# Sign Regulations in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/lower-burrell
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/29371355#29371355)

## At a glance

Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground-Level Movable Sign (Sale Event/Price)s in the C and I Districts, Commercial District, Industrial District zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall, 8 square feet (2 ft x 4 ft), and 4 feet wide, with a 10 ft from right-of-way. 15 ft at intersection. setback (Sec. § 300-111G). Most commercial signs in Lower Burrell 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 | 10 | 10 feet | 24 square feet (single side), 48 square feet (right-angle, per side) | — |
| C and I Districts, Commercial District, Industrial District | 7 | ≤12 feet above top of roof | 144 square feet (one side) | — |
| R-1 District, R-2 District, S District | 1 | 10 feet | 12 square feet (single side), 24 square feet (right-angle, per side) | — |
| C District, M District | 1 | 4 feet | 6 square feet per side | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (2 sq ft Name/Address/Profession) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Attached to building or perpendicular outside right-of-way. | — | § 300-104 |
| Freestanding Sign (6 sq ft Name/Address/Profession) | 4 feet | 6 square feet per side | — | 10 ft (C/M), 30 ft (all others), or as required for visibility. | — | Front yard or perpendicular to and outside right-of-way. | — | § 300-105 |
| Nonprofit Service Organization/Church/School Bulletin Board Sign (R-1/R-2/S Districts) | 10 feet | 12 square feet (single side), 24 square feet (right-angle, per side) | — | — | 1 per street abutted | On nonprofit/public/institutional-use premises. | — | § 300-106 |
| Nonprofit Service Organization/Church/School Bulletin Board Sign (All Other Districts) | 10 feet | 24 square feet (single side), 48 square feet (right-angle, per side) | — | — | 1 per street abutted | On nonprofit/public/institutional-use premises. | — | § 300-106 |
| Professional/Contractor/Artisan Temporary Sign | — | 12 square feet (one side) | — | — | — | On premises being worked on. | — | § 300-108 |
| Temporary Subdivision Directional Sign | 8 inches | — | 2 feet | — | 1 per block, 2 per street | Beyond subdivision premises with owner's consent. | — | § 300-109B |
| Directional Sign (General City/Area) | — | 2 square feet or up to 8 square feet by request | 2 feet | — | 1 per location | Designated by Council; for City located uses only. | — | § 300-117 |
| Political Sign | 4 feet | 16 square feet (4 ft × 4 ft) | 4 feet | — | — | On private property with owner's consent. | — | § 300-121 |

### C and I Districts, Commercial District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of sign ≤2 feet above building roofline; bottom ≥10 feet above grade (unless ≤3 in projection) | 10% of wall surface | — | — | See also additional wall sign for unified shopping center occupants. | On principal business wall or portion used for business. | — | § 300-111A, § 300-111F |
| Overhanging Sign | — | 40 square feet per side (2 sides max) | — | — | 1 per building | Hung at right angle to wall, or on corner (≤135° to either face), attached to building (bottom ≥10 ft above grade). | — | § 300-111B, § 300-111F |
| Roof Sign | ≤12 feet above top of roof | 100 square feet max unless exception | — | — | — | On roof of business. | — | § 300-111C, § 300-115, § 300-111F |
| Freestanding Sign (Unified Shopping Center/Industrial/Unit Group) - Option 1 | Bottom at least 10 feet, max 35 feet above grade | 144 square feet (one side) | — | 15 ft from road right-of-way; intersection: at least 10 ft from both right-of-way lines. Can request minimum 5 ft in special cases, with approval. | 1 per unified center/building/group | Affixed permanently to ground, on site or adjacent owned land. | — | § 300-111D(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Occupant) - Option 2 | At least 8 feet above grade, approved by Officer and Police for location | 10% of wall surface (if wall sign), otherwise per above | — | — | 1 per business | On or made part of occupied building. | — | § 300-111D(4) |
| Directory Sign | — | 20 square feet (total) | — | — | 1 per center/group | On building or freestanding. | — | § 300-111D(5) |
| Ground-Level Movable Sign (Sale Event/Price) | 4 feet | 8 square feet (2 ft x 4 ft) | 4 feet | 10 ft from right-of-way. 15 ft at intersection. | 1 per business | At least 10 ft from right-of-way; at intersection, at least 15 ft from right-of-way. | — | § 300-111G |

