# Sign Regulations in Aston Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Aston Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/aston-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Aston Township, Pennsylvania regulates 46 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Commercial)s in the Commercial District, Shopping Center District, Planned Business Campus District, Limited Industrial District, Freestanding Business District, Institutional District, C Commercial District, Planned Residential Development District (non-residential use; only if permitted in district) zoning district are capped at Min 7 ft, max 15 ft above road grade tall and 25 square feet (Sec. §1282.05(b)(2)B.1). Most commercial signs in Aston Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, Apartment District, Townhouse District, Mobile Home District, Planned Residential Development District | 4 | — | 288 square inches | — |
| Commercial District, Shopping Center District, Planned Business Campus District, Limited Industrial District, Freestanding Business District, Institutional District, C Commercial District, Planned Residential Development District (non-residential use; only if permitted in district) | 11 | Min 8 ft, Max 14 ft above ground/walkway | 48 square feet (max 6 ft x 8 ft) | — |
| Shopping Center District | 10 | Min 7 ft, Max 15 ft | 50 square feet | — |
| Freestanding Business District | 5 | — | 50 square feet (main building, 2 sides max); 2x2 ft for entrance/service | — |
| Planned Business Campus District | 3 | 30 ft | 48 square feet | — |
| Limited Industrial District, LI District | 5 | 35 ft above curb/roadway | 150 square feet per face (2 faces max; back to back; no more than 4 ft apart) | — |
| Institutional District, ID District | 4 | 30 ft | As per §1282.04 (max 45 sq ft, 6 ft high) | — |
| M-U District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Major Sports Complex (Limited Industrial District, Institutional District) | 10 | — | 300 square feet (per sign), 6,000 square feet (total) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Commercial District, Shopping Center District, Planned Business Campus District, Limited Industrial District, Freestanding Business District, Institutional District, C Commercial District, Planned Residential Development District (non-residential use; only if permitted in district)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial) | Min 7 ft, max 15 ft above road grade | 25 square feet | — | — | 1 per premises | 1 per building or combination of buildings on premises held in single/separate ownership | — | §1282.05(b)(2)B.1 |
| Ground Sign (Commercial) | 4 ft | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Commercial, Planned Business Campus, Limited Industrial Districts, Institutional and Freestanding Business Districts only | — | §1282.05(b)(2)B.2, §1282.04(g) |
| Wall Sign (Direct Entrance) | — | 25 square feet | — | — | 1 per occupant with entrance | Each occupant with public entrance from parking lot/street | — | §1282.05(b)(2)E |
| Wall Sign (No Direct Entrance) | — | 25 square feet | — | — | 1 per building entrance | For all occupants without direct public entrance; one sign near public entrance | — | §1282.05(b)(2)F |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per property per frontage | Advertising sale/rental of premises | — | §1282.05(b)(1)B |
| Real Estate Development Sign | — | 48 square feet (max 6 ft x 8 ft) | 8 ft | — | 1 per street frontage | Premises under development | — | §1282.05(b)(1)C |
| Menu Board (Restaurant with Drive-Through) | — | 25 square feet | — | — | 1 menu sign per drive-through | Drive-through restaurant | — | §1282.05(b)(2)D |
| Projecting Sign | Min 8 ft, Max 14 ft above ground/walkway | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Affixed to building | — | §1282.05(b)(2)B.4, §1282.04(h) |

### Shopping Center District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center) | Min 7 ft, Max 15 ft | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per street | One per street upon which shopping center has frontage | — | §1282.05(b)(3)B |
| Wall Sign (Direct Entrance) | — | 25 square feet | — | — | 1 per occupant | Each occupant with direct public entrance to parking lot or street | — | §1282.05(b)(3)C |
| Wall Sign (No Direct Entrance) | — | 15 square feet | — | — | 1 per building entrance | For all occupants without direct entrance; located near public entrance to shopping center | — | §1282.05(b)(3)D |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Occupancy < 2000 sq ft) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per occupant | Each occupant of a multi-occupancy building with < 2000 sq ft and direct access | — | §1282.05(b)(3)E |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Occupancy 2000-30,000 sq ft) | — | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 per occupant | Each occupant of multi-occupancy building 2000-30,000 sq ft | — | §1282.05(b)(3)F |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Occupancy > 30,000 sq ft) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 2 per occupant max | Each occupant of multi-occupancy building > 30,000 sq ft | — | §1282.05(b)(3)G |
| Wall Sign (Principal Occupant in Multi-Occupancy >30,000 sq ft) | — | 50 square feet per sign (up to 3 sides) | — | — | 1 per side, up to 3 | On each side of building (max 3 sides) | — | §1282.05(b)(3)I |
| Wall Sign (Single Occupancy Building >= 50,000 sq ft) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 2 per building | 1 per two sides of building | — | §1282.05(b)(3)K |

