# Sign Regulations in Allegheny Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Allegheny Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/allegheny-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9016527#9016527)

## At a glance

Allegheny Township, Pennsylvania regulates 25 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboards in the Industrial Districts (I1, I2) zoning district are capped at 20 ft (height/length per face); 40 ft max height above curb tall, 300 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces), and 25 ft wide, with a At least 10 ft from right-of-way; principal structure setbacks also apply setback (Sec. §250-138). Most commercial signs in Allegheny Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 2 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts (C1, C2, C3) | 10 | 20 ft (top); 8 ft (bottom of sign) | 200 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (I1, I2) | 11 | 20 ft (top); 8 ft (bottom of sign) | 300 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Sign (Public/Semipublic Buildings) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Permitted in connection with any church, school, library, or similar public or semipublic building | — | §250-135A |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft (residential districts); 32 sq ft (other districts) | — | — | 1 | On each lot; must be removed within 30 days of sale/rental | — | §250-135B |
| Development Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft (residential); 10 ft (other districts) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On each lot; must be removed within 30 days of sale/rental/completion | — | §250-135C |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On lot where construction is occurring; must be removed within 30 days of completion | — | §250-135D |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | Maximum 4 per agency/business | Max. 4 per agency/business; may be in right-of-way with permission | — | §250-135H |
| On-Premises Directional Sign (Lots < 1 acre) | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 4 | On lots with 2+ multifamily/nonresidential buildings or more than 100 parking spaces | — | §250-135I |
| On-Premises Directional Sign (Lots > 1 acre) | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | 4 + 2 per acre > 1 acre | On lots with 2+ multifamily/nonresidential buildings or more than 100 parking spaces | — | §250-135I |
| Legal Notification Sign (Private Property) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 75 ft frontage | Private property; 1 sign per 75 ft frontage | — | §250-134E |

### Commercial Districts (C1, C2, C3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Special Event Display Sign/Banner | — | Aggregate 40 sq ft per establishment; max 100 sq ft per site with multiple establishments; single sandwich board max 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 at a time | Secure to building or freestanding pole; or freestanding on private property | — | §250-137A |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Special Event Display) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Freestanding on private property; not in public right-of-way, must not obstruct traffic | — | §250-137A(2) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Manual) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Affixed to wall or supporting structure of authorized freestanding sign | — | §250-137B(1) |
| Changeable Copy Pole Sign (Electronic, Shopping Center > 100,000 sq ft) | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 | One per lot; freestanding pole sign | — | §250-137B(2) |
| Ground Sign (Business Identification) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line and right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding, on lot, at least 10 ft from property/right-of-way line | — | §250-137C(2) |
| Pole Sign (Business Identification; No Ground Sign on Lot) | 20 ft (top); 8 ft (bottom of sign) | 40 sq ft (one business); 64 sq ft (multiple businesses) | — | 10 ft from property line and right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding, on lot, at least 10 ft from property/right-of-way line; must not project over right-of-way | — | §250-137C(3) |
| Roof Sign (C3 Only) | Projects no more than 6 ft above highest roof point | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Erected on flat roof or above roof ridgeline; C3 district only | — | §250-137C(4) |
| Arcade Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | One per business in shopping centers/office complexes with covered pedestrian access | — | §250-137C(5) |

### Industrial Districts (I1, I2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Special Event Display Sign/Banner | — | Aggregate 40 sq ft per establishment; max 100 sq ft per site with multiple establishments; single sandwich board max 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 at a time | Secure to building or freestanding pole; or freestanding on private property | — | §250-137A |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Manual) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Affixed to wall or supporting structure of authorized freestanding sign | — | §250-137B(1) |
| Changeable Copy Pole Sign (Electronic, Shopping Center > 100,000 sq ft) | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 | One per lot; freestanding pole sign | — | §250-137B(2) |
| Ground Sign (Business Identification) | 6 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line and right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding, on lot, at least 10 ft from property/right-of-way line | — | §250-137C(2) |
| Pole Sign (Business Identification; No Ground Sign on Lot) | 20 ft (top); 8 ft (bottom of sign) | 40 sq ft (one business); 64 sq ft (multiple businesses) | — | 10 ft from property line and right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding, on lot, at least 10 ft from property/right-of-way line; must not project over right-of-way | — | §250-137C(3) |
| Roof Sign (I1, I2 Only) | Projects no more than 6 ft above highest roof point | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Erected on flat roof or above roof ridgeline; I1 and I2 districts only | — | §250-137C(4) |
| Arcade Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | One per business in shopping centers/office complexes with covered pedestrian access | — | §250-137C(5) |
| Billboard | 20 ft (height/length per face); 40 ft max height above curb | 300 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces) | 25 ft | At least 10 ft from right-of-way; principal structure setbacks also apply | Max 2 faces per sign; minimum 1000 ft between billboards | Conditional use only. Must be at least 500 ft from boundary of any R district, school, church, or cemetery; not within 500 ft of highway interchanges or rest areas; not within 1000 ft of another billboard along same roadway; at least 10 ft from right-of-way; not part of or mounted on any building/structure | — | §250-138 |

