# Sign Regulations in Norwood Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Norwood Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/norwood-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/15627539#15627539)

## At a glance

Norwood Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the HC Highway Commercial District (HC), HC-A Highway Commercial-A District (HC-A) zoning district are capped at 30 feet tall and 20 sq ft, with a Minimum 6 ft from right-of-way/front property line setback (Sec. §300-76C(10)-(11), §300-74C(2), §300-80). Most commercial signs in Norwood 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 | 5 | 30 feet (except ground signs, see below) | 40 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 4 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| TC Town Center District (TC) | 5 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| HC Highway Commercial District (HC), HC-A Highway Commercial-A District (HC-A) | 10 | 50 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| OS Open Space District (OS) | 4 | — | 16 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 feet (except ground signs, see below) | — | — | Not less than six feet from right-of-way line. In residential districts: min. 6 ft from front property line. | — | Not less than six feet behind the front property line (all except official/traffic, directional, and incidental signs), not within right-of-way lines of any public street unless authorized. | — | §300-74C(2), §300-80, §300-74C(1) |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet (to top edge) | — | — | Same as freestanding signs (6 ft min from right-of-way/front property line in residential districts) | — | Setback as required for freestanding sign | — | §300-74C(3) |
| Projecting Sign | No portion above 8 ft over roof | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | Max 8 ft over sidewalk/footway; must be at least 10 ft above sidewalk. Along Chester Pike in HC/HC-A only. | — | §300-74B, §105-119, §300-80 |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside or affixed to window | — | §300-74C(4), §300-75G |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §300-74C(5), §300-75 |

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Identification) | — | 16 sq ft | — | Minimum 6 feet behind front property line | No more than one wall sign AND one freestanding/ground sign per frontage | For apartment buildings, religious, or permitted uses other than individual dwellings | — | §300-76A(1)-A(3) |
| Ground Sign (Identification) | — | 16 sq ft | — | Minimum 6 feet behind front property line | No more than one wall sign AND one freestanding/ground sign per frontage | For apartment buildings, religious, or permitted uses other than individual dwellings | — | §300-76A(1)-A(3), §300-74C(3), §300-74C(2) |
| Wall Sign (Identification) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | No more than one wall sign AND one freestanding/ground sign per frontage | On building for apartment buildings, religious, or permitted uses other than individual dwellings | — | §300-76A(1)-A(4), §244-3D |
| Signs for Nonresidential Valid Nonconforming Use | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Same as identification sign | — | §300-76A(2) |

### HC Highway Commercial District (HC), HC-A Highway Commercial-A District (HC-A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 feet | 20 sq ft | — | Minimum 6 ft from right-of-way/front property line | — | — | — | §300-76C(10)-(11), §300-74C(2), §300-80 |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 20 sq ft | — | Same as freestanding signs (minimum 6 ft from right-of-way) | — | — | — | §300-76C(10)-(11), §300-74C(3) |
| Wall Sign (Principal Frontage) | — | — | — | — | Max one per frontage; two if frontage ≥100 ft (special exception) | On building front | — | §300-76C(4), (11) |
| Wall Sign (Side Street/Corners - Non-Arterial Streets) | — | — | — | — | — | On building side | — | §300-76C(5), (11) |
| Wall Sign (Second Floor Business/Professional Office) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | On building's second story | — | §300-76C(8), (11) |
| Wall or Window Sign (Apartment Space Above First Floor) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall or window | — | §300-76C(9), (11) |
| Billboard | 50 ft | 150 sq ft | — | Min 30 ft from street right-of-way; min 1,000 ft to next billboard; min 500 ft to TC district. | — | Only along Chester Pike in HC and HC-A; not within 500 ft of TC or 1,000 ft of another billboard; 30 ft min setback from right-of-way. | — | §300-77 |
| Projecting Sign (Chester Pike only) | No portion above 8 ft over roof | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | Only on Chester Pike, must not project more than 5 ft from front building line; must be 10 ft above sidewalk, max 8 ft over sidewalk. | — | §300-74B, §105-119 |