### Major Sports Complex (Limited Industrial District, Institutional District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Major Sports Complex) | — | 48 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §1282.10(i) |
| Ground Sign (Major Sports Complex) | — | 45 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §1282.10(j) |
| Wall Sign (Major Sports Complex - 25,000 to 50,000 sq ft building) | — | 75 square feet (per sign), 375 square feet (total) | — | — | Unlimited | — | — | §1282.10(e) |
| Wall Sign (Major Sports Complex - 50,000 to 100,000 sq ft building) | — | 150 square feet (per sign), 1,500 square feet (total) | — | — | Unlimited | — | — | §1282.10(f) |
| Wall Sign (Major Sports Complex - 100,000 to 150,000 sq ft building) | — | 225 square feet (per sign), 3,375 square feet (total) | — | — | Unlimited | — | — | §1282.10(g) |
| Wall Sign (Major Sports Complex - 150,000 to 200,000+ sq ft building) | — | 300 square feet (per sign), 6,000 square feet (total) | — | — | Unlimited | — | — | §1282.10(h) |
| Fence Sign | — | Same as applicable wall sign limit for size category | — | — | Unlimited | Outdoor complex fence | — | §1282.10 for respective sq ft category |
| Window Sign, including Neon | — | Total window signs may not exceed 35% of total window space for individual lobby entrances | — | — | — | Window (lobby entrance) | — | §1282.10(l) |

## Prohibited signs in Aston Township

- Any sign not specifically authorized by the provisions of this chapter shall not be erected or maintained in the township.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain flashing, blinking, twinkling, spinning, animated, inflatable, aerial, crane signs or lighted moving signs, including automatic color changing and rotating lamps and other moving objects that call attention to the sign. The use of rotating search lights for advertising is allowed by permit as temporary signs.
- Advertising cloth or paper banners or signs of any similar character suspended or hung on any property, except for temporary banners which may be permitted through special permission.
- Wall bulletins or any other signs painted directly on the facade of a building or other structure.
- Curb or sidewalk signs or signs painted, attached or suspended from any outdoor bench, chair or other structure.
- Swinging and hanging signs.
- Signs, letters, posters and advertisements which are tacked, pasted, tied or otherwise affixed to poles, posts, buildings, fences or other structures located on public property or within public right-of-way in the township.
- Signs temporarily or permanently placed, erected, attached or painted on any vehicle if such a sign identifies, advertises or gives information with respect to premises or events unless the sign is required by law, temporarily in transit, permanently affixed to a legally used vehicle, or as a construction shed complying with use and location regulations.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the roofline or any structure which extends above the roofline of any building.
- No sign shall be located, arranged or placed in a position where it will cause danger to traffic or will interfere with traffic through glare, blocking of required sight lines, confusion with traffic devices or by any means.
- No sign shall be erected within the right-of-way of any public street nor closer than five feet to the right-of-way line unless specifically authorized by other ordinances.
- No sign shall be designed or lighted in such a manner/position that it will cause danger to traffic, obstruct view, or present an unreasonable risk of injury to persons or property.
- No illuminated sign shall be lighted on days when the business or permitted use is not open for business.
- No sign shall be maintained on any premises if it is abandoned (vacant/unoccupied 60 days or more, for prior occupant, or related to a past time/event/purpose).
- Any sign which becomes dilapidated must be removed by the landowner or lessee at their expense.
- No off-site advertising sign is permitted except as permitted under § 1282.09.
- No sign is permitted that is not expressly allowed in any given zoning district.
- No sign may be attached to smoke stacks, water towers, silos, or similar structures except in compliance with all sign provisions of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Aston Township

- Public notice, warning or official traffic sign required by a federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from more than three feet beyond the lot line.
- Building markers including only building name, date of construction or historical data, one per building, max 6 sq. ft.
- Flags of the United States, Commonwealth, foreign nations, or other officially sanctioned flags, not exceeding 60 sq. ft. flown from poles not over 40 ft.
- Incidental signs containing no commercial message, not exceeding 8 sq. ft.
- Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises or lot, one per street frontage, not illuminated; max 8 sq. ft. in residential, 20 sq. ft. in nonresidential.
- Signs advertising the development of the premises, max 8 sq. ft. residential, 20 sq. ft. nonresidential.
- Nameplate signs on private residences, not exceeding 288 sq. in.
- Decorations for recognized, official holidays, not creating traffic or fire hazard.
- Yard sale or garage sale signs, not exceeding 2 sq. ft. and removed within 24 hours after sale.
- Signs announcing a political, educational, charitable, civic, religious, athletic or similar campaign/event, erected for no more than 30 days at a time or four times per year, max annual 120 days, and not exceeding 8 sq. ft.
- Temporary banners advertising or denoting special events.
- Changeable copy signs for churches, schools and similar uses, one per property (or corner lot add'l allowed), not exceeding 16 sq. ft.
- Window signs as accessory signs to the principal use: commercial zones only; area not exceeding 25% of window glass area.
- Official traffic signs.
- Trespassing signs or signs indicating private drive/property, not exceeding 6 sq. ft.
- Signs of contractors, mechanics and artisans only on premises where work is performed, not exceeding 12 sq. ft., not illuminated, removed 24 hours after completion.
- Signs advertising the sale of farm products grown on the premises, not exceeding 6 sq. ft., one per street frontage, not illuminated, displayed only when farm products are being sold.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a permit must include a plan drawn to scale showing the sign, its size, and its location with respect to the building and to the boundaries of the lot upon which it is situated.
- Permits are required for all non-exempt signs as detailed in § 1282.08; applications must include size, shape, materials, supports, location, and height above sidewalk or ground plus owner's written consent if applicant is not owner.
- Whenever any sign or sign face is replaced, enlarged, or altered (unless exempt), a permit is required before work commences.
- No explicit requirement or mention found for a 'master sign plan' or a mandatory variance or special meeting for general (non-variance, non-billboard) signage except where special exception or conditional approval is cited for hardship/special need.
- For billboards: a landscaping plan must be submitted for review and approval by the Code Enforcement Officer.

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

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