# Sign Regulations in Lebanon, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lebanon, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lebanon
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/36369511#36369511)

## At a glance

Lebanon, Pennsylvania regulates 29 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Home Occupation and Accessory Day Care Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 2 sq ft on residential lot; 8 sq ft on nonresidential lot (Sec. § 1312.03(a)). Most commercial signs in Lebanon 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 | 17 | 8 ft | Not permitted on residential lots; 50 sq ft total for all such banners, flags and temporary signs on nonresidential lots | — |
| MR, RLD, RMLD, RMD, RHD | 6 | Equal to top of roof along wall attached; or up to 10 ft above structural roof if on parapet | 40 sq ft on each side of principal building | — |
| CG, LIC, GIC | 4 | 20 ft | 60 sq ft per sign (may be increased by 10 sq ft for each principal nonresidential use beyond first) | — |
| MR, CN, CBD, OI | 6 | 15 ft (8 ft in OI and CBD) | 60 sq ft per side | — |
| GIC | 1 | 40 ft above street centerline elevation | 300 sq ft per side (2 sides max, arranged so only one readable at a time) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Sales or Christmas Tree Sign | — | 12 sq ft total per lot on residential lot; 50 sq ft total per lot on nonresidential lot | — | — | 2 | On property where products are offered for sale | — | § 1312.03(a) |
| Contractor's Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign residential; 20 sq ft per sign or one sign of 60 sq ft max if shared by multiple entities on nonresidential | — | — | 1 per contractor | On property where work is being performed | — | § 1312.03(a) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft (both residential and nonresidential) | — | — | No maximum | Provides information for same lot as sign is on | — | § 1312.03(a) |
| Home Occupation and Accessory Day Care Sign | 8 ft | 2 sq ft on residential lot; 8 sq ft on nonresidential lot | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 1312.03(a) |
| Identification Sign | 8 ft | 2 sq ft on residential lot; 8 sq ft on nonresidential lot | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 1312.03(a) |
| Political/Issue Sign | — | 12 sq ft total per issue/candidate per lot (residential); 50 sq ft total (nonresidential) | — | — | 2 sign faces per issue/candidate per lot | Not on public parks or public property or public street right-of-way (except polling locations on Election Day) | — | § 1312.03(a) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 12 sq ft on residential lot; 50 sq ft on nonresidential lot | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | On property being offered for sale/lease/rent | — | § 1312.03(a) |
| Special Sale Signs (Temporary Banners/Feather Banners, Flags, Portable Sign) | — | Not permitted on residential lots; 50 sq ft total for all such banners, flags and temporary signs on nonresidential lots | — | — | 1 per lot/business | On nonresidential lots | — | § 1312.03(a) |

### MR, RLD, RMLD, RMD, RHD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (School or Place of Worship) | Equal to top of roof along wall attached; or up to 10 ft above structural roof if on parapet | 40 sq ft on each side of principal building | — | — | — | On principal buildings for allowed nonresidential uses | — | § 1312.04(a) Table Row A, § 1312.04(c) |
| Wall Sign (Other Nonresidential Principal Uses) | Equal to top of roof along wall attached; or up to 10 ft above structural roof if on parapet | 10 sq ft on each side of principal building | — | — | — | On principal buildings for allowed nonresidential uses | — | § 1312.04(a) Table Row A, § 1312.04(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (School or Place of Worship) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | 1 sign on each street the lot abuts | — | § 1312.04(a) Table Row A |
| Freestanding Sign (Other Nonresidential Principal Uses) | 8 ft | 10 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | 1 sign on each street the lot abuts | — | § 1312.04(a) Table Row A |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft each of two sides | May project up to 4 ft outward; may project over part of sidewalk if minimum clearance per construction code | — | — | Perpendicular to building, attached to principal building | — | § 1312.04(a) Note, § 1312.04(c) |
| Entrance/Major Development Sign (20+ Units or 5+ Businesses) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | Up to two | At up to two exterior street entrances to subdivision/development | — | § 1312.04(f) |

### MR, CN, CBD, OI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Equal to top of roof along wall to which attached; or up to 10 ft above structural roof if parapet | — | — | — | — | On building side | — | § 1312.04(a) Table Row C, § 1312.04(c), § 1312.04 Note **** |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft (8 ft in OI and CBD) | 40 sq ft (16 sq ft in OI) | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | 1 sign per street the lot abuts | — | § 1312.04(a) Table Row C |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 25% of total window area along each side; OR a total of 8 sq ft per building side, whichever is more restrictive | — | — | — | Windows | — | § 1312.04(a) Table Row C |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft on each of 2 sides | May project up to 4 ft outward over sidewalk (with construction code minimum clearance requirements) | — | — | Perpendicular to building side, may project over sidewalk | — | § 1312.04(a) Table Row C |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 10 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per lot | On sidewalk, must not obstruct 5 ft for pedestrian/wheelchair access, must be stored inside when business closed | — | § 1312.04(a) Table Row C, § 1312.04(b)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign - Drive Through Menu Board | 10 ft | 60 sq ft per side | — | — | 2 | For restaurant drive-through use | — | § 1312.04(a) Table Note ** |

