# Sign Regulations in West Reading Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Reading Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/west-reading-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30040890#30040890)

## At a glance

West Reading Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 30 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Commercial Advertising Sign/Billboard (Off-Premises)s in the General Business District zoning district are capped at Max 25 ft above ground or 40 ft above road, whichever is less tall, 300 sq ft per face, 25 ft max length; up to 20% temporary embellishments, and 25 ft wide, with a Min 10 ft from right-of-way/property line setback (Sec. § 455-162 to § 455-167). Most commercial signs in West Reading Borough 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 | 7 | 3 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential and Conservation Districts | 2 | — | 8 sq ft | — |
| Institutional District | 1 | — | 32 sq ft (more if conditional use approval) | — |
| Central Business District | 16 | 25 ft | 150 sq ft total, 70 sq ft per facade | — |
| General Business District | 17 | Max 25 ft above ground or 40 ft above road, whichever is less | 375 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District | 5 | 25 ft above ground or 40 ft above road, whichever is less | 375 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign necessary for direction/regulation/control of traffic or official notices | — | — | — | — | — | All districts. Official governmental use only. | — | § 455-160.A |
| Temporary Non-Commercial Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | All districts, except not for commercial sandwich signs | — | § 455-160.B |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft per side, 12 sq ft aggregate | — | 20 feet from intersections/planting strip | — | Any front, side, or rear yard area on private property | — | § 455-160.C |
| Real Estate Sign (For Sale/Lease/Rent) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Outside street right-of-way | One per property, or one per street frontage if property fronts on multiple streets | On property for sale. Must be within lot lines and outside street right-of-way. | — | § 455-160.D |
| No Trespassing/Private Property Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises/driveway/road | — | § 455-160.E |
| Temporary Construction Site Sign (New Construction) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On construction site property | — | § 455-161.D |
| Temporary Contractor Sign (Renovation/Repair) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On property where work is performed | — | § 455-161.D |

### Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | Min 10 ft, Max 25 ft above grade | — | May not project more than 4 ft from wall | Min 6 ft from property line | — | On business building | — | § 455-172.A |
| Banner Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 455-172.B |
| Facade Sign (Front) | — | 50 sq ft total (no more than 30 sq ft per individual sign) | — | — | — | Front facade | — | § 455-172.K(1) |
| Facade Sign (Rear) | — | 50 sq ft total | — | — | — | Rear facade | — | § 455-172.K(2) |
| Facade Sign (Side) | — | 25 sq ft total | — | — | — | Side facade | — | § 455-172.K(3) |
| Shopping Center Wall/Window Sign | — | 150 sq ft total, 70 sq ft per facade | — | — | — | Wall and window signs only | — | § 455-172.L |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center or Service Station) | 25 ft | 24 sq ft (center name/address) + 8 sq ft per occupant | — | — | 1 per site | Along main thoroughfare adjacent to parking lot | — | § 455-172.M |
| Multi-tenant Building Sign | — | 70 sq ft total, 30 sq ft max per individual sign | — | — | — | On building | — | § 455-172.N |

### General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | Min 10 ft, Max 25 ft above grade | — | May project max 4 ft from wall | Min 6 ft from property line | — | On business building | — | § 455-173.A |
| Commercial Advertising Sign/Billboard (Off-Premises) | Max 25 ft above ground or 40 ft above road, whichever is less | 300 sq ft per face, 25 ft max length; up to 20% temporary embellishments | 25 ft | Min 10 ft from right-of-way/property line | — | On property; not within 100 ft of residentially zoned property | — | § 455-162 to § 455-167 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 375 sq ft | — | — | One per property (more if multiple street frontages) | On property | — | § 455-173.H |
| Facade Sign (Front) | — | 50 sq ft total (no more than 30 sq ft per individual sign) | — | — | — | Front facade | — | § 455-173.M(1) |
| Facade Sign (Rear) | — | 50 sq ft total | — | — | — | Rear facade | — | § 455-173.M(2) |
| Facade Sign (Side) | — | 25 sq ft total | — | — | — | Side facade | — | § 455-173.M(3) |
| Shopping Center Wall/Window Sign | — | 150 sq ft total, 70 sq ft per facade | — | — | — | On wall and window | — | § 455-173.N |
| Multi-tenant Building Sign | — | 70 sq ft total, 30 sq ft max per individual sign | — | — | — | On building | — | § 455-173.P |

