# Sign Regulations in New Castle, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Castle, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/new-castle
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/37264782#37264782)

## At a glance

New Castle, Pennsylvania regulates 16 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Banner (Freestanding or Building)s in the General Business District (C-1) zoning district are capped at 24 ft (freestanding) tall and Per Table 1332.05(C): up to 100 sq ft (freestanding); building: not listed, so subject to permitted percentages and total limits., with a 5 ft min (freestanding); see intersection/entrance clear view requirement. setback (Sec. 1332.05(A), 1332.05(C), 1332.05(D)). Most commercial signs in New Castle require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Low Density Residential District (R-1), Medium Density Residential District (R-2), High Density Residential District (R-3) | 9 | 40 ft (for flagpole) | 60 sq ft | — |
| General Business District (C-1) | 13 | 40 ft for flagpole | Per Table 1332.05(C): up to 100 sq ft (freestanding); building: not listed, so subject to permitted percentages and total limits. | — |
| Central Business District (C-2) | 12 | 40 ft for flagpole | 160 sq ft (freestanding); building: not listed, but subject to allocation (20% wall area, 200 sq ft cap or 6% building, or 4.0 sq ft per linear ft of frontage) | — |
| Light Industrial District (M-1), Heavy Industrial District (M-2, M-2A) | 13 | 40 ft for flagpole | Per total sign allocation: up to 400 sq ft per zone lot, subject to other limitations | — |
| Institutional Uses Permitted in Residential Zoning Districts (INS) | 7 | 40 ft for flagpole | 60 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 62 in | 36 in wide, 62 in high (per exemption); as sign: see specific zone limits | — |

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

### General Business District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner (Freestanding or Building) | 24 ft (freestanding) | Per Table 1332.05(C): up to 100 sq ft (freestanding); building: not listed, so subject to permitted percentages and total limits. | — | 5 ft min (freestanding); see intersection/entrance clear view requirement. | 1 per zone lot (either type) | On private property; must maintain required clearances where applicable. | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(C), 1332.05(D) |
| Ground Sign | 24 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft min from property line and subject to clear view triangles at intersections. | 1 per 200 feet of street frontage | Private property | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(C), Note 3, 1332.05(E) |
| Pole Sign | 24 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per 200 feet of street frontage | Private property | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(C), 1332.05(E), Note 3, 4, 5 |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 3 ft min from property line | 1 per zone lot | Private property | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.11, Table 1332.05(D), Note 8 |
| Incidental Sign | 3 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — | 1 ft min from property line | 2 per access drive | Private property | — | 1332.05(D) |
| Marquee Sign | — | Not specified; total sign area allocation & wall limitations apply | — | 9 ft clearance from sidewalk, 12 ft from street/drive | 1 per building | On marquee, which projects from wall | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(D), Note 3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | 9 ft clearance from sidewalk, 12 ft from street/drive | 1 per building | Projecting outward from building | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(D), Note 3 |
| Suspended Sign | — | Not specified; must fit within total sign area allocations | — | 9 ft clearance from sidewalk, 12 ft from street/drive | 1 per entrance | Suspended under horizontal projection | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(D), Note 3 |

### Central Business District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner (Freestanding or Building) | 36 ft (freestanding) | 160 sq ft (freestanding); building: not listed, but subject to allocation (20% wall area, 200 sq ft cap or 6% building, or 4.0 sq ft per linear ft of frontage) | — | 0 ft min setback (freestanding); clear triangle required at intersections. | 1 per zone lot | On private property; clearances as in C-1 | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(C), 1332.05(D), Note 3 |
| Flag | 40 ft for flagpole | 60 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property | — | 1332.05(A), Note 5 |
| Ground Sign | 36 ft | 160 sq ft | — | 0 ft min (but clear site required at intersections) | 1 per 200 feet of street frontage | Private property | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(C), 1332.05(D), Note 7 |
| Pole Sign | 36 ft | 160 sq ft | — | 0 ft minimum (see max height/setback from residential lots) | 1 per 200 feet street frontage | Private property | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(C), 1332.05(E) |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 3 ft min | 1 per zone lot | Private property | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.11, Table 1332.05(D), Note 8 |
| Incidental Sign | 3 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — | 1 ft min from property line | 2 per access drive | Private property | — | 1332.05(D) |
| Marquee Sign | — | Subject to allocation | — | 9 ft sidewalk, 12 ft from street/drive | 1 per building | On marquee | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(D), Note 3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | 9 ft sidewalk, 12 ft from street/drive | 1 per building | Projecting outward from building | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(D), Note 3 |

