# Sign Regulations in Monessen, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Monessen, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/monessen
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/13062843#13062843)

## At a glance

Monessen, Pennsylvania regulates 10 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Off-Premises Sign (Billboard)s in the commercial districts, industrial districts zoning district are capped at 80 feet tall and 200 sq ft, with a 10 ft from nonresidential lot line, 20 ft from any ROW, 200 ft from residential lot line setback (Sec. §375-61E). Most commercial signs in Monessen require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 10 feet | 40 square feet per side (max 2 sides) | — |
| commercial districts, industrial districts | 5 | 80 feet | 200 sq ft | — |
| residential districts | 3 | Equal to total height of building to which attached | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | 10 feet | — | — | — | — | Not within or projecting over any street right-of-way | — | §375-52; §375-55A |
| Public Service Sign | 10 feet | — | — | — | — | Allowed in right-of-way | — | §375-52; §375-55A |
| Directional Sign | 10 feet | — | — | — | — | Allowed in right-of-way | — | §375-52; §375-55A |
| Window Sign (Nonpermanent) | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | §375-50B |
| Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any location allowed by law | — | §375-55A |
| Portable Sign | — | 40 square feet per side (max 2 sides) | — | Not within street right-of-way | 1 per principal use or lot, whichever is more restrictive | Only on lot of permitted principal commercial use; not within street right-of-way | — | §375-53C(3); §375-53C(2) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | Window or transparent door | — | §375-53A; §375-60 |

### commercial districts, industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | Not within or projecting over street right-of-way; Minimum 20 feet from residential lot line | — | Not within or project over street right-of-way; not within 20 feet of residential lot line | — | §375-53A; §375-55; §375-56; §375-57 |
| Wall Sign | Equal to total height of building to which attached | — | — | — | — | Building wall | — | §375-53A; §375-53B; §375-60 |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | Window or transparent door | — | §375-53A; §375-60 |
| Portable Sign | — | 40 square feet per side (max 2 sides) | — | Not within street right-of-way | 1 per principal use or lot | Only on lot of permitted principal commercial use; not within street right-of-way | — | §375-53C |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 80 feet | 200 sq ft | — | 10 ft from nonresidential lot line, 20 ft from any ROW, 200 ft from residential lot line | 1 per lot | Within 200 ft of arterial street ROW, minimum 10 ft from nonresidential lot line, min 20 ft from any street ROW | — | §375-61E |

### residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not within or projecting over street right-of-way | — | §375-53A; §375-55A; §375-56 |
| Wall Sign | Equal to total height of building to which attached | — | — | — | — | Building wall | — | §375-53A; §375-53B; §375-56 |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | Window or transparent door | — | §375-53A; §375-60 |

## Prohibited signs in Monessen

- Displaying a sign before obtaining a required permit, unless exempt.
- Displaying any prohibited sign as listed in §375-58.
- Failure to remove a non-permitted sign within the timeframe established in the Table of Miscellaneous Signs Not Requiring Permits.
- Erecting spinners or any moving object used to attract attention to a commercial use.
- Displaying flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type, except time and temperature signs and holiday lighting or displays as specified in §375-52.
- Signs that emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor.
- Signs which claim or imply a lot may be used for any purpose not permitted under applicable code.
- Signs that imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal, or device or that could distract drivers (such as prominent use of the words 'Danger' or 'Stop').
- Displays or signs including obscene, pornographic, or highly offensive words or images.
- Signs attached by tacks, staples, or other metal fasteners to utility poles.
- No sign may be placed within, or project over, any existing or future street right-of-way, except official signs, nameplate signs, public service signs and directional signs.
- No sign may interfere with required sight distances for vehicles within a lot or on an adjacent street.
- No signs except permitted off-premises, official, political, or public service signs may be erected on a property to which they do not relate.
- No sign may be posted on any property, sign pole, or public utility pole without the permission of the owner.
- No sign to be stapled or nailed to a utility pole except by an authorized utility.
- Signs must not be constructed of materials that become dilapidated or unsafe; unsafe or dilapidated signs must be repaired or removed as ordered.
- No person shall willfully destroy, remove, deface, obliterate, or cover any lamp, warning sign, or barricade erected by city authorities as a warning of danger.
- No one may paste, tie, glue, tack, post, fasten, paint, write, draw, carve or otherwise affix any sign, advertisement, or inscription on any park property, structures, trees, etc., except as allowed under specific exemptions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Monessen

- Signs listed in the City Code's 'Table of Miscellaneous Signs Not Requiring Permits' are exempt from permit requirements.
- Nonpermanent window signs do not require a permit.
- Signs may be painted, repaired, or changed in message without a new permit as long as the change does not increase sign area, conflict with code, or expand a prior nonconformity.
- Certain official signs, nameplate signs, public service signs, and directional signs are exempt from certain setback and location requirements.
- Signs erected and maintained by PennDOT are permitted by right in all districts.
- Sponsor advertising signs at specific city parks (Columbus Park, Shawnee Park, City Park, Zajack Soccer Field) erected by recognized youth athletic leagues under specified conditions and with Council approval are exempted from general park signage prohibitions.
- Holiday lighting or displays are not considered prohibited under the restriction against flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated, or moving signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each sign permit application must be accompanied by a scaled drawing showing the proposed sign, dimensions, height, materials, illumination method, exact location, and other required data.
- Only types, sizes, and heights specifically permitted within the applicable district are allowed.
- A sign permit is required unless the sign is listed as exempt.
- The Table of Miscellaneous Signs Not Requiring Permits is referenced as determining permit exemption.
- For sponsor advertising signs at parks, the league's request (including a prototype and proposed locations) must be approved by Council.
- Replacement of a nonconforming sign is allowed provided the new sign is not more nonconforming than the old sign.
- Off-premises signs require conditional use approval in commercial and industrial districts and must comply with specific requirements.
- Appeals regarding prohibitions or permit interpretations may be made to the Zoning Hearing Board within 30 days after citation.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Monessen, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Monessen+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-monessen

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