# Sign Regulations in Schwenksville Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Schwenksville Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/schwenksville-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35754390#35754390)

## At a glance

Schwenksville Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 20 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Limited Duration Signs in the Residential Districts (R1, R2, TH, GA, RC) zoning district are capped at 4 ft. tall and 6 sq. ft. (Sec. § 176-1807B.2, C, D, E, F). Most commercial signs in Schwenksville Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R1, R2, TH, GA, RC) | 6 | 7 ft. for apartments, 3.5 ft. for single-family detached developments | 15 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Institutional District (IN) | 6 | 8 ft. | 30 sq. ft. (wall), 24 sq. ft. (awning/canopy) | — |
| Village Commercial Districts (VC-1, VC-2) | 9 | 7 ft. for pole sign, 5 ft. for monument sign | Up to 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial District (C), Manufacturing and Industrial District (MI), General Commercial & Industrial | 8 | 6 ft. (single-use ground), 7 ft. (multi-use ground), 12 ft. (pole), 15 ft. for gas station canopy or eaveline, whichever is lower | 30 sq. ft. (general); 20 sq. ft. (gas stations) | — |
| Non-Residential Districts | 2 | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 3 ft. | 7 sq. ft. per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential Districts (R1, R2, TH, GA, RC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Limited Duration Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On private property; wall, window, or freestanding | — | § 176-1807B.2, C, D, E, F |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On private property; wall, window, or freestanding | — | § 176-1808B.2, C, E, G, H |
| Freestanding Sign (Home Occupation) | 2 ft. | 2 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot of home occupation | — | § 176-1810C.1 |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | Eaveline or bottom of second story window sill, whichever is lower | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | Principal building | — | § 176-1810C.2 |
| Projecting Sign (Home Occupation) | Eaveline or bottom of second story window sill, whichever is lower | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot (wall or projecting) | Principal building | — | § 176-1810C.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Development) | 7 ft. for apartments, 3.5 ft. for single-family detached developments | 15 sq. ft. per sign face | — | — | 1 per street frontage | At development/apartment entrances; one per street frontage | — | § 176-1810D |

### Village Commercial Districts (VC-1, VC-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Limited Duration Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On private property; wall, window, or freestanding | — | § 176-1812A, § 176-1807 |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On private property; wall, window, or freestanding | — | § 176-1812B, § 176-1808B.1 |
| Wall Sign (Bed and Breakfast) | Eaveline, bottom of parapet wall, or bottom of second story window sill, whichever is lowest | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business | Non-residential use | — | § 176-1812E, G.1.a, G.3 |
| Wall Sign (Other Non-residential) | Eaveline, bottom of parapet wall, or bottom of second story window sill, whichever is lowest | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per building + 1 rear (VC2, abutting trail) + 1 per additional tenant | Non-residential use | — | § 176-1812E, G.1.b, G.3, F, L |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Eaveline, parapet wall, or 2nd story window sill, whichever is lowest | 20% of exterior surface area | — | — | 2 per building + 1 rear (VC2, abutting trail) + 1 per additional tenant | Non-residential use | — | § 176-1812E, H, L |
| Projecting Sign | Eaveline, bottom of parapet wall, or bottom of second story window sill, whichever is lowest | 8 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 2 per building + 1 rear (VC2) + 1 per additional tenant | Non-residential use | — | § 176-1812E, I, L |
| Window Sign | — | 15% of total window area (permanent); 25% (all window signs combined) | — | — | — | Storefront window of non-residential use | — | § 176-1812J |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Tenant Building) | 7 ft. for pole sign, 5 ft. for monument sign | Up to 25 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage for multiple tenant building | — | § 176-1812K |

### Commercial District (C), Manufacturing and Industrial District (MI), General Commercial & Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Limited Duration Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On private property; wall, window, or freestanding | — | § 176-1813A, § 176-1807 |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On private property; wall, window, or freestanding | — | § 176-1813B, § 176-1808B.1 |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 176-1813D, § 176-1809 |
| Wall Sign (General) | Eaveline, bottom of parapet wall, or bottom of second story window sill, whichever is lowest | 30 sq. ft. (general); 20 sq. ft. (gas stations) | — | — | 2 per building, +1 per additional tenant, +1 per 2nd street frontage | Principal building | — | § 176-1813G, F, L |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Eaveline, parapet wall, or 2nd story window sill, whichever is lowest; 15 ft. for gas station canopies or eaveline, whichever is lower | 25% of exterior surface; 20 sq. ft. for gas stations | — | — | — | On awning/canopy of principal building (incl. gas station canopy) | — | § 176-1813H |
| Projecting Sign | Eaveline, bottom of parapet wall, or bottom of second story window sill, whichever is lowest | 12 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 2 per building, +1 per additional tenant, +1 per additional street frontage | Principal building | — | § 176-1813I |
| Window Sign | — | 15% of total window area (permanent); 25% (all signs combined) | — | — | — | Storefront window of non-residential use | — | § 176-1813J |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 6 ft. (single-use ground), 7 ft. (multi-use ground), 12 ft. (pole), 15 ft. for gas station canopy or eaveline, whichever is lower | 24 sq. ft. (ground/mon.)/20 sq. ft. (pole); up to 40 sq. ft. with tenants; 25 sq. ft. (gas station sign) | — | — | See notes | Ground, pole, or monument at street frontage; gas station signage per street frontage | — | § 176-1813K |

