# Sign Regulations in South Fayette Township, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Fayette Township, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/south-fayette-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11612494#11612494)

## At a glance

South Fayette Township, Pennsylvania regulates 48 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Political Sign (Public Property)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 4 sq ft per sign, with a Not within 5 feet of paved road; not to obstruct clear sight distance setback (Sec. §240-117B). Most commercial signs in South Fayette Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts, R Zoning District | 4 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| Washington Pike Overlay District, C-1 District | 9 | 20 ft | 85% of total wall area projected on | — |
| C-2 District, I-P District, I-1 District | 12 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Signage Overlay District (CSOD) | 18 | 60 ft | 1000 sq ft | — |
| Planned Economic Development District (PED), Business District (B-1) | 3 | 6 ft | 250 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Design Development Site | 4 | 20 ft | As per §240-117H | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### 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 building | Wall sign at church, school, library or similar public/semi-public building | — | §240-117A |
| Bulletin Sign (Freestanding Ground) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Ground sign at church, school, library or similar public/semi-public building | — | §240-117A |
| Political Sign (Public Property) | 4 ft | 4 sq ft per sign | — | Not within 5 feet of paved road; not to obstruct clear sight distance | 1 per intersection per candidate | Public property/right-of-way | — | §240-117B |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft (residential districts), 32 sq ft (other districts) | — | — | 1 per lot | On property for sale/rent | — | §240-117C |
| Development Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot under development/construction | — | §240-117D |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On property under construction | — | §240-117E |
| Temporary Special Event Display (Public/Nonprofit) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On face of public building, church, or nonprofit | — | §240-117F |
| Home Occupation Identification Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | On site of home occupation | — | §240-117G |

### C-2 District, I-P District, I-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Special Event Display | — | Aggregate 40 sq ft per establishment; total on site max 100 sq ft if multiple establishments | — | — | 2 per establishment | Attached to building or structure of approved freestanding pole business ID sign | — | §240-119A |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot; see requirements for gas stations | Permanently affixed to wall or supporting structure of freestanding sign | — | §240-119B |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Electronic Gas Price Option) | 12 ft | 12 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 2 faces per lot | At/near fuel pumps, canopy supports, poles, or foundation (for gas stations) | — | §240-119B(3) |
| Business Identification Sign (Ground) | 8 ft | 64 sq ft (C-2/I-P/I-1); 100 sq ft (shopping centers); | — | 10 ft from property line or street ROW | 1 per lot | Freestanding; not with a pole sign on same lot | — | §240-119C(2)(c),(2)(f),(2)(d) |
| Business Identification Sign (Pole) | 20 ft | 40 sq ft (<3 businesses), 64 sq ft (3+ businesses) | — | 10 ft from property line or street ROW | 1 per lot | Freestanding; not with ground sign; not projecting over ROW or in sight triangle | — | §240-119C(3) |
| Roof Sign | 6 ft above highest point of roof | 100 sq ft | — | — | See requirements | On roof | — | §240-119C(4) |
| Arcade Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Suspended under roof, marquee, or arcade | — | §240-119C(5) |
| Canopy Sign | Letters max 6 inches | N/A | — | — | 1 per building | At building entrance | — | §240-119C(6) |

### Commercial Signage Overlay District (CSOD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On property for sale/rent | — | §240-119.1C(1), §240-117C |
| Development Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On developing property | — | §240-119.1C(2), §240-117D |
| Major Development Sign | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | Development site | — | §240-119.1C(3) |
| On-Premises Directional Sign (Business Directory) | 20 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — | — | By Township approval | Entrances/internal road intersections | — | §240-119.1C(7)(a) |
| On-Premises Directional Sign (Road Directory) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft per sign | — | — | By Township approval | Entrances/internal road intersections | — | §240-119.1C(7)(b) |
| On-Premises Directional Sign (Minor/Loading/Parking) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | By Township approval | Parking/loading areas | — | §240-119.1C(7)(c) |
| Business Identification Sign (Ground - CSOD) | 10 ft | 200 sq ft; double sided allowed | — | — | 1 per lot | Ground mounted | — | §240-119.1C(9)(b) |
| Marquee Sign (CSOD) | 60 ft | 1000 sq ft, max 2 faces per sign | — | No closer than 10 ft to street ROW; see additional requirements | 1 per development | Freestanding only (not on roof/wall); not in right-of-way, not blocking view, etc. | — | §240-119.1C(13) |

