# Sign Regulations in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/cranberry-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14179787#14179787)

## At a glance

Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania regulates 25 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Sign (One- and/or Two-Tenant Building)s in the Nonresidential zoning districts zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall, 50 square feet per tenant (one- or two-tenant buildings), and 16 feet 6 inches wide, with a 10 feet setback (Sec. § 27-608.2A(2)). Most commercial signs in Cranberry Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning district | 1 | 8 feet | 25 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts | 7 | 12 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Commercial zoning district | 3 | 35 feet | 376 square feet (single face only) | — |
| CCD District | 5 | Not higher than the first floor or 15 feet, whichever is less. Lower edge minimum 10 feet above grade; not to extend more than 6 feet from wall. | 100 sf (site up to 100,000 sf); 150 sf (site 100,001-300,000 sf); 300 sf (site over 300,000 sf) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — |

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

### Nonresidential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonresidential Development Identification Sign (Freestanding Monument) | 12 feet | 50 square feet | — | 10 feet from property lines/right-of-way | 2 per development site (one per abutting street) | Only on the development site it represents, minimum 10 feet from any right-of-way or property line. Building-mounted version must be independent of tenant signs. | — | § 27-608.2A(1), § 27-605.1H |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (One- and/or Two-Tenant Building) | 8 feet | 50 square feet per tenant (one- or two-tenant buildings) | 16 feet 6 inches | 10 feet | 1 | On lands occupied by such building along street with access; setback minimum 10 feet from any right-of-way or property line. | — | § 27-608.2A(2) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Three or More Tenant/Master-Planned Developments) | 10 feet (site up to 100,000 sf); 15 feet (site 100,001-300,000 sf); 20 feet (over 300,000 sf) | 100 square feet (site up to 100,000 sf); 150 square feet (site 100,001-300,000 sf); 300 square feet (over 300,000 sf) | 16 feet 6 inches | 10 feet | 1 per qualifying frontage (max 2) | On lands occupied by multiple-tenant buildings with street access; minimum 10 feet setback. | — | § 27-608.2A(3) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Hotel or Motel) | 10 feet | 100 square feet | 16 feet 6 inches | 10 feet | One (two if two frontages with access) | On lands occupied by hotel/motel, with access to street; minimum 10 feet setback. | — | § 27-608.2A(4) |
| Building-Mounted Sign (One- and/or Two-Tenant Buildings) | — | 120 sf (1-24,999 sf tenant); 200 sf (25,000-49,999 sf); 250 sf (50,000-79,999 sf); 300 sf (80,000+ sf) | — | — | Per tenant; restrictions apply | Tenant's facade | — | § 27-608.2B(1) |
| Building-Mounted Sign (Three or More Tenants) | — | 120 square feet | — | — | Per tenant (restrictions apply) | Tenant facade | — | § 27-608.2B(2) |
| Building-Mounted Sign (Hotel or Motel) | — | 200 square feet | — | — | 1 or 2 depending on building size/direction | Mounted to hotel/motel facade | — | § 27-608.2B(3) |

### CCD District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CCD Monument Sign (Multiple-Tenant) | 10 ft (<=100,000 sf); 15 ft (100,001-300,000); 20 ft (>300,000) | 100 sf (site up to 100,000 sf); 150 sf (site 100,001-300,000 sf); 300 sf (site over 300,000 sf) | 16 feet 6 inches | 10 feet from property/right-of-way | 1 per frontage (max 2) | Adjoining street on lands occupied by multi-tenant buildings with direct street access. Minimum 10 ft setback. | — | § 27-608.2A(5) |
| CCD Portable Sign (Sandwich Board) | — | 10 square feet | — | Within 10 feet of building facade | 1 per tenant | On the sidewalk immediately in front of the use, with a five-foot-clear pedestrian passage, and within 10 feet of building facade. | — | § 27-608.2A(5)(b); (i) |
| CCD Building-Mounted Signs: Wall Sign | — | 90 square feet | — | — | Max 3 per building (one per facade) | On the tenant's building facade. | — | § 27-608.2B(4)(e) |
| CCD Building-Mounted Signs: Projecting Wall or Awning/Canopy Sign | Not higher than the first floor or 15 feet, whichever is less. Lower edge minimum 10 feet above grade; not to extend more than 6 feet from wall. | 20 square feet | — | May not extend >6 feet from wall | One per tenant | Projecting from the facade as specified. | — | § 27-608.2B(4)(e)-(f) |
| CCD Building-Mounted Signs: Blade Sign | — | 5 square feet | — | — | One per tenant | Perpendicular to building facade or storefront pole. | — | § 27-608.2B(4)(b)-(e) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Residential Real Estate Sign | 5 feet | 6 square feet | — | 10 feet | One per lot (see additional) | On the premises for sale/lease/rent only, minimum 10 feet from right-of-way/property line. | — | § 27-604.2A(1) |
| Temporary Common Residential Real Estate Development Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet | One per entrance | On development property; 10 feet from right-of-way/property line. | — | § 27-604.2A(2) |
| Temporary Nonresidential Real Estate Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet | One per lot/site (+1 per abutting street) | On premises for sale/lease/rent; 10 feet from right-of-way/property line. | — | § 27-604.2B(1) |
| Temporary Common or Shared Nonresidential Real Estate Development Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet | One per development entrance | Within the nonresidential development; 10 feet from right-of-way/property line. | — | § 27-604.2B(2) |
| Preoccupancy or Temporary Business Identification Sign (Building Mounted) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | One per tenant | Building mounted (banners, panels, etc.), one per tenant. | — | § 27-604.2B(3) |
| Auction, Garage, or Yard Sale Sign | — | 5 square feet | — | — | — | On event site only. | — | § 27-604.2C(1) |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board) | — | 10 square feet | — | Within 10 feet of facade | 1 per tenant | Within 10 feet of building facade; may be on sidewalk if 5' pedestrian passage is maintained. | — | § 27-604.2C(3) |
| Directional Signage (Freestanding or Building-Mounted) | — | 5 square feet | — | Not in right-of-way; must not interfere with sight distance. | 2 per entrance/exit, more allowed internally | Site entrance/exit or internal site. Not within right-of-way. | — | § 27-604.3 |

