# Sign Regulations in West Grove Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Grove Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/west-grove-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30654222#30654222)

## At a glance

West Grove Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 31 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the C-1 District zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 9 sq ft, with a Min 5 ft from lot line or street cartway setback (Sec. §400-114B(1)(f)[2]; §400-115F(7)). Most commercial signs in West Grove Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | Cannot exceed maximum building height permitted in district | — | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 16 | 4 ft | 15 sq ft | — |
| C-1 District | 10 | 4 ft | 35 sq ft | — |
| C-2 District, C-4 District, Limited Industrial Zoning District (LI) | 2 | 10 ft (measured from ground level at sign base) | 12 sq ft (Base); +5 sq ft per additional use; max 35 sq ft for multi-use | — |
| C-3 District | 2 | 35 ft overall; face max 20 ft in height, 30 ft in length | 300 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per official address | One per official address, or combined for multiple addresses (§400-115A) | — | §400-114A(1); §400-115A(1)-(2) |
| Identification Sign (Freestanding Ground) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage/access | One per street frontage or access | — | §400-114A(2); §400-115D(1) |
| Identification Sign (Wall Sign for Multifamily) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per building | On multifamily residential building | — | §400-115D(2) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | 5 ft | — | One per lot | Front yard; one per lot unless part of group/directory (§400-115G(2)(a)) | — | §400-114A(5); §400-115G(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Nonintensive) | — | 2 sq ft | — | At least 5 feet from lot line or street cartway | 1 per use | Minimum 5 ft from lot line or street cartway | — | §400-114A(6); §400-115E(1)-(3) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Intensive) | — | 4 sq ft | — | At least 5 feet from lot line or street cartway | 1 per use | Minimum 5 ft from lot line or street cartway | — | §400-114A(6); §400-115E(1)-(3) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per street frontage | On property for sale/rent; up to two per street frontage | — | §400-114A(7)(a); §400-115F(2) |
| Temporary New Construction Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | One per street fronted | One per street that development fronts upon | — | §400-114A(7)(c); §400-115F(6) |

### C-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Painted/attached flat to awning but not beyond valance or attached to underside; establishment name, logo, street number only | — | §400-114B(1)(b); §400-115G(5) |
| Wall Sign (One Use) | — | 20 sq ft (base); add 5 sq ft for each additional use up to 35 sq ft; one use = 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Parallel to face of wall; not more than 18 in projection; max 10 in from wall | — | §400-114B(1)(c); §400-115G(1) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Uses - One Sign) | — | 35 sq ft | — | — | One sign for all uses | Parallel to wall; single sign for all uses in structure | — | §400-115G(1)(a) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Uses - Multiple Signs - Each with Own Entrance) | — | Up to 35 sq ft, but based on wall area as per regulations | — | — | One per qualifying tenant | Each tenant with exterior entrance may have own sign on their wall portion only | — | §400-115G(1)(b) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft (single use); add 5 sq ft for each extra use, max 27 sq ft (multi-use) | — | Min 8' clearance over sidewalk/right-of-way | One per structure | Perpendicular to building; minimum 8' above grade when over sidewalk/right-of-way | — | §400-114B(1)(d); §400-115G(3) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed, etched, or painted on window inside or outside | — | §400-114B(1)(e); §400-115G(4) |
| Window Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | Window or door, mounted by temporary means | — | §400-114B(1)(f)[1]; §400-115G(4)(b) |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft | 9 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft from lot line or street cartway | Max 2 per premises | Same lot as associated use; not to impede pedestrian/vehicle traffic; 5 ft min from lot line/street | — | §400-114B(1)(f)[2]; §400-115F(7) |

### C-3 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All C-2 C-4 LI Permitted Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §400-114B(3) |
| Billboard Sign | 35 ft overall; face max 20 ft in height, 30 ft in length | 300 sq ft | Face: max 30 ft | 100 ft from all property lines/structures; 500 ft from intersections | — | Within 500 ft of U.S. Route 1 by conditional use permit only | — | §400-115G(6) |

## Prohibited signs in West Grove Borough

- No sign shall be erected within a street right-of-way, except traffic signs and similar regulatory notices of a duly constituted governmental body unless otherwise specifically permitted.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger on a street by obscuring view and, in no case, except traffic signs, shall signs be placed within the required clear sight triangle.
- No sign shall be placed where it obscures a motorist's view of traffic signals or traffic signs or interferes with vehicular traffic or pedestrian safety.
- No moving, flashing, or rotating signs which may distract motorists shall be permitted.
- No sign which emits smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor shall be permitted.
- No sign shall be erected containing information which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose other than the permitted use(s) of the property.
- No sign shall be erected advertising a business, articles, or merchandise for sale other than on the same premises, except for billboards where permitted.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility pole or other public infrastructure or hung across a public street except as placed or permitted by the Borough.
- No sign shall be painted on or affixed to a fence, utility pole or structure, or tree, shrub, rock, or natural object.
- Signs shall not be mounted on roofs or extend above the roof line.
- No sign together with any supporting framework shall extend to a height above the maximum building height permitted in a district.
- No signs, other than traffic signs, shall be erected or maintained nearer to a street line than a distance equaling the height of the sign, unless attached parallel to and flat against the building face.
- The outdoor storage or parking of a vehicle on a property shall not be used as a sign for a business, home occupation, or any other use.
- No vehicle which contains advertising on its exterior shall park in a location visible from a public right-of-way continuously for more than two weeks.
- No sign may be erected with exposed electrical wires.
- Strings of bulbs are not permitted, except as part of a holiday celebration or temporary seasonal decorations.
- No artificial light or reflecting device shall be used as a part of a sign where such light or device interferes with, competes for attention with, or may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
- The use of animation, sound, and full-motion video is prohibited for digital and electronic changing message signs.
- No person shall deface, disfigure, write upon or in any manner cause to be placed upon any house or wall or building of any kind whatsoever, or in any part thereof, or upon fences or road signs, any marks, lines, figures, letters or caricatures of any kind.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Grove Borough

- Regular maintenance of the sign, including electrical, repainting or cleaning, does not require a permit.
- Repair of the sign that in no way changes the sign from the original approved application does not require a permit.
- Minor changes to the information or text of a sign, deemed insignificant by the Zoning Officer, do not require a permit. (Changes to size, shape, location, structure, or mounting do require a permit.)
- The following types of signs do not require a permit but must comply with all other regulations: Traffic direction signs, traffic signs, address signs, trespassing signs, real estate signs, temporary professional signs, portable signs, political signs, home occupation signs, legal notices, and temporary signs (all other undefined).
- Temporary signs may not require a permit but require written notification to the Borough before placement with information regarding the sign, property, and time period.
- Address signs are exempt from counting toward the number of permanent signs permitted per lot.
- Seasonal businesses are exempt from the determination of abandonment if closed for 30 consecutive days.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before erection, alteration or enlargement of any sign, sign structure or any portion thereof, except as provided in the exemptions section.
- Applications for sign permits must include detailed plans and specifications and any information deemed necessary by the Zoning Officer.
- No work shall be done other than as specifically shown on an approved sign permit or as permitted by the maintenance/exemption provisions.
- All signs requiring a permit are subject to inspection by the Zoning Officer.
- All signs must conform to the regulations of the Ordinance and be approved by the Borough except for exempt signs as specified.
- Where a conditional use is required for billboards and potentially other special circumstances, additional approval (such as from Borough Council or other body) may be needed.

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

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