# Sign Regulations in Ridley Park Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ridley Park Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/ridley-park-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33174605#33174605)

## At a glance

Ridley Park Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 19 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Billboards in the Interstate Fronting Civic Use District zoning district are capped at 120 ft tall and 1200 sq ft (gross surface area), with a Min. 120 feet from any residential zoning district (measured horizontally); within 200 feet of I-95 right-of-way setback (Sec. § 213-100). Most commercial signs in Ridley Park Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 20 feet in residential and C-1 Districts; 35 feet in all other districts, measured from grade level | 20% of the total window area | — |
| Residential Districts | 7 | 6 feet | Same as § 213-99A(1) | — |
| R-3 District | 2 | 6 feet | 24 sq ft | — |
| C-1 Commercial District | 5 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| C-2 Commercial District | 5 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| Medical Campus District | 5 | — | 60 sq ft (100 sq ft allowed for two wall signs by special exception if frontage is 100 ft or more) | — |
| Interstate Fronting Civic Use District | 6 | 120 ft | 1200 sq ft (gross surface area) | — |
| Parks and Open Space District | 5 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District | 2 | — | 75 sq ft; 125 sq ft if special exception applies | — |
| Historic Districts | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Pole Sign | 20 feet in residential and C-1 Districts; 35 feet in all other districts, measured from grade level | — | — | Minimum 6 feet behind front property line | — | Minimum 6 feet behind the front property line. No portion less than 6 feet behind the front property line | — | § 213-93L |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 6 feet above ground level | — | — | Same as Freestanding Pole Sign (minimum 6 feet behind front property line) | — | Setback as required for freestanding pole signs | — | § 213-93M |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of the total window area | — | — | — | Affixed to window | — | § 213-93N |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 213-93O |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Project up to 4 feet into right-of-way (must remain at least 1 foot from curbline) | — | § 213-93P |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | No post allowed in right-of-way | — | § 213-93P |
| Real Estate Sign - For Sale/Development | — | 16 sq ft (residential districts); 30 sq ft (nonresidential districts) | — | — | — | On property for sale/development | — | § 213-93Q |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Identification for apartments, townhomes, churches, etc.) | — | 16 sq ft (24 sq ft in R-3 District) | — | — | 1 per use/structure; or 2 if fronting 2 streets | On building | — | § 213-99A(1) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (Identification for apartments, townhomes, churches, etc.) | 6 feet | 16 sq ft (24 sq ft in R-3 District) | — | — | 1 per use/structure; or 2 if fronting 2 streets | — | — | § 213-99A(1) |
| Wall Sign (Permanent for schools/religious/other nonresidential uses) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use/structure; or 2 if fronting 2 streets | — | — | § 213-99A(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent for schools/religious/other nonresidential uses) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use/structure; or 2 if fronting 2 streets | — | — | § 213-99A(2) |
| Identification Sign (Nonresidential nonconforming uses) | — | Same as § 213-99A(1) | — | — | — | — | — | § 213-99A(3) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Residential professional offices) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 213-99A(4) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On private residences | — | § 213-99A(5), § 213-95D(3) |

### Interstate Fronting Civic Use District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 60 sq ft (100 sq ft allowed for two wall signs by special exception if frontage is 100 ft or more) | — | — | 1 (2 by special exception for 100+ ft frontage) | On building | — | § 213-99E, 213-99D |
| Awning Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 213-99E, 213-99D |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground or Pole) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 213-99E, 213-99D |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 213-99E, 213-99D |
| Canopy Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 213-99E, 213-99D |
| Billboard | 120 ft | 1200 sq ft (gross surface area) | — | Min. 120 feet from any residential zoning district (measured horizontally); within 200 feet of I-95 right-of-way | 1 permitted (Borough or county-owned) | Within 200 feet of right-of-way of Interstate 95; not mounted on a building, wall, or other structure | — | § 213-100 |

## Prohibited signs in Ridley Park Borough

- No sign shall be constructed from bare plywood.
- No sign shall create a public nuisance by emitting smoke, sound, vapor, beams or rays, particle emission, or odors.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected unless it complies with all applicable requirements of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
- No sign shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any public street, and no sign shall be closer than six feet to the right-of-way line of a public street, unless specifically authorized.
- All permanent signs over four square feet in size must be constructed by a professional sign company.
- Except for official, incidental, directional, wayfinding signs, or billboards, all permanent signs must be located on the property to which the text or message applies.
- No illuminated sign shall be lighted on days when the business or permitted use is not open for business.
- Internally illuminated signs are not permitted in Historic Districts.
- Electrical supply to all exterior signs must be by means of concealed (and for freestanding signs, underground) cables.
- Applications for electrical permits must be filed at the same time as the sign permit application.
- Signs cannot obstruct access to or from any door, window, fire escape, or ventilating equipment, nor be attached to any standpipe or fire escape.
- Temporary commercial advertising signs may not be attached to fences.
- No sign shall be erected, altered, repaired, or relocated without first obtaining a sign permit, unless the sign is specifically exempt from permit requirements.
- Unlawful/prohibited sign types: any sign which by color, shape, or location conflicts with or resembles a traffic signal device; signs attached to rocks, utility poles, parking meters, traffic signposts, traffic signals or control devices, street signs, or historical markers; signs attached to trees, shrubs, or living vegetation; signs erected without the permission of the property owner or authorized agent; signs that create a hazard by obstructing the clear view of vehicles and pedestrian traffic; animated signs; signs that obstruct free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exit; vehicular signs; abandoned signs; flashing signs; revolving signs; tethered balloons; roof signs; wall signs that cover windows or architectural detail; banners longer than 150% of the street frontage; signs with reflective backgrounds.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ridley Park Borough

- Official signs posted in the strict performance of lawful governmental functions, such as roadway signs indicating route number, street name, traffic, and parking.
- Small signs not exceeding two square feet that are necessary for traffic movement on private property.
- Memorial or historic markers where approved by the Historical and Architectural Review Board or the Planning Commission.
- Small temporary signs not exceeding four square feet, with up to three such signs per parcel without a permit as long as total does not exceed 10 square feet.
- Nameplate signs on private residences that do not exceed one square foot.
- No permit is required for maintenance of a sign or change of copy on a legally conforming painted, printed, or changeable copy sign (as long as the message or appearance does not change other than repainting).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For awning and canopy signs, a permit must be obtained from the Zoning Officer following a review by the Planning Commission.
- For signs in Historic Districts, no sign shall be erected or altered until an application for a certificate of appropriateness has been reviewed and approved by the Historical and Architectural Review Board (HARB) and after Borough Council has issued a certificate of appropriateness. Applications must include detailed plans, scaled drawings, material samples, site plan for ground signs, and info on type of illumination.
- For parking lots with more than 20 spaces, the property owner shall prepare a site plan (subject to the approval of the Chief of Police) showing signage locations for towing warning signs; signs must then be posted and maintained in accordance with the approved site plan.
- Permits for illuminated signs will not be issued without an approved electrical permit. Applications for electrical permits must be filed at the same time as the sign permit application.
- If a legally nonconforming sign is to be damaged or altered, a new permit must be obtained and the sign brought into compliance with current code.
- Where special exceptions are required for additional sign allowances (such as for large buildings with multiple signs), a special exception process (e.g., variance or hearing) is indicated.

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

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