## Prohibited signs in Cranberry Township

- All signs not expressly authorized under the ordinance or exempt from regulation are prohibited.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Animated or flashing signs outside a structure are prohibited.
- Animated or flashing signs within a structure that are visible from any right-of-way are prohibited.
- Pennants are prohibited.
- Strings of lights, except those exempt under previous sections, are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons are prohibited.
- Any sign or sign structure that constitutes a hazard to public safety or health is prohibited.
- Signs that, by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination, obstruct the vision of drivers or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device on public streets are prohibited.
- Signs that make use of words such as 'Stop,' 'Look,' 'One Way,' 'Danger,' 'Yield,' or similar words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic are prohibited.
- Any obsolete sign that no longer identifies a bona fide business conducted or product sold is prohibited.
- Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a tree, utility pole, stone, cliff or other natural object are prohibited.
- Banners, except for preoccupancy and temporary business identification signs, are prohibited.
- Ban lighting, fascia lighting, strip lighting, and the like are prohibited.
- Vehicular signs are prohibited.
- Projected signs and logos, including commercial messages and logos projected onto buildings or structures, are prohibited.
- Temporary commercial messages, except for temporary real estate signs and pre-occupancy or temporary business identification signs that comply with the ordinance, are prohibited.
- Roof signs as defined in the ordinance are prohibited.
- No sign shall encroach into any public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected in the clear sight triangle area as specified in the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
- Filling, berming, mounding, or excavating solely for the purpose of elevating the sign is prohibited.
- Illumination via exposed bulbs or visible neon tubing is not permitted within any Township zoning districts.
- No sign within a residential zoning district or within 150 feet of a residential zoning district may be illuminated between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cranberry Township

- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance is exempt from permits.
- Any sign inside a structure that is in compliance with this chapter is exempt from permits.
- Works of art that do not include a commercial message are exempt from permits.
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, but only between November and January, are exempt from permits.
- Memorial signs or tablets denoting the date of erection of a building are exempt from permits.
- Temporary signs, such as auction, fundraiser, garage, or yard sale signs, as identified in § 27-604.2C(1) and (2), are exempt from permits.
- Signs and banners erected by a governmental body or under the direction of such body are exempt from permits.
- Temporary event signs and banners announcing nonprofit events for noncommercial purposes, where such sign does not exceed 32 square feet in area, is located at the event site, displayed for no more than 30 days prior and removed within three days after the event, are exempt from permits.
- Political signs announcing candidates seeking public office are exempt from permits.
- Building numbering in accordance with Chapter 5, § 5-305.1 is exempt from permits.
- An off-premises sign for facilities that provide 24-hour emergency services, provided such facility is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for stabilization and treatment, is exempt from permits.
- CCD pole signs used for wayfinding purposes are exempt from permits.
- Temporary Residential and Nonresidential Real Estate Signs, and Preoccupancy/Temporary Business Identification Signs meeting the requirements in § 27-604.2 are exempt from permits.
- Other temporary signs such as auction, garage, yard sale, and fundraiser for nonprofits/charities, as specified in § 27-604.2C, are exempt from permits.
- Portable/sandwich board signs under § 27-604.2C(3), meeting specified criteria, are exempt from permits.
- Directional signage (No Parking, Entrance, Exit, etc.) as specified in § 27-604.3 are exempt from permits.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- When a sign requiring zoning approval under the provisions of this chapter is to be placed, constructed, erected, or modified on a lot or site, the owner must secure zoning approval prior to construction, placement, erection, or modification, and zoning approval for occupancy and use after completion in accordance with the ordinance requirements.
- No zoning approval shall be issued for a sign unless such sign is consistent with the requirements of this chapter.
- An application for zoning approval for structural alteration or erection of structures for a sign shall include electronic submittal of detailed construction plans for the sign with accompanying documentation, including sign area calculations, demonstrating compliance with the ordinance.
- Five classifications of zoning uses for signs are established: Allowed Uses (no zoning approval required and in compliance), Uses by Right (permitted and in compliance), Conditional Uses (permitted by approval of the Board of Supervisors), Exempt Uses (exempt from regulation), and Prohibited Uses (not authorized or exempt).
- Billboards are a principal use which is allowed by conditional use in all nonresidential zoning districts, subject to general provisions and express standards and criteria; not allowed within any planned residential development nor CCD zoning district.
- Signs listed in § 27-605 require permits: residential development identification signs, freestanding/monument signs, building-mounted signs, CCD signs, electronic message center signs, manual/mechanical changeable-copy signs, billboards, and nonresidential development identification signs.
- Variation of yard requirements for nonconforming lots where signage is affected shall be obtained only through action of the Board as provided for by § 27-1108, procedure for variances.

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

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