# Sign Regulations in State College Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** State College Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/state-college-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32907934#32907934)

## At a glance

State College Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at General limit 35 ft; see zone for specifics tall and Each premises: 2 sq ft per ft of longest frontage, max 200 sq ft (total for all signs types); see zone for specifics, with a Setback min 5 ft from property line setback (Sec. §15-107c, §15-106). Most commercial signs in State College Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | Not specified for wall signs; general sign height limit 35 ft | 7 sq ft per face | — |
| R1, R2, R3, R3B, R3H, R4 | 3 | Up to eave line or bottom of 2nd story window, whichever is lower | 6 sq ft per face | — |
| Residential Districts (R1, R2, R3, R3B, R3H, R4) | 1 | 35 ft overall limit | Each premises: 2 sq ft per linear ft of longest frontage, max 200 sq ft | — |
| UV, CP1, CP2, CP3, MP, RO, ROA, PO | 3 | 35 ft overall limit | 50 sq ft plus 10 sq ft per business within premises, up to 100 sq ft | — |
| C, CID, General Commercial (C), Commercial Incentive (CID) | 2 | 35 ft overall limit | 50 sq ft plus 10 sq ft per business within premises, up to 100 sq ft | — |
| P, PA, PK | 2 | 35 ft overall limit | 15% of scoreboard front face | — |
| CPI, CP2, CP3, M | 2 | Max 35 ft to top, min 8 ft bottom | 100 sq ft | — |
| UPD | 5 | 10 ft from grade | 40 sq ft per face | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not specified for wall signs; general sign height limit 35 ft | Each premises: 2 sq ft per ft of longest frontage, max 200 sq ft (total for all signs types) | — | — | Counts toward max 5 signs per premises (with possible 1 extra for corner/rear entrances per §15-106d) | Building wall (parallel) | — | §15-107a, §15-106, §15-117 |
| Freestanding Sign | General limit 35 ft; see zone for specifics | Each premises: 2 sq ft per ft of longest frontage, max 200 sq ft (total for all signs types); see zone for specifics | — | Setback min 5 ft from property line | Counts toward max 5 per premises | Ground, supported by posts or base | — | §15-107c, §15-106 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | Counts toward overall signs | Projecting from building | — | §15-107b |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | Counts toward max 5 per premises | Building awning/canopy/marquee | — | §15-107d, §15-117 |
| Portable Sign/Sandwich Board Sign | 3.5 ft (Sandwich Board types); 6 ft (others) | 7 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 1 per premises (2 for corner/multi-entrance) | Public sidewalk, plaza, or outside business; must not block pedestrian access | — | §15-110 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §15-109 |
| Digital Display (Periodic) | Same as sign type in zone | See underlying sign type in Table 1 and overall sign area | — | — | 1 per frontage (2 for corner premises) | As freestanding, ground, or wall sign | — | §15-106h(2) |
| Digital Display (Continuous) | Same as underlying type | See underlying type | — | — | Max 2 per athletic venue unless not visible from exterior | As scoreboard or as permitted | — | §15-106h(2)(b)(ii), (e)(ii) |

### R1, R2, R3, R3B, R3H, R4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | Up to eave line or bottom of 2nd story window, whichever is lower | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | On building wall | — | §15-112a(1)(a), (2), (b)(1) |
| Projecting Sign (Home Occupation) | Up to eave line or bottom of 2nd story window, whichever is lower | 2 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per home occupation | Projecting from building | — | §15-112a(1)(b), (2), (b)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Home Occupation) | Up to eave line or bottom of 2nd story window, whichever is lower | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per home occupation | Freestanding, on premises | — | §15-112a(1)(c), (2), (b)(1) |

### UPD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft from grade | 30 sq ft per face | — | Within perimeter setback | — | Within 50 ft of ROW or within perimeter setback | — | §19-1210a(2) |
| Wall Sign | May not extend above or beyond wall | 2 sq ft per ft of frontage, max 200 sq ft | — | Within perimeter setback | — | On wall within 50 ft of ROW/perimeter setback | — | §19-1210a(3) |
| Directional Sign | 10 ft from grade | 24 sq ft per face | — | — | — | Within 50 ft of edge of ROW | — | §19-1210a(4) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On site, parking lot, or structure about which information is provided | — | §19-1210a(6) |
| Event Sign | 10 ft from grade | 40 sq ft per face | — | — | — | Within 50 ft of specified rights-of-way; or on structures above cartway by PennDOT | — | §19-1210a(7) |

## Prohibited signs in State College Borough

- Abandoned signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Snipe signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Mechanical movement signs, including Trivision boards, are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Animated signs are prohibited, except message center signs and digital displays where permitted.
- Pennants and streamers are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Inflatable or balloon signs are prohibited, except for balloons used in temporary, noncommercial situations.
- Reflective signs or signs containing mirrors are prohibited.
- Interactive signs are prohibited.
- Signs incorporating beacon or festoon lighting are prohibited.
- Banners suspended across a public roadway or private driveway without the permission of the property owner(s) or public entity with jurisdiction are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs that exhibit statements, words, or pictures of obscene or pornographic subjects are prohibited.
- Any sign that promotes illegal activity is prohibited.
- Any signs that resemble, interfere with, or obstruct official traffic lights, signs, or signals are prohibited.
- Signs that prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, or access from one part of a roof to another part, are prohibited.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors, particulate matter, sound, or odor or contain open flames are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in State College Borough

- Government/regulatory signs are exempt from permit requirements and not included in permanent sign calculations.
- Holiday decorations are exempt from permit requirements and not included in permanent sign calculations.
- Personal expression signs up to three square feet in area per side are exempt from permit requirements and not included in permanent sign calculations. Exception: Election signs are exempt from the area limit.
- Flags without commercial advertising are exempt from permit requirements, subject to size, number, and height limits.
- Signs or emblems of religious, civil, philanthropic, historical, or educational organizations up to 15 square feet per side are exempt from permit requirements.
- Address signs: up to two per premises, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Private drive signs: one per driveway entrance, up to two square feet per side, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Warning signs posted in accordance with Pennsylvania Title 18, § 3503 are exempt from permit requirements.
- Vending machine signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Message center signs for displaying fuel prices at commercial fueling stations up to 15 square feet per side are exempt from permit requirements.
- Memorial signs up to three square feet in area are exempt from permit requirements.
- Incidental signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Incidental window signs up to a combined total of three square feet in area per premises are exempt from permit requirements.
- Directional signs up to four square feet in area are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs that are not clearly visible from a public street, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way are exempt from permit requirements.
- Indoor signs are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required to erect, replace, or relocate any sign unless the sign is exempted by § 15-105.
- Applications for a sign permit must include plans, drawings, or photographs showing the design, dimensions, and location(s) of the sign(s).
- If the proposal includes any type of internally illuminated sign, or any awnings, canopies, or marquees, additional permitting is required. All applications for such signs must be submitted to the Planning Department prior to submitting to Centre Region Code.
- Applications for internally illuminated signs must include a plan prepared by a design professional showing compliance with lighting design standards.
- Plans for off-premises signs must be certified by a registered professional and include a detailed site plan.
- Addition, relocation, or modification of any sign in a Planned District requires review by the Design Review Board.
- Requests for variances to sign ordinance provisions require a variance hearing before the Zoning Hearing Board, with advisory review by the Design Review Board prior to the hearing.

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

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