## Prohibited signs in West Reading Borough

- Signs which are obsolete structures not meeting construction standards, out-of-date political billboards, signs advertising defunct businesses, and signs erected without a building permit.
- Signs which are illegal under state law or regulations.
- Signs that are not securely fixed on a substantial structure.
- Signs which attempt or appear to attempt to regulate, warn or direct the movement of traffic or which interfere with, imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device.
- Signs that prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape; or that are attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs advertising a use no longer in existence or a product no longer available.
- Banners, spinners, flags, pennants, or any moving objects used for commercial advertising purposes, whether containing a message or not, except as specifically allowed.
- Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated, or moving signs of any type, except indications of time and temperature.
- Real estate signs except for signs on the property for sale as permitted.
- Signs located or arranged so as to interfere with traffic by glare, blocking sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways, causing confusion with traffic control devices, or by other means.
- No sign shall be erected containing information stating or implying that a property may be used for a non-permitted purpose under the zoning regulations.
- All signs except temporary signs shall be constructed of durable material and kept in good condition and repair.
- No flood or spotlights shall be mounted higher than 15 feet above ground level.
- No signs except those of a governmental body shall be allowed within street lines unless authorized by the Borough and in compliance with Pennsylvania regulations.
- No sign, except such directional devices as may be required by Federal and State Aviation Authorities, shall be placed, inscribed, or supported upon the roof or structure extending above the roof of any building.
- Any vehicle to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the sign becomes a primary purpose shall be considered a freestanding sign and subject to freestanding sign provisions.
- Projecting signs shall not extend more than four feet from the wall or surface to which they are mounted and shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic or be closer than six feet to the property line.
- Wall signs shall not extend beyond the edge of any facade or other surface to which they are mounted.
- Unless otherwise provided, no sign except a wall or projecting sign shall have any portion extending into the public right-of-way in excess of four feet and must be at least 10 feet above pavement or ground.
- Canopy or awning signs must state only the name and address of the resident business; logos permitted. They must have at least eight feet clearance and cannot interfere with public sidewalks.
- Electronic signs may not contain flashing, blinking, scrolling, or moving lights, text, or graphics, or any full-motion video. They must remain static for at least 10 seconds.
- Signs on smokestacks, water towers, and similar structures must comply with all signage provisions.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Reading Borough

- Flags of any governmental unit, branch, charitable, or religious organization.
- Directional flags or signs posted by religious organizations, schools, or hospitals.
- Interior signs not visible from a public right-of-way or adjoining property.
- Cornerstones built into or attached to a wall of a building commemorating a person or event.
- Official notices of any court or public office.
- Legal notices posted pursuant to law.
- Public service company signs as aids to safety or service.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require the issuance of a sign permit before erection or replacement. All signs must comply with these regulations, regardless of whether or not a permit is required.
- A new permit must be obtained before a copy change takes place. No permit is required for copy changes on a changeable copy sign.
- Nonconforming signs existing at the time of ordinance passage may be repainted or repaired but must not exceed the original dimensions. Copy changes require a new permit.
- Permits must be obtained for 'A' type sandwich signs and any changes to the sign location require submission of a new permit application.
- For sign sizes larger than specified allowances (such as in Institutional, Central Business, General Business, and Light Industrial districts), conditional use may be granted by Borough Council following comments from the Planning Commission and Zoning Officer.
- All new sign construction in the General Business District is subject to review and approval of the Planning Commission.

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

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