Sign Regulations in New Britain, Pennsylvania
New Britain, Pennsylvania has specific sign regulations covering 26 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Limited Duration Sign, Street Pole Banner, Wall Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: February 13, 2026
Sign Regulation Overview for New Britain, Pennsylvania
Sample Sign Requirements in New Britain
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | Bottom of sign ≥ 8 ft above finished grade if projection ≥ 3 in | — | — |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | Lowest edge ≥ 8 ft above finished grade | — | — |
| Projecting Sign | Lowest edge ≥ 8 ft above finished grade | — | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for New BritainFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
26
- Limited Duration Sign
- Street Pole Banner
- Wall Sign
- Canopy/Awning Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
5
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for New Britain
Other Cities in Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions
In New Britain, wall signs can be up to Bottom of sign ≥ 8 ft above finished grade if projection ≥ 3 in. Height limits vary by zoning district and sign type. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your specific location.
To get a sign permit in New Britain, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In New Britain, regulated sign types include Limited Duration Sign, Street Pole Banner, Wall Sign, Canopy/Awning Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in New Britain vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in New Britain are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. New Britain has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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New Britain, Pennsylvania Sign Rules at a Glance
New Britain, Pennsylvania regulates 26 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Permanent)s in the Institutional and Professional Districts (E-I, C-U, C-3) zoning district are capped at ≤ 10 ft above grade tall and ≤ 32 sf, with a ≥ 5 ft from right-of-way; may not occupy required unobstructed areas setback (Sec. §450-49.2B(1)(a)-(d); §450-48E). Most commercial signs in New Britain require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for New Britain, Pennsylvania
Sign Rules by Zoning District in New Britain (5 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | Bottom of sign ≥ 8 ft above finished grade if projection ≥ 3 in | ≤ 12.5 sf; width ≤ 3 ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, MHP) | 7 | ≤ 8 ft above grade | ≤ 24 sf | — |
| Institutional and Professional Districts (E-I, C-U, C-3) | 11 | ≤ 25 ft (to top) above mean cartway elevation | ≤ 250 sf per side (max 2 faces) | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts (C-1, C-2, SC, LI) | 16 | ≤ 30 ft above grade | ≤ 150 sf on any one face | — |
| Village Historical, Historical Commercial, and Park and Open Space Districts (VH, HC, P-OS) | 8 | ≤ 20 ft (freestanding signs) | ≤ 64 sf | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in New Britain(sample of 3 of 5 zones)
Institutional and Professional Districts (E-I, C-U, C-3)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent) | ≤ 10 ft above grade | ≤ 32 sf | — | ≥ 5 ft from right-of-way; may not occupy required unobstructed areas | 1 per street access; up to 2 per property | Along street access | — | Unlock | §450-49.2B(1)(a)-(d); §450-48E |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary) | ≤ 10 ft above grade | ≤ 24 sf | — | — | 1 per street access | Along street access | — | Unlock | §450-49.2B(2)(a)-(e) |
| Wall Sign | ≤ eaveline | ≤ 36 sf (single sign); aggregate ≤ 15% of wall area | — | — | Determined by aggregate area limit | Mounted on principal building wall | — | Unlock | §450-49.2C(1)(a)-(d); §450-49A |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | Lowest edge ≥ 8 ft above grade; overall ≤ eaveline | ≤ 36 sf (single sign); aggregate ≤ 15% of wall area | Not wider than building wall/tenant space | — | Determined by aggregate area limit | On awning/canopy attached to principal building | — | Unlock | §450-49.2C(1)(a)-(d); §450-49B(2)-(5) |
| Projecting Sign | Lowest edge ≥ 8 ft above grade; overall ≤ eaveline | ≤ 36 sf (single sign); aggregate ≤ 15% of wall area | Projects ≤ 4 ft from building face | — | Determined by aggregate area limit | Supported by exterior wall; perpendicular to building face | — | Unlock | §450-49.2C(1)(a)-(d); §450-49C(1)-(2) |
| Temporary Building Sign | ≤ 10 ft above grade | ≤ 20 sf | — | — | 1 per property; 2 if property has >10,000 sf GFA | On property | — | Unlock | §450-49.2C(2)(a)-(e) |
| Street Pole Banner | — | ≤ 12.5 sf; width ≤ 3 ft | ≤ 3 ft width | — | Up to 2 per pole | On street poles; not on poles with traffic/pedestrian control signals; ≥3 ft clearance below luminaries | — | Unlock | §450-49.2E; §450-49I(1)-(7) |