## Prohibited signs in Schwenksville Borough

- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited. Signs may only be attached to utility poles in accordance with state/utility regulations and local requirements.
- Vehicular signs are prohibited, except for business logos, identification or advertising on vehicles actively used for business or personal transportation.
- Mechanical movement signs, including moving or revolving signs, or any sign/object intended to attract attention and capable of free movement or oscillation, are prohibited.
- Pennant strings and streamers are prohibited.
- Animated signs, flashing signs, or signs that scroll or flash text or graphics are prohibited.
- Inflatable devices or balloon signs are prohibited, except balloons used in temporary, non-commercial situations.
- Any signs that imitate, resemble, interfere with, or obstruct official traffic lights, signs, or signals are prohibited.
- Signs that prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or prevent free access from one part of a roof to another are prohibited. No sign except a safety sign may be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs emitting smoke, visible vapors, particulate matter, sound, odor, or open flames are prohibited.
- Reflective signs or signs containing mirrors are prohibited.
- Interactive signs are prohibited.
- Signs incorporating beacon or festoon lighting are prohibited.
- Any banner or sign suspended across a public street without the property and road owner's permission is prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs erected without the property owner's permission are prohibited, except those authorized or required by government.
- Any sign containing false information about permitted property uses is prohibited.
- Signs that exhibit obscene or pornographic statements, words, or pictures, as determined by the Borough, are prohibited.
- Any sign that promotes illegal activity is prohibited.
- Signs incorporating digital displays or message center signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Schwenksville Borough

- Official traffic signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Government/regulatory signs are exempt.
- Signs inside a building or enclosed facility, not meant to be viewed from outside and located more than three feet from any window, are exempt.
- Holiday and seasonal decorations are exempt.
- Personal expression signs (any sign type, including flags), non-commercial in nature, not exceeding three sq. ft. per side, and not illuminated, are exempt.
- Address signs (up to two per premises, no commercial advertising): not to exceed one sq. ft. in residential districts, five sq. ft. in non-residential districts.
- Public signs erected or required by government agencies or utilities, such as traffic, utility, safety, railroad crossing, identification/directional signs for public facilities are exempt.
- Signs or emblems of religious, civil, philanthropic, historical, or educational organizations not exceeding one sq. ft. in area are exempt.
- Private drive signs: one per driveway entrance, not exceeding two sq. ft. in area.
- Security and warning signs (including 'no trespassing' signs): not exceeding two sq. ft. in residential, five sq. ft. (large sign) in non-residential, all others two sq. ft.
- Flags, subject to location/height/size limits: not within rights-of-way, max 30 ft. high, max 6 sq. ft. residential, 35 sq. ft. others (U.S. or state flags unlimited above subject to law).
- Legal notices are exempt.
- Vending machine signs are exempt.
- Memorial signs, public monument or historic identification sign erected by the Borough, including plaque signs up to three sq. ft., are exempt.
- Signs that are permanent architectural features of a building/structure existing at the time of ordinance adoption are exempt.
- Incidental signs, including incidental window signs, are exempt; internally illuminated versions up to one sq. ft. permitted, one per tenant.
- Directional signs without commercial messaging are exempt, subject to size and height limits and not illuminated.
- Art/murals with no commercial messaging are exempt.
- Signs on property for sale or rent (max 16 sq. ft., 4 ft. height), removed within 10 days of sale/lease, are exempt.
- Temporary signs in accordance with §176-1808 are exempt from standard permit requirements (with stated conditions).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Every application for a sign permit must include a site plan and scaled drawings showing the location, design, area, height, color, structural and lighting details of all proposed and existing signs. (§176-1815.B.7-8)
- Sign permit applications must identify all signs to be erected and existing signage to remain; building elevations and photographs showing current signage also required. (§176-1815.B.4-5, 8.c-d)
- Applicants for limited duration sign permits must include: sign description, schematic of location, and information on other existing signs. (§176-1807C.3)
- Permit applications for illuminated signs require documentation/certification of compliance with brightness standards by an independent contractor as a condition precedent to permitting. (§176-1805.F.3.d)
- A master or comprehensive sign plan is not referenced by name in the ordinance; however, sign permit applications require detailed plans for proposed and existing sign placement and design, serving similar functions.

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

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