## Prohibited signs in Lebanon

- Any moving object used to attract attention to a commercial use is prohibited, except certain flags and banners as allowed.
- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated, scrolling, rotating or moving signs of any type are prohibited, including electronically moving images.
- Flashing lights visible from a street shall not be used to attract attention to a business (including window signs), except for Christmas season lighting or displays.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor are prohibited.
- Signs which contain information stating that a lot may be used for a purpose not permitted under this title are prohibited.
- Signs that resemble an official traffic control sign, signal or device, or have characteristics likely to confuse or distract drivers (such as prominent use of the word 'danger'), are prohibited.
- Signs or displays visible from a lot line that include words or images that are obscene or pornographic are prohibited.
- Balloons over 50 cubic feet that are tethered to the ground or a structure for periods over a day and are primarily for advertising are prohibited.
- Floodlights and outdoor lasers for advertising are prohibited.
- Commercial signs shall not be attached to a fence, except as allowed as a customary accessory use to a public recreation facility.
- Portable signs are prohibited in all districts, except as a temporary charitable event sign permitted by § 1312.03 or a permitted sandwich board sign.
- Signs shall not be located within the street right-of-way, except allowed projecting and sandwich board signs.
- No sign, except permitted off-premises, official, political, or public service signs, shall be erected on a property to which it does not relate.
- No sign shall be posted on any property unless permission has been received by the owner or entity leasing the property.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility pole or street sign post, except by a utility or government agency.
- Signs shall not be attached to trees, except allowed temporary signs may be attached with string.
- Staples or other metal fasteners shall not be used on utility poles or trees.
- Signs involving electrical cords laying across parking lots, driveways, or sidewalks are prohibited, except for temporary Christmas lighting.
- Signs shall not be located in an easement in a manner that obstructs the purposes of the easement.
- A permanent sign (other than necessary warning signs) shall not be placed in a utility easement.
- Signs advertising a use no longer in existence shall be removed within 180 days of the cessation of such use.
- Unlawful signs placed without a required permit and non-compliant with the ordinance are not considered lawful and must be removed.
- Vehicles, trailers, or structures where the sign is not incidental to the primary purpose of the vehicle shall be considered a freestanding sign and subject to all freestanding sign requirements.
- No person shall post signs, advertisements, posters, or similar items upon light and traffic standards, utility poles, parking meters, and trees located along streets, highways, or in public parks in the City.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lebanon

- Signs meeting the requirements of § 1312.03 (Miscellaneous signs not requiring permits) do not require a zoning permit.
- Nonilluminated window signs do not require a permit.
- Any lawfully existing sign may have its logo or message changed, be painted or repaired, or have a new sign face installed without a permit, provided sign area or height is not increased and nonconformity is not increased.
- Historic signs memorializing an important historic place, event, or person and specifically authorized by the City or a government agency are not regulated by this title.
- Holiday decorations commemorating a holiday recognized by the City, county, state, federal government, or individual religious holidays, which do not include advertising and are posted no more than 90 days per calendar year, are not regulated by this title.
- Signs that are not readable from any public street or exterior lot line are not regulated by this title.
- Official signs erected by the state, county, City, or other legally constituted government body, or those specifically authorized by City ordinance, motion, or resolution for public purposes, are not regulated by this title.
- Signs that only include information required to be posted outdoors by a government agency or the City are not regulated by this title.
- Signs posted within the public street right-of-way and officially authorized by the City, county, or PennDOT, including decorative banners hung from streetlights authorized by the City, are not regulated by this title.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit is required for all signs, except for signs meeting the requirements of § 1312.03 and nonilluminated window signs.
- Any conversion of an existing sign into a digital sign requires a zoning permit.
- Major murals or street art visible from a public street require review by the Design Review Board and written approval by the Mayor, as outlined in § 1312.13.
- Applications for murals or street art must include a full-color rendering, narrative, review fee, building owner's written permission, and information about attachment and durability.
- Signs that do not increase area or height, and do not increase nonconformity, may have their message or face changed, painted or repaired, or be replaced without a new permit.

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

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