# Sign Regulations in Steelton Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Steelton Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/steelton-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11622331#11622331)

## At a glance

Steelton Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 20 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Nonmovables in the Commercial districts, Industrial districts zoning district are capped at 25 ft (top of sign); sign face max 4 ft high, 5 ft wide tall and 5 ft (for face); location overall 25 ft high max at top wide, with a Building must be set back 30 ft or more from sidewalk/street setback (Sec. §120-66M(2)(a)-(j)). Most commercial signs in Steelton Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 8 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Commercial districts, Industrial districts | 8 | 30 inches | 75 sq ft total (all temporary signs combined); individual sign: 75 sq ft max | — |
| C-1, C-2 | 7 | 30 inches | 75 sq ft total (all temporary signs combined); individual sign: 75 sq ft max | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 20 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property, 2 per frontage if property has multiple frontages | On premises being advertised | — | §120-63A(1)-(2) |
| Development Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property, 2 per frontage if property has multiple frontages | On premises being developed | — | §120-63B(1)-(2) |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 4 ft | — | 1 per 500 ft street frontage | Not on premises under development | — | §120-63C(1)-(2) |
| Sold/Rented Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property, 2 per frontage if property has multiple frontages | On premises | — | §120-63D |
| Contractor Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises while work is being performed | — | §120-63E(1)-(2) |
| No Trespassing/Private Driveway Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §120-63F |
| Institution Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property, 2 per frontage if property has multiple frontages | On premises for schools, colleges, churches, hospitals, sanitariums or similar | — | §120-63G(1)-(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 0.75 sq ft | 18 inches | — | 1 per home occupation | On premises | — | §120-63H |

### Commercial districts, Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign (lot with <10% building coverage) | — | — | — | — | — | On building or lot oriented/affixed | — | §120-64B, §120-64C(6), §120-64C(4) |
| Business Identification Sign (lot with ≥10% building coverage) - Lower Level | — | — | — | — | Total area reduced by 1/5 for each additional sign | On lower two stories or 26 ft of building, or freestanding | — | §120-64C(1), §120-64C(3), §120-64C(6), §120-64C(4) |
| Business Identification Sign (lot with ≥10% building coverage) - Upper Level | — | — | — | — | Total area reduced by 1/5 for each additional sign | Above second story on building | — | §120-64C(2), §120-64C(3), §120-64C(4) |
| Freestanding Sign - Movable (A-frame, Sandwich Board) | 4 ft | — | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | On sidewalk adjacent to business property | — | §120-66M(1)(a)-(e), (b)[1]-[6], (e)-(f) |
| Freestanding Sign - Nonmovable | 25 ft (top of sign); sign face max 4 ft high, 5 ft wide | — | 5 ft (for face); location overall 25 ft high max at top | Building must be set back 30 ft or more from sidewalk/street | 1 per property | On property, set back at least 30 ft from sidewalk/street, must be outside the sidewalk area | — | §120-66M(2)(a)-(j) |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential Area) | 30 inches | 75 sq ft total (all temporary signs combined); individual sign: 75 sq ft max | 30 ft | — | — | On or outside building (exterior must be weatherproof) | — | §120-66N(1)-(8) |
| Business Specials/Event Sign | 18 in | 3 sq ft | 24 in | — | — | Securely attached to building | — | §120-66O(1)-(7) |
| Billboard (Industrial, Commercial other than C-1, C-2) | 20 ft | — | 25 ft (per sign face) | 30 ft front setback or to established building line (lesser); 50 ft from residential district if visible and facing | 1 per street frontage | Set back 30 ft from front lot line or to the established building line, whichever is less; only in commercial and industrial districts except C-1 and C-2 | — | §120-65A-E, §120-66H |

