# Sign Regulations in Matamoras Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Matamoras Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/matamoras-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9650727#9650727)

## At a glance

Matamoras Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 19 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Billboards in the C-2 District zoning district are capped at 200 sq ft, with a 25 ft side yard, 30-75 ft from road right-of-way setback (Sec. § 124-17E). Most commercial signs in Matamoras Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | — | 120 sq ft | — |
| C-2 District | 1 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| R Recreation District | 2 | — | 50 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Yard Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft (2 ft x 2 ft) | — | Minimum 2 ft from property line | — | On property where sale is conducted or other property with written owner approval, min. 2 ft from property line | — | § 88-7 |
| Sale/Development/Rental Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 2 per premises | On premises upon which they are erected | — | § 124-17B(1) |
| Artisan Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign face | — | — | — | On premises where work is being performed | — | § 124-17B(3) |
| Business Open/Closed Sign | — | 2 sq ft (flag: 3 ft x 5 ft) | 3 ft (flag) | — | 1 per business entrance | At each business entrance | — | § 124-17B(5)(a) |
| Business Hours of Operation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business entrance | At each business entrance | — | § 124-17B(5)(b) |
| On-site Product Sign (Farm/Nursery) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises, for on-site raised products | — | § 124-17B(7) |
| Bulletin Board (Institutional) | — | 12 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per building/use | For schools, churches, public buildings, similar institutional uses | — | § 124-17D(6) |
| Temporary Special Event Banner | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 3 per year | As permitted | — | § 124-17I(1) |

### C-2 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | — | 200 sq ft | — | 25 ft side yard, 30-75 ft from road right-of-way | 1 per lot/parcel; 300 ft separation | On lot or parcel fronting Pennsylvania Avenue | — | § 124-17E |

### R Recreation District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign (with Borough Council approval) | — | 50 sq ft per face | — | — | — | As permitted by Borough Council | — | § 124-17M(1) |
| Other Signs (General) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 124-17M(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Matamoras Borough

- No sign shall be erected, altered or relocated except in conformity with this chapter until a permit, if required, has been issued by the Zoning Officer.
- No lighted or illuminated signs shall be used for yard sale signs.
- No signs shall be posted on vehicles.
- Signs shall be removed when the reasons for their erection no longer apply.
- No sign, except a public sign, visible from a public street shall use the words "stop," "danger" or any other word, phrase, symbol or character which could be interpreted by a motorist as being a public safety warning or traffic sign.
- No sign shall be so constructed, erected or located which would create a safety hazard by obstructing the visibility of a motorist or pedestrian proceeding along the public way or entering or leaving a parking lot or road intersection.
- No revolving or any other type of moving animated or electronic message sign shall be permitted except for barber poles and time and temperature indicators, and electronic message signs that meet stringent location and size requirements.
- No sign shall be attached to any tree, fence or other object not specifically intended for sign support except for "no trespassing" signs, legal warning or other private signs under certain size and type conditions and conforming yard sale signs.
- No sign shall be attached to any utility pole.
- Portable signs shall not be permitted except as specifically allowed in temporary and sandwich board sign sections.
- No signs shall be erected, installed or maintained in a location which will constitute an obstruction to vision or endanger the safety of the traveling public.
- Signs shall be illuminated only by a steady, stationary, shielded light source directed solely at the sign or internal to it, without causing glare for motorists, pedestrians or neighboring premises.
- No interior or exterior light shall be permitted that by reason of intensity, color, location, movement or direction of its beam may interfere with public safety.
- No sign shall resemble traffic signals.
- No sign shall be permitted except in connection with the permitted use on the premises, with the exception of billboards.
- Freestanding signs and sign structures shall not exceed a height of twenty feet from the average natural grade measured to the top of the sign.
- No nonconforming sign shall be changed, expanded or altered in any manner except to bring it into conformity.
- No nonconforming sign shall be moved in whole or in part to any other location where it would remain nonconforming.
- No owner or lessee of any sign or land upon which the sign is located shall permit such sign to become unsightly or in disrepair so as to endanger the public or become a public nuisance.
- Sandwich board signs are not permitted in any district, except as temporary signs in accordance with the ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Matamoras Borough

- Signs advertising the sale or development of the premises upon which they are erected and signs bearing the words "sold" or "rented" or similar phrases do not require a permit, subject to specific size, number, illumination, and removal standards.
- Signs to provide for the normal and safe flow of traffic into and out of the place of business such as entrance, exit and parking signs (no advertising material, size appropriate for visibility).
- Signs of mechanics, painters and other artisans may be erected and maintained during work on premises, provided they do not exceed twelve square feet and are removed promptly after completion of work.
- Trespassing signs or signs indicating the private nature of a driveway or property, provided they do not exceed two square feet.
- Business signs indicating open/closed status or hours of operation, subject to strict size and quantity limitations and certain requirements for flags.
- Legal notices: identification, informational or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies; official traffic signs and signals; other government signs.
- Signs offering the sale of farm or nursery products raised on the premises, subject to size and quantity limits.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required prior to the erection, alteration, or relocation of any sign except for signs specifically exempted in the ordinance.
- Sign plans (such as master sign plan or variance meeting) are not specifically required or referenced in the provided ordinance. Compliance relies on individual permit application and conformity with chapter regulations.
- The Zoning Officer is responsible for issuing permits, except for painting, maintenance, or exempted sign types.
- Freestanding and overhanging sign quantity and placement are regulated on a per-premises basis and may imply a need for a coordinated approach in larger developments, but a formal master sign plan is not mentioned.

## Full detail

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

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