# Sign Regulations in Pottsville, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pottsville, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/pottsville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11588825#11588825)

## At a glance

Pottsville, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Advertising Sign Structure (Billboard)s in the Commercial District (C-2), Commercial District (C-4) zoning district are capped at 25 ft above lot or street grade tall, 200 sq ft per sign face, and 40 ft wide, with a Same as building setback; not within 50 ft of residential zone setback (Sec. 220-23E(3)(e)-(h) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796).

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 32 sq ft; construction site: 130 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-1A, R-2) | 7 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft per street frontage | — |
| Special Purpose District (S-1) | 7 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft per street frontage | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1) | 3 | — | 30 sq ft per sign | — |
| Commercial District (C-3) | 6 | — | 60 sq ft per street or entrance facade (aggregate of wall/projecting) | — |
| Commercial District (C-2), Commercial District (C-4) | 5 | 25 ft above street center line (max) | 200 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Manufacturing District (M-1, M-2) | 4 | 25 ft above street center line or public way | 200 sq ft per wall (aggregate) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonadvertising Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Within property lines | — | 220-23D(1) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Identification Sign (Institutional Uses) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | For churches, hospitals, schools, playgrounds, parks, and other public uses within property lines | — | 220-23D(2) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Identification Sign (Permitted Office or Use) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Within property lines of premises identified | — | 220-23D(3) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Identification Sign (Private Club/Lodge/Similar Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Within property lines | — | 220-23D(4) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Trespassing/Private Road/Driveway Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Upon specific premises to which they relate | — | 220-23D(5) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| No Fishing/Hunting/etc. Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Upon particular premises | — | 220-23D(6) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Project Identification Sign (Multifamily Developments) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft per street frontage | — | Situated within building line | 1 per street frontage | On either side with public street frontage, within the building line | — | 220-23D(7) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |

### Special Purpose District (S-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonadvertising Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Within property lines | — | 220-23D(1) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Identification Sign (Institutional Uses) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | For churches, hospitals, schools, playgrounds, parks, and other public uses within property lines | — | 220-23D(2) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Identification Sign (Permitted Office or Use) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Within property lines of premises identified | — | 220-23D(3) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Identification Sign (Private Club/Lodge/Similar Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Within property lines | — | 220-23D(4) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Trespassing/Private Road/Driveway Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Upon specific premises to which they relate | — | 220-23D(5) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| No Fishing/Hunting/etc. Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Upon particular premises | — | 220-23D(6) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Project Identification Sign (Multifamily Developments) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft per street frontage | — | Situated within building line | 1 per street frontage | On either side with public street frontage, within the building line | — | 220-23D(7) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |

### Commercial District (C-2), Commercial District (C-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Type Signs | — | See Residential Districts for area | — | — | — | As permitted in residential districts | — | 220-23E(3)(a) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Wall/Projecting Identification Sign | — | 150 sq ft (aggregate per permitted use per facade) | — | No more than 5 ft beyond setback and no more than 3 ft beyond building face | 1 wall + 1 projecting per facade | On or attached to each street and entrance facade per permitted use | — | 220-23E(3)(b) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Freestanding Pole or Ground Identification Sign | 25 ft above street center line (max) | 60 sq ft | — | Setback at least 50% of required front yard or bottom of sign at least 10 ft above street center line | 1 | Within property lines | — | 220-23E(3)(c) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Sign Required by Law | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 220-23E(3)(d) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |
| Advertising Sign Structure (Billboard) | 25 ft above lot or street grade | 200 sq ft per sign face | 40 ft | Same as building setback; not within 50 ft of residential zone | Limit based on street frontage | Shall meet building setback requirements and not within 50 ft of a residential zone. Signs must be a minimum 200 ft apart (unless on same structure). | — | 220-23E(3)(e)-(h) https://ecode360.com/11590796#11590796 |

## Prohibited signs in Pottsville

- No sign shall be erected containing information on it which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under zoning regulations in the zone where the property is located.
- Signs advertising a use no longer in existence or a product no longer available shall be removed or changed to advertise the new use or product within six months after cessation of the original use.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to traffic on a street or at an intersection by obscuring the view.
- No sign, other than an official sign, shall be erected within the official right-of-way of any street unless specifically authorized by other ordinance or regulations.
- Advertising signs (billboards) are not permitted in residential districts, Commercial Districts C-1, C-3 and C-4, or Industrial Districts M-1 and M-2.
- No sign except a wall sign or projecting sign shall extend into the public right-of-way in excess of 36 inches, except as otherwise modified.
- Flat wall and projecting signs projecting into any public right-of-way must have the bottom at least 10 feet above the road center line or public way, whichever is higher.
- Wall and projecting signs shall not project above the highest point of the structure upon which they are mounted.
- Handwritten signs are prohibited; all signs must be in written text and not handwritten.
- Signs which simulate official, functional, directional, or warning signs erected by governmental or utility agencies concerned with public health or safety are prohibited.
- No sign shall be placed, inscribed, or supported upon the roof or any structure extending above the roof of any building, except as required by aviation authorities.
- No signboard, bulletin board, or obstruction of any type whatsoever is allowed upon any street, sidewalk, curb, or gutter in front of or along any premises which will interfere with the full use by the public of any such public way.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pottsville

- Interior signs that are not visible from a public right-of-way or adjoining property.
- Official notices of any court or public office and legal notices posted pursuant to law or ordinance.
- Cornerstones or tablets built into or attached to the wall of a building providing customary information on building erection or commemorating a person or event.
- Public service company signs as aids to safety or service.
- Signs required by law to be exhibited by the occupants of the premises, as referenced in multiple sections.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In all zones, signs may be erected, altered, maintained, used and removed only in compliance with the provisions of this Article, the provisions of other Articles of this chapter, and other regulations of the city relating to signs.
- No explicit mention in this ordinance text of a required master sign plan, sign plan submission, or variance meeting requirement for signage.

## 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 7 zoning districts in Pottsville — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Pottsville+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-pottsville

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