# Sign Regulations in Ellwood, Pennsylvania

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

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

## At a glance

Ellwood, Pennsylvania regulates 29 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Street Address Signs in the C-3 Gateway North District zoning district are capped at 8 in tall, 8 in × 36 in, and 36 in wide (Sec. 1486.06(a)(22)C). Most commercial signs in Ellwood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1 Local Business District | 17 | 8 in | 15 sq ft | — |
| C-2 Downtown Business District | 16 | 8 in | 15 sq ft | — |
| C-3 Gateway North District | 25 | 18 ft | 80 sq ft per side | — |
| C-3 Core Commercial District | 16 | 8 in | 15 sq ft | — |
| C-3 Gateway West District | 24 | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — |
| C-3 Institutional–Professional District | 16 | 8 in | 24 sq ft | — |
| I Industrial District | 25 | 25 ft | 500 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 7 | 8 in | 10 sq ft per side | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 10 sq ft per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### C-3 Gateway North District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | See allocation | Perpendicular from building wall | — | 1486.06(a)(17)C |
| Flag Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | See allocation | Affixed to building or ground | — | 1486.06(a)(9)C |
| Sculptural Feature Sign | — | 7 cubic ft | — | — | See allocation | Resting on, or attached to, ground | — | 1486.06(a)(21)C |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | One of ground sign or pole sign per 1486.07(c)(1)E | Freestanding on lot | — | 1486.06(a)(10)C |
| Pole Sign | 18 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | One of ground sign or pole sign per 1486.07(c)(1)E | Affixed to pole, freestanding | — | 1486.06(a)(16)C |
| Pylon Sign | 12 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | One of pylon or multiple business sign, per 1486.07(c)(1)F | Freestanding, >8ft height | — | 1486.06(a)(18)C |
| Banner Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | Front yard setback allowed if not in ROW | One banner or other temp sign per allocation | Front yard setback or securely attached to building facade, not in public ROW | — | 1486.06(b)(2)B.3, 1486.07(c)(1)M |
| Street Address Sign | 8 in | 8 in × 36 in | 36 in | — | One per establishment | On façade or window | — | 1486.06(a)(22)C |

### C-3 Gateway West District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | One of ground or pole sign | Freestanding on lot | — | 1486.06(a)(10)E |
| Pole Sign | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | One of ground or pole sign | Affixed to pole, freestanding | — | 1486.06(a)(16)E |
| Pylon Sign | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | One of pylon or multiple business sign | Freestanding, >8ft height | — | 1486.06(a)(18)E |
| Blade Sign | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | Max 20 per lot | Temporary; attached to small pole (≤2 in dia.), ground mounted, max 20 per lot, spaced ≥15 ft apart. | — | 1486.06(a)(3)B.5, 1486.07(e)(1)M |
| Banner Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | Front yard setback allowed if not in ROW | One per allocation | Front yard setback or securely attached to building facade, not in public ROW | — | 1486.06(b)(2)B.5 |
| Pennant Sign | — | Each ≤ 48 sq in; total ≤ 420 ft length | — | — | Total length ≤420 ft | Affixed by string on lot | — | 1486.06(b)(3)B.5 |
| Air-Activated Sign | 15 ft | — | — | — | One per allocation | On business establishment's lot | — | 1486.06(b)(1)B.5 |
| Street Address Sign | 8 in | 8 in × 36 in | 36 in | — | One per establishment | On building/window | — | 1486.06(a)(22)E |

### I Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | — | Freestanding | — | 1486.06(a)(10)G |
| Pole Sign | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Affixed to pole | — | 1486.06(a)(16)G |
| Pylon Sign | 15 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | — | Freestanding, over 8 ft in height | — | 1486.06(a)(18)G |
| Blade Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | Up to 20 per lot | Temporary; attached to pole (≤2 in diameter), ground mounted. | — | 1486.06(a)(3)B.7, 1486.07(g)(1)M |
| Banner Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | Front yard setback allowed if not in ROW | One per allocation | Front yard setback or attached to facade (not in ROW) | — | 1486.06(b)(2)B.7 |
| Street Address Sign | 8 in | 8 in × 36 in | 36 in | — | One | On building/window | — | 1486.06(a)(22)G |
| Dedication Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | One | On building/structure | — | 1486.06(a)(7)G |
| Incidental Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One | On building/lot | — | 1486.06(a)(12)G |

