# Sign Regulations in Wellsboro Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wellsboro Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/wellsboro-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32211401#32211401)

## At a glance

Wellsboro Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 20 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial zone zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 30 square feet (Sec. §19-104(2)[A]). Most commercial signs in Wellsboro Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Main Street Commercial District | 9 | 4 feet | 200 square feet (maximum, whichever is less) | — |
| Commercial zone | 10 | 20 feet | 200 square feet (maximum, whichever is less) | — |
| CB District | 7 | 4 feet | 120 square feet | — |
| HC District, CM District, H District | 6 | 30 feet | 120 square feet | — |
| RH District, RR District, RT District | 2 | — | 16 square feet | — |
| Hospital District | 2 | — | 36 square feet per face | — |
| Wellsboro Historic Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 32 square feet | — |

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

### Main Street Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flat Facade Sign | 4 feet | — | — | — | One per business per building; one per side/rear facade if applicable | Below the second floor or lower window sill of a second story window. One flat sign per business per building. Where side facade faces side street, rear alley or parking lot: one flat sign per facade. | — | §19-104(1)[A] |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On bracket, perpendicular to building | — | §19-104(1)[B] |
| Awning Sign | — | — | May extend up to 5 feet from facade | — | — | Anywhere on structure with awning clearance minimum 7 feet 6 inches from ground | — | §19-104(1)[C] |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 20% of window area per sign | — | — | Maximum 3 per business | On windows | — | §19-104(1)[D] |
| Illuminated Sign (External) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §19-104(1)[E] |
| Wall Sign/Wall Mural/Wall Painted Sign | — | 200 square feet (maximum, whichever is less) | — | — | — | On exterior walls/facades | — | §19-104(1)[F] |
| Temporary Sign (Window or Door) | — | — | — | — | — | Temporarily affixed to window or door | — | §19-104(1)[H] |
| Sidewalk Sign (Sandwich Board) | 4 feet | — | 24 inches | — | — | Within three feet of storefront | — | §19-104(1)[J] |

### Commercial zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flat Facade Sign | 4 feet | — | — | — | One per business per building; one per side/rear facade if applicable | Below the second floor or lower window sill of a second story window. One flat sign per business per building. Where side facade faces side street, rear alley or parking lot: one flat sign per facade. | — | §19-104(2), refers to 19-104(1)[A] |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On bracket, perpendicular to building | — | §19-104(2), refers to 19-104(1)[B] |
| Awning Sign | — | — | May extend up to 5 feet from facade | — | — | Anywhere on structure with awning clearance minimum 7 feet 6 inches from ground | — | §19-104(2), refers to 19-104(1)[C] |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 20% of window area per sign | — | — | Maximum 3 per business | On windows | — | §19-104(2), refers to 19-104(1)[D] |
| Wall Sign/Wall Mural/Wall Painted Sign | — | 200 square feet (maximum, whichever is less) | — | — | — | On exterior walls/facades | — | §19-104(2), refers to 19-104(1)[F] |
| Temporary Sign (Window or Door) | — | — | — | — | — | Temporarily affixed to window or door | — | §19-104(2), refers to 19-104(1)[H] |
| Sidewalk Sign (Sandwich Board) | 4 feet | — | 24 inches | — | — | Within three feet of storefront | — | §19-104(2), refers to 19-104(1)[J] |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 30 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §19-104(2)[A] |

### CB District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | May extend up to 5 feet from facade | — | — | Minimum 10 feet ground clearance; anywhere on structure | — | §27-1205(2)[A] |
| Business Directory Sign | — | 120 square feet | — | — | — | Not in public right-of-way | — | §27-1205(2)[B](1)-(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1205(2)[C](4)-(6) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 square feet each face | — | — | — | 8 foot pedestrian clearance; perpendicular to building wall | — | §27-1205(2)[D] |
| Flat Facade Sign | 4 feet | — | — | — | One per business per building and one per side/rear | Below second floor or sill of second story window; one per business (side/rear facades allowed) | — | §27-1205(2)[E] |
| Wall Sign/Wall Mural/Wall Painted Sign | — | 120 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §27-1205(2)[F] |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | 3 | Painted on or attached to window (inside or outside) | — | §27-1205(2)[H] |

## Prohibited signs in Wellsboro Borough

- Any movable or portable sign, other than as temporary signs.
- Off-premises advertising signs, unless a Business Directory Sign as permitted.
- Signs carried or worn by pedestrians, unless for special occasions or otherwise permitted.
- Strung lights and windblown devices such as pennants, spinners or streamers, unless for Christmas decorations.
- Any sign that flashes or blinks on and off, contains moving lights, or is otherwise intermittently illuminated.
- Any neon sign other than a window sign.
- Any backlight awning which has lettering on it (in specified districts).
- Any sign mounted on the rooftop of a building.
- Blade signs, also known as feather, swooper, and windblown devices.
- Any sign which, by reason of its size, location, content, coloring, or illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety, as determined by the Zoning Officer.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exit way, or which obstructs a window, door, or other opening for providing light or air, or interferes with the proper function of the building.
- Any sign or structure that is structurally unsafe, constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, fading paint, dilapidation, or abandonment, is not kept in good repair, or is capable of causing electrical shocks.
- Signs that make use of words, phrases, symbols, or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- Signs affixed to a fence, utility pole or utility structure, or tree, shrub, rock, or other natural objects.
- Signs no longer advertising a bona fide business conducted or product sold (must be removed by owner).
- Signs on grassy median strips or on gaslights on boulevards.
- Permanent and non-permanent signs located on boulevards.
- Signs which depict nudity or sexual conduct.
- Signs mounted on, or supported by, a pole or other means in the sidewalk or curb, or located less than two feet inside the curbline (signs overhanging sidewalks must be attached to a building).
- Any sign that does not conform to the means of attachment or clearance from sidewalk as specified by ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wellsboro Borough

- Any sign less than two square feet in area, or a sign for a home occupation or home business not exceeding four square feet.
- Public service or highway signs (e.g. traffic, restrooms, telephone, parking, no trespassing, etc.) not exceeding nine square feet and bearing no commercial advertising.
- For Sale or For Rent signs, not exceeding eight square feet, maximum two per property, and removed within 10 days of sale/rental.
- Memorial signs or tablets, and signs denoting date of erection of buildings, not exceeding four square feet in total area.
- Temporary, non-permanent signs that do not impede normal flow of traffic, cover existing business or traffic signs, or block entrances/exits.
- Devices relaying information to the general public (e.g., time, temperature, etc.).
- Construction signs not exceeding 32 square feet, displayed only during activity, one per property.
- Signs mounted on interior walls.
- Address/name plate signs less than two square feet indicating address/street name.
- Temporary non-permanent signs (as defined), under 30 days (twice per year), comply with size and area limits.
- Certain business directory signs, as provided, are not counted toward the maximum sign area.
- Signs inside buildings affixed to interior walls and not visible from the outside.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit (and application, including plans/drawings and specifications) is required before any new sign is erected or any business name is changed.
- Every application for a sign permit must include plans showing the area, size, structure, character, design, method of illumination, and exact location of the sign. For roof signs or outdoor advertising structures, additional specifications on anchoring/support are required.
- A sign permit must be obtained from the Zoning Officer prior to installation, display, or structural alteration of any sign that would change its overall dimensions.
- Certain types of temporary signs (limited duration) require a permit; temporary signs (up to 30 days, displayed not more than twice per year) are exempt from permit.
- Application for variance to any sign regulation may be made via the Zoning Hearing Board.
- All signs overhanging sidewalks must have their means of attachment subject to approval by the Borough Council.

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

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