# Sign Regulations in West York Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West York Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/west-york-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33893050#33893050)

## At a glance

West York Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 12 sign types across 3 zoning districts. General Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 20 feet from ground to highest part of sign tall, with a Minimum 6 feet from curbline and 6 feet from any side or rear property line. setback (Sec. 470-45A(1)-(12)). Most commercial signs in West York Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 20 feet from ground to highest part of sign | 8 square feet | — |
| Residential districts | 4 | — | 16 square feet | — |
| Commercial districts, Industrial districts | 2 | — | 300 square feet (excluding structural support and allowed 6-inch border on all sides) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Signs | 20 feet from ground to highest part of sign | — | — | Freestanding signs: Minimum 6 feet from curbline and 6 feet from any side or rear property line. | Only one freestanding sign per property. | Shall not obstruct entrances/exits, not placed within street right-of-way unless special permission, not cause traffic hazards. Projecting signs not more than 4 feet over a public sidewalk. | — | 470-45A(1)-(12) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | May extend max 4 feet over a public sidewalk | — | 470-45A(9) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | May not project more than 12 inches from wall or more than 3 feet above roof line or parapet wall | — | 470-45A(10) |
| Temporary Sign (Painter, Mechanic, Contractor, etc.) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 470-45A(5) |
| Temporary Banner (Noncommercial, Across Right-of-Way) | — | — | — | — | — | Across rights-of-way | — | 470-45A(6) |
| Temporary or Portable Advertising Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 470-45A(13) |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate and House Number Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per dwelling unit/professional office/home occupation | Shall not extend beyond a vertical plane 2 feet inside lot from street line | — | 470-45B(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Not closer to right-of-way than half the depth of the existing front yard | — | 470-45B(2) |
| Institutional Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per institution | Not closer to right-of-way than half the depth of existing front yard | — | 470-45B(3) |
| Public Utility Facility Identification/Protection/Operation Sign | — | 2 square feet per side | — | — | — | — | — | 470-45B(4) |

### Commercial districts, Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign | — | 60 square feet per premises (plus 40 sq ft on secondary frontage for corner lots) | — | — | One freestanding sign per premises | On premises of commercial or industrial facility. Freestanding signs limited to one per premises. | — | 470-45C(1) |
| Billboard and Advertising Sign | — | 300 square feet (excluding structural support and allowed 6-inch border on all sides) | — | — | — | Freestanding; off-premises advertising | — | 470-45C(2) |

## Prohibited signs in West York Borough

- It is unlawful for any person to wilfully or maliciously destroy, remove, deface, obliterate, or cover up any lamp, warning sign, or barricade erected by borough authorities or authorized persons as a warning of danger.
- Signs shall not contain moving parts or use flashing or intermittent illumination; the source of light must be steady and stationary.
- Signs shall not cast objectionable light upon any dwelling or mixed-use dwelling on a separate lot.
- Signs shall not be erected in a manner that obstructs entrance to or exit from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exitway.
- Signs shall not be placed so as to cause danger to traffic by obscuring motorists' views and may not be located within street right-of-way lines unless specially authorized by the Borough Council.
- Deteriorated or poorly maintained signs are not permitted; signs must be constructed of durable materials and maintained in good condition.
- All signs must be removed when the circumstances that led to their erection no longer apply.

## Signs exempt from permit in West York Borough

- Temporary signs of painters, mechanics, contractors, and similar professionals are permissible in all districts, provided such signs are removed as soon as work is completed on the premises.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs may be erected and maintained only when compliant with the provisions of this chapter and any other ordinances and regulations relating to the erection, alteration, or maintenance of signs and similar devices. No mention of a separate master sign plan or variance meeting as a general requirement.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for West York Borough, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=West+York+Borough+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-west-york-borough

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