# Sign Regulations in Aspinwall Borough, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Aspinwall Borough, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/aspinwall-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31319321#31319321)

## At a glance

Aspinwall Borough, Pennsylvania regulates 17 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the AC-2, AI-1 zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 30 sq ft, with a 15 ft from street right-of-way, 10 ft from side lot line, 100 ft from any other qualifying freestanding sign setback (Sec. §27-408.2.D.(1)-(4)). Most commercial signs in Aspinwall Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| AR-1, AR-2, AR-3, AR-4, AR-S | 1 | 6 ft if freestanding | 12 sq ft | — |
| AC-1, A-CD | 5 | — | 40% of signable wall area (aggregate) | — |
| AC-2, AI-1 | 2 | 12 ft | 40% of signable wall area (aggregate) | — |
| AI-1 | 1 | See AI-1 freestanding sign standard (12 ft) | 40 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate or Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to a wall of the structure | — | §27-408.2.A.(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises being advertised | — | §27-408.2.A.(2) |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On development or improvement property | — | §27-408.2.A.(3) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 12 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On premises where activity is taking place | — | §27-408.4.A-D |
| Small Directional Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property; for public convenience | — | §27-408.5.D |
| Banner Sign (Community Event/Commemorative) | — | 6 sq ft | 3 ft | — | 1 per pole; minimum 9 banners required for uniform display | Attached to utility pole in road right-of-way (Brilliant Ave, between Freeport Rd and 4th St) | — | §27-408.6.A-G |
| Banner Sign (Borough installed) | — | 6 sq ft | 3 ft | — | 1 per pole; minimum 9 banners required for uniform display | Attached to utility pole in road right-of-way (Brilliant Ave, between Freeport Rd and 4th St) | — | §27-408.6.G |
| Address Numerals/Signs required by law | — | Shall not exceed size required by law | — | — | — | As required by law or governmental regulation | — | §27-408.5.C |

### AC-1, A-CD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign (Aggregate) | — | 40% of signable wall area (aggregate) | — | — | 2 per establishment | On or attached to main building, or permanent window sign | — | §27-408.2.C.(1)-(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | Within aggregate area limit (see above) | — | — | See aggregate (part of 2 per establishment) | Front or side wall of building, parallel; for one-story: between lintel bar and parapet; for multi-story: between lintel bar and floor above or top floor and parapet; above 9 ft at entrance | — | §27-408.2.C.(3) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | Within aggregate area limit (see above) | — | — | See aggregate (part of 2 per establishment) | On awning or canopy attached to building | — | §27-408.2.C.(4) |
| Permanent Window-Based Sign | — | Within 40% signable wall area and ≤ 30% total window area | — | — | See aggregate (part of 2 per establishment). Upper floor/basement gets one additional up to 6 sq ft. | Mounted on or behind glass of window | — | §27-408.2.C.(5), (7b), (7c) |
| Incidental/Temporary Window Sign | — | Total window signs (incidental + permanent) ≤ 30% of total window area | — | — | — | In window | — | §27-408.2.C.(8) |

### AC-2, AI-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign (Aggregate) | — | 40% of signable wall area (aggregate) | — | — | 2 per establishment | On or attached to main building, or permanent window sign | — | §27-408.2.D referencing AC-1 (2.C) |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 15 ft from street right-of-way, 10 ft from side lot line, 100 ft from any other qualifying freestanding sign | 1 per qualifying business/lot | On premises | — | §27-408.2.D.(1)-(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Aspinwall Borough

- No person shall destroy, remove, deface, obliterate or cover up any lamp, sign or barricade erected as a warning of danger by the authorities of the Borough or by any person doing work by permission of the authorities of the Borough on any streets, alleys, sidewalks or bridges in the Borough or on any public grounds of the Borough.
- It shall be unlawful to remove, injure, destroy or deface any marking or sign placed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
- Rotating free-standing signs, swinging signs or signs projecting over a right-of-way are prohibited.
- Banners, pennants, search lights, twirling signs, sandwich board signs, sidewalk or curb signs, balloons or other gas-figures shall not be used on a permanent basis.
- Flags are prohibited, except as provided for in § 27-408, Subsection 5.
- Signs that are animated or have flashing illumination are prohibited.
- No sign shall be attached to any tree or utility pole on public or private property, except as permitted by Subsection 6.
- No sign shall be erected upon or applied to any roof or project above the cornice line of a flat roof or above the gutter line of a sloped roof building.
- No sign shall project beyond any property line and/or be located within a road right-of-way except as permitted by Subsection 6.
- No free-standing sign shall obstruct safe, clear sight distance at any street or driveway intersection.
- No free-standing sign shall have more than two faces.
- All free-standing signs shall be set permanently in concrete to a depth of at least three feet.
- Every authorized sign must be constructed of durable materials in conformance with the Borough Building Code and must be maintained in good condition and repair.
- If any sign becomes dilapidated to the point that it constitutes an unsightly or hazardous condition, the Zoning Officer shall order it repaired or removed within 15 days.
- If a use ceases for a period of six months, all signs for that use, including any supporting structures, must be removed.
- Signs placed by a governmental body must not be removed, injured, destroyed or defaced.
- A zoning permit must be obtained from the Zoning Officer prior to the erection or alteration of any sign.
- Nonconforming signs shall not be enlarged or altered except to bring them into conformity or make safety improvements.
- If more than 50% of the cost of construction is spent on repair/remodel of a nonconforming sign, the sign must be brought into conformance.
- Abandoned or non-maintained nonconforming signs must be brought into conformance prior to reuse.

## Signs exempt from permit in Aspinwall Borough

- Flags or emblems of a government, political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization displayed on private property.
- Signs placed by a governmental body, including traffic or directional devices, legal notices and warning, instructional or regulatory signs.
- Address numerals and other signs required to be maintained by law or governmental regulation, provided content and size do not exceed requirement.
- Small directional signs, not exceeding five square feet in area, displayed on private property for public convenience (identifying entrance/exit drives, parking areas, one-way drives, rest rooms, freight entrances, etc.).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit must be obtained from the Zoning Officer prior to the erection or alteration of any sign.
- The Planning Commission shall review and approve all sign applications, except temporary sign applications, prior to issuance of the necessary zoning permit.
- The Zoning Officer shall review and approve all temporary sign applications.
- No explicit mention of a Master Sign Plan or sign plan requirement, but sign permits and Planning Commission review are generally required for all signs except temporary signs.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/aspinwall-borough