# Sign Regulations in North York Borough, Pennsylvania

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

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

## At a glance

North York Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 27 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Home Occupation Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft. tall and 2 sq. ft. (residential); 8 sq. ft. (nonresidential), with a 10 ft. from street right-of-way unless on mailbox setback (Sec. § 154.117(B)). Most commercial signs in North York Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 21 | 8 ft. | Total 60 sq. ft. for all; no one banner, flag, or sign to exceed 40 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential districts | 3 | 8 ft. | 20 sq. ft. on each side of a principal building | — |
| NC District | 5 | 15 ft. | Up to 150 sq. ft. total | — |
| LIC District, MU District | 3 | 15 ft. | Up to 150 sq. ft. total | — |
| LIC District | 1 | 35 ft. above adjacent street elevation | 300 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Charitable Event Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. (residential); 40 sq. ft. (nonresidential) | — | — | 1 per company working on the site | — | — | § 154.117(B) |
| Christmas Tree Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. (residential); 30 sq. ft. (nonresidential) | — | — | 2 | — | — | § 154.117(B) |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | No max | On same lot as it pertains to | — | § 154.117(B) |
| Home Occupation Sign | 8 ft. | 2 sq. ft. (residential); 8 sq. ft. (nonresidential) | — | 10 ft. from street right-of-way unless on mailbox | 1 | Freestanding, attached flat to a wall, or within a window | — | § 154.117(B) |
| Identification Sign | 8 ft. | 1 sq. ft. (residential); 6 sq. ft. (nonresidential); 2 sq. ft. for principal nonresidential use in residential district | — | — | 1 (2 for principal nonresidential use in residential district) | — | — | § 154.117(B) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. (residential); 30 sq. ft. (nonresidential) | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | On the property while it is for sale/lease/rent | — | § 154.117(B) |
| Service Organization/Place of Worship Sign (Off-Premises) | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 | Off-premises | — | § 154.117(B) |
| Special Sale Signs (Temporary banners/flags/signs) | — | Total 60 sq. ft. for all; no one banner, flag, or sign to exceed 40 sq. ft. | — | — | 5 per lot, see max area | Principal commercial business | — | § 154.117(B) |

### NC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft. | 20 sq. ft. per sign, 1 sign per street that the lot abuts | — | — | 1 per street the lot abuts | Each street the lot abuts | — | § 154.118(A) Table, footnote ** |
| Wall Sign | Equal to top of roof along wall it is attached to | Up to 150 sq. ft. total | — | — | — | Building side | — | § 154.118(A) Table |
| Window Sign | — | Regulated under wall sign | — | — | — | Window | — | § 154.118(A) Table |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. on each of 2 sides | — | — | 1 per lot | Attached to building, min 9 ft clearance above sidewalk | — | § 154.118(A) Table, footnote * (a) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Sidewalk Sign) | 4 ft. | 8 sq. ft. per side | 3 ft. | — | 1 per lot | Must maintain 4 ft clear pedestrian path; close to building | — | § 154.118(A) Table, footnote * (b) |

### LIC District, MU District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft. | 30 sq. ft. per sign, 1 sign per street lot abuts | — | — | 1 per street (or up to 2 for 3+ establishments, total 100 sq. ft.) | Each street the lot abuts | — | § 154.118(A) Table, footnote **, *** |
| Wall Sign | Equal to top of roof along wall it is attached to | Up to 150 sq. ft. total | — | — | — | Building side | — | § 154.118(A) Table |
| Window Sign | — | Regulated as wall sign | — | — | — | Window | — | § 154.118(A) Table |

## Prohibited signs in North York Borough

- Portable signs (including signs on mobile stands) are prohibited in all districts, except as a temporary charitable event or temporary special sale sign as permitted.
- Signs advertising a use no longer in existence (other than signs relating to a temporarily vacant building actively for lease or sale) must be removed within 180 days of cessation of such use.
- A sign shall not project over any existing street right-of-way, except for permitted projecting signs within the NC District as regulated.
- No sign shall be posted on any property or sign pole or public utility pole, unless permission has been received from the owner.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility pole using metal fasteners, except by a utility or government agency.
- No sign shall interfere with sight clearance requirements.
- No signs except permitted off-premises, official, political or public service signs shall be erected on a property to which it does not relate.
- Signs that are of such character, form, shape, or color that they imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device, or have characteristics likely to confuse or distract motor vehicle operators, are prohibited.
- Signs or displays visible from a lot line that include obscene or pornographic words or images are prohibited.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound, or odor are prohibited.
- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type are prohibited, except for time and temperature signs. This includes flashing lights used to attract attention to a business, including window signs. Christmas lighting or displays are exempted.
- Any moving object used to attract attention to a commercial use is prohibited, except as allowed for certain flags and banners.
- Floodlights and outdoor lasers for advertising purposes are prohibited.
- Balloons of greater than 25 cubic feet that are tethered to the ground or a structure for periods of over a day and primarily intended for advertising purposes are prohibited.
- Signs which contain information implying or stating that a lot may be used for a purpose not permitted by ordinance are prohibited.
- A nonconforming sign shall not be expanded or extended in any way that makes it more nonconforming.
- Permanent signs must be constructed of durable materials and kept in good condition and repair.

## Signs exempt from permit in North York Borough

- Signs meeting the requirements of §154.117 (listed under 'Miscellaneous Signs Not Requiring Permits') do not require a zoning permit.
- Non-illuminated window signs constructed of paper, cardboard, or similar materials and not of a permanent nature do not require a permit.
- Historic signs that memorialize an important historic place, event, or person and are specifically authorized by the borough or relevant government agency are not regulated.
- Holiday decorations commemorating a government-recognized holiday and without advertising are not regulated.
- Signs not readable from any public street or exterior lot line are not regulated.
- Official signs erected by government bodies or specifically authorized by government ordinance or resolution are not regulated.
- Signs including only information required by law to be posted outdoors by a government agency or the borough are not regulated.
- Signs posted within the existing right-of-way of a public street and officially authorized by the borough or PennDOT are not regulated.
- Governmental flags and flags without an advertising message are not regulated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit is required for all signs except those exempted under §154.117 and certain non-illuminated window signs made of paper, cardboard, or similar non-permanent materials.
- Only types, sizes, and heights of signs specifically permitted by the subchapter within the applicable district are allowed.
- Replacement or repainting of lawfully existing signs (including nonconforming signs) does not require a new permit as long as no increase in area or nonconformity results.
- No master sign plan, general sign plan, or other special review process beyond permits is indicated in this section.

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

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