| Off-Premises Advertising Sign (C-3 only) | ≤ 25 ft (to top) above mean cartway elevation | ≤ 250 sf per side (max 2 faces) | — | Not permitted within required minimum yards or special setback for the zoning district | 1 per lot (max 2 faces) | C-3 District only; freestanding on its own support structure | — | Unlock | §450-49F(1)-(7) |
Commercial and Industrial Districts (C-1, C-2, SC, LI)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | ≤ eaveline | Per tenant: ≤ 1.5 sf per linear foot of that tenant's building frontage | — | — | 1 per tenant per street frontage, up to 2 signs per tenant | On tenant’s building frontage facing street or parking lot | — | Unlock | §450-49.3C(1)(b)-(d); §450-49A |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | Lowest edge ≥ 8 ft above grade; overall ≤ eaveline | Per tenant: ≤ 1.5 sf per linear foot of that tenant's building frontage | Not wider than building wall/tenant space | — | 1 per tenant per street frontage, up to 2 signs per tenant | On awning/canopy attached to tenant’s building frontage | — | Unlock | §450-49.3C(1)(b)-(d); §450-49B(2)-(5) |
| Projecting Sign | Lowest edge ≥ 8 ft above grade; overall ≤ eaveline | Per tenant: ≤ 1.5 sf per linear foot of that tenant's building frontage | Projects ≤ 4 ft from building face | — | 1 per tenant per street frontage, up to 2 signs per tenant | Perpendicular to tenant’s building face | — | Unlock | §450-49.3C(1)(b)-(d); §450-49C(1)-(2) |
| Temporary Building Sign | ≤ 10 ft above grade | ≤ 20 sf | — | — | 1 per property; 2 if property has >10,000 sf GFA | On property | — | Unlock | §450-49.3C(2)(a)-(e) |
| Freestanding Sign (All Other Nonresidential Uses - Permanent) | ≤ 20 ft above grade | ≤ 100 sf | — | ≥ 5 ft from right-of-way; may not occupy required unobstructed areas | 1 per street frontage | Along each street frontage | — | Unlock | §450-49.3D(1)(a)-(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Tenant Use - Permanent) | ≤ 30 ft above grade | ≤ 150 sf on any one face | — | ≥ 5 ft from right-of-way; may not occupy required unobstructed areas | 1 permanent freestanding sign per street frontage | Along each street frontage of multi-tenant property | — | Unlock | §450-49.3E(1)-(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Use - Permanent) | ≤ 6 ft above grade | ≤ 2 sf | — | ≥ 5 ft from right-of-way; may not occupy required unobstructed areas | 1 per street frontage | On residential lot within commercial/industrial district | — | Unlock | §450-49.3B; §450-49.1B(1)(a)-(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Development >10 Units - Permanent) | ≤ 8 ft above grade | ≤ 15 sf per sign face | — | ≥ 5 ft from right-of-way; may not occupy required unobstructed areas | 1 per street frontage | Residential development site within commercial/industrial district | — | Unlock | §450-49.3B; §450-49.1C(1)(a)-(d) |
Village Historical, Historical Commercial, and Park and Open Space Districts (VH, HC, P-OS)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Use - Permanent) | ≤ 6 ft above grade | ≤ 3 sf | — | ≥ 5 ft from right-of-way; may not occupy required unobstructed areas | 1 per street frontage | On residential lot | — | Unlock | §450-49.4B(1)(a)-(d) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Use) | ≤ 6 ft above grade | ≤ 4 sf | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On residential lot | — | Unlock | §450-49.4B(2)(a)-(e) |
| Building Sign (Nonresidential Uses - Permanent) | ≤ eaveline (building signs) | ≤ 64 sf | — | — | 1 per street frontage, up to 2 per lot | On principal building | — | Unlock | §450-49.4C(1)(a)-(d); §450-49 |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Uses - Permanent) | ≤ 20 ft (freestanding signs) | ≤ 64 sf | — | ≥ 5 ft from right-of-way; may not occupy required unobstructed areas | 1 per street frontage, up to 2 per lot | Along street frontage | — | Unlock | §450-49.4C(1)(a)-(d) |
| Building Sign (Nonresidential Uses - Temporary) | ≤ eaveline (building signs) | ≤ 12 sf | — | — | 1 per property | On building | — | Unlock | §450-49.4C(2)(a)-(e) |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Uses - Temporary) | ≤ 20 ft (freestanding signs) | ≤ 12 sf | — | — | 1 per property | On property | — | Unlock | §450-49.4C(2)(a)-(e) |
| Street Pole Banner | — | ≤ 12.5 sf; width ≤ 3 ft | ≤ 3 ft width | — | Up to 2 per pole | On street poles; not on poles with traffic/pedestrian control signals; ≥3 ft clearance below luminaries | — | Unlock | §450-49.4D; §450-49I(1)-(7) |
| Limited Duration Sign | ≤ 8 ft | ≤ 6 sf (<2 acres); ≤ 16 sf (≥2 acres); ≤ 24 sf (>5 acres) | — | — | See permit requirements | On private property | — | Unlock | §450-49.4E; §450-49H(1)-(5) |
PermitPal covers all 5 zoning districts in New Britain — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 5 zones for New Britain — start freeProhibited Signs in New Britain
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs that flash, rotate, revolve, or oscillate are prohibited (barber poles excepted).
