# Sign Regulations in Lansdowne Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lansdowne Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lansdowne-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/15033491#15033491)

## At a glance

Lansdowne Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 10 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Business District zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a Minimum 5 ft from all property lines setback (Sec. §330-44 (Table), §330-35, §330-42). Most commercial signs in Lansdowne Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Business District | 6 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Historic District | 5 | Bottom at least 8 ft above grade | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to extend above parapet or second story window sill, whichever is lower | 10% of wall area to which attached; maximum 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal use | On building wall facing public street | — | §330-44 (Table), §330-35, §330-36Q, §330-42 |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from all property lines | 1 per principal use | In yard, must be on same property as use | — | §330-44 (Table), §330-35, §330-42 |
| Projecting Sign | Bottom of sign at least 8 ft above grade | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | May project into public right-of-way per §330-35(A)(10) | — | §330-44 (Table), §330-35(A)(10), §330-42 |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 25% of the window area | — | — | Unlimited, so long as total area limit is not exceeded | On window/glass door of ground floor business | — | §330-44 (Table), §330-38F |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per business | On sidewalk in front of business | — | §330-44 (Table), §330-35(A)(10), §330-42 |
| Temporary Commercial Promotion Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per property | — | — | 1 per property (per event) | On premises of business being promoted (not in the ROW) | — | §330-44 (Table), §330-42C |

### Historic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to extend above parapet or second story window sill, whichever is lower | 10% of wall area to which attached; maximum 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal use | On building wall facing public street | — | §203-10A, §330-43, §330-35, §330-36Q, §330-44 (Table) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from all property lines | 1 per principal use | On same property as principal use | — | §203-10A, §330-43, §330-44 (Table) |
| Projecting Sign | Bottom at least 8 ft above grade | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Projecting from building in historic district | — | §203-10A, §330-43, §330-44 (Table) |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 25% of the window area | — | — | Unlimited, so long as total area limit is not exceeded | On window/glass door of ground floor business | — | §330-44 (Table), §203-10A, §330-43 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per business | On sidewalk in front of business | — | §330-44 (Table), §203-10A, §330-43 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per sign (unless otherwise specified for real estate/construction signs) | — | — | 1 per event/use | On premises of event or use | — | §330-38, §330-44 (Table) |
| Artisan Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per project | On construction site; wall or freestanding | — | §330-38J, Example in §330-44 table |
| Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building/unit | Near door or main entrance | — | §330-38E |
| Incidental Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | As needed | Premises as needed | — | §330-38G |

## Prohibited signs in Lansdowne Borough

- No sign shall be erected unless it complies with all applicable requirements of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC).
- No sign or structure shall be placed in the public right-of-way except for permitted sandwich boards, projecting signs, and civic/church event signs as provided for in this article.
- No sign shall create a public nuisance by emitting smoke, sound, vapor, beams or rays, particle emission or odors.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to traffic by impairing the view.
- All signs and sign structures shall be kept in good repair and presentable condition, so that all sign information is clearly legible.
- Any sign found by the Zoning Officer to show deterioration, including rust, faded colors, discoloration, holes, and missing parts or informational item, shall constitute a violation.
- All signs must relate to the use of the property on which the sign is displayed and must be removed within 60 days after that use changes or ceases.
- Any sign that becomes dangerous to public safety or a nuisance shall be made to comply with the provisions of this chapter and the Pennsylvania UCC or it shall be removed.
- No sign shall hereafter be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated except in accordance with this chapter.
- No sign not conforming to this chapter may be changed or altered except to bring it into conformance.
- It is unlawful to erect any sign unless it is specifically permitted in the article.
- Signs which by color, shape, or location conflict with or resemble a traffic signal device are prohibited.
- Signs attached to rocks, utility poles, parking meters, traffic signposts, traffic signals or control devices, street signs, or historical markers are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees, shrubs, or any living vegetative matter are prohibited.
- Signs that create a hazard by obstructing the clear view of vehicles and pedestrian traffic are prohibited.
- Animated signs, except time and temperature signs, are prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exit is prohibited.
- Vehicular signs are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Signs that exhibit obscene or pornographic statements, words or pictures are prohibited.
- Flashing signs, except for the time and temperature portion of a sign, and beacon lights are prohibited.
- Neon signs are prohibited.
- Revolving signs are prohibited.
- Tethered balloons, filled either by gas or heated air, are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Wall signs that cover windows or architectural detail are prohibited.
- Pennants longer than 150% of the street frontage of the premises are prohibited.
- Signs with reflective backgrounds are prohibited.
- Bare plywood as a sign material is prohibited.
- All electrical supply for exterior signs shall be concealed; freestanding signs must have underground cables.
- Internally illuminated signs are not permitted in historic districts.
- Permits for illuminated signs will not be issued without an approved electrical permit; all work must comply with the Electrical Code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lansdowne Borough

- Government/regulatory signs are allowed without a sign permit and are not included in the determination of the number or sign area of other permitted signs.
- Real estate signs are allowed without a sign permit and are not included in the determination of the number or sign area of other permitted signs.
- Public interest signs are allowed without a sign permit and are not included in the determination of the number or sign area of other permitted signs.
- Yard sale signs are allowed without a sign permit and are not included in the determination of the number or sign area of other permitted signs.
- Address signs are allowed without a sign permit and are not included in the determination of the number or sign area of other permitted signs.
- Interior signs are allowed without a sign permit and are not included in the determination of the number or sign area of other permitted signs.
- Incidental signs are allowed without a sign permit and are not included in the determination of the number or sign area of other permitted signs.
- Civic/church event signs on premises are allowed without a sign permit and are not included in the determination of the number or sign area of other permitted signs.
- Pennants as permitted in this article and used only on a nonresidential premises are allowed without a sign permit.
- Artisan signs are allowed without a sign permit and are not included in the determination of the number or sign area of other permitted signs.
- Home occupation signs smaller than two square feet are allowed without a sign permit and are not included in the determination of the number or sign area of other permitted signs.
- No permit is required for the maintenance of a sign or for a change of copy on a legally conforming painted, printed, or changeable copy sign, so long as the message or appearance does not otherwise change.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must be accompanied by two copies of a plan drawn to scale depicting lot dimensions, building frontage, existing cartways, rights-of-way and driveways, design of each sign face and structure (including dimensions, area, height, depth, color scheme, structural details, materials, lighting scheme and proposed location), sign message, building elevations, existing and proposed facades, parapet walls, cornices and the location and size of all existing and proposed permanent signage, and current photographs showing existing signs on the premises.
- For signs in a historic district, an application for a certificate of appropriateness, including a scaled drawing, photographs, illustration of the building facade showing the proposed sign, and for ground signs a site plan, is required and must be approved by the Historic Architectural Review Board and Borough Council.
- Sign permit applications must be submitted with full particulars as to size, shape, materials, supports, location, height above any sidewalk or driveway and the information displayed by the sign and must show compliance with the ordinance.
- Maintenance of a sign or change of copy on a legally conforming painted, printed, or changeable copy sign does not require a permit or new plan submittal, as long as the message or appearance does not change.

## Full detail

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

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