# Sign Regulations in Upland Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Upland Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/upland-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/16085994#16085994)

## At a glance

Upland Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 20 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Identification Sign - Apartment Buildings, Complexes, Schools, Churches, Hospitals (Freestanding or Ground Sign)s in the R-1, R-2, R-3, Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 20 square feet, with a 6 feet from front property line setback (Sec. §185-1706A(2), (a)-(c), (5); §185-1703E(3)). Most commercial signs in Upland Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 5 | 4 feet | 288 square inches | — |
| PRD Planned Residential Development District | 4 | 4 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| INS Institutional District, MCD Medical Campus District | 2 | — | 16 square feet | — |
| GC General Commercial District, WFMU Waterfront Mixed Use District | 6 | — | 25% of total window area (permanent); see general window sign restrictions | — |
| IND Industrial District | 5 | 20 feet above max permitted building height | 150 square feet | — |
| HPO Historic Preservation Overlay | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | As above | — |

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

### R-1, R-2, R-3, Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 288 square inches | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On dwelling | — | §185-1706A(1) |
| Identification Sign - Apartment Buildings, Complexes, Schools, Churches, Hospitals (Wall Sign) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 wall sign per frontage | On building wall (one per frontage) | — | §185-1706A(2), (b), (c), (5) |
| Identification Sign - Apartment Buildings, Complexes, Schools, Churches, Hospitals (Freestanding or Ground Sign) | 4 feet | 20 square feet | — | 6 feet from front property line | 1 per frontage | Freestanding on lot (one per frontage) | — | §185-1706A(2), (a)-(c), (5); §185-1703E(3) |
| Identification Sign (Nonresidential Use, Valid Nonconforming Use) | 4 feet for freestanding or ground sign | 20 square feet | — | Freestanding 6 feet from front property line | 1 wall and 1 freestanding or ground sign per frontage | Wall, freestanding, or ground | — | §185-1706A(3) |
| Accessory Use Sign for Major Home Occupations and Home Professional Offices (Ground Sign OR Wall Sign) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per professional office or home occupation | Ground sign or wall sign on property | — | §185-1706A(4) |

### GC General Commercial District, WFMU Waterfront Mixed Use District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 wall sign per frontage; additional as described | On front wall (must be within 1 foot of edge); 1 per frontage, corner lots may have additional sign | — | §185-1706D(3), (4), (5), (9), (12)(f) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | Equivalent to wall sign | On awning/canopy on front wall | — | §185-1706D(7), (8) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 8 square feet (individual establishment); 50 square feet (shopping center ID); max 10 sq ft per individual tenant on shopping center sign | — | — | 1 per frontage (shopping center: 1 per road frontage) | On lot, 1 per frontage (shopping centers: 1 per road frontage) | — | §185-1706D(6), (12)(b), (c) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of total window area (permanent); see general window sign restrictions | — | — | Limited to 25% of window area | On window | — | §185-1703G, §185-1706D(2), (12)(d) |
| Wall Sign (Shopping Center Interior Establishment) | — | — | — | — | 1 per establishment (plus one additional for end/corner) | On establishment wall | — | §185-1706D(12)(e), (f) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-tenant, per tenant) | — | 4 square feet per tenant | — | — | 1 per tenant | On wall, 1 per tenant | — | §185-1706D(10) |

### IND Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 wall sign per frontage | On building wall, 1 per frontage | — | §185-1706E(4), (24) |
| Freestanding Sign or Ground Sign | — | 60 square feet | — | See §185-1703E and F | 1 per frontage | Per frontage | — | §185-1706E(5)-(6) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | Same as wall sign | On awning/canopy | — | §185-1706E(7) |
| Window Sign | — | Max 25% of total window area for permanent signs | — | — | Limited to 25% of window area | On window | — | §185-1706E(8), §185-1703G |
| Billboard (Freestanding) | 20 feet above max permitted building height | 150 square feet | — | 35 feet from street right-of-way; 1,000 feet from another billboard | 1 per lot | Freestanding only, minimum 35 feet from street right-of-way | — | §185-1707A–N |

