# Sign Regulations in York, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** York, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/york
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-23
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.yorkcity.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Part-13-Zoning-Updated-10-7-21.pdf#page=173)

## At a glance

York, Pennsylvania regulates 23 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Permanent)s in the Central Business District (CBD) zoning district are capped at ≤ 50% of sign's setback from closest street ROW; in no case > 35 ft tall and 60 sq ft per sign; corner properties: total up to 90 sq ft (no one sign may exceed 60 sq ft), with a Minimum setback = 50% of the District’s building setback requirement, but not less than 10 ft. If not met, freestanding sign is not permitted. setback (Sec. 1308.08(b)(1) A–D). Most commercial signs in York require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Detached Residential Conservation District (RS-1); Single-Family Attached Residential Conservation District (RS-2); Urban Mixed Commercial Residential District (UN-1); Urban Residential Neighborhood District (UN-2); Mixed-Use Residential-Institutional District (MUI-1); Urban Residential Neighborhood District (MUI-2) | 9 | 4 ft (measured from natural grade to highest part of sign) | 12 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 9 | ≤ 50% of sign's setback from closest street ROW; in no case > 35 ft | 150 sq ft total; neither sign may exceed 100 sq ft | — |
| Employment Center District (EC) | 14 | ≤ 50% of sign's setback from closest street ROW; in no case > 35 ft | 700 sq ft (surface area per sign) | — |
| Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 15 sq ft (absolute cap); or 10% of window area if that is less | — |

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

### Single-Family Detached Residential Conservation District (RS-1); Single-Family Attached Residential Conservation District (RS-2); Urban Mixed Commercial Residential District (UN-1); Urban Residential Neighborhood District (UN-2); Mixed-Use Residential-Institutional District (MUI-1); Urban Residential Neighborhood District (MUI-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-Commercial Sign (Attached) (Permanent) | 4 ft (measured from natural grade to highest part of sign) | 6 sq ft | — | Not within the required building setback for the District | — | Must be within 5 ft of the front wall of the principal structure; may not be within the required building setback for the District | — | 1308.08(a)(1); 1308.07(b)(4); 1308.02(b)(2) |
| Non-Commercial Sign (Freestanding) (Permanent) | 4 ft (measured from natural grade to highest part of sign) | 6 sq ft | — | Not within the required building setback for the District | — | Must be within 5 ft of the front wall of the principal structure; may not be within the required building setback for the District | — | 1308.08(a)(1); 1308.07(b)(4) |
| Commercial Sign for Permitted Business/Home Occupation or Nonconforming Use (Attached) (Permanent) | 4 ft (measured from natural grade to highest part of sign) | 6 sq ft | — | Not within the required building setback for the District | — | Must be within 5 ft of the front wall of the principal structure; may not be within the required building setback for the District | — | 1308.08(a)(2); 1308.07(a); 1308.02(b)(2) |
| Commercial Sign for Permitted Business/Home Occupation or Nonconforming Use (Freestanding) (Permanent) | 4 ft (measured from natural grade to highest part of sign) | 6 sq ft | — | Not within the required building setback for the District | — | Must be within 5 ft of the front wall of the principal structure; may not be within the required building setback for the District | — | 1308.08(a)(2); 1308.07(a) |
| Blade Sign (Permanent) (Substitute for Attached Sign) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Not specified (for corner properties, up to two blade signs totaling ≤ 6 sq ft) | Mounted to a wall/building surface; must be at least 7 ft above walking surface; may not interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic | — | 1308.08(a)(3); 1308.02(b)(5); 1308.07(a)-(b) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One (1) per property | On the property; not in a public right-of-way or on a sidewalk | — | 1308.09(a)(1)(A) |
| Personal Expression Sign (Temporary) - RS-1, RS-2, UN-2, MUI-2 | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One (1) per property | On the property; not in a public right-of-way or on a sidewalk | — | 1308.09(a)(3)(A) |
| Personal Expression Sign (Temporary) - UN-1, MUI-1 | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One (1) per property | On the property; not in a public right-of-way or on a sidewalk. Properties with no front yard: only in a window or attached to the front of the building. | — | 1308.09(a)(3)(B) |

### Central Business District (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent) | ≤ 50% of sign's setback from closest street ROW; in no case > 35 ft | 60 sq ft per sign; corner properties: total up to 90 sq ft (no one sign may exceed 60 sq ft) | — | Minimum setback = 50% of the District’s building setback requirement, but not less than 10 ft. If not met, freestanding sign is not permitted. | One (1); corner properties: two (2) permitted | On premises | — | 1308.08(b)(1) A–D |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent) (Corner Property) | ≤ 50% of sign's setback from closest street ROW; max 35 ft | Up to 90 sq ft total between two signs; no one sign may exceed 60 sq ft | — | Minimum setback = 50% of building setback for District; not less than 10 ft | Two (2) permitted on corner properties | On premises at a corner property | — | 1308.08(b)(1) A–D |
| Attached Sign (Permanent) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | One (1) | Parallel to wall or vertical building surface | — | 1308.08(b)(2) A–C; 1308.02(b)(2); 1308.05(b) |
| Attached Sign (Permanent) (Corner Property) | — | 150 sq ft total; neither sign may exceed 100 sq ft | — | — | Two (2) (one on each side) | One sign on each side of the building | — | 1308.08(b)(2) A–C; 1308.02(b)(2); 1308.05(b) |
| Blade Sign (Permanent) (Substitute for Attached Sign) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One (1) | Mounted perpendicular to wall; minimum 7 ft clearance above walking surface; projection ≤ 3 ft | — | 1308.08(b)(3) A–C; 1308.02(b)(5) |
| Blade Sign (Permanent) (Corner Property) (Substitute for Attached Sign) | — | 24 sq ft total; neither sign may exceed 15 sq ft | — | — | Two (2) (one on each side) | One blade sign on each side of a corner building; minimum 7 ft clearance; projection ≤ 3 ft | — | 1308.08(b)(3) A–C; 1308.02(b)(5) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One (1) per business | Displayed along business frontage; must not create traffic or pedestrian hazard | — | 1308.09(a)(2)(A) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | Not specified (one per property implied by section heading) | On the property; not in a public right-of-way or on a sidewalk. Properties with no front yard may only place such signs in a window or attached to the front of the building. | — | 1308.09(a)(1)(C) |

