# Sign Regulations in New Freedom Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Freedom Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/new-freedom-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27256010#27256010)

## At a glance

New Freedom Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 6 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Animated Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Subject to permanent sign limits (see Wall/Freestanding Sign in zone and §225-802.B(4), max 35ft) tall and Subject to Chart A size limits for permanent signs (§225-802.J(3)), with a Subject to same setbacks as other permanent signs for zone; see Wall/Freestanding Signs in relevant zone setback (Sec. §225-802.J). Most commercial signs in New Freedom Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | Subject to permanent sign limits (see Wall/Freestanding Sign in zone and §225-802.B(4), max 35ft) | Subject to Chart A size limits for permanent signs (§225-802.J(3)) | — |
| Residential District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Central Business District, Traditional Neighborhood District | 2 | Subject to chart/zone permanent limits (see Wall/Freestanding Signs and §225-802.B(4); max 35ft) | Subject to permanent sign chart limits (Chart A, §225-802.J(3)) | — |
| Light Industrial District | 1 | 35 feet (§225-802.H(1)) | 150 square feet (§225-802.H(1)) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No sign shall project more than 35 feet above the ground (§225-802.B(4)) | — | — | Signs >30 sq ft must be at least 75ft from Residential District (§225-802.B(2)) | — | Must not interfere with clear sight triangles (§225-802.B(1)); May not prevent ingress/egress to windows/doors/fire escapes (§225-802.B(5)); Not attached to utility poles or public trees (§225-802.B(6)); If in public ROW, must clear 9 ft on sidewalk or drive, 12 ft on public street (§225-802.B(3)); Permit for public ROW requires insurance (§225-802.B(7)) | — | §225-802.A-F |
| Animated Sign | Subject to permanent sign limits (see Wall/Freestanding Sign in zone and §225-802.B(4), max 35ft) | Subject to Chart A size limits for permanent signs (§225-802.J(3)) | — | Subject to same setbacks as other permanent signs for zone; see Wall/Freestanding Signs in relevant zone | Subject to chart/zone limits for number of permanent signs | Not permitted to blink; message must fade-in/fade-out; no more frequent than once every 30s; no red/green/amber within 200ft of traffic light (§225-802.J(4)) | — | §225-802.J |

### Central Business District, Traditional Neighborhood District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Placement shall not interfere with traffic or sight distance at street intersections or access to a public right-of-way (§225-802.I(3)) | — | §225-802.I |
| Animated Sign (Central Business District only) | Subject to chart/zone permanent limits (see Wall/Freestanding Signs and §225-802.B(4); max 35ft) | Subject to permanent sign chart limits (Chart A, §225-802.J(3)) | — | Same as other permanent signs in district | Same as chart/zone for permanent signs | Animation permitted: flashing, rotating, and intermittent lights are allowed only in Central Business District (§225-802.C(1)), but must be shielded from neighboring residential uses; specific performance criteria for animated operation (see additional requirements) | — | §225-802.C(1), §225-802.J |

### Light Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign | 35 feet (§225-802.H(1)) | 150 square feet (§225-802.H(1)) | — | 35 feet minimum from any street right-of-way (§225-802.H(3)); 50 feet from all side and rear property lines (§225-802.H(4)) | — | — | — | §225-802.H |

## Prohibited signs in New Freedom Borough

- No sign shall interfere with any clear sight triangle as defined by this chapter.
- An advertising sign and a business sign must be at least 60 feet apart for all uses.
- No sign exceeding 30 square feet in area may be located within 75 feet of a Residential District.
- Signs must provide at least nine feet vertical clearance above a sidewalk, private drive, or a parking area, and 12 feet above a public street, if located within the public right-of-way.
- No sign shall project more than 35 feet above the ground.
- No sign shall be erected or located so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any window, door, or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to public utility poles or to trees in the public right-of-way of any street.
- Flashing, rotating, and intermittent lights are only permitted in the Central Business District; such signs must be shielded from neighboring residential uses.
- In Residential Districts, signs may only be illuminated by indirect lighting and are not to be illuminated between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
- Illumination must be screened so it is not directed or reflected toward any adjacent residence or to obstruct the vision of motorists.
- Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and must not be dilapidated.
- No sign shall be allowed to be in a state of disrepair (neglected, rotting, falling down, illegible, or with loose parts).
- Unsafe signs endangering buildings or public safety must be made safe or removed within five days of notice.
- Obsolete sign copy (for uses no longer conducted) must be covered or removed within 30 days of notice.
- Upon termination or abandonment of a commercial or industrial use, all related signs must be removed.
- Advertising signs may not exceed 150 square feet or 35 feet in height, must not be within 300 feet of another advertising sign, must be set back a minimum of 35 feet from street rights-of-way and 50 feet from property lines, and must not obstruct visibility for motorists or adjoining businesses.
- Portable signs must not interfere with traffic or sight distance at intersections or access to a public right-of-way.
- All animated signs must not blink, must have messages that change no more than once every 30 seconds (with fade transitions), and must not cause glare, distraction, safety hazards, or exceed brightness of other permitted signs.
- Animated signs using red, green, or amber cannot be within 200 feet of a highway traffic light or safety device.
- Any sign that is replaced or rebuilt must be brought into conformity with this chapter.
- All signs not expressly permitted or exempt are prohibited.
- Prohibited sign types include: beacons, festoon lighting, inflatable signs and tethered balloons, pennants, vehicular signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Freedom Borough

- Signs intended for viewing principally from within a building are not regulated.
- Signs temporarily attached to the inside face of a display window and/or door, announcing a sale or similar feature, are permitted provided they do not occupy more than 33 1/3% of the total display window or door area; such signs are in addition to permitted exterior signs.
- Interior window and door signs (meeting above criteria), if illuminated, remain subject to the illumination regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit reference to a master sign plan, sign plan requirement, or variance meeting appears in the provided sections.
- Replacement or rebuilding of a nonconforming sign requires a building permit and full compliance with current regulations.

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

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