## Prohibited signs in Allegheny Township

- A-frame or sandwich board signs are not permitted, except when authorized as temporary special event displays.
- Portable or wheeled signs are not permitted, except in the C2 and C3 Districts, provided the surface area is included in the maximum allowable for the property.
- Banners and pennants are not permitted, other than temporary special event displays authorized by this chapter.
- Inflatable structures of any kind are not permitted, except in the C2 and C3 Districts, provided the surface area is included in the maximum allowable for the property.
- Moving or flashing signs are not permitted, except for that portion of a permitted sign which indicates time or temperature.
- Signs on trees, utility poles or official traffic control devices or signs are not permitted.
- Signs which imitate traffic control devices are not permitted.
- Signs painted on walls or chimneys of a building or on fences or walls are not permitted, other than murals or similar decorative displays or public art on building walls which do not contain any advertising other than the name of the artist and a small acknowledgment of the sponsor.
- Overhanging signs, as defined, are not permitted.
- No sign shall be located in such a position that it will cause a hazard by obstructing visibility for traffic or obscuring a traffic signal or other traffic control device.
- No sign, other than official traffic signs and off-street premises directional signs, shall hang over or be erected within the right-of-way of any street.
- Flashing or oscillating signs shall not be permitted, and lighting shall be stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times, except when electronic changeable copy signs are authorized.
- Illumination must not create glare or be incompatible with ambient light and should not affect adjoining properties.
- Signs found to be in an unsafe condition, if not repaired or removed by the owner within notice period, will be removed by the Township at the owner's expense.
- Whenever any business is discontinued or vacated, all signs relating to the discontinued or vacated business shall be removed within 30 days; otherwise the Township will remove the sign at the owner’s expense.
- Except for billboards, political signs and off-premises directional signs (where authorized), all signs shall be located on the premises they are intended to serve.

## Signs exempt from permit in Allegheny Township

- Residential identification signs, as defined, are exempt.
- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized federal or state holidays, provided they do not interfere with traffic safety or become a public safety hazard, are exempt.
- Memorial/historical plaques, as defined, are exempt.
- Window displays, as defined, are exempt provided they do not exceed 20% of the gross surface area of all windows in an establishment.
- Signs erected by a governmental agency, including street signs and official traffic signs (but not including off-premises directional signs regulated by § 250-135H), are exempt.
- Off-premises real estate directional signs are exempt.
- No permit is required for notification, real estate, political, and construction signs, and off-premises directional signs erected by a governmental agency.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For billboards in the I1 or I2 Districts, approval as a conditional use is required following a recommendation by the Planning Commission and a public hearing by the Board of Supervisors.
- Prior to the submission of an application for a sign permit for a billboard, approvals must be obtained from appropriate aviation authorities (FAA or county) when applicable.
- For billboards along state highways, approval from PennDOT is required before the sign permit is valid.
- The issuance of permits for all signs (other than exempt signs listed above) requires submission of an application compliant with the ordinance and payment of required fees.
- If the Zoning Officer determines a sign is in disrepair or dangerous condition, the permit shall be revoked.
- Permits for signs expire automatically within six months of issuance if work is not initiated and diligently pursued.
- All sign permits and plans must generally comply with Article XVII as referenced throughout the district regulations.
- A variance or conditional use hearing/approval process is specifically indicated for billboards.
- All portions of site plans pertaining to signs must conform to the regulations in the Allegheny Township ordinances.

## 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 4 zoning districts in Allegheny Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Allegheny+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-allegheny-township

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