# Sign Regulations in Pennsburg Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pennsburg Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/pennsburg-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/26946878#26946878)

## At a glance

Pennsburg Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 31 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Sandwich Board (Sidewalk) Sign (Sign Overlay District)s in the Sign Overlay District zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 8 sq ft per side (max 2 sides), and 2 ft wide, with a Retain 5 ft wide pedestrian walkway setback (Sec. § 110-1502B(8)(g), (h)). Most commercial signs in Pennsburg Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Low Density Residential, R-2 Medium Density Residential, R-3 Medium-High Density Residential, R-4 High Density Residential, IN Institutional District | 9 | — | 15 sq ft | — |
| RC Residential-Commercial, SC Shopping Center, LI Limited Industrial, LIC Light Industrial and Commercial | 18 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Sign Overlay District | 6 | 6 ft | 35 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 4 ft | 15 sq ft | — |

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

### R-1 Low Density Residential, R-2 Medium Density Residential, R-3 Medium-High Density Residential, R-4 High Density Residential, IN Institutional District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign (Dwelling Unit) | — | 2 sq ft | — | 2 ft from front lot line, 2 ft from side lot line | 1 per dwelling unit | Placed a minimum of 2 feet inside the front lot line and 2 feet from any side lot line | — | § 110-1501A(1), § 110-1501A(3) |
| Identification Sign (Other Buildings) | — | 15 sq ft | — | 2 ft from front lot line, 2 ft from side lot line | 1 per building | Minimum 2 ft inside front and side lot lines | — | § 110-1501A(2), (3) |
| Sale or Rental Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | § 110-1501B |
| Institutional Sign - Main | — | 15 sq ft (per side) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On same lot as institution | — | § 110-1501C(1) |
| Institutional Sign - Trespassing/Ownership | — | 1 sq ft (per side) | — | — | — | 75 ft intervals along street frontage | — | § 110-1501C(2) |
| Institutional Sign - Building ID | — | 10 sq ft (per side) | — | — | 1 per building | Attached to building | — | § 110-1501C(3) |
| Artisan Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Only while work is being performed | — | § 110-1501D |
| Required by Law (Street, Traffic, etc) | — | — | — | — | — | As required by law | — | § 110-1501E |

### RC Residential-Commercial, SC Shopping Center, LI Limited Industrial, LIC Light Industrial and Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign (Dwelling Unit) | — | 2 sq ft | — | 2 ft from front lot line, 2 ft from side lot line | 1 per dwelling unit | Placed a minimum of 2 feet inside the front lot line and 2 feet from any side lot line | — | § 110-1502A(1), § 110-1501A(1), (3) |
| Identification Sign (Other Buildings) | — | 15 sq ft | — | 2 ft from front lot line, 2 ft from side lot line | 1 per building | Minimum 2 ft inside front and side lot lines | — | § 110-1502A(1), § 110-1501A(2), (3) |
| Business Sign - Wall | Top of sign max 15 ft or building eave/parapet (whichever lower) | 25 to 45 sq ft (depending on frontage); Aggregate area per lot 30-50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business per property | On wall of business | — | § 110-1502B(1)-(4) |
| Business Sign - Freestanding | 15 ft or building eave/parapet (whichever lower) | 20 to 35 sq ft (depending on frontage); Aggregate area per lot 30-50 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curb/edge; 5 ft from driveway edge | 1 per business per property | On lot; setback requirements apply | — | § 110-1502B(1)-(7) |
| Multi-Tenant Sign - Shopping Center Main ID Only | 20 ft | 35 sq ft | — | 25 ft from curbline; 50 ft from driveway edge | 1 (at primary entrance) | At primary entrance; min. 25 ft from curbline and 50 ft from shopping center driveway edge or adjacent property driveways; can be located in median island dividing main access drive | — | § 110-1502C(3)(a)[1], (c), (d) |
| Multi-Tenant Sign - Shopping Center with Tenant Directory | 20 ft | 100 sq ft (total); Shopping center name max 35 sq ft; each tenant max 20 sq ft | — | 25 ft from curbline; 50 ft from driveway edge | 1 (at primary entrance) | At primary entrance; min. 25 ft from curbline and 50 ft from driveways; may be within median island | — | § 110-1502C(3)(a)[2], (b), (c), (d) |
| Multi-Tenant Directory Sign (Entrance <3 tenants) | Top of sign not more than 10 ft above entrance threshold | 10 sq ft per tenant (at single/double-tenant entrance) | — | — | 1 per tenant (at entrance used by 1 or 2 tenants) | Mounted adjacent to building entrance; one per tenant | — | § 110-1502C(4)(b)[1] |
| Off-Premises Advertising Sign | 15 ft | 100 sq ft per face | 20 ft | 25 ft from ROW/building, 40 ft from property line, 100 ft from another off-premises sign | — | Erected on permanent footings/supports (not attached to buildings) | — | § 110-1507A-E |