## Prohibited signs in Norwood Borough

- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free access to or from any fire escape, window, or door, or attached in any manner to any fire escape or any door or window giving access to a fire escape.
- No sign shall be affixed to any pole, tree, fence, building, or other structure located upon any public property or public highway, except where specifically permitted.
- No sign shall be erected unless it is designed, operated, and maintained to create no radio or television interference.
- All signs must be kept in good condition and repair, and any sign that becomes dilapidated or abandoned shall be removed at the expense of the property owner or lessee.
- No illuminated sign shall be lighted on days when the business or permitted use is not open for business.
- No sign shall be located where it causes danger to traffic, interferes with traffic through glare, blocks required sight lines for streets, sidewalks, or driveways, or causes confusion with a traffic control device by reason of color, location, shape, or other characteristics.
- No sign, except official/traffic, directional, and incidental signs, shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any public street. In all other districts, signs must not be closer than six feet to the right-of-way line unless otherwise authorized.
- No sign shall be erected except those that advertise the business or profession conducted on the premises where the sign is located, except for specific exemptions.
- Flashing, blinking, spinning, animated, inflatable, aerial, or lighted moving signs, including rotating searchlights (except by permit) are prohibited.
- Digital, lighted signs such as those for sales and price changes, as stand-alone or at the base of a freestanding sign, are prohibited.
- Signs displaying vulgar, indecent, or obscene advertising matter are prohibited.
- Advertising cloths, banners, or similar signs suspended on property are prohibited, except for civic events.
- No wall bulletins or signs painted directly on the facade of a building or structure.
- No curb or sidewalk signs, or signs painted on, attached to, or suspended from outdoor benches, chairs, or similar structures.
- No swinging or hanging signs.
- No signs tied to vehicles that refer to an unrelated business or purpose.
- No sign may be located or supported upon the roofline or any structure that extends above the roofline.
- No sign may state or imply that the property is used for purposes not permitted by the ordinance.
- Neon signs are prohibited except neon window signs.
- No sign shall obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic, nor obstruct access to or from any door, window, fire escape, or ventilating equipment.
- Temporary commercial advertising signs shall not be attached to fences.
- No sign or billboard may be relocated, repaired, or rebuilt without being brought into compliance with current ordinances and without a permit.
- Any sign deemed insecure, unsafe, or a menace to the public must be repaired or removed upon notice by the official.
- No sign may interfere with any opening in a roof (for roof signs) or prevent free ingress/egress from any window, door, or fire escape (for wall/hanging signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in Norwood Borough

- Public notice, warning, or official/traffic sign required by any federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building not attached to a window or door that is not legible from more than three feet outside the lot line.
- Building markers with only the building name, date of construction, or historical data, not exceeding one per building and six square feet each.
- Flags of the United States, Pennsylvania, foreign nations, or other official flags, not exceeding 60 square feet and flown from a pole not over 40 feet high.
- Decorative flags not exceeding 12 square feet.
- Incidental signs with no commercial message and not exceeding eight square feet.
- Temporary window signs advertising sales or price changes, not exceeding 1/3 of window coverage and not obstructing interior view.
- Signs advertising sale or rental of premises, limited to one per frontage, not illuminated, max size eight square feet in residential districts and 32 sq ft in nonresidential districts; must be removed by settlement.
- Signs advertising property development, max 16 square feet in residential and 40 in nonresidential districts; must be removed by settlement.
- Nameplate signs on private residences, not exceeding 144 square inches.
- Holiday decorations for recognized holidays that do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
- Yard or garage sale signs, two square feet max, removed within 24 hours.
- Signs announcing education, charity, civic, religious, or similar campaigns/events, up to 30 days each/4 times per year (max 120 days), not exceeding eight square feet.
- Changeable copy signs for churches, schools, and similar uses; one per property (two for corner lots), not exceeding 16 square feet.
- Directional signs.
- Official freestanding signs identifying a civic event.
- Signs, letters, posters, and ads affixed to public property, posts, etc., that are removed within seven days after the event.
- A-frame, sandwich board, or similar temporary signs not exceeding eight square feet.
- "Grand opening" signs, removed within 30 days of opening.
- Small signs (no more than eight sq ft and not over five ft high) are exempt from construction/type/location standards and permit/inspection fees except for projecting signs, but must comply with all other provisions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application for any non-exempt sign must include a plan and specifications showing the dimension, material, construction, location, and all details of the proposed sign.
- The Code Official may refer a permit application to the Planning Commission for evaluation of compliance with district purposes and the Comprehensive Plan; modifications may be suggested.
- Applications for a permit must be in writing, submitted with full particulars, including sketches.
- The Sign Design Guidelines (Appendix C) must be consulted prior to developing signs for any project.
- A permit is required for any sign (except those exempted) before erection or maintenance.
- Whenever a sign is replaced, enlarged, altered, or repaired, a permit is required.
- Nonconforming signs must be brought into compliance or removed during specified amortization periods (depending on sign type).
- The applicant/owner/tenant for any sign (not a small sign) is required to execute a bond, indemnify and insure the Borough prior to permit issuance.
- Annual or periodic inspection fees apply and must be paid as set by Borough Council; nonpayment may result in a municipal lien.
- Where multiple tenants or uses exist in a building, a wall sign is permitted for each use, but area limits and sometimes special exception (variance) approval may apply.
- Applications for 'Billboards' require inspection and compliance with specific standards (size, spacing, etc.), per the general permit requirements.
- Whenever nonconforming signs or nonconforming uses are changed/discontinued, signage must be brought into compliance; variances may be needed for exceptions.

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

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