### R-1 District, R-2 District, S District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonprofit Service Organization/Church/School Bulletin Board Sign | 10 feet | 12 square feet (single side), 24 square feet (right-angle, per side) | — | — | 1 per street abutted | On nonprofit/public/institutional-use premises. | — | § 300-106 |

## Prohibited signs in Lower Burrell

- No sign, billboard or exterior graphic display shall be permitted in any district except as provided in the ordinance.
- No sign other than for permitted uses shall be allowed.
- No sign shall be installed or replaced within the established street right-of-way line of any street or highway.
- No sign shall overhang any sidewalk.
- No sign (including streamers, banners, pennants, holiday decorations or material of a similar nature specific to private businesses) shall be permitted unless for special civic events or holidays with explicit permission.
- No signs shall obstruct ingress or egress to premises or vision at intersections or curves.
- No flashing, rotating, flickering, glaring or running signs causing the illusion of movement by reason of lighting arrangement shall be permitted.
- No lights of illuminated signs shall be shielded so as to prevent distraction, confusion or hazard to traffic or shine directly into nearby dwellings.
- No flashing lights similar to traffic control or warning lights or rotating, beacon-style lights shall be permitted.
- Billboards may be placed only along Route 56 and Route 366.
- Billboards shall not be erected within 300 feet of R District boundaries, schools, churches, cemeteries, interchanges or safety rest areas.
- Billboards must maintain minimum spacing of 1,000 feet between structures.
- No billboard shall be erected over any sidewalk or public right-of-way.
- No billboard shall be part of a roof or wall, nor mounted on the roof, wall or part of any building or other structure.
- No billboard structure, sign face or display lighting shall flash or emit noise.
- No display lighting on billboards shall cause distractions, confusion, nuisance or hazard to traffic, aircraft or other properties.
- No billboard shall be constructed within the clear sight triangle of a public street or road.
- No City street sign or utility pole shall be used for installation of directional or area signs.
- Political signs are prohibited on any utility poles or trees, or on any property without owner approval.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lower Burrell

- A sign attached to a building not exceeding two square feet in surface size is permitted in any zoning district, announcing the name, address or professional activity of the occupant.
- A sign not exceeding six square feet may be mounted not over four feet high on an ornamental pole in the front yard, announcing the occupant's name, address, or professional activity.
- Temporary nonilluminated signs may be installed and maintained by the owner, agent or firm interested in the sale, repair or rental of premises.
- Temporary signs for carpenters, plumbers, painters, contractors, builders, artisans or craftsmen (max one side 12 sq ft), permitted during period of work.
- Temporary directional signs during development of a residential subdivision allowed with property owner consent and size/number limitations.
- Signs or bulletin boards for nonprofit service organizations, churches, schools, colleges, hospitals, institutions, parks, playgrounds or similar public or semipublic use (size limits apply).
- Any two or more qualified organizations may jointly erect and advertise on a single sign at the discretion of the Zoning Hearing Board.
- Special civic event or holiday streamers, banners, or pennants are permitted with explicit permission from the Zoning Officer and required permissions from Highway Department or utility company.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for the alteration, erection, replacement or moving of a sign.
- Permission for larger signs than specified may be obtained from the Planning Commission or Zoning Hearing Board.
- A permit for the moving, erection, installation or construction of any sign shall be required and shall be issued by the Zoning Officer for a fee.
- Requests for signs at less than required setbacks or larger than maximum allowed will be reviewed by the Planning Commission; permission rendered by the Zoning Hearing Board.
- Proposals for development entrance signs shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission before erection.
- Special exceptions, such as for off-premises directional signs or billboards, require approval by the Zoning Hearing Board following applicable procedures.
- Billboards require special exception, FAA/PennDOT approvals, application review, and a certificate of insurance.
- Nonconforming or oversized sign requests typically require review by the Zoning Hearing Board according to established variance procedures.

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

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