## Prohibited signs in South Fayette Township

- Posting any political campaign sign on or over any public property in the township.
- Posting any political campaign sign on any public utility pole or other public utility structure, or affixing such signs to trees, rocks, or other natural features.
- Erecting a political campaign sign exceeding six square feet in area, or erecting multiple political campaign signs on a single lot with a total message area exceeding 12 square feet.
- Posting a political campaign sign more than 30 days prior to the election, or failing to remove it within 12 days after the election.
- Placing political signs in Township parks.
- The following signs are not permitted in any zoning district: - Attention-getting devices. - Portable signs (except in C-2 District). - Festoon lighting. - Moving or flashing signs (except for authorized signs indicating only time and/or temperature). - Signs on trees, utility poles, or official traffic control devices or signs. - Signs imitating traffic control devices. - Signs painted on walls or chimneys of a building or on fences or walls. - Overhanging signs. - Signs on or affixed to vehicles/trailers parked for advertising purposes, unless associated with authorized temporary uses. - Off-premises directional signs for business, commercial, or industrial uses. - Signs advertising businesses or developments not located within South Fayette Township. - Signs which obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with, or may be confused with traffic control devices. - Electronic message center type signs, including LED signs. - Illuminated signs that direct light onto adjacent streets or properties off-premises. - Signs which physically or visually move, rotate, create an illusion of movement, or emit audible sound/noise. - Signs which appear animated, projected, intermittently or intensely illuminated, or have traveling/tracing/sequential lighting.
- No sign may be located so as to cause a hazard by obstructing visibility for traffic, or obscuring a traffic signal or other traffic control device.
- No sign, except public 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 defined by the ordinance.
- Illumination for signs must be directed upon the sign face, stationary and constant in intensity and color, and controlled so as not to exceed 1.0 footcandle at the property line.
- Signs found in disrepair or unsafe condition may be declared a public nuisance and must be repaired or removed upon notice; failure to do so will result in Township removal at owner's expense.
- Whenever any business is discontinued or vacated, all related signs must be removed within 30 days.
- Except for billboards and authorized off-premises directional signs, all signs must be located on the premises which they serve.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Fayette Township

- Residential identification signs not exceeding one square foot in surface area.
- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized federal or state holidays, provided they do not interfere with traffic safety or otherwise pose a public safety hazard.
- Memorial historical plaques.
- Public signs (erected by or on order of a public officer in performance of public duty, official signs for traffic, safety, or public notice, government flags, communications in the public interest, signs on bus shelters, or other signs in the public right-of-way with required approvals).
- No permit required for the following types of signs: residential identification, notification, real estate, construction, public signs, off-premises directional signs, and window signs (as described in §240-115A).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan and design guidelines are required for the entire development site in the Commercial Signage Overlay District (CSOD) before signage can be developed (see §240-119.1).
- The master signage plan must include type and class of all signs, quantity of each type, location, size, height, text description, style, materials, colors, text style, size, and means of illumination, and must be submitted for review and approval.
- A master signage plan for the CSOD is only allowed if the base zoning is either PED or B-1 District, an approved conditional use plan exists, a master signage plan has been prepared, the site is at least 50 acres, FAR is 0.1+, and there is access to a state/federal limited access roadway.
- Projection signs are permitted only if authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board as a use by special exception.
- Billboards are permitted only as conditional uses in the C-2 District, following recommendation by the Planning Commission, a public hearing by the Board of Commissioners, and all requirements are met.

## 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 7 zoning districts in South Fayette Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=South+Fayette+Township+PA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-south-fayette-township

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