- Novelty/object signs (e.g., signs in the form of tires, automobiles, food products) are prohibited.
- Signs may not be placed or maintained so as to interfere with electric, telephone, telegraph, or similar utility wires or their supports.
- Signs that imitate any official traffic sign, signal, or device are prohibited.
- Signs that interfere with an official highway sign are prohibited.
- Pennants, banners, or spinners are prohibited (street pole banners are separately regulated).
- Signs that emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound, or odor are prohibited.
- Exposed neon or other gases/powders in visible tubes are prohibited, except for signs located within windows.
- No sign (or any attachment) may be erected by private parties on rocks, fences, trees, or on utility/other poles on any street, or affixed to or on any trail (except by the Borough).
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Vehicular signs are prohibited; use of business logos/identification on vehicles primarily and actively used for transportation is allowed.
- Inflatable devices or balloon signs are prohibited, except balloons used in temporary, non-commercial situations.
- Reflective signs or signs containing mirrors are prohibited.
- Erecting a sign without the property owner's permission is prohibited (except those authorized or required by government).
- Signs may not be located or illuminated so as to endanger traffic by obscuring views, blocking sight lines, or interfering with official street signs/signals by position, color, illumination, or reflective surface.
- Signs may not be erected within or project into a public right-of-way, and must be at least five feet from any existing or future right-of-way (except banner signs as may be permitted by Borough Council and official traffic/regulatory signs).
- Posting or attaching any sign to trees or utility/other poles on any street is prohibited.
- Signs may not be erected or maintained on Borough-owned property without express permission of Borough Council at a public meeting.
- Light sources used to illuminate signs may not be visible from any street right-of-way and may not cause hazardous or distracting glare to pedestrians, drivers, or adjacent properties.
- More than 0.2 foot-candle of light detectable at any abutting property boundary or right-of-way is prohibited.
- On nonresidential properties, sign illumination is prohibited outside 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. or more than 30 minutes past close of business (whichever is later), except for electronic message center signs.
- Off-premises advertising signs (billboards) are prohibited except as specifically allowed in the C-3 District by special exception and subject to additional standards.
Exempt Signs in New Britain
- Holiday decorations for generally recognized holidays (exempt unless they cause glare, traffic safety issues, or other public safety hazards).
- Official and public service signs.
- Official highway route number signs, street name signs, emergency signs, and other official traffic signs.
- Trespassing signs up to 2 square feet.
- Address signs: up to two per premises, containing only address/occupant name with no commercial advertising; maximum 3 sq ft in residential districts and 5 sq ft in nonresidential districts.
- Legal notices.
- Cornerstones.
- Historic plaques placed by the Heritage Conservancy, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or the National Register of Historic Places.
- Incidental signs (e.g., restrooms, store hours, credit/charge decals) that do not advertise any commercial establishment, activity, organization, product, goods, or services.
- Directional signs without commercial messaging, max 4 square feet in area, max 5 feet in height, nonilluminated.
- Signs inside a building not meant to be viewed from outside and located more than 3 feet from a window.
- Personal expression signs of any sign type, including flags, that are non-commercial, not illuminated, and not exceeding 3 square feet per side.
- General conditions for exempt signs: No sign permit is required for exempt signs; exempt signs must comply with all general sign regulations; no exempt sign may be illuminated except where specifically allowed; any off-premises sign and any sign for a nonresidential use require a permit regardless of size.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for New Britain
- A sign permit is required before the use, erection, structural repair, alteration, relocation, removal, or demolition of any sign unless the sign is explicitly exempt; normal maintenance does not require a permit.
- Sign permits must be renewed annually; the permit holder must certify the sign remains substantially the same as originally permitted.
- Permit applications must include owner authorization affidavits and scaled drawings showing the sign and structural details; applicable fees apply per the Borough fee schedule.
- Off-premises advertising signs (billboards) are permitted only by special exception in the C-3 District; such applications require Zoning Hearing Board approval and plans certified by a Pennsylvania-licensed professional engineer.
- Signs on Borough-owned property require express permission of Borough Council at a duly convened public meeting; banner signs within the public right-of-way require Borough Council permission.
- No master sign plan requirement is stated in this ordinance excerpt; multi-tenant signage is regulated by specific standards rather than a master sign plan process.
Source: ecode360 municipal code