# Sign Regulations in North Strabane Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Strabane Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/north-strabane-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35064546#35064546)

## At a glance

North Strabane Township, Pennsylvania regulates 30 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Agricultural Sales Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 24 sq ft, with a 10 ft from property line or right-of-way setback (Sec. §27-1603.1I). Most commercial signs in North Strabane Township 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 | 13 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 3 | 6 ft (freestanding) | 24 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-2), Industrial District (I-1) | 16 | 40 ft above curb of roadway from which it is viewed | 750 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces per structure, back-to-back or V<90°) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Sign (Wall) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On wall of place of worship, school, library, or similar public/semi-public building | — | §27-1603.1A |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential District) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for sale/rent | — | §27-1603.1B, §27-1602.1K(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Any Other District) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot for sale/rent | — | §27-1603.1B, §27-1602.1K(1) |
| Development Sign (Primary) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site/phase | On development site or current construction phase | — | §27-1603.1C |
| Development Sign (Entrance Secondary) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | Secondary/entrance sign | At entrance to development | — | §27-1603.1C |
| Contractor Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot under construction/repair | — | §27-1603.1D, §27-1602.1K(1) |
| Agricultural Sales Sign | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line or right-of-way | 1 per premises | Districts where agricultural sales are authorized; on premises | — | §27-1603.1I |
| Residential Identification Sign | 2 ft (freestanding) | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Mailbox, wall of dwelling, or freestanding front yard | — | §27-1603.1J, §27-1602.1K(1) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Plan Identification Sign (Wall or Ground) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision/multifamily building/development | Wall or freestanding ground; at entrance to residential subdivision or multifamily building/development | — | §27-1604.1A |
| Business Identification Sign (Conditional, Nonconforming, Special Exception) | 6 ft (freestanding) | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business/use | Wall or freestanding ground | — | §27-1604.1B |
| On-Premises Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | Up to 4 per lot <1 acre; 6 for first acre +2 per extra acre | On lots with ≥2 multifamily or nonresidential buildings and/or >100 parking spaces | — | §27-1604.1C |

### Commercial District (C-1, C-2), Industrial District (I-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | — | 24 sq ft per establishment (aggregate); 70 sq ft max per site | — | — | Max 2 per establishment at one time | Securely attached to building or supporting structure of freestanding pole business identification sign, outside right-of-way | — | §27-1605.1A |
| Changeable-Copy Sign (Manual/Electronic) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Permanently affixed to wall, supporting structure of authorized freestanding sign, or gas pump canopy | — | §27-1605.1B |
| Ground Sign (C-1) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line/right-of-way; 20 ft from edge of cartway if right-of-way is not contiguous | 1 per lot | Freestanding, not in planned shopping center with monument sign; not if pole sign exists/proposed | — | §27-1605.1C(2)(b) |
| Ground Sign (C-2, I-1) | 8 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line/right-of-way; 20 ft from edge of cartway if right-of-way is not contiguous | 1 per lot | Freestanding, not if pole sign exists/proposed or in planned center with monument sign | — | §27-1605.1C(2)(b) |
| Pole Sign (<3 businesses on lot) | 25 ft | 40 sq ft (each dimension at least 5 ft) | — | Setback equal to sign height from property line, or at least 15 ft from right-of-way | 1 per lot | Freestanding, not if ground sign or monument sign exists/proposed | — | §27-1605.1C(3)(e) |
| Pole Sign (3+ businesses on lot) | 25 ft | 64 sq ft (each dimension at least 5 ft) | — | Setback equal to sign height from property line, or at least 15 ft from right-of-way | 1 per lot | Freestanding, not if ground sign or monument sign exists or is proposed | — | §27-1605.1C(3)(e) |
| Monument Sign (Shopping Center or Industrial Park Main Entrance) | 25 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any property line or right-of-way | 1 per main entrance | At main entrance to planned shopping center or planned industrial park (only if ground or pole sign does not exist and is not proposed at that entrance) | — | §27-1605.1C(4)(b) |
| Billboard | 40 ft above curb of roadway from which it is viewed | 750 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces per structure, back-to-back or V<90°) | 48 ft | 15 ft from limited-access highway right of way; spacing: 1000 ft from any other billboard (both sides of same roadway frontage); at least 500 ft from Residential District, schools, worship, cemeteries; not in sight triangle; not over sidewalk/right-of-way; additional district yard requirements apply | — | Only within 400 ft of center line of limited-access federal highway as conditional use on any property in any zoning district | — | §27-1606 |