### Sign Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Sign Overlay District) | 3 ft | 35 sq ft | — | Min. 2 ft from edge of structure | 1 per establishment | On wall of business; must be set back min. 2 feet from edge of structure | — | § 110-1502B(8)(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (≤6 ft Height, Sign Overlay District) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft per side | — | Min. 2 ft from back of public walk/right-of-way | 1 per establishment | Set back min. 2 ft from back of public walk or right-of-way | — | § 110-1502B(8)(e)[2] |
| Freestanding Sign (>6 ft Height, Sign Overlay District) | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | Min. 2 ft from back of public walk/right-of-way | 1 per establishment | Set back min. 2 ft from back of public walk or right-of-way | — | § 110-1502B(8)(e)[1] |
| Projecting Sign (Sign Overlay District) | — | 12 sq ft per side (2 sides max) | — | — | 1 per establishment | — | — | § 110-1502B(8)(c), (h) |
| Awning Sign (Sign Overlay District) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | On awning | — | § 110-1502B(8)(f), (h) |
| Sandwich Board (Sidewalk) Sign (Sign Overlay District) | 4 ft | 8 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | 2 ft | Retain 5 ft wide pedestrian walkway | 1 per establishment | On sidewalk; must retain 5 ft clear pedestrian path and be close to building | — | § 110-1502B(8)(g), (h) |

## Prohibited signs in Pennsburg Borough

- No sign shall be erected so as to endanger highway users by obscuring a clear view or by causing confusion with official street signs or signals due to its color or location.
- No sign shall be placed on utility poles.
- No sign, other than official street signs, shall be erected or maintained within the right-of-way of any public road.
- No sign shall project over a public walkway, except for a projecting sign that meets specific requirements.
- No sign shall be permitted to swing freely, except for a projecting sign that meets specific requirements.
- Every sign affixed to a building wall shall have its entire inner surface flush with the building wall, and no part of the sign shall project beyond the building line more than 18 inches (except certain projecting signs).
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any illuminated sign where the light source moves or is not of constant intensity and color, or where the light bulb can shine directly into the eyes of drivers or upon adjacent residential/institutional districts, or where illumination interferes with visibility/readability of any traffic sign or device.
- No sign shall have flashing, intermittent, animated or revolving illumination.
- It is unlawful to maintain for more than 30 days any sign which has become obsolete due to discontinuance of the business or activity it advertises, removal from the location to which it directs, or for any other reason (except off-premises signs subject to separate provisions).
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign on any property, public or private, without the consent of the owner or occupant.
- No person shall erect any sign without first obtaining a permit from the Zoning Officer (with applicable exemptions for some temporary signs).
- Any person is guilty of a violation for erecting a sign on any park property.
- No sign shall have flashing, intermittent, animated or revolving illumination.
- No nonconforming sign shall be changed to another nonconforming sign, have unauthorized changes in words, symbols, or messages, be structurally altered to prolong its life or change its shape, size, type, or design, or be reestablished after discontinuance/damage as specified.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pennsburg Borough

- Official street and traffic signs required by law are exempt.
- Two freestanding temporary signs are allowed for each property or business without obtaining a sign permit from the Borough; permit required for three or more.
- Temporary, nonilluminated signs less than two square feet in size each may be placed inside windows.
- Changeable-copy signs that alternate only between time and temperature are exempted from the frequency limitations on changes.
- Political signs are permitted in all districts, provided they are nonilluminated, do not exceed four square feet in area or four feet in height, are not erected more than 30 days prior to an election, and are removed within three days after the election.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect, after the effective date of this chapter, any sign without having first obtained a permit from the Zoning Officer, following the filing of an application on a form supplied by the Zoning Officer (except as noted for certain temporary signs).
- A sign permit is required for all freestanding temporary signs where three or more signs are placed on a business or property.
- The Zoning Hearing Board may permit variances from the requirements regarding nonconforming signs, but only in accordance with the variance procedures of the zoning chapter.
- Applicants for off-premises advertising signs must submit a notarized statement of authority to erect and maintain such signs with their permit application.

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

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