## Prohibited signs in Upland Borough

- It is unlawful to erect or maintain flashing, blinking, twinkling, spinning, animated, inflatable, aerial, crane or lighted moving signs, including automatic color-changing and rotating lamps and other moving objects that call attention to the sign.
- Advertising cloth or paper banners or signs of any similar character suspended or hung on any property, except for temporary banners, are prohibited except in the GC General Commercial District for public purposes.
- Wall bulletins or any other signs painted directly on the facade of a building or other structure are prohibited.
- Curb or sidewalk signs or signs painted, attached or suspended from any outdoor bench, chair or similar structure are prohibited.
- Swinging and hanging signs are prohibited.
- Signs, letters, posters and advertisements which are tacked, pasted, tied or otherwise affixed to poles, posts, buildings, fences or other structures located on public property or within public rights-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the roofline or any structure that extends above the roofline of any building are prohibited.
- Digital movable billboard signs are prohibited.
- No new projecting signs shall be erected after the date of enactment of the chapter.
- No sign shall be located, arranged or placed in a position where it will cause danger to traffic, interfere with traffic through glare, block required sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways, or be confused with a traffic control device by reason of color, location, shape or other characteristics.
- No sign shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any public street, except in the GC General Commercial District, and no sign shall be closer than six feet to the right-of-way line of a public street unless specifically authorized by other ordinances and regulations or by other governmental agencies.
- No illuminated sign shall be lighted on days when the business or permitted use is not open.
- Every sign must be constructed of durable materials and shall be solidly and firmly attached, supported, and/or anchored to the supports or framework.
- Every sign must be kept in good condition and repair. Any sign that is allowed to become dilapidated shall be removed by and at the expense of the landowner or lessee.
- Except for traffic signs, incidental signs, and billboards, all permanent signs shall be located on the property to which their text or message applies.
- Freestanding signs, wall signs, canopy signs, and awning signs shall have a clearance of not less than eight feet between the ground and the bottom of the sign.
- It is unlawful to post, secure, fasten, or attach any printed, painted, or written sign, poster, placard, circular, or advertisement of any description on any pole (public or private), tree, or stationary object abutting any public street or way within the Borough, except traffic control signs or public/judicial notices by government.

## Signs exempt from permit in Upland Borough

- Public notice, warning, or official traffic signs required by federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building not attached to a window or door that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line.
- Building markers that only include building name, date of construction, or historical data on a historical site, one per building, max area six square feet.
- Flags of the United States, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, or any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body, provided flag does not exceed 60 square feet in area and pole is not more than 40 feet in height.
- Incidental signs containing no commercial message of any kind, provided such signs do not exceed eight square feet.
- Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises or lot upon which they are erected, provided no more than one per street frontage, not illuminated, not exceeding six square feet, and removed on or before date of settlement.
- Signs advertising the development of the premises where erected, not exceeding six square feet in residential districts and 32 square feet in nonresidential districts, removed on or before settlement date.
- Nameplate signs on private residences, not exceeding 144 square inches.
- Decorations for an officially designated holiday, provided they do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
- Yard sale or garage sale signs, not exceeding two square feet, removed within 24 hours after the sale.
- Signs announcing educational, charitable, civic, religious, or similar campaigns or events, erected for no more than 30 days per event no more than four times per year (max 120 days/year), not exceeding eight square feet; however, if placed on telephone poles, a permit is required.
- Changeable-copy signs for churches, schools, and other uses which by their nature require such signs, one per property (two for corner properties), not exceeding 16 square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for sign permits must be made in writing to the Borough in accordance with §185-1709.
- Whenever any sign or sign face is replaced, enlarged, altered, dismantled, damaged, or destroyed, a permit is required before replacement, enlargement, alteration, or repair.
- No sign shall be erected in the Borough until a permit has been obtained (except exempt signs in §185-1704).
- For signs in the GC General Commercial and WFMU Waterfront Mixed Use Districts, all proposed signs shall be submitted to the Borough Code Official for evaluation of compliance with district goals, and the applicant is required to meet with the Planning Commission to discuss the proposed sign. The Planning Commission may offer suggestions to modify the proposed sign.
- Applications for certificates of appropriateness for signs in the HPO Historic Preservation Overlay must include a current color photograph, an illustration of the building facade with the proposed sign, a scaled drawing showing the sign (size, materials, colors, lighting, lettering, method of attachment), and for ground signs, a site plan, and type of illumination.

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

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