## Prohibited signs in North Strabane Township

- Attention-getting devices are not permitted in any zoning district.
- Portable signs are not permitted in any zoning district, except where authorized as a temporary special event sign.
- Festoon lighting is not permitted in any zoning district.
- Moving or flashing signs are not permitted, except for that portion of an authorized sign that indicates time or temperature or an authorized electronic changeable-copy sign.
- Signs on trees, utility poles, or official traffic control devices or signs within the public right-of-way are not permitted.
- Signs that imitate traffic control devices are not permitted.
- Signs painted on walls or chimneys of a building or on fences or freestanding walls are not permitted.
- Overhanging signs, as defined, are not permitted.
- Roof signs, as defined, are not permitted.
- Signs on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers parked on public right-of-way or on any public or private property other than the site of the business they advertise are not permitted, except for legitimate maintenance, repair, loading, unloading, or rendering a service.
- No sign shall be located in a position that causes a hazard by obstructing visibility for traffic or obscuring a traffic signal or other control device.
- No sign (except official traffic signs and authorized off-premises directional signs) shall hang over or be erected within the right-of-way of any street.
- No sign shall be located within the clear sight triangle as defined by the ordinance.
- Illumination must be directed upon the sign face, and must not exceed 1,500 nits during daylight or 150 nits otherwise.
- Lighting for signs must be stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times.
- Changeable-copy signage may not change or move more often than once every five minutes (with exceptions for time, date, and temperature).
- All changeable-copy display backgrounds/faces must be black and copy a single color.
- No sign may be erected without a permit, except for specific exempted types.
- Except for billboards, all signs must be located on the premises they are intended to serve.
- Any sign found in an unsafe condition shall be declared a public nuisance and must be repaired or removed upon notice.
- All sign illumination and display must not create glare, distractions, confusion, nuisance, or hazard to traffic, aircraft, or other properties.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Strabane Township

- Memorial/historical plaques, as defined, are exempt from the requirement to pay for a permit.
- Signs applied for and maintained by a federal, state, or local government entity and/or agency are exempt from the requirement to pay for a permit.
- Political campaign signs are exempt from the requirement to pay for a permit.
- No permit is required for residential identification, notification, real estate, contractor, and window signs, as described in §27-1601B. Also included are temporary off-premises directional signs that are erected for no more than two weeks and are removed within 24 hours after the event.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required prior to the erection or structural alteration of any sign, permanent or temporary, except for real estate signs, residential identification signs, contractor signs, window signs, public signs or notification signs as defined in §27-1601B.
- All requests for a sign permit must be made in writing with a full description of the proposed sign, lot, and other existing signs, as well as drawings documenting size, height, location, message, construction, foundation, illumination, and visibility.
- In the case of new construction of a multitenant development site, the developer must submit an application for a sign package (including monument, pole, ground, and on-premises directional signs). Individual businesses are responsible for applying for permits for their own wall signs and, in the case of outparcels, freestanding signs.
- Billboards require conditional use approval from the Board of Supervisors and additional approvals from the FAA (when applicable) and PennDOT (for state highways). Approval of the conditional use is only valid for six months unless a permanent sign permit is obtained.
- Permits for signs are also required in accordance with §27-1906 for all other signs authorized by §§27-1603 through 27-1606.
- Failure to obtain a sign permit is a violation and subject to enforcement.

## Full detail

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

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