# Sign Regulations in Municipality Penn Hills, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Municipality Penn Hills, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/municipality-penn-hills
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28

## At a glance

Municipality Penn Hills, Pennsylvania regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), M Districts zoning district are capped at 15 ft above grade; 25 ft if signs are combined for multiple establishments on one pole tall and 50 sq ft standard; 100 sq ft max for groups as defined, with a 15 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. §1276.02(a)-(d)). Most commercial signs in Municipality Penn Hills require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 7 | Letters not to exceed 12 inches high | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), M Districts | 14 | 15 ft above grade; 25 ft if signs are combined for multiple establishments on one pole | 50 sq ft standard; 100 sq ft max for groups as defined | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2) | 1 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 0.75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per front yard per dwelling unit | Each front yard per dwelling unit | — | §1276.01(a) |
| Identification Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from property line | 1 per front yard per non-residential building or qualifying multifamily dwelling | Each front yard per non-residential building and per multifamily dwelling containing more than five units | — | §1276.01(b) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from property line | 1 per front yard | Each front yard | — | §1276.01(c) |
| Signs Advertising Lots or Houses for Sale in Real Estate Development | — | 25 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from property line | 1 per primary entrance, maximum 2 per development | At primary entrance(s) to development, within 1,300 feet of nearest lot originally for sale | — | §1276.01(d) |
| Subdivision/Development Identification Sign | Letters not to exceed 12 inches high | — | — | At least 5 ft from property line | — | Entrance(s) to development/subdivision | — | §1276.01(e) |
| Bulletin Sign for House of Worship | — | 15 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from property line | 1 per front yard | Each front yard | — | §1276.01(f) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §1276.01(h) |

### Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), M Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft above grade; 25 ft if signs are combined for multiple establishments on one pole | 50 sq ft standard; 100 sq ft max for groups as defined | — | 15 ft from right-of-way | 1 per detached building; additional as above if qualifying as group | Any yard area, min. 15 ft from right-of-way | — | §1276.02(a)-(d) |
| Flush-mounted (Wall) Sign | — | Based on building frontage; no explicit maximum as with freestanding sign | — | — | No limit stated, subject to area requirement | Any/all sides of building | — | §1276.02(a)-(d) |
| Temporary Sign (New Occupancy) | — | No limit stated | — | — | No limit | On lot of business being advertised | — | §1276.02(e)(1) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 per curb opening | Per curb opening | — | §1276.02(f) |
| Menu Board | — | 20 sq ft | — | Must not be in required front yard setback | One per fast-food restaurant (in addition to other signs) | Drive-thru, not within required front yard setback | — | §1276.02(g) |
| Gasoline Price Sign | — | 20 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per service station | — | — | §1276.02(h)(1) |
| Awning Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business in shopping plaza | Perpendicular to structure, visible to sidewalk pedestrians (shopping plaza businesses) | — | §1276.02(i) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from property line | 1 per yard | Each front yard | — | §1276.02(k)(1)-(2) |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Not mounted on a roof, wall, or other structure | — | §1276.02(l) |

## Prohibited signs in Municipality Penn Hills

- No flashing, animated, or moving signs are permitted, except signs advertising real estate developments may be illuminated by a small, white light sufficient for visibility from the nearest roadway when dark.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to be distractive or hazardous, or to obstruct visibility with respect to the safety of motorists or pedestrians proceeding along any public ways or entering or leaving a lot.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained on the roof or eaves of any building.
- No signs of any type shall be permitted on an accessory structure.
- All signs must be properly maintained; excessively weathered or faded signs must be removed or put into a good state of repair.
- All non-operative or broken interior-illuminated signs must be repaired or removed.
- All temporary signs must be removed at the expiration of the event or sale for which they were erected.
- No sign, whether free-standing or attached to a structure, shall be erected, re-erected, enlarged, altered, or replaced without the issuance of a permit in accordance with the Zoning Code (except where explicitly exempted).
- No campaign sign may be posted on or over municipal property, except municipal buildings designated as polling locations.
- No campaign sign may be posted on poles or public utility pole lines located on municipal property.
- No campaign sign may be posted in such proximity to a public right of way or roadway that it poses a safety hazard for vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- No campaign sign may be posted on a State or County road right of way or on any utility pole located on a State or County road or right of way, unless consent has been given by the State or County.
- No nonconforming structure or sign shall be enlarged, increased, expanded or changed in any manner unless a variance is requested and granted in accordance with the Zoning Code.
- No nonconforming structure or sign shall be moved in whole or in part to another location on the lot unless every portion of said structure or sign conforms with the Zoning Code.
- Should a nonconforming structure or sign be destroyed by more than 50% of its replacement cost, it may not be reconstructed except in conformity with the Zoning Code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Municipality Penn Hills

- Maintenance of a legal sign by painting, repainting, or cleaning is not considered an erection or alteration requiring a sign permit.
- Campaign signs are exempt from other ordinances regulating signs; only the Campaign Signs chapter applies to campaign signs.
- Strengthening or restoration for safety reasons of any structure, or part thereof, declared unsafe by an official, is allowed even if nonconforming, upon order of such official.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before a sign may be erected, re-erected, enlarged, altered, or replaced except where maintenance is involved or a specific exemption is stated.
- A variance must be requested and granted in accordance with the Zoning Code before any enlargement, increase, expansion, or change in a nonconforming sign.
- Owners of nonconforming signs must register such nonconformance with the Department of Code Enforcement and provide information as required by the Code Enforcement Officer.
- A building permit is specifically required for the erection of a marquee sign.
- When replacing nonconforming commercial signs without increasing the extent of nonconformity, an administrative variance may be granted by the Department of Planning and Economic Development.

## 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 4 zoning districts in Municipality Penn Hills — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Municipality+Penn+Hills+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-municipality-penn-hills

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