# Sign Regulations in Millheim Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Millheim Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/millheim-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Millheim Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Ground Pole Signs in the Downtown Area zoning district are capped at 15 ft (except monument/ground: 5 ft) tall, with a Behind property line; not projecting over ROW or adjoining land. setback (Sec. § 108(1)(A), § 106, § 105(1)). Most commercial signs in Millheim Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Areas | 10 | — | 25 sq ft (single-faced), 50 sq ft (double-faced) | — |
| Downtown Area | 8 | 15 ft (except monument/ground: 5 ft) | 25 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural Areas | 3 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 2 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name and Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On the resident's property. | — | § 104(1)(A), § 107(2) |
| Property Regulation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On the property. | — | § 104(1)(B) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises for sale, rental, or lease. | — | § 104(1)(C) |
| Bulletin Board for Public/Charitable/Religious Institution | — | 25 sq ft (single-faced), 50 sq ft (double-faced) | — | — | — | On premises of the institution. | — | § 104(1)(D) |
| Directional Sign | — | 10 sq ft (single-faced), 20 sq ft (double-faced) | — | — | 2 individual signs per area | On property or along arterial roadways with owner permission. | — | § 104(1)(E), § 108(2)(A) |
| On-premise Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft (per § 104), 5 sq ft per occupant (per § 108(2)(B)) | — | — | 1 per occupant | On premises. | — | § 104(1)(L), § 108(2)(B) |
| Temporary Signs (Garage Sale/Edible Farm Products/Special Events) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises. | — | § 104(1)(I), § 105(2)(A) |
| Wall Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | General max 5 per property (§ 106(1)) | Attached to, or painted on a wall. | — | § 108(1)(D), § 107(3), § 105(1) |

### Downtown Area

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises for sale, rental, or lease. | — | § 104(1)(C) |
| Ground Pole Sign | 15 ft (except monument/ground: 5 ft) | — | — | Behind property line; not projecting over ROW or adjoining land. | General max 5 per property (§ 106(1)) | Between property line and building setback, behind property line. | — | § 108(1)(A), § 106, § 105(1) |
| Hanging Sign (Downtown Area) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to building. | — | § 108(1)(B)(1)-(2) |
| Projecting Sign (Downtown Area) | — | 10 sq ft per face | — | — | See above | Projects from wall of building. | — | § 108(1)(C) |
| Wall Sign (Downtown Area) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | General max 5 per property (§ 106(1)) | Attached to or painted on building wall or window. | — | § 108(1)(D)(3), § 106 |
| Movable "Sandwich" Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In front of business during open hours. | — | § 104(1)(N) |
| Temporary Sign (Garage Sale/Edible Farm Product/Special Event) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises. | — | § 104(1)(I), § 105(2)(A) |
| Political Sign | — | 5 sq ft (single), 10 sq ft (double) | — | — | — | Private property, with owner permission. | — | § 104(1)(J) |

### Agricultural Areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises for sale, rental, or lease. | — | § 104(1)(C) |
| Temporary Sign (Sale of Edible Farm Products / Garage Sale / Special Event) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises. | — | § 104(1)(I), § 105(2)(A) |
| Property Regulation Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On property. | — | § 104(1)(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Millheim Borough

- Signs made of a plastic or similar type material.
- Flashing, flood, obtrusive colored or oscillating sign lights.
- Search lights, pennants, banners, balloons and streamers, except for occasions such as grand openings and then only with special permission of the Ordinance Enforcement Officer.
- "Open" flags are permitted for business premises during business hours, but location must be approved prior to installation by the Ordinance Enforcement Officer and permitted as specified.
- Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring or manner of illumination obstruct or detract from the vision of drivers, either when driving on a roadway or when entering a roadway from another roadway or driveway, or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any sign or control device on public streets and roads.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required exitway.
- Signs which make use of words such as "stop," "look," "one-way," "danger," "yield," or any similar words or phrases, symbols, lights or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- Any signs that approximate in shape, design, color or wording any traffic control sign or device installed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation or the Millheim Borough.
- Any obsolete sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold. Ninety (90) days shall be allowed for removal of an obsolete sign.
- Signs on public property or public rights-of-way, unless erected by a government body or required to be so located by order of a government body. No sign located on public property or a public right-of-way shall bear any commercial advertisement or announcement with the exception of sandwich boards referenced in Subsection 1(N) of §104.
- Signs painted on, attached to or supported by a tree, stone or other natural object.

## Signs exempt from permit in Millheim Borough

- Name and address signs of residents not including any commercial advertisement and not more than two (2) square feet in sign area.
- Signs regulating the use of property (e.g., "no trespassing," "no hunting," "no fishing") of not more than two (2) square feet in residential areas and five (5) square feet in commercial areas.
- Real estate signs not exceeding five (5) square feet in residential areas and twenty-five (25) square feet in downtown/agricultural areas, advertising sale, rental, or lease of the property, to be removed within ten (10) days after closing.
- Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions, on the premises, and used exclusively for noncommercial announcement, not exceeding twenty-five (25) square feet single-faced or fifty (50) square feet double-faced.
- On-premise traffic, parking or other functional subdivision signs (e.g., lavatory facilities, telephone, denoting building sections) less than five (5) square feet and bearing no commercial advertisement.
- Signs erected by or under the direction of a governmental body and bearing no commercial advertisement (e.g., traffic signs, identification of schools/playgrounds).
- Memorial signs or tablets and signs denoting the date of erection of buildings, not exceeding two (2) square feet on a single face.
- The flag, pennant or insignia of any government, or religious, charitable, or fraternal organization.
- Signs up to five (5) square feet advertising the sale of edible farm products produced on the premises, or advertising garage sales, auctions or special events of charitable/public service groups, to be removed at the conclusion of the event/activity.
- Political signs not exceeding five (5) square feet if single-faced or ten (10) square feet if double-faced, valid for thirty (30) days before an election and to be removed within seven (7) days after.
- Signs identifying places of worship, on the premises, not exceeding five (5) square feet on a single face.
- On-premise occupation signs containing only name and occupation, not more than two (2) square feet.
- Decals affixed to windows or door glass panes indicating membership in a business group or denoting credit cards accepted.
- Movable "sandwich" signs permitted in front of businesses during open hours, provided thirty-six (36) inches of unobstructed width for pedestrian/ADA passage.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs must be reviewed and approved by the Millheim Borough Council prior to installation.
- For permanent signs except those specifically permitted without license under § 104(1), a license is required prior to construction, installation, alteration, or relocation. A scaled sign plan, showing design, materials, lighting, construction method, and attachment, must be submitted with the application.
- Variances from sign regulations may be requested in writing to the Millheim Borough Council; approval is discretionary and contingent upon demonstration of hardship or unusual practical difficulty.
- Temporary signs do not require full approval or licensing but do require notification of the Ordinance Enforcement Officer and compliance with applicable regulations.
- There is no mention of a 'Master Sign Plan' requirement in general; a plan is generally required with the license/permit application for a permanent sign.

## 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 4 zoning districts in Millheim Borough — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Millheim+Borough+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-millheim-borough

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