonresidential Use) | — | 50 sq ft per sign, total max 75 sq ft for all signs per use | — | — | Two per lot. | On any wall of principal building; must be parallel to and in the same plane as the wall. (See §500-157B(16)) | — | §500-164A(2)(b), §500-164A(1), §500-164A(3)(b), §500-157B(16), §500-156B |
| Freestanding Sign (Individual Nonresidential Use) | 25 ft (min 9 ft above grade) | 50 sq ft per sign, total max 75 sq ft for all signs per use | — | — | One per lot (two if corner lot) | On lot of principal use; in landscaped/hardscaped area (min 1 sq ft landscape per 1 sq ft sign, min 50 sq ft) | — | §500-164A(2)(a), §500-164A(3)(a), §500-164A(1), §500-157I, §500-156B |
| Shingle Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 6 inches thick | — | One per establishment with separate entrance | Suspended from overhang at entrance, perpendicular to building facade, centered under overhang. | — | §500-164F, §500-156B |
| A-Frame or Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft per face | 30 inches | Additional signs: 20 ft from edge of road surface, 10 ft from property line. | Two per establishment; up to 5 additional per property with setback. | On property of establishment, separated as required, out of ROW except as permitted. Cannot impede passage or doors. Not allowed if snow present. | — | §500-164G, §500-156B |
| Electronic Message Sign | Per wall or freestanding sign being replaced | Per wall or freestanding sign being replaced | — | — | One per parcel (or one per development if multiple parcels). | C-1 and C-2 only, on parcels with permitted nonresidential use; one per development, per §500-164C. | — | §500-164C |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center/Multi-Occupant Use) | 25 ft | 75 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | On property, at permitted location and setback. | — | §500-164B(1) |
| Wall Sign (Shopping Center/Multi-Occupant Use) | — | 35 sq ft per principal occupant sign | — | — | One per occupant, plus one per abutting street | Outermost wall of principal building. | — | §500-164B(2) |

### R-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-Premises Advertising Sign (Billboard) | 35 ft | 150 sq ft | — | Min 100 ft from ROW; min 100 ft from residences and public road intersections. | — | Frontage on PA Route 903 only, not more than 100 ft from edge of ROW, min 100 ft from intersection. | — | §500-165 (A-H) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Property) | 15 ft | 16 sq ft | — | May be in setback, not in ROW or within 15 ft of vehicular access. | Max 3 per lot | Only upon premises to which the sign message applies. May be in any required setback but not over lot line. Not within ROW or within 15 ft of vehicular access to public street. | — | §500-159 |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential Property) | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | May be in setback, not in ROW or within 15 ft of vehicular access. | Max 3 per lot | Only upon premises to which the sign message applies. May be in any required setback but not over lot line. Not within ROW or within 15 ft of vehicular access to public street. | — | §500-159 |
| Development Road Entrance Sign (Residential) | 15 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — | Not over lot line or within 15 ft of vehicular access. | Max 2 per access point | At vehicular access, in any setback, not over lot line or within 15 ft of vehicular access. | — | §500-161 |
| Development Road Entrance Sign (Nonresidential Subdivision) | 15 ft | 64 sq ft per side (main sign); Directory sign: 10 sq ft per use (affixed) | — | Not over lot line or within 15 ft of vehicular access. | Max 2 per access point | At vehicular access, in any setback, not over lot line or within 15 ft of vehicular access. | — | §500-161 |
| Name and Address Sign (Multifamily, 6+ units) | 15 ft (wall), 5 ft (ground) | 4 sq ft | — | Not within 15 ft of vehicular access to public road. | 1 per building; 1 additional per abutting street | Building wall or as ground sign; not within 15 ft of vehicular access to roadway. | — | §500-160 |

## Prohibited signs in Jim Thorpe Borough

- All signs not expressly permitted by this article are prohibited.
- Large balloons (greater than 25 cubic feet) tethered for advertising for over a day are prohibited.
- Animated, moving, and flashing signs (including those which flash, revolve, rotate, swing, undulate, move by any means, or attract attention through movement) are prohibited.
- Signs using mirrors or similar devices to reflect images or light to attract attention are prohibited.
- Portable and wheeled signs are prohibited, except for permitted A-frame and sandwich board signs.
- Signs attached or affixed to a building that project more than 18 inches beyond the wall are prohibited (except permitted shingle signs).
- Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles, trailers or containers parked to be visible from a public right-of-way for advertising purposes are prohibited.
- Signs attached or affixed to utility poles or trees are prohibited (except for noncommercial signs and no trespassing signs on the owner's property).
- Signs imitating or interfering with traffic control devices are prohibited.
- Signs that emit any sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke are prohibited.
- Signs containing information stating that a lot may be used for a purpose not permitted under this chapter are prohibited.
- Obscene signs or displays visible from a lot line are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Signs emitting sound as advertising or objectionable/excessive noise are prohibited.
- No signs or any part thereof or supporting structure shall be attached to fire escapes, fire ladders, or standpipes, or hinder ingress or egress through such means.
- No sign may violate clear view requirements or be erected such as to constitute a public hazard.
- No part of any sign may be erected or maintained in the public right-of-way, except certain types in specified districts.
- No sign shall obstruct fire escapes, exits, windows, doors, or wall openings intended for ingress/egress.
- No sign shall interfere with building openings required for ventilation.
- All signs must maintain clearance of at least eight feet from electrical or communication lines.
- All signs must not interfere with surface or underground utilities or drainage.
- No sign may interfere with existing warning or instructional signs.
- No sign may be erected to confuse traffic/pedestrians, present a hazard, or obstruct vision, and all must comply with clear sight triangle requirements.
- Roof signs attached to a building or extending above any part of the building roof are prohibited.
- Shingle signs may not be less than nine feet above a walkway or grade and not project above the eave or parapet.

## Signs exempt from permit in Jim Thorpe Borough

- Incidental signs do not require a permit, including: directional/instructional signs (not exceeding six square feet and with no advertising); noncommercial flags, emblems, and insignia; governmental signs for control of traffic, emergency response, regulatory purposes, or public service; holiday decorations temporarily displayed on recognized holidays; interior signs not affixed to windows and not visible from outside; noncommercial memorial signs/plaques; name and address plates (one per frontage, not exceeding two square feet); no trespassing and similar signs; parking lot directional and instructional signs (subject to specific size and height limits); youth athletic field sponsor signs (one-sided, max 32 square feet, max 25% of scoreboard area); official public notices; signs on vehicles/trailers incidental to the primary use of the vehicle/trailer; religious/historical emblems and plaques (not exceeding four square feet); permanent nonflashing vending machine signs (up to eight square feet per machine for content/pricing/instructions); non-advertising warning signs (removed within three days after danger subsides, any type/size as needed); historic signs as authorized by government.
- Routine maintenance or changing sign parts/copy not altering the area, height, or conformity does not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required before the erection, re-erection, construction, alteration, placing, or installation of all signs regulated by this article unless the sign is exempt (see above exemptions).
- Applications for sign permits must be submitted to the Zoning Officer and must include required documentation (details outlined in § 500-156B).
- A permit system is established to allow sign types in various zones, subject to all standards and permit procedures.
- Signs must comply with a landscaping/hardscaping requirement for freestanding identification signs; this landscaping must be part of the required project landscaping plan and maintained accordingly.
- Failure to comply with permitting requirements or any aspect of this code constitutes a violation and signs may be removed or abated as nuisances per enforcement provisions.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Jim Thorpe Borough, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Jim+Thorpe+Borough+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-jim-thorpe-borough

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