# Sign Regulations in OHara Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** OHara Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/ohara-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31394059#31394059)

## At a glance

OHara Township, Pennsylvania regulates 11 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 ft or maximum height of roof, whichever is lower, unless lesser height is specified tall and 25 sq ft or maximum height of roof, whichever is lower, unless specified lesser height, with a 10 ft minimum from right-of-way; 100 ft at specified highway intersections; side/rear yard per district setback (Sec. § 455-16.1F, § 455-16.1G, § 455-16.1I, § 455-16.2B-C, § 455-16.7, § 455-16.8). Most commercial signs in OHara 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 | 3 | 25 ft or maximum height of roof, whichever is lower, unless lesser height is specified | 25 sq ft or maximum height of roof, whichever is lower, unless specified lesser height | — |
| Commercial District (C), Suburban Manufacturing District (SM) | 5 | 25 ft or height of roof, whichever is lower | 90 sq ft (including monument and anchor tenant signs as outlined) | — |
| Residential District | 3 | — | 24 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft or maximum height of roof, whichever is lower, unless lesser height is specified | 25 sq ft or maximum height of roof, whichever is lower, unless specified lesser height | — | 10 ft minimum from right-of-way; 100 ft at specified highway intersections; side/rear yard per district | See zone; generally 1 for single use parcels | Minimum setback of 10 ft from road right-of-way; must comply with side and rear yard requirements of the district; at intersections with state/federal highways and collector streets - minimum 100 ft setback from right-of-way | — | § 455-16.1F, § 455-16.1G, § 455-16.1I, § 455-16.2B-C, § 455-16.7, § 455-16.8 |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 sq ft or 10% of face of structure, whichever is less | — | — | See zone; generally 1 for single use parcels | Attached to building; may not project more than 12 in. from wall | — | § 455-16.1K, § 455-16.2C, § 455-16.4D, § 455-16.5B(2) |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 455-16.1E, § 455-16.3A |

### Commercial District (C), Suburban Manufacturing District (SM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Use Site) | 25 ft or height of roof, whichever is lower | 30 sq ft | — | 10 ft; may be more at intersections | 1 per single use parcel | Setback at least 10 ft from abutting property/right-of-way; at highway/collector street intersection: 100 ft | — | § 455-16.2D, § 455-16.4E |
| Building-Mounted Sign (Single Use Site) | — | 24 sq ft or 10% of face of structure, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per single use parcel | On building façade | — | § 455-16.2D, § 455-16.4D |
| Building-Mounted Sign (Multiple Business Structure) | — | 24 sq ft per use | — | — | 1 per use in structure | On building façade of each business in multiple occupancy structure | — | § 455-16.4C(1), § 455-16.5B(2) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Multiple Business Site < 10 acres) | 25 ft or maximum roof height, whichever is less | 45 sq ft total | — | 10 ft from property/right-of-way | 1 per site | At main entrance to center; setback 10 ft from abutting property line/right-of-way | — | § 455-16.4C(2)(c) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Multiple Business Site ≥ 10 acres) | — | 90 sq ft (including monument and anchor tenant signs as outlined) | — | — | 1 monument sign plus up to 8 anchor tenant signs (4 per side) | At main entrance to shopping center | — | § 455-16.4C(2)(d, e) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Identification Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 (or 1 per frontage if corner lot) | Only on the premises identified; in a landscaped area | — | § 455-16.6 |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On lot being advertised | — | § 455-16.3A(1) |
| Construction Site Identification Sign (Temporary) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On the construction site | — | § 455-16.3A(2) |

## Prohibited signs in OHara Township

- No sign shall be erected within the lines of a street right-of-way except traffic signs and similar regulatory notices of the Township, Allegheny County, or the state, except as otherwise provided.
- No sign which emits smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound, or odor shall be permitted.
- Any sign located along the right-of-way of a state or federal highway shall comply with any more restrictive requirements of the state or federal government relating thereto.
- No sign shall be erected that obstructs the sight triangle at an intersection along a public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected that tends by its location, color, shape, message or nature to be confused with or obstruct the view of traffic signs or traffic signals by motorists or pedestrians.
- No sign shall be erected that uses admonitions such as stop, go, slow, danger, etc., which might be confused with traffic signals.
- Novelty signs, portable signs (including objects such as tires, automobiles, food products, etc.), pennants, banners, balloons, and animated signs are specifically prohibited in all zoning districts unless a temporary sign permit is obtained for a special event.
- Exposed guy wires, chains, or other connections shall not be made a permanent support of the freestanding sign.
- Signs must conform to setback requirements, including a front yard setback of at least 10 feet from the road right-of-way and, for commercial signs, no closer than 50 feet to a side or rear lot line of any Residential District boundary.
- Billboards and off-premises signs not in compliance with the Pennsylvania Outdoor Advertising Act, and portable changeable-letter signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- No sign may extend above any parapet or be placed upon any roof surface, except for holiday displays on roofs of residential structures.
- No sign attached to a building may project outward more than 12 inches from the building wall.
- No person may damage, trim, destroy, or remove any trees, shrubs, or other vegetation within the right-of-way of any public street, road, or buffer yard for the purpose of enhancing sign visibility, unless expressly authorized.
- No sign may contain or be illuminated by flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity, nor may a sign be digital or have scrolling text, except for portions indicating time, date, or weather.
- No freestanding or attached sign shall be higher than the maximum roof height of the principal structure or 25 feet, whichever is lower.

## Signs exempt from permit in OHara Township

- Signs erected by or on behalf of the Township, Allegheny County or the state, including legal notices, traffic, directional or regulatory signs.
- Official signs of a noncommercial nature erected by public utilities, not to exceed four square feet.
- Flags or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic on a public property that do not exceed four square feet each and that bear no commercial message.
- "No trespassing," "beware of dog" or "no hunting" signs or signs of a similar nature, without limitation on number or placement, limited in area to two square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each sign permit application must be accompanied by a scaled drawing showing the design, size, character and color of letters, method of illumination, location, and construction details.
- All applications for bonus sign area are considered conditional uses and are subject to Planning Commission review and recommendation to Council at regularly scheduled meetings.

## Full detail

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

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