Philadelphia sizes your wall sign by a simple formula: 2 square feet per foot of your storefront frontage. Go over and your permit gets rejected. Enter your frontage and get a clear read before you build.
This checks on-premise wall signs in LA commercial/manufacturing zones. Off-site signs, billboards, and supergraphics are not covered. Digital/LED displays need separate review.
Width of your storefront along the street.
How LA sizes your sign
Philadelphia keeps it simple: under §14-904, your accessory wall sign can total 2 square feet for every linear foot of ground-floor street frontage. A 25-foot storefront gets 50 sq ft of wall signage. You can add a bit more on the second floor (0.5 sq ft per foot of frontage), and freestanding signs follow their own height rules.
The catch is the special areas: Center City, Market Street East, and the Parkway buffer have their own rules and Art Commission review that override this formula. This tool applies the citywide §14-904 rule and flags when you should check with a pro.
Questions owners ask
What counts as my frontage?
The width of your ground-floor storefront along the street. Your wall-sign allowance is that number × 2 square feet.
Does my zoning change the number?
For commercial and manufacturing zones (C1, C2, C4, CM, M1, etc.) the wall-sign formula is the same. Residential zones and specific-plan areas have different rules — if your address is in one, we'll tell you and route you to a pro.
Digital / LED sign?
Digital displays face separate restrictions (Phila. Code 14-904.4) and many areas restrict or ban them. This screen covers static and illuminated wall signs; a digital sign needs its own review.
Is this an official ruling?
No. It's a first-pass risk filter on the public Phila. Zoning Code formula, not a permit and not legal advice. Final dimensions are confirmed by a licensed Philadelphia sign professional and Philadelphia L&I.