# Sign Regulations in Warren, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Warren, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/warren
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-27
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/45786314#45786314)

## At a glance

Warren, Pennsylvania regulates 27 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Permitted offices)s in the R-3, MU zoning district are capped at 4 feet (for separate support) tall and 6 square feet (one side), with a At least 5 feet from street right-of-way or property line setback (Sec. § 470-67 (R-3, MU)). Most commercial signs in Warren require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |
| R-1 | 5 | — | 16 square feet per side | — |
| R-2 | 18 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| R-3, MU | 16 | 4 feet (for separate support) | 50 square feet | — |
| C-1, C-2 | 10 | 25 feet | 75 sq ft per face (C-1/C-2); total of all faces may not exceed 150 sq ft | — |
| I-1 | 6 | 35 feet | 32 sq ft per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### R-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home occupation) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to building | — | § 470-67 (R-2) |
| Wall Sign (Rooming house) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-2) |
| Wall Sign (Bed-and-breakfast) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Bed-and-breakfast) | — | 10 square feet per side | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-2) |
| Wall Sign (Convalescent homes) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Convalescent homes) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-2) |
| Wall Sign (Gallery) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-2) |
| Wall Sign (Museum) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-2) |

### R-3, MU

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home occupation) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to building | — | § 470-67 (R-3, MU) |
| Wall Sign (Rooming house) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-3, MU) |
| Wall Sign (Bed-and-breakfast) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-3, MU) |
| Freestanding Sign (Bed-and-breakfast) | — | 10 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-3, MU) |
| Wall Sign (Convalescent homes) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-3, MU) |
| Wall Sign (Gallery) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-3, MU) |
| Wall Sign (Museum) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (R-3, MU) |
| Wall Sign (Permitted offices) | 4 feet (for separate support) | 6 square feet (one side) | — | At least 5 feet from street right-of-way or property line | 1 | Building or separate support, with required setback | — | § 470-67 (R-3, MU) |

### C-1, C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Each side of building facing a street | — | § 470-67 (C-1, C-2) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 75 sq ft per face (C-1/C-2); total of all faces may not exceed 150 sq ft | — | — | — | Within property lines of business | — | § 470-67 (C-1, C-2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft per side; total of all sides not to exceed 48 sq ft per sign | 72 inches (projecting/extension from building), no closer than 4 ft to curb | — | — | May project up to 72" into public right-of-way | — | § 470-67 (C-1, C-2) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 10 sq ft per side (C-1); No size limit (C-2) as long as the total for the business stays within allotted sign area | — | — | — | — | — | § 470-67 (C-1, C-2) |
| Temporary Sign (Real estate) | — | 16 sq ft per side (C-1); 32 sq ft per side (C-2) | — | — | — | — | — | § 470-67 (C-1, C-2) |
| Temporary Sign (Contractor) | — | 16 sq ft per side (C-1); 32 sq ft per side (C-2) | — | — | — | — | — | § 470-67 (C-1, C-2) |
| Wall Sign (Gallery) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (C-1, C-2) |
| Wall Sign (Museum) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 470-67 (C-1, C-2) |

## Prohibited signs in Warren

- Any sign erected shall conform to the provisions of this article and any other ordinance(s) or regulations of the City of Warren that relate to it.
- Bare plywood is prohibited as a sign material.
- No sign shall create a public nuisance by emitting smoke, sound, vapor, beams or rays, particle emissions, or odors.
- Any business that has closed shall remove any signs associated with the business within 60 days after it closes. The owner of the premises is responsible for removal.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected unless it complies with all applicable requirements of the City of Warren Building Code.
- All signs and sign structures shall be kept in good repair and presentable condition so that sign information is clearly legible. Signs showing deterioration such as rust, faded colors, discoloration, holes, and missing parts or information are violations.
- No sign or structure shall be placed in the public right-of-way except for permitted sandwich boards, projecting signs, and civic event signs as specifically permitted.
- Supplemental signs shall not exceed 25% of the total allowable sign square footage.
- It is unlawful to erect any sign unless specifically permitted in the ordinance.
- Signs that by color, shape, or location conflict with or resemble a traffic signal device are prohibited.
- Signs attached to rocks, utility poles, parking meters, traffic signposts, traffic signals or control devices, street signs, or historical markers are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees, shrubs, or any living vegetative matter are prohibited.
- Signs erected without the permission of the property owner or authorized agent are prohibited.
- Signs that create a hazard by obstructing the clear view of vehicle and pedestrian traffic are prohibited.
- Animated, changing display, and scrolling signs are prohibited in the Historic District.
- Any sign that obstructs ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exit is prohibited.
- Vehicular signs on vehicles parked in the same location in excess of 30 days are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Signs that exhibit statements, words, or pictures of an obscene or pornographic nature are prohibited.
- Beacon lights are prohibited.
- Pennants longer than 150% of the street frontage of the premises are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to erect, alter, repair, or relocate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit unless specifically exempt.
- No permit is required for maintenance (including repainting) of a legally conforming sign as long as the message or appearance does not change.

## Signs exempt from permit in Warren

- Government/regulatory signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Real estate signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Political signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Public interest signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Memorial signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Yard sale signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Address signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Interior signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Incidental signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Civic event signs on premises are exempt from permit requirements.
- Personal expression signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Pennants as permitted in this article, but only on nonresidential premises, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Artisan signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Home-based business signs smaller than four square feet are exempt from permit requirements.
- Supplemental signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Maintenance of a sign or change of copy on a legally conforming painted, printed, or changeable copy sign, as long as no change to message or appearance, is exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must include two copies of a plan drawn to scale depicting lot dimensions, building frontage, existing cartways, rights-of-way and driveways; the design of each sign face and sign structure including dimensions, total area, sign height, depth, color scheme, structural details, materials, lighting scheme, and proposed location; sign message; building elevations and existing/proposed facades, parapet walls, cornices, and the location and size of all proposed and existing permanent signage; and current photographs of existing signs on the premises.
- Permits for illuminated signs will not be issued without an approved electrical permit.
- Applications for electrical permits shall be filed at the time of the sign permit application.
- Certain signs (murals, marquee signs) require City Council approval with review of appropriateness to style, period, type, size, scale, and input from nearby property owners.
- The Zoning Officer may require other information as necessary to show full compliance with sign regulations.

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

---

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