# Sign Regulations in New Kensington, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Kensington, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/new-kensington
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43076742#43076742)

## At a glance

New Kensington, Pennsylvania regulates 12 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Identification Sign or Bulletin Board (Public/Semi-public Use)s in the OS-1, OS-2, R-2, R-3, R-4, OS-3 (steep slopes area) zoning district are capped at 12 sq ft, with a not within 5 feet of all lot lines or facilities setback (Sec. 236-22D(2)(b)). Most commercial signs in New Kensington require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| OS-1, OS-2, R-2, R-3, R-4, OS-3 (steep slopes area) | 4 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| R-1 | 1 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| OS-3 (valley area), C-1, I-1 | 3 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| C-2, C-3, I-2 | 4 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Overlay districts | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale or Rental) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | All districts; on the property for sale or rent | — | 236-22G |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Developments/Developers/Contractors/Realtors) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | All districts; on the property for sale or rent | — | 236-22G |
| Sexually Oriented Establishment Sign (Main) | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment entrance | Attached flat to establishment | — | 236-22H(1)-(2) |
| Sexually Oriented Establishment Sign (Entrance Notice) | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | Each entrance to the premises | — | 236-22H(3) |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 236-22B(9) |

### OS-1, OS-2, R-2, R-3, R-4, OS-3 (steep slopes area)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupant | Attached to the building to which it pertains | — | 236-22D(2)(a) |
| Identification Sign or Bulletin Board (Public/Semi-public Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | Freestanding: not within 5 feet of all lot lines or facilities | 1 per use | Attached to the building or freestanding (not within 5 ft of lot lines if freestanding) | — | 236-22D(2)(b) |
| Identification Sign (Nonconforming Use) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Attached to the building | — | 236-22D(2)(c) |
| Business or Identification Sign (Approved Exception or Conditional Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per approved use | — | — | 236-22D(2)(d) |

### C-2, C-3, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business or Identification Sign (On-Premises) | — | — | — | — | — | On the building or wall it pertains to. | — | 236-22D(4)(a), 236-22D(3)(a), 236-22D(5) |
| Advertising Sign / Billboard (Off-Premises) | — | — | — | Minimum 100 ft between billboards | — | — | — | 236-22D(4)(b) |
| Identification Sign or Bulletin Board (Public/Semi-public Use) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | May be attached or freestanding | — | 236-22D(3)(b), 236-22D(4)(a) |
| Identification Sign (Nonconforming Use) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | May be attached | — | 236-22D(3)(c), 236-22D(4)(a) |

## Prohibited signs in New Kensington

- No sign shall be erected that states a property may be used for any purpose not permitted by the Zoning Chapter.
- Signs referring to a use or product no longer in existence or available must be removed within six months after cessation of the original use.
- No sign shall be located or used in a manner that interferes with traffic on a street by causing glare, an obstruction to vision, by causing confusion with traffic control devices, or through other means.
- Illuminated signs adjoining or visible from nearby residential areas must be shielded to protect against adverse effects or nuisances upon nearby dwellings.
- No part of any sign, except official governmental signs, shall be located within the official right-of-way of any street or alley unless specifically permitted.
- Every sign must be constructed of durable materials and kept in good condition and repair.
- No sign may be attached to a building in a manner which allows it to exceed the roof height of the building.
- No sign erected or replaced after the effective date of this chapter shall project more than one foot over a public sidewalk or street right-of-way unless specifically approved by the City Council.
- Signs which project over private areas must be approved by the Council and be at least 10 feet above areas used for pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Signs attached parallel to a building which project more than 12 inches from the building face must be at least eight feet above ground level.
- Signs simulating official governmental signs not related to protection of public health and safety are prohibited.
- Banners, spinners, flags, pennants or any moving object used for commercial advertising purposes are prohibited.
- Attention-getting devices including searchlights, balloons, representations of products, vehicles, or other advertising images or ornamentation used for promotion or attracting attention are prohibited.
- Inflatable devices are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate traffic-control devices are prohibited.
- Signs painted on walls or chimneys of a building or on fences or walls are prohibited.
- Signs affixed to vehicles and/or trailers parked on private property and visible from the public right-of-way for the apparent purpose of advertising a product or directing people to a business or activity on the same or nearby property are prohibited (except for vehicles temporarily stored on business sites or those parked for maintenance, repair, loading/unloading, or rendering service).
- No sign shall be located to prevent or hinder free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to or placed on any public utility pole or tree located within any public right-of-way.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Kensington

- Changes in the copy of any sign do not require a zoning permit.
- Official governmental signs do not require a zoning permit.
- Awnings, with or without graphics and visual displays, are not considered signs under this chapter, but are subject to applicable accessory use requirements, and projections over public right-of-way or private areas have additional requirements.
- Historic markers, though reviewed for approval, are not considered as signs but must conform to uniform requirements established for historic markers by the Commission.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit is required prior to the erection or alteration of any sign, except for changes in copy or official governmental signs.
- Any existing nonconforming signs may not be altered or enlarged unless approved as a special exception.
- Electronic changeable copy signs (except in R-1, R-2, R-3) require review by the Planning Commission.
- In overlay districts, signs require application and review by the Planning Commission and issuance of a certificate of appropriateness and a sign permit; minor changes may be approved by the Code Enforcement Officer but must be reported to the Commission.
- Signs in the overlay districts must adhere to all other requirements of the City sign ordinance, with special considerations in residential overlay zones.

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

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