# Sign Regulations in Sinking Spring Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sinking Spring Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/sinking-spring-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/39853267#39853267)

## At a glance

Sinking Spring Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 23 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Identification Sign or Bulletin/Announcement Board (Schools, Churches, Hospitals, Similar Institutions; Clubs, Lodges, Farms, Estates, Similar Uses)s in the Residential districts zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 12 sq ft per side, with a 10 ft from front lot line setback (Sec. § 196-31(B)(2)). Most commercial signs in Sinking Spring Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 10 ft (residential districts); 16 ft (freestanding sign in commercial or industrial districts) | — | — |
| Residential districts | 9 | 10 ft | 12 sq ft per side | — |
| Industrial districts | 1 | 40 ft above road surface | 600 sq ft per side, embellishments not to exceed 15% of total display area | — |
| I-1 District | 1 | 40 ft above road surface | 600 sq ft per side, embellishments not to exceed 15% of total display area | — |
| C-1 District; C-2 District | 1 | 45 ft above road surface | 300 sq ft per side, embellishments not to exceed 15% of total display area | — |
| Commercial districts; Industrial districts | 3 | 16 ft | Total area on one side of all signs on or facing any one street frontage of one premises not to exceed 100 sq ft (except buildings with more than one use) | — |
| Downtown District | 7 | 2.5 ft (recommended max height); can extend across storefront width (between columns/piers) | 2 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign or Bulletin/Announcement Board (Schools, Churches, Hospitals, Similar Institutions; Clubs, Lodges, Farms, Estates, Similar Uses) | 10 ft | 12 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from front lot line | 2 per frontage of any one property | Frontage of the property; not closer than 10 ft to the front lot line. | — | § 196-31(B)(2) |
| Professional, Home-Based Business, or Name Sign | 10 ft | 1 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 for each permitted use or dwelling | Property where use exists | — | § 196-31(B)(3) |
| Real Estate Sign | 10 ft | 12 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from front lot line | 1 per street frontage | On property to which it refers; not within 10 ft of front lot line | — | § 196-31(B)(4) |
| Temporary Contractor/Architect Sign | 10 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from front lot line | — | On property where work is being done, not closer than 10 ft to front lot line | — | § 196-31(B)(5) |
| Nonconforming Use Sign | 10 ft | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 2 per street frontage | On premises with nonconforming use | — | § 196-31(B)(6) |
| Public Utility Identification/Protection Sign | 10 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | — | — | — | § 196-31(B)(7) |
| Subdivision Rental Office/Sample Unit Directional Sign | 10 ft | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Within subdivision | — | § 196-31(B)(8) |
| No Trespassing/Private Property Sign | 10 ft | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Placed at intervals along street frontage | — | § 196-31(B)(9) |

### Commercial districts; Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 15 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage per property | — | — | § 196-31(C)(4), (C)(6) |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 ft | — | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | § 196-31(A)(6), (C)(5) |
| Wall/Attached Sign (General) | — | Total area on one side of all signs on or facing any one street frontage of one premises not to exceed 100 sq ft (except buildings with more than one use) | — | — | 2 per street frontage per premises (except buildings with more than one use); in that case see additional requirements | On or facing street frontage | — | § 196-31(C)(3), (C)(7), (C)(8) |

### Downtown District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 2.5 ft (recommended max height); can extend across storefront width (between columns/piers) | — | Width of the storefront between columns/piers | — | 2 permanent signs per shopfront, 1 primary (wall sign), 1 secondary (window) | Mounted above show windows, not covering architectural details of storefront | — | § 196-31(D)(2)(a), (b), (c), (d) |
| Show Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted or painted on glass/clear acrylic panel suspended behind the glass; placed slightly above eye level | — | § 196-31(D)(2)(a)[2], (b)[2], (d)[4] |
| Store Hour Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or near entrance doors | — | § 196-31(D)(2)(a)[3] |
| Address/Transom Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Applied to/painted on transom over entry door | — | § 196-31(D)(2)(a)[4] |
| Shingle Sign (Upper Level Businesses) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to a bracket extending no more than 30 inches from the building facade | — | § 196-31(D)(3)(a) |
| Window Sign (Upper Level Businesses) | — | — | — | — | — | Painted on glass or clear acrylic panel in upper-level window | — | § 196-31(D)(3)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (as part of architectural feature) | — | — | — | — | — | As architectural feature for group of businesses, located in a courtyard or similar space; inconsistent with traditional pylon signs | — | § 196-31(D)(3)(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Sinking Spring Borough

- Signs shall not contain moving parts nor use flashing or intermittent illumination. The source of light shall be steady and stationary.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position or have such a source of illumination that it will cause any danger to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
- No sign other than official traffic signs shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any street.
- Any sign which is allowed to become dilapidated shall be removed at the expense of the owner or lessee.
- No sign shall cast objectionable light upon any activity or building beyond the property lines of the property on which it is located.
- No sign shall be erected or located as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any window, door or fire escape.
- No sign shall be readable from the rear of any property when the rear of that property abuts a residential district, nor shall any sign be readable from the side of any property when the side of that property abuts a residential district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sinking Spring Borough

- Official traffic signs are permitted in all applicable zones.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs may be erected and maintained only when in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and all other ordinances and regulations relating to the erection, alteration or maintenance of signs.
- Sign permits shall be obtained as required by the provisions of this chapter or any other applicable Borough ordinances.

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

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