# Sign Regulations in Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/mahoning-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7264085#7264085)

## At a glance

Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania regulates 19 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Advertising Signboard (Billboard) (C-H Only)s in the Commercial-Highway District (C-H), Industrial Development District (ID), Institutional District (IN) zoning district are capped at Not to exceed principal structure height in district; must be at least 15 ft above ground in circulation areas tall and 600 sq ft per face; two parallel faces (Sec. § 250-68D). Most commercial signs in Mahoning Township 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 | 4 | In RR, MR, HR: 12 ft; C-O, A/F, R/OS: 20 ft; All other zones: not to exceed principal structure height limit | — | — |
| Rural Residential District (RR), Moderate Density Residential District (MR), High Density Residential District (HR) | 11 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Commercial-Office District (C-O) | 3 | — | 100 sq ft total per business (sign types combined); 125 sq ft for corner or double frontage properties | — |
| Commercial-Highway District (C-H), Industrial Development District (ID), Institutional District (IN) | 4 | Not to exceed principal structure height in district; must be at least 15 ft above ground in circulation areas | 600 sq ft per face; two parallel faces | — |
| Agricultural/Forest District (A/F), Recreation/Open Space District (R/OS) | 3 | — | 24 sq ft per property; max 48 sq ft if on corner or double frontage (total for all signs) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | In RR, MR, HR: 12 ft; C-O, A/F, R/OS: 20 ft; All other zones: not to exceed principal structure height limit | — | — | Freestanding: Min. setback equals sign height from right-of-way or front property line; side/rear setbacks per district. | — | Setback at least equal to sign's height from street right-of-way or front property line; must also meet side and rear setbacks. Temporary signs may be placed within 15 ft of right-of-way/property line. | — | § 250-65; § 250-70 |
| Parallel Wall Sign | No portion may extend above top of wall | — | — | — | — | On building wall, not to project >12 inches nor interfere with pedestrian/vehicular traffic | — | § 250-65; § 250-70 |
| Projecting Wall Sign | No portion may extend above top of wall | — | — | — | — | On building wall, at right angles | — | § 250-65; § 250-70 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | General placement rules apply | — | § 250-64I; § 250-70C(4) |

### Rural Residential District (RR), Moderate Density Residential District (MR), High Density Residential District (HR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Posting Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | As needed | Freestanding or parallel wall | — | § 250-66A(1) |
| Nameplate or Personal Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | No more than one per property; corner lots: one per frontage | Freestanding or parallel wall | — | § 250-66A(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | No more than one per property; corner lots: one per frontage | Freestanding or parallel wall | — | § 250-66A(3) |
| Property Sale or Rental Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | No more than two per property; corner lots: two per frontage | Freestanding or parallel wall | — | § 250-66A(4) |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | As needed, max four per facility | Freestanding or parallel wall | — | § 250-66A(5) |
| Farm Product Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | No more than two per property | Freestanding | — | § 250-66A(6) |
| Artisan's Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per property; corner lots: one per frontage | Freestanding or parallel wall | — | § 250-66A(7) |
| Residential Development Identification Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | No more than one per property; corner lots: one per frontage | Freestanding or parallel wall | — | § 250-66A(8) |

### Commercial-Highway District (C-H), Industrial Development District (ID), Institutional District (IN)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Allowed in RR, MR, HR | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 250-68A |
| Institutional or Civic Sign (IN Zone) | — | Freestanding: up to 100 sq ft per building; Wall sign: up to 100 sq ft per building (one per exposure); Unlimited for traffic/directional signs | — | — | Freestanding: as many as necessary; Wall: one per exposure; traffic/directional: no limit | Freestanding, parallel wall, or projecting wall | — | § 250-68B(1-3) |
| Business Identification Sign | — | No sign over 100 sq ft (freestanding or wall); wall signs cannot exceed 20% of wall; total for all signs on premises may not exceed 200 sq ft; corner/double frontage: one sign per frontage, total area limit applies | — | — | One freestanding and one wall sign per property; corner/double frontage: one per frontage | Freestanding, parallel wall, or projecting wall | — | § 250-68C |
| Advertising Signboard (Billboard) (C-H Only) | Not to exceed principal structure height in district; must be at least 15 ft above ground in circulation areas | 600 sq ft per face; two parallel faces | — | — | One advertising signboard per property | Freestanding only; C-H District ONLY | — | § 250-68D |

## Prohibited signs in Mahoning Township

- No sign shall be allowed to become dilapidated or endanger public health, safety or welfare.
- Signs must be securely fastened to prevent displacement by the elements.
- No sign (temporary or permanent) shall be placed within the clear sight triangle of any intersection per § 250-50D, nor at any other location that could obstruct or impair a motorist's clear vision.
- No sign shall be located where it could be an impediment to pedestrian traffic.
- No sign other than an official traffic sign shall be erected within the right-of-way of any public street or roadway, unless authorized by the Township Supervisors for a special purpose.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained which could prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to a vent pipe, fire escape or the eaves of any building.
- No signs shall be affixed to the roof of any building.
- Signs in a floodplain district may not substantially impede natural drainage or the flow of water.
- No person(s) shall artificially increase the height of a sign by altering the grade at the base of the sign.
- No portion of a wall sign, whether parallel or projecting, shall extend above the top of the wall to which it is attached.
- Parallel wall signs may not extend more than 12 inches from the surface to which they are mounted or attached.
- Parallel wall signs may not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Projecting wall signs shall not project more than five feet from their supporting structure or wall.
- Projecting wall signs shall not extend over a public street or walkway.
- Projecting wall signs must have a clearance of no less than 10 feet to the ground or pavement beneath.
- Illuminated signs shall not cause glare, disturbance, or impairment to passing motorists' vision.
- Illumination must be steady in nature; not flashing, moving, or changing in brilliance, color, or intensity, except for approved time and temperature signs.
- All applicable state regulations must be met where signs are proposed in areas adjacent to highways in PennDOT's Primary and Interstate Highway Systems.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mahoning Township

- No zoning permit is required for property posting signs.
- No zoning permit is required for nameplates or personal identification signs.
- No zoning permit is required for property sale or rental signs.
- No zoning permit is required for temporary signs.
- No zoning permit is required for directional or public service signs (including those advertising the availability of rest rooms, public telephones or other public conveniences), provided that such signs do not advertise any commercial establishment, activity, product, or goods.
- There is no fee for the erection of any sign necessary to the public welfare.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All permitted sign uses must conform to the general sign regulations outlined in § 250-65.
- A zoning permit is required for the placement, erection, or alteration of all permanent signs, except as exempted in § 250-70C.
- All applications for signs being erected on property other than that owned by the applicant must include notarized permission from the property owner.
- A written copy of PennDOT's determination regarding compliance with state regulations must accompany applications for signs adjacent to highways in PennDOT's Primary and Interstate Highway Systems.

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

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