### C-1, C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign (lot with <10% building coverage) | — | — | — | — | — | On building or lot oriented/affixed | — | §120-64B, §120-64C(6), §120-64C(4) |
| Business Identification Sign (lot with ≥10% building coverage) - Lower Level | — | — | — | — | Total area reduced by 1/5 for each additional sign | On lower two stories or 26 ft of building, or freestanding | — | §120-64C(1), §120-64C(3), §120-64C(6), §120-64C(4) |
| Business Identification Sign (lot with ≥10% building coverage) - Upper Level | — | — | — | — | Total area reduced by 1/5 for each additional sign | Above second story on building | — | §120-64C(2), §120-64C(3), §120-64C(4) |
| Freestanding Sign - Movable (A-frame, Sandwich Board) | 4 ft | — | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | On sidewalk adjacent to business property | — | §120-66M(1)(a)-(e), (b)[1]-[6], (e)-(f) |
| Freestanding Sign - Nonmovable | 25 ft (top of sign); sign face max 4 ft high, 5 ft wide | — | 5 ft (for face); location overall 25 ft high max at top | Building must be set back 30 ft or more from sidewalk/street | 1 per property | On property, set back at least 30 ft from sidewalk/street, must be outside the sidewalk area | — | §120-66M(2)(a)-(j) |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential Area) | 30 inches | 75 sq ft total (all temporary signs combined); individual sign: 75 sq ft max | 30 ft | — | — | On or outside building (exterior must be weatherproof) | — | §120-66N(1)-(8) |
| Business Specials/Event Sign | 18 in | 3 sq ft | 24 in | — | — | Securely attached to building | — | §120-66O(1)-(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Steelton Borough

- Signs must not be hand-written.
- Signs must not be constructed of non-durable materials or allowed to become dilapidated.
- Signs shall not be placed in a position that will cause danger to street traffic by obscuring the view.
- Signs, other than an official sign, shall not be erected within the lines of any street.
- Signs and banners (except banners extending across streets under specific provisions) that project beyond property lines or over public sidewalk areas shall be a maximum width and height of four feet and at a minimum height above the sidewalk of 10 feet.
- Signs shall not project above the height limit permitted in any district.
- No sign shall be permitted which rotates and/or causes interruption or flashing of light.
- All signs erected within the right-of-way of a state highway shall comply with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation regulations.
- Mobile signs are prohibited in all districts, except as a specific temporary use for new principal commercial uses in certain zones for up to 60 days.
- Rooftop business identification signs are prohibited; no rooftop signs shall be rented as billboards.
- No advertising sign shall be erected upon the roof of any building.
- All nonconforming signs, billboards or advertising signboards shall be made to conform to all pertinent regulations or be removed within two years after the effective date of the chapter, except legal nonconforming business identification signs.
- Once an existing nonconforming sign is removed, it shall only be replaced with a sign that conforms to this chapter.
- No temporary sign with an area of over 75 square feet is permitted.
- No temporary sign shall exceed 30 inches in height or 30 feet in width.

## Signs exempt from permit in Steelton Borough

- Official signs are exempt from both permit and fee requirements.
- Temporary signs are exempt from both permit and fee requirements.
- A permit is not required for the erection, alteration, or maintenance of any signs permitted in a residential district (except a home occupation sign requires a permit).
- Garage sale and charitable event signs do not require a permit.
- Business identification signs, real estate signs, incidental temporary exterior signs, identification signs and political signs (as defined), as well as attraction signage installed by local or state government entities in rights-of-way for directing to specific sites, are exempt from the Off-Premises Sign Tax.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit mention of a required master sign plan or sign plan process is present in the provided text.
- A permit is required for the erection, alteration, or reconstruction of billboards, advertising signboards, including poster panels, bulletins, temporary or permanent business signs and the like, except for signs exempted under §120-66I and §120-69.
- An application for sign permit requires: a detailed scale drawing of the sign and its location, description of type/construction/manner/method of installation/materials, written authorization from the property owner if other than applicant, and a permit fee.
- No person shall erect, cause to be erected, change or alter any sign on any property within the Borough until a permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer, except for exempt signs as outlined.
- When a permit is required, written permission from the building owner for the placement of the sign must be provided to the Zoning Officer.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/steelton-borough