### Employment Center District (EC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent) | ≤ 50% of sign's setback from closest street ROW; in no case > 35 ft | 60 sq ft per sign; corner properties: total up to 90 sq ft (no one sign may exceed 60 sq ft) | — | Minimum setback = 50% of the District’s building setback requirement, but not less than 10 ft. If not met, freestanding sign is not permitted. | One (1); corner properties: two (2) permitted | On premises | — | 1308.08(b)(1) A–D |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent) (Corner Property) | ≤ 50% of sign's setback from closest street ROW; max 35 ft | Up to 90 sq ft total between two signs; no one sign may exceed 60 sq ft | — | Minimum setback = 50% of building setback for District; not less than 10 ft | Two (2) permitted on corner properties | On premises at a corner property | — | 1308.08(b)(1) A–D |
| Attached Sign (Permanent) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | One (1) | Parallel to wall or vertical building surface | — | 1308.08(b)(2) A–C; 1308.02(b)(2); 1308.05(b) |
| Attached Sign (Permanent) (Corner Property) | — | 150 sq ft total; neither sign may exceed 100 sq ft | — | — | Two (2) (one on each side) | One sign on each side of the building | — | 1308.08(b)(2) A–C; 1308.02(b)(2); 1308.05(b) |
| Blade Sign (Permanent) (Substitute for Attached Sign) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One (1) | Mounted perpendicular to wall; minimum 7 ft clearance above walking surface; projection ≤ 3 ft | — | 1308.08(b)(3) A–C; 1308.02(b)(5) |
| Inflatable Sign (Temporary) | 15 ft | — | 10 ft | — | One (1) inflatable per occurrence | Securely attached to ground or building | — | 1308.09(b)(2) |
| Off-Premises Advertising Sign (Billboard) - Option 1 (Single Sign) | 35 ft (from natural grade to highest point) | 700 sq ft (surface area per sign) | — | Building setback line or 35 ft from street ROW (whichever greater) | One (1) single sign | EC District only | — | 1308.10(a)-(e) |
| Off-Premises Advertising Sign (Billboard) - Option 2 (Two Single Signs) | 35 ft (from natural grade to highest point) | 300 sq ft per face (each single sign) | — | Building setback line or 35 ft from street ROW (whichever greater) | Two (2) single signs | EC District only | — | 1308.10(a)-(e) |

## Prohibited signs in York

- No sign may create a public nuisance by emitting smoke, sound, vapor, beams or rays, particle emission, odors, or creating a safety or traffic hazard (as determined by the City Engineer).
- Animated signs are prohibited; a sign’s visual appearance may not change more often than once every 30 seconds, and colors/light intensity must remain constant for at least 30 seconds.
- Illuminated sign light sources must be shielded from adjacent properties and streets and may not be of such intensity as to cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or motorists.
- Mobile signs not fixed in place (including vehicles used primarily as signs and signs affixed to vehicles or trailers where carrying the sign becomes the primary purpose) are prohibited.
- Signs that appear similar to traffic signs, signals, or devices (including arrows or use of specific colors/words that could be confused with traffic control devices) are prohibited.
- Signs stating or implying that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the ordinance are prohibited.
- Signs on trees, shrubs, rocks, or other natural objects are prohibited.
- Signs on utility poles or other natural/manmade objects not specifically designed or approved for the specific sign are prohibited.
- Signs within public rights-of-way are prohibited except those installed by a duly constituted governmental body in accordance with MUTCD.
- Signs may not contain vulgar or pornographic content, hate or discriminatory messages, or otherwise violate any law.

## Signs exempt from permit in York

- Permits are not required for governmental signs.
- Permits are not required for address signs.
- Permits are not required for street signs.
- Permits are not required for non-commercial signs.
- On-premises temporary window signs require no permit, provided they cover no more than 10% of the window area or 15 square feet, whichever is less.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All non-exempt signs require a sign permit; applications must include a detailed site plan showing the precise location of the proposed sign and details of all other signs on the property, plus detailed construction plans.
- Within the HARB Overlay District, all signs—whether or not a permit is otherwise required—must be reviewed by HARB and approved by York City Council; designs must comply with the York Design Guidelines.
- No master sign plan requirement is referenced in the ordinance.
- No specific variance or special exception process for signs is identified in Article 1308; signs for nonconforming uses or uses permitted by variance must still comply with all sign requirements.

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

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