# Sign Regulations in Palmyra Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Palmyra Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/palmyra-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14807681#14807681)

## At a glance

Palmyra Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 10 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Limited by tables; controlled by Tables 1, 2, and 3 in § 380-46 tall and As limited by Table 1, 2, 3 in § 380-46 (not provided in excerpt), with a Minimum distance equal to sign height from each lot line; compliant with sight triangle setback (Sec. § 380-45E(4), (7), (46B)). Most commercial signs in Palmyra Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HC, HI | 1 | See Table 1, 2, and 3 in § 380-46 (Permanent Sign Requirements) | Varies by table and road type | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | May extend no more than 5 feet above the lowest point of attachment, may not extend above the highest point of the roof | See Table 3, § 380-46 (not included in excerpt) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### HC, HI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dynamic Message Display Sign | See Table 1, 2, and 3 in § 380-46 (Permanent Sign Requirements) | Varies by table and road type | — | Setback as required by sign tables (§ 380-46); plus must comply with sight triangle requirements | — | Only allowed in HC and HI zones, must be visible from travel lane, not on temporary signs | — | § 380-45E(28) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | Limited by tables; controlled by Tables 1, 2, and 3 in § 380-46 | As limited by Table 1, 2, 3 in § 380-46 (not provided in excerpt) | — | Minimum distance equal to sign height from each lot line; compliant with sight triangle | One per property (additional allowed under coordinated signage; see § 380-46A) | Not in street right-of-way; must be set back a distance at least equal to sign height from each lot line; must not obstruct clear sight triangle (no vision obstruction 30 in - 8 ft above street center line) | — | § 380-45E(4), (7), (46B) |
| Wall Sign - Flat Wall | May be any height on wall but not extend above top of wall | — | — | — | — | On exterior building wall, parallel to wall | — | § 380-45B(2)(c), (12) |
| Wall Sign - Projecting Wall | May be any height on wall but not extend above top of wall | — | — | — | — | On building wall, perpendicular or extending beyond edges | — | § 380-45B(2)(c), (13), (D)(8) |
| Roof Sign - Flat Roof | May extend no more than 5 feet above the lowest point of attachment, may not extend above the highest point of the roof | — | — | — | — | Attached to the building roof, does not project beyond roof edges | — | § 380-45B(2)(d), (D)(3) |
| Roof Sign - Projecting Roof | May extend no more than 5 feet above the lowest point of attachment, may not extend above the highest point of the roof | — | — | — | — | Support structure attached to the roof, face runs perpendicular to roof or wall or extends beyond edges | — | § 380-45B(2)(d), (D)(7) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Located on inside or outside of window, message faces out | — | § 380-45C(1)(b), § 380-45D(9), § 380-45E(26) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Incoporated into awning or canopy attached to a building | — | § 380-45D(2) |
| Planned Center Sign | See Table 3, § 380-46 (not included in excerpt) | See Table 3, § 380-46 (not included in excerpt) | — | Not less than 10 feet from street right-of-way | — | Associated with coordinated development of more than one land use with shared access and parking | — | § 380-46A |

## Prohibited signs in Palmyra Borough

- No permanent, temporary or planned center signs shall be permitted except as authorized by this section.
- No sign shall be located within a street right-of-way.
- No signs shall be painted, pasted, nailed, stapled, or otherwise attached to utility poles, trees, fences, fire hydrants, or in an unauthorized manner to walls or other signs, except insofar as such signs comply with generally applicable rules, regulations, or policies formally adopted by the Borough Council.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any door, stairway, window, fire escape, or other means of egress or ingress.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct ventilation or light from a building.
- No overhead sign shall have a clearance of less than eight feet between any pedestrian walk and the lowest part of the sign nor less than 17 feet six inches between any roadway and the lowest part of the sign.
- No flat wall sign shall project more than 18 inches from the face of the wall to which it is attached over a public sidewalk.
- No wall projecting sign shall project more than 48 inches from the face of the wall to which it is attached over a public sidewalk.
- No sign shall have lights or other illuminating devices that constitute a public safety or traffic hazard.
- No sign shall be permitted which imitates or which might be confused with an official traffic sign or signal, such as by containing the words "Stop" or "Danger" or by including red, green, or yellow lights.
- No sign or window display shall include a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling an emergency vehicle or facility.
- No sign shall advertise activities or products that are illegal under federal, state, or local municipal laws or regulations.
- No sign shall include statements, words, or pictures that are considered to be vulgar, obscene, or pornographic. No sign shall depict "specified anatomical areas" or "specified sexual activities," both as defined herein.
- No spinners, reflectors, tinsel, or similar materials shall be displayed outside a building.
- No sign shall emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor.
- No sign shall be placed on an automobile, truck, or other vehicle if that vehicle is being used primarily for displaying such sign.
- No inflatable signs, other than those associated with holiday decorations, shall be permitted.
- No open flames shall be permitted as part of a sign or in any other way to attract attention.

## Signs exempt from permit in Palmyra Borough

- Architectural features that may be identified with a particular business are not considered signs.
- Backlit awnings that include no lettering, logos, or other symbols are not considered signs.
- Signs within a building that are obviously intended to be seen primarily from within the building are not considered signs.
- Outdoor signs intended for use within a property, such as menu signs for fast-food restaurant drive-through lanes, provided such signs are not legible from an adjoining road or adjoining property, are not considered signs.
- Signs with regulations within a park provided such signs are not legible from an adjoining road or adjoining property are not considered signs.
- Building identification signs within a campus, provided such signs are not legible from an adjoining road or adjoining property, are not considered signs.
- Flags of governments or government agencies are not considered signs.
- Decorative seasonal and holiday banners on residential properties are not considered signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permits for the placement of signs are required as indicated in the tables listed in §380-46. All signs requiring permits must have such permit prior to the erection, installation, or alteration of the sign.
- Sign permit applications must be accompanied by scaled plans or diagrams showing exact lot dimensions, sign location, size, construction details, and other information as required by the Zoning Officer.
- No sign permit shall be issued except in conformity with the regulations of this chapter, except by order of the Zoning Hearing Board through a variance.
- Coordinated freestanding signage among several principal uses must include a sign easement agreement in language acceptable to the Borough Solicitor which assures each use adequate sign display and ensures adequate sign maintenance.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Palmyra Borough, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Palmyra+Borough+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-palmyra-borough

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