# Sign Regulations in Scranton, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Scranton, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/scranton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/45089655#45089655)

## At a glance

Scranton, Pennsylvania regulates 13 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Option 1s in the D District zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 30 square feet per side, with a No 5 foot setback in D district per §445-51A(2) setback (Sec. §445-49 Table (row 4)). Most commercial signs in Scranton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 5 | 8 feet | 32 square feet per sign side, per street; total max per street | — |
| Institutional District | 3 | 8 feet | 60 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (excluding D), Industrial District | 3 | 35 feet | 300 square feet per side | — |
| D District | 5 | 25 feet | 150 square feet per side (total for all signs) | — |
| N District | 6 | 25 feet | 150 square feet per side (total for all signs) | — |
| CI District, LI District | 5 | 40 feet above centerline of primary street it faces | 672 sq ft per side (if within 250 ft of expressway); otherwise 300 sq ft per side; can be up to 4 faces if each <75 sq ft | — |
| Residential or Institutional District | 1 | 10 feet (15 feet in commercial district) | 40 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### D District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top part of wall sign shall not exceed 10 feet above building height (excluding elevator shafts) | — | — | — | — | On building | — | §445-49 Table (row 4) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any window | — | §445-49 Table (row 4) |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 1 | 10 feet | 30 square feet per side | — | No 5 foot setback in D district per §445-51A(2) | 1 per abutting public street | On property | — | §445-49 Table (row 4) |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 2 | 25 feet | 150 square feet per side (total for all signs) | — | No 5 foot setback in D district per §445-51A(2) | Up to 3 per lot | On property abutting public street | — | §445-49 Table, Note *** |
| Projecting Sign | — | 10 square feet per side (50 sq ft marquee for theater) | — | — | Max 1 per lot | On building | — | §445-49E |

### N District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top part not to exceed 10 ft above building | — | — | — | — | On building | — | §445-49 Table (D,N districts have same table rules for wall signs) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any window | — | §445-49 Table |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 1 | 10 feet | 30 square feet per side | — | No 5 foot setback in N district per §445-51A(2) | 1 per abutting public street | On property | — | §445-49 Table (row 4), See D district rules |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 2 | 25 feet | 150 square feet per side (total for all signs) | — | No 5 foot setback in N district per §445-51A(2) | Up to 3 per lot | On property | — | §445-49 Table, Note *** |
| Projecting Sign | — | 10 sq ft per side (50 sq ft marquee for theater) | — | — | Max 1 per lot | On building | — | §445-49E |
| Sign on a Mobile Stand | — | 35 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | §445-49D(3) |

### CI District, LI District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top part of wall sign shall not exceed 10 feet above building height | — | — | — | — | On building | — | §445-49 Table (row 3) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any window | — | §445-49 Table (row 3) |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 feet | 300 sq ft per side per abutting street | — | 5 feet from right-of-way, 25 feet from residential lot for illuminated | Up to 3 per abutting public street | On property; must meet setbacks | — | §445-49 Table (row 3) |
| Sign on a Mobile Stand | — | 35 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | §445-49D(3) |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 40 feet above centerline of primary street it faces | 672 sq ft per side (if within 250 ft of expressway); otherwise 300 sq ft per side; can be up to 4 faces if each <75 sq ft | — | 250 ft from residential lot (200 ft if illumination not visible); 50 ft from hospital; 10 ft from ROW or lot line; 1,000 ft from other billboard | — | Within 250 feet of arterial street or expressway | — | §445-57 |

## Prohibited signs in Scranton

- No sign shall be erected without a permit except for signs specifically exempted by the ordinance.
- Only types, sizes and heights of signs that are specifically permitted by this chapter within the applicable District shall be allowed.
- Signs on mobile stands (portable signs) are prohibited in all districts, except under narrowly defined temporary conditions.
- Signs shall not be so located or arranged that they interfere with sight distance requirements or safe sight distances for vehicles within a lot.
- No sign shall be posted on any property, sign pole, or public utility pole unless permission has been received from the owner.
- No sign shall be stapled or nailed to a utility pole, except by an authorized utility.
- Signs shall not be placed on properties they do not relate to, except for permitted off-premises, official, political or public service signs.
- No sign except Official Signs, Nameplate Signs, Public Service Signs and Directional Signs shall be erected within or project more than two feet over any existing street right-of-way, except where expressly noted.
- An illuminated freestanding sign for a commercial or industrial business shall not be located within 25 feet of a residential lot.
- Spinners, pennants, or any moving object used to attract attention to a commercial use are prohibited.
- Flags and banners of more than 20 square feet per lot that contain a commercial message and that do not meet the requirements for a permitted sign are prohibited.
- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type, except for: a) time and temperature signs and b) signs that have a non-flashing electrically changing message, are prohibited.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor are prohibited.
- Signs which imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal, or device or that could confuse or distract vehicle operators are prohibited.
- Signs that use reflective materials to give the appearance of flashing, blinking, or twinkling are prohibited.
- Signs or displays that include words or images that are obscene, pornographic or highly offensive to public decency are prohibited.
- Balloons of greater than 25 cubic feet tethered to the ground or a structure and primarily intended for advertising purposes are prohibited.
- Floodlights and lasers directed at or as part of signs are prohibited.
- Any vehicle or structure to which a sign is affixed so that displaying the sign is a primary purpose is considered a freestanding sign and must comply with freestanding sign rules.
- Conforming and non-conforming signs advertising a use no longer in existence (other than a sign relating to a building that is temporarily vacant and offered for lease or sale) must be removed within 180 days of cessation of use.
- No person shall park a motor vehicle on a street or highway displaying any 'for sale' sign on such vehicle.

## Signs exempt from permit in Scranton

- Signs not requiring a permit listed in § 445-48, provided they comply with related size, number, and duration limits (includes: agricultural products signs, charitable event signs, contractor's signs, directional signs, open house signs, parking area signs, physically carried signs, political signs, proposed development signs, public services or hospital signs, real estate signs, required signs mandated by a government agency, right-of-way signs officially authorized, service organization/place of worship signs, time and temperature signs, trespassing signs, very small signs).
- Physically carried signs, required government signs, right-of-way signs, and very small signs (less than 1 sq ft and unreadable from street/exterior lot line) are not regulated by the chapter.
- Historic signs of a type previously attached to the building or site may be re-erected or recreated with proper approval and safety review, even if not otherwise permitted by right.
- Signs erected and maintained by PennDOT are permitted by right in all districts.
- Political signs meeting specific placement, timing, and property owner permission requirements are exempted until their defined removal window lapses.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit under this chapter shall be required for all signs except for signs meeting the requirements of § 445-48 and window signs permitted by this chapter.
- The ordinance references the submission of a sketch, preliminary, or final subdivision or land development plan to the City for proposed development signs, but does not indicate a general citywide master sign plan or special board review is required for most signs.
- For historic signs that do not otherwise comply, written satisfaction/approval from City building inspectors and the Architecture, Urban Design and Historic Review Commission is required.
- There are no blanket requirements for a master sign plan across all zones; variances or special reviews appear only in specific cases (e.g., historic sign exception).

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

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