# Sign Regulations in Washington, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Washington, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/washington
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-27
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27120326#27120326)

## At a glance

Washington, Pennsylvania regulates 24 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboards in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 95 ft tall, 300 sq ft per face (max 2 faces, max 20 ft length, max 15 ft width), and 20 ft wide, with a Min 20 ft from property line, 25-75 ft from ROW, min 500 ft from other billboards setback (Sec. Ch. 350-40A, 286-6A). Most commercial signs in Washington require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 95 ft | 300 sq ft per face (max 2 faces, max 20 ft length, max 15 ft width) | — |
| General Business Districts, Business Improvement Districts, Developmental Districts, General Business District (GB), Business Improvement District (BID), Development District (D) | 12 | 95 ft | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| Residential Districts, R1, R-1, R-1A, R2, R-2, R3, R-3, S-C | 8 | 5 ft | 50 sq ft maximum (or 1 sq ft/ft of frontage, whichever less) | — |
| Transitional District (T-1), Educational District (ED), Medical District (MD) | 5 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft maximum (or more if otherwise allowed); 1 sq ft per ft of frontage | — | — | One wall sign per use; one additional directory sign (max 24 sq ft) for multiple tenants | On wall of building and oriented to face the street; must be at least 10 feet above sidewalk/entrance area (Ch. 286-5M, 350-40B(6)) | — | Ch. 286-3C, 286-5, 350-40B(6), 350-34, 350-35, 350-37 |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 5 ft | 30 sq ft (general); see zone-specific for increases | — | Must be at least 5 ft from curb or pavement. Min 15 ft from street ROW for GB/BID/Dev districts. See zone for more. | One per lot for authorized nonresidential use | Must have at least 80 ft street frontage (Ch. 350-40C(1)(a)). Must not project into ROW; must be setback min 5 ft from curb/edge of pavement (350-37G,H); can't fall outside property on collapse. Not in clear sight triangle. | — | Ch. 350-40C(1), 350-37, 350-35 |
| Freestanding Pole Sign | 10 ft | 30 sq ft (general); see zone-specific maximums | — | Min 15 ft from ROW (specific to GB/BID/Dev; see 286-6B(2)(g)) | One per parcel unless otherwise allowed | See frontage and landscaping requirements. Must not project into ROW, clear sight triangle, or obstruct vision. Min 15 ft from street ROW (for some zones). | — | Ch. 350-40C(2), 286-6B(2)(g), 350-37G,H |
| Pylon Sign | 10 ft | 30 sq ft | — | See zone; at least 5 ft from curb/edge and not in clear sight triangle. | One per qualifying lot | On permitted lots pursuant to use and district; must meet landscaping and setback requirements; must not block vision. | — | Ch. 350-40C(3) |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board) | 4 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per storefront | Within 15 ft of the business front door, on sidewalk; must not block passage to less than 4 ft, block entry/exit, or parking. | — | Ch. 350-40E(4) |
| Billboard | 95 ft | 300 sq ft per face (max 2 faces, max 20 ft length, max 15 ft width) | 20 ft | Min 20 ft from property line, 25-75 ft from ROW, min 500 ft from other billboards | Multiple billboards per parcel permitted but no closer than 500 ft apart. | As a conditional use and subject to zone; not within 20 ft of property line; 25-75 ft from ROW; not closer than 500 ft to another billboard and one per 500 ft linear distance. Must be within 30 ft of an interