# Sign Regulations in Mount Oliver Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mount Oliver Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/mount-oliver-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8421272#8421272)

## At a glance

Mount Oliver Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 18 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Billboards in the C - General Commercial District zoning district are capped at Max 20 ft from grade of roadway; bottom edge max 8 ft above elevation of adjacent roadway tall, 300 sq ft (12 ft x 25 ft), and 25 ft wide, with a 300 ft from intersection; 1,200 ft from same-side billboard; 600 ft from opposite-side billboard setback (Sec. § 260-510). Most commercial signs in Mount Oliver Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R, RMU) | 5 | — | 32 sq ft (single sign) or 16 sq ft (if two signs at separate entrances) | — |
| RMU - Multifamily Residential District | 1 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential Districts (MU, TND-MU, TND-C, C) | 10 | 20 ft max; minimum bottom edge 10 ft (unless monument sign) | 100 sq ft | — |
| TND-C District | 1 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| C - General Commercial District | 1 | Max 20 ft from grade of roadway; bottom edge max 8 ft above elevation of adjacent roadway | 300 sq ft (12 ft x 25 ft) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 20 ft above grade and not exceeding height of structure attached to | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential Districts (R, RMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Placed directly against building wall. | — | § 260-507.1.A |
| Bulletin Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per institution | Upon the premises of the institution. | — | § 260-507.1.B |
| Ground Sign | — | — | — | 10 ft from street ROW | — | At least 10 feet back from street ROW. | — | § 260-507.1.C |
| Residential Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft (single sign) or 16 sq ft (if two signs at separate entrances) | — | — | 1 per development entrance | At principal entrance(s) to the development. | — | § 260-507.1.D |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As specified in chapter. | — | § 260-507.1.F |

### Nonresidential Districts (MU, TND-MU, TND-C, C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs Permitted in Residential Districts | — | Per residential districts | — | — | — | — | — | § 260-508.1 |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per public road frontage | On wall facing public ROW | — | § 260-508.2 |
| Ground/Pole Sign | 20 ft max; minimum bottom edge 10 ft (unless monument sign) | 50 sq ft per side (or 40 sq ft if no building on property) | — | 15 ft from street ROW; 5 ft from building; 10 ft from side property line (plus 1 ft for every 10 sq ft over 10 sq ft) | One per property | Not permitted in public ROW; setback/buffer as specified. | — | § 260-508.3 |
| Wall Plaque | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to wall, no minimum height. | — | § 260-508.4 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property/ROW lines | — | Minimum 15 ft from any property or ROW lines; must comply with permanent sign standards. | — | § 260-508.5 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window glazing area | — | — | — | Located on inside of window of nonresidential structures only; not to be permanently affixed. | — | § 260-508.6 |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | 50% of wall sign maximum area | — | — | — | On awning/canopy; must meet projecting sign height requirements. | — | § 260-508.7 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached only to the front and sides of marquees. | — | § 260-508.8 |

### C - General Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | Max 20 ft from grade of roadway; bottom edge max 8 ft above elevation of adjacent roadway | 300 sq ft (12 ft x 25 ft) | 25 ft | 300 ft from intersection; 1,200 ft from same-side billboard; 600 ft from opposite-side billboard | 1 per principal use lot | Permitted only as conditional use; must be principal use on lot; oriented for viewing from one direction of travel only. | — | § 260-510 |

## Prohibited signs in Mount Oliver Borough

- No sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, altered, or maintained except in conformance with the standards, procedures, regulations, and requirements contained in this ordinance.
- Flashing, blinking, changing, animated, inflatable, or moving signs (except digital signs and LED billboards authorized by this article) are prohibited in any zoning district.
- Pennants (including 'swooper flags'), nongovernmental flags, or streamers are prohibited in any zoning district.
- Any sign containing information which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter is prohibited.
- Signs that resemble traffic signals or any sort of traffic device are prohibited.
- Signs that exhibit statements, words, or pictures of obscene or pornographic subjects as determined by the Borough Council are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs, other than billboards, are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs on trees, utility poles, and traffic devices are prohibited.
- Signs that are hazardous to public safety and/or are located in the public right-of-way (ROW) are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where by reason of position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign or advertising structure regulated by this chapter may make use of words, symbols, or characters such as 'stop', 'look', 'drive-in', 'danger', or any other in a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- All illuminated signs must be nonflashing and nonglaring, and must be illuminated in a manner to prevent glare and reflection to a public street or adjacent properties.
- All signs must be nonanimated with no exterior moving parts.
- Signs on public property or within public ROW, except in conformance with this ordinance, shall be forfeited and subject to confiscation.
- All signs must be constructed in compliance with all relevant building codes and may require engineering calculations for stability for certain sizes/heights/weights.
- All signs must be maintained in proper structural and aesthetic condition and removed if they no longer advertise an active business or use.
- All signs must not emit sound or audio messages (specifically for digital signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in Mount Oliver Borough

- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized state and federal holidays.
- Official notices authorized by a court, public body, or public safety official.
- Memorial/historical plaques.
- Memorial signs and tablets when cut into any masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other sculptured materials.
- Flags of a governmental organization.
- Signs authorized by the Borough, such as street signs, safety control signs, and traffic control signs.
- Public notice/public warning signs.
- Auction, garage sale, or yard sale signs.
- Address numbering.
- Construction signs (temporary, only during active construction).
- Signs of any type placed on public or park property by authorization of the Borough.
- Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which the sign is located, provided conditions about number and street-facing are met.
- A-frame ('sandwich board') signs on sidewalks, provided only one per premises, do not obstruct pedestrian travel, are removed each evening, and do not exceed six square feet per side.
- Signs announcing candidacy for public office, provided they are not installed on utility poles, are not installed more than 60 days before the election, and are removed within five calendar days following the election day.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, or modification of signs must be submitted to the Borough Zoning Officer for review and approval or denial prior to commencement of any activity or work concerning the sign (applies to all signs not exempted).
- A site plan or sketch, drawn to scale, must be submitted with any sign permit application, showing the lot, building, structures, and position of the proposed sign, along with required sign details (materials, construction, mounting, illumination, and photographs of the proposed sign location).
- Permit required for construction, alteration, modification, or moving of any exterior sign, except for signs listed as exempt.
- Permit fees must be paid for all signs not exempted.
- No permit shall be issued for installation of a digital sign unless the applicant submits written certification from the manufacturer regarding preset illumination levels and security measures.
- For multi-tenant buildings, if the building owner permits the sharing of allowable sign area, the owner must develop and file with the sign permit guidelines requiring sign compatibility in size, type, style, color, lighting, and design; compliance with these guidelines is a permit approval condition.
- Billboards require a conditional use application including mapped plans, narratives, and graphics per Conditional Use and Special Exception Regulations.
- Murals require a conditional use application (even though permitted as-of-right in some districts) detailing compliance with specific mural requirements.
- Conditional use or variance applications (if applicable) must follow established processes including submission of plans and materials as detailed in the relevant articles of the ordinance.

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

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