### Light Industrial District (M-1), Heavy Industrial District (M-2, M-2A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner (Freestanding or Building) | 36 ft (freestanding) | 80 sq ft (freestanding); building sign area per allocation (5% wall area, 400 sq ft, or 2% of building area or window restrictions) | — | 5 ft min (M-1, M-2, M-2A at freestanding signs); clear intersection triangles apply. | 1 per zone lot | Private property, as permitted | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(C), 1332.05(D), Note 3 |
| Billboard | — | Per total sign allocation: up to 400 sq ft per zone lot, subject to other limitations | — | — | 1 per building | Building or on lot, not right-of-way | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(B), 1332.05(D) |
| Ground Sign | 36 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 5 ft min from property line | 1 per 500 feet of street frontage | Private property | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(C), 1332.05(D), Note 7 |
| Pole Sign | 36 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per 500 feet of street frontage | Private property | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(C), 1332.05(E) |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 3 ft min from property line | 1 per zone lot | Private property | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.11, Table 1332.05(D), Note 8 |
| Incidental Sign | 3 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — | 1 ft min | 2 per access drive | Private property | — | 1332.05(D) |
| Marquee Sign | — | Subject to allocation | — | 9 ft sidewalk, 12 ft street/drive | 1 per building | On marquee | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(D), Note 3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | 9 ft sidewalk, 12 ft street/drive | 1 per building | Projecting outward | — | 1332.05(A), 1332.05(D), Note 3 |

## Prohibited signs in New Castle

- All signs not expressly permitted under this article or exempt from regulation hereunder are prohibited in the City.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Flashing Signs are prohibited.
- Oscillating Signs are prohibited.
- Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background are prohibited, except those exempt under the previous section.
- No signs shall be erected in the public right-of-way except as authorized by the City and in accordance with Section 1332.08.
- To install, create, erect, or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or the zone lot on which the sign is located is a violation.
- To install, create, erect, or maintain any sign requiring a permit without such a permit is a violation.
- To fail to remove any sign that is installed, created, erected, or maintained in violation of this article or for which the sign permit has lapsed is a violation.
- To continue any such violation (each day constitutes a separate violation).
- Each sign installed, created, erected, or maintained in violation of this article shall be considered a separate violation.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Castle

- Historic signs memorializing an important historic place, event, or person specifically authorized by the City, County, State or Federal agency are not regulated by this ordinance.
- Holiday decorations that commemorate a holiday recognized by the City, Council, State, or Federal Government, do not include advertising, and are specifically authorized by the City, are not regulated by this ordinance.
- Signs not readable from any public street or exterior lot line and specifically authorized by the City are not regulated by this ordinance.
- Official signs erected by the State, County, City or other legally constituted governmental body, or specifically authorized by City Ordinance or resolution, and which exist for public purposes, are not regulated by this ordinance.
- Required signs that include only information required to be posted outdoors by a government agency or the City, and are specifically authorized by the City, are not regulated by this ordinance.
- Right-of-way signs posted within the existing right-of-way of a public street and officially authorized by the City or PennDOT are not regulated by this ordinance.
- Any public notice or warning required by valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance is exempt from regulation under this article.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the zone lot or parcel on which such sign is located is exempt from regulation under this article.
- Works of art that do not include a commercial message are exempt from regulation under this article.
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, but only between November 15 and January 15, are exempt from regulation under this article.
- Traffic control signs on private property, such as Stop, Yield, and similar signs, the face of which meet Department of Transportation standards and which contain no commercial message of any sort, are exempt from regulation under this article.
- Any poster or sandwich board sign which does not prohibit pedestrian or traffic flow, which is no more than 36 inches wide and 62 inches high, and which is displayed only during business hours, is exempt from regulation under this article.
- Temporary exemptions may be permitted for special circumstances by action of City Council.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs identified as 'P' (Allowed Without Sign Permit) or 'S' (Allowed only with Sign Permit) on Table 1332.05(A) shall be erected, installed, or created only in accordance with a duly issued and valid sign permit from the Permit Officer.
- Applications for sign permits must be submitted to the Permit Officer on an application form as prescribed by the City, including detailed drawings to show dimensions, design, structure, and location for each sign.
- Permit for new sign or for sign modification requires detailed drawings for each particular sign; one application and permit may include multiple signs on the same zone lot.
- Temporary signs on private property are allowed only upon the issuance of a Temporary Sign Permit, subject to specific requirements: a 30-day term per permit, a maximum of two permits per business license holder per zone lot per calendar year (total of 30 days), and only in districts with the letter 'S' for Temporary Signs on Table 1332.05(A).
- Animated signs, neon signs (if over 20 square feet), or freestanding neon signs require Zoning Hearing Board approval/variance.
- No sign permit shall be issued for an existing or proposed sign unless such sign is consistent with the requirements of Article 1332.
- A Non-conforming Sign Permit may be issued for a legally existing non-conforming sign upon application; such signs may be repaired, reconstructed, or replaced, but not structurally altered to increase gross surface area.
- If a sign is to be placed, constructed, erected, or modified on a zone lot and requires a permit under this article, the owner must secure a sign permit prior to commencement.
- No permits for temporary private signs in the public right-of-way will be issued.

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

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