## Prohibited signs in Ellwood

- Any sign hereafter established or maintained shall conform to the provisions of this chapter.
- No sign may be located so that it interferes with the view necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections or to enter onto or exit from public streets or private roads.
- Signs that revolve or are animated or that utilize movement or apparent movement to attract the attention of the public are prohibited.
- No sign may be erected so that by its location, color, size, shape, nature or message may obstruct the view of or be confused with official traffic signs or other signs erected by governmental agencies.
- No sign shall contain or be illuminated by flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity.
- No sign within 150 feet of a residential zone may be illuminated between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
- Internal illumination of the background, base, or non-letter, numbers, or symbols of the sign is prohibited. The background/base material shall be opaque and not allow for light to pass through the material. Transparent materials which allow for light to pass through may not exceed 50% of the total sign area.
- Spinning signs are not permitted in any zoning district.
- During any political election, yard signs shall not be permitted on any public property four weeks before and five days after the voting date.
- No person shall place any sign, banner, or advertising matter of any kind whatsoever on or across any street, alley or highway in the Borough, or on or across any structure within the legal limits of any Borough street, alley or highway, without first having obtained the consent of Council.
- No person, persons, partnership, corporation, or any other entity, shall place, affix, or attach to any utility pole, sign pole, or refuse receptacle owned by the Borough, any sign, banner, or advertising material.
- Temporary signs and sandwich board signs must be made of weather-proof, sturdy material that will not easily blow away or collapse and potentially cause harm to citizens.
- Nylon or other flexible synthetic materials are limited to only temporary signs and blade signs.
- Willfully or maliciously destroying, removing, defacing, obliterating or covering up any warning lamp, flare, sign or barricade erected by the authorities or by any authorized persons on or over public grounds, as a warning of danger, is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ellwood

- Street, traffic, public safety, public parking, hospital and school signs and signs providing directions to Business Districts are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
- Any sign required by Federal or State statutes and regulations regarding public utilities and their operations is exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
- Yard signs in accordance with Section 1486.14 (i.e., during a political election grace-period) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Council has excepted from the requirement for Council consent a certain sign located on Fifth Street displaying the name of the Borough and any subsequent replacement approved by Council.
- Certain municipal/hospital/route/street/snow removal signs are exempt from prohibitions on attaching signs to Borough-owned poles.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit from the Building Inspector is required before a sign of any kind can be erected, altered or enlarged, and for all nonconforming signs.
- Application for a sign permit must include the property owner's permission (if different from the applicant), the location, and a sign drawing.
- Every sign in the Borough must be licensed and/or certified at the time the permit is issued.
- Every business or person within the Borough owning a sign must register the sign with the Building Inspector in January of each year to receive certification of compliance (a sign license).
- At the time of licensing, projecting signs over the public right-of-way and free-standing signs within 20 feet of the public right-of-way require liability insurance and a certificate of compliance.
- If limitations of the chapter obstruct or hinder visibility, applicants may request a dimensional modification by submitting an application with fee to the Building Inspector; Borough Council will review and act on the request within 45 days.
- Requests to place signs, banners, or advertising matter over streets, alleys, or highways require prior written consent (via Council resolution) and a formal application.
- There is no reference to a master sign plan requirement; applications and approvals appear to be handled individually via permits and, where dimensional modifications are needed, through Council review.
- Chart A: Signage Regulations and Chart B: Signage Allocation, referenced in the ordinance, are available for public inspection at the Borough offices. These may be necessary for a complete sign plan submission.
- During a political election, a multi-week grace-period allows yard signs to be erected without a permit (per Section 1486.14). Outside this period, permits and fees apply.

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

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