# Sign Regulations in Oil, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Oil, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/oil
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21

## At a glance

Oil, Pennsylvania regulates 21 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Blade Sign (Projects at 90° to Wall)s in the Commercial districts zoning district are capped at 10 feet (max to top from curb); 7 feet (min to bottom from curb) tall and 9 square feet per face, with a Minimum 7 ft to bottom, max 10 ft to top from curb setback (Sec. § 310-24C(4)). Most commercial signs in Oil 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 | 8 | 2 feet (lettering) up to 20 feet long (lettering); 24 feet for theater marquees | 50 square feet (80 sq ft for Marquee signs only) | — |
| Residential districts | 2 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential districts | 1 | — | 4 square feet | — |
| Commercial districts | 8 | 10 feet (max to top from curb); 7 feet (min to bottom from curb) | 75 square feet per sign face; 2 faces max | — |
| C-1 District, C-2 District | 1 | 42 inches (3.5 feet) | 7 square feet per face | — |
| Industrial district | 1 | — | 350 square feet aggregate area | — |

## 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 (Civic/Philanthropic/Educational/Religious Event) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 310-24A(1)(a) |
| Temporary Sale/Event Sign (Commercial Business, Yard/Garage Sale) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 310-24A(1)(a) |
| For Sale/Rental Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per property (or 1 per street frontage) | On the property for sale/rent | — | § 310-24A(1)(b) |
| Temporary Contractor/Developer Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises where the work is being performed | — | § 310-24A(1)(c) |
| No Trespassing / Road/Driveway/Premises Indicator / Fishing & Hunting Control Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 310-24A(1)(d) |
| Political Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Not allowed on public land or public right-of-way | — | § 310-24A(9) |
| Electronic Sign | — | 50 square feet (80 sq ft for Marquee signs only) | — | — | — | — | — | § 310-24A(11) |
| Sign on Awning/Canopy/Marquee | 2 feet (lettering) up to 20 feet long (lettering); 24 feet for theater marquees | — | 20 feet (lettering) on awnings/canopies; 24 feet for theater marquees | Minimum 9 feet above sidewalk; marquee projection limits as noted | — | Over display window or main entrance/exit | — | § 310-24A(10) |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation or Nameplate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | Not within 10 feet of a street line | 1 per permitted use | Fixed flat on main wall or on ornamental pole in front yard (not within 10 feet of street line) | — | § 310-24B(1) |
| Institutional Sign (Schools/Churches/Hospitals/Other Principal Uses on lot) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On same lot as institution; one per street frontage | — | § 310-24B(2) |

### Commercial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Directional/Event Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 310-24C(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall area | — | — | — | Mounted flat on main wall of building, at least 10 feet from ground level | — | § 310-24C(2) |
| Special Temporary Promotional Device (Banner/Pennant/Portable Message Board) | — | 16 square feet (for portable message boards) | — | — | — | — | — | § 310-24C(3) |
| Blade Sign (Projects at 90° to Wall) | 10 feet (max to top from curb); 7 feet (min to bottom from curb) | 9 square feet per face | — | Minimum 7 ft to bottom, max 10 ft to top from curb | 1 per public entrance | Attached to wall, projects at 90°; one per public entrance | — | § 310-24C(4) |
| Pole Sign | — | 75 square feet per sign face; 2 faces max | — | 10 feet clearance from ground | Max 2 sign faces | — | — | § 310-24C(5) |
| Ground Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 310-24C(6) |
| Shopping Center Directory Sign | — | 50 square feet per sign face plus up to 12 sq ft per tenant name | — | — | 1 per shopping center | One per shopping center | — | § 310-24C(7) |
| Multitenant Building Sign | — | — | — | — | One per tenant | — | — | § 310-24C(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Oil

- It is unlawful to paste, paint, brand, stamp, place, or attach any advertisement, bill, notice, sign, or poster on any building, fence, bridge, gate, outbuilding, or other object on property belonging to the City within municipal limits, except as specifically allowed by law.
- No signs shall contain information implying that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the zoning provisions.
- No signs are permitted within street lines or on any public property or right-of-way, except signs placed on awnings/canopies/marquees and those of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices.
- No signs shall be placed upon utility poles or trees within the public right-of-way.
- No sign shall project more than 12 inches from the building facade to which it is attached, except as otherwise provided for blade signs in commercial districts.
- Signs in residential and industrial districts may not project over or onto any public right-of-way and must not interfere with pedestrian or traffic visibility.
- No red, green, or amber lights shall be permitted on signs, and all lighting must be screened from adjacent properties; no flashing lights are allowed.
- Nonconforming signs, once removed, shall only be replaced with conforming signs.
- Political signs are not permitted on public land or public right-of-way.
- No trademarks or product names shall be used in signs on awnings/canopies/marquees unless included in the registered business name.
- Electronic signs must not create undue distraction, confusion, or hazard to vehicular traffic.
- All signs, including temporary signs, must be constructed of durable material and kept in good condition and repair.
- All signs must be designed and built to withstand wind forces and comply with mechanical and electrical standards and codes.
- Signs that are insecure, in danger of failing, or otherwise unsafe must be repaired or removed upon notice.
- Obsolete signs must be covered or removed within 30 days after notification from the Zoning Officer.

## Signs exempt from permit in Oil

- Posting of any notice required by law or order of court is exempt from prohibitions.
- Posting or placing of any notice concerning or pertaining to the specific ground or premises is exempt from prohibitions.
- Temporary signs announcing civic, philanthropic, educational or religious events, commercial events, and yard/garage sales (with size and removal limitations) are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Signs offering sale or rental of the premises on which they are erected (with size and number limitations) are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Temporary signs from contractors, developers, architects, engineers, builders, artisans on premises where work is being performed (with size and removal limitations) are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- No-trespassing signs, signs indicating private nature of road/driveway/premises, and signs controlling fishing/hunting (up to two square feet) are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Directional and information signs (up to four square feet per use, in nonresidential districts) are generally allowed.
- Political signs (with limitations on location, size, and removal) are permitted in all districts.
- Signs integrated into awnings/canopies/marquees (with content and size limitations) are allowed.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All temporary signs require a sign permit.
- Special temporary promotional devices, signs, or displays such as banners, pennants, and portable message boards in commercial districts require a temporary sign permit.
- Affidavit required from candidate or designee prior to erecting political signs, stipulating acknowledgment of removal requirements.
- Nonconforming signs may only be repainted or repaired within the existing dimensions—they may not be replaced except with a conforming sign.
- If a sign is unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained, or becomes unsafe, the Zoning Officer is authorized to require conformance or removal, and to remove at owner's expense if not corrected.

## 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 Oil — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Oil+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-oil

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