# Sign Regulations in Williamsport, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Williamsport, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/williamsport
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Williamsport, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Sandwich Board / Portable Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 12 sq ft per face (double faced allowed) (Sec. § 1346.07). Most commercial signs in Williamsport 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 | 4 | 6 feet | 25 sq ft per face (in commercial and industrial districts); see residential/institutional section for other size limits. | — |
| Residential and Institutional Districts | 9 | — | 25 sq ft (development); 24 sq ft (active construction/artisan signs) | — |
| CC District, CS District | 2 | 20 ft when within 10 ft of R/W; all signs subject to zoning district height limits. | 300 sq ft per side (may exceed by 15% for temporary cut-out/snipe) | — |
| CBD District | 4 | 15 ft maximum above ground, located below second-floor window ledge. | 60 sq ft per street frontage | — |
| CS District, ML District, MH District | 2 | 20 ft if within 10 ft of R/W; subject to zoning height limits. | 672 sq ft per side (may exceed by 15% for cut-out/snipe on temporary basis) | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts | 1 | — | 25 sq ft per face | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Any Sign | — | — | — | All signs with less than 6 ft clearance above grade: minimum 20 ft from face of curb abutting street, or 10 ft from property line abutting street, whichever is shorter. | — | — | — | § 1346.03 General Regulations For All Signs; § 1723.02-04. |
| Animated Sign (General Regulations) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 1346.03(i) |
| Temporary Signs (General Regulations) | — | 25 sq ft per face (in commercial and industrial districts); see residential/institutional section for other size limits. | — | — | One at a time per business per street (commercial/industrial). | — | — | § 1346.08; § 1723.09. |
| Sandwich Board / Portable Sign | 6 feet | 12 sq ft per face (double faced allowed) | — | — | One double-faced sign per premises | On premises where products are sold; not allowed in right-of-way. | — | § 1346.07 |

### Residential and Institutional Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (For Sale/Rent) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per property, or one per frontage if on multiple streets. | On premises for sale/rent. | — | § 1346.04(a) |
| Development/Construction Sign | — | 25 sq ft (development); 24 sq ft (active construction/artisan signs) | — | — | One per property, or one per frontage if on multiple streets. | On property being developed/constructed. | — | § 1346.04(b), (e) |
| Directional Sign (Development) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per 500 ft of street frontage. | Off development premises within 500 ft frontage. | — | § 1346.04(c) |
| Trespassing/Private Drive Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On property/driveway | — | § 1346.04(f) |
| Institutional Sign (Schools, Churches, Hospitals, etc.) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | Two per property (two per frontage if on multiple streets). | On institutional premises. | — | § 1346.04(g) |
| Farm Product Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Two | — | — | § 1346.04(h) |
| Non-Conforming Use Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 1346.04(i) |
| Auction, Garage or Yard Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 1346.04(j) |

### CBD District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign (CBD) | — | 60 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | Encouraged: one primary & one secondary sign | Permanently attached to building; should be oriented to pedestrians. | — | § 1346.06(i); § 1379.12 |
| Projecting Sign (CBD) | 15 ft maximum above ground, located below second-floor window ledge. | 8 sq ft per side (max two sides) | — | — | — | May project over public sidewalk (see requirements). | — | § 1346.06(f), (i) |
| Awning Sign (CBD) | 12 ft above adjacent ground | Includes within 60 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | — | On awning attached to principal building. | — | § 1346.06(g), (i) |
| Window Sign (CBD) | — | No more than 20% of window/door area; non-illuminated window signs <4 sq ft, max 60 days/year exempt from review. | — | — | — | On window/door of business. | — | § 1346.06(i)(J)5, (L)3 |

## Prohibited signs in Williamsport

- No sign shall be constructed, erected or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, window, door or other opening, or so as to prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof.
- No sign shall be attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape, or placed as to interfere with an opening required for legal ventilation.
- Signs must be constructed of durable material, maintained in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated.
- No sign shall be placed so as to cause a danger to traffic on a street by obscuring the view.
- No sign, other than an official traffic sign, shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any street, except as specifically permitted.
- No sign shall project over a public sidewalk area, except as specifically permitted.
- No sign shall be painted or posted on a tree, stone, cliff or other natural object.
- Signs shall not attempt to direct the movement of traffic or interfere with, imitate or resemble any official sign, signal or device.
- Signs shall not prevent the driver of a vehicle from having a clear and unobstructed view of approaching or merging traffic.
- No sign or portion thereof, including lights, shall be permitted in any district when, by reason of its design, intensity, color, location or movement, it may interfere or cause confusion with traffic lights, signals or other controls or otherwise interfere with the operation of vehicles upon a public thoroughfare.
- Animated signs are prohibited except public service signs such as time and temperature, revolving or changeable message signs.
- All signs with a clearance of less than six feet above grade shall be a minimum of 20 feet from the face of any curb abutting a street or ten feet from the property line abutting any street, whichever distance is shorter.
- No wall sign shall extend above the top of the wall, beyond the left or right extremity of the wall to which it is attached, or project more than 18 inches from the wall upon which it is attached.
- It shall be unlawful for anyone not having a permit to park in areas designated for resident permit parking (signage requirement).
- All signs shall be removed by the owner within 30 days when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
- No sign or medium of display or advertising, electric or otherwise, shall be installed, erected or maintained without first filing a $5,000 surety bond or approved insurance with the Building Official.
- Revolving beacons shall not be used in a manner that will create a traffic hazard or where their use may be confused with traffic control devices or emergency vehicle signals. Revolving beacons shall not employ lights of colors used in traffic signals.

## Signs exempt from permit in Williamsport

- A sign meeting the requirements of § 1346.04 (such as, but not limited to, temporary political signs and real estate for sale signs) shall not require Planning Commission review within the CBD.
- An official sign placed by a government agency shall not require Planning Commission review within the CBD.
- A non-illuminated window sign of less than four square feet that is posted for a maximum total period of 60 days in any calendar year shall not require Planning Commission review within the CBD.
- Signs of awnings and canopies are regulated separately by Article 1721.
- Any sign within the Central Business District that is reviewed and approved as part of façade, signs, and awning design standards with a certificate of appropriateness by City Council may be exempt from certain zoning regulations.
- Zoning permit not required for the erection of certain signs in residential and institutional districts as per § 1346.04, except for legal non-conforming use signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for the erection or structural alteration of billboards or advertising signs (§ 1346.03(j)).
- Every five years from the date of issuance, a renewal permit is required, contingent upon inspection and certification by a qualified sign installer (§ 1723.02(c)).
- Within the CBD (Central Business District), a sign review by the Planning Commission is required for any sign 1 square foot or larger (except as specifically exempted); application information, sketches, materials, and lighting must be submitted to the Zoning Officer and reviewed before permit issuance (§ 1346.06(i)).
- The Planning Commission must provide advice regarding sign design in the CBD; the Zoning Officer will not issue a permit until after review or until 30+ days have passed from forwarding the application (§ 1346.06(i)).
- In the CBD, a certificate of appropriateness must be issued by Council for signs and awnings as per § 1379.12, after written notice and the opportunity for the applicant to be heard.
- Signs must be compatible with the Zoning Ordinance, Fire Prevention Code, and Building Code; compliance with all is required (§ 1723.14).

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

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