A home office under Section 14-604(10)(b)(.1) may not have any accessory sign at all. Other home occupations are limited under Table 14-904-1 to one sign per lot frontage, with strict height limits, in the low-density residential districts where home businesses are typically located.
Two provisions govern home-business signage. First, the home-office category itself bars signage: Section 14-604(10)(b)(.1) states that for a home office, 'Accessory signs are prohibited.' Second, the citywide accessory sign controls in Section 14-904 and Table 14-904-1 set the limits for the other home-occupation categories. In the low-density residential districts (RSD-1/2/3, RSA-1/2/3, RTA-1, RMX-1/2), home occupations - except a home office, which gets none - are allowed a maximum of one sign, freestanding and wall signs are generally not applicable, the maximum sign height is the lower of the roof line or the second-floor window sill (capped at 7 feet for freestanding), and there is no permitted sign area beyond that single sign. Because accessory signs are themselves an accessory use that requires a use registration permit (subject to the Section 14-903 permit exceptions), a home-business owner generally must obtain sign approval before installing any permitted sign. Internally illuminated or animated signage typical of commercial uses is not contemplated for home occupations in residential districts.
An unpermitted or oversized sign, or any sign at a home office, is a zoning violation. L&I may issue a Violation Notice requiring removal of the sign and may assess fines and daily penalties under Title 14 and Chapter 14-900 until the sign is removed or brought into compliance.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia caps amplified music and other sound by decibels above background at the property boundary: 3 dB near hospitals/schools/houses of worship, 5 dB ...
Philadelphia, PA
On-street parking in Philadelphia is governed by Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code and enforced by the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA), with restriction...
Philadelphia, PA
No zoning permit is needed for a fence at or below the Zoning Code limits; exceeding them requires a permit and a ZBA appeal. A building permit is required f...
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia requires all dogs in public to be on a leash no longer than six feet, held by a person able to control the animal, under Phila. Code Β§10-104. Of...
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia generally prohibits keeping chickens, poultry, and livestock; farm animals (other than pigs) are allowed only on parcels of three or more acres,...
Philadelphia, PA
No Philadelphia-specific ordinance directly imposes wildland-style defensible-space or brush-clearance requirements; the dense urban setting means there is n...
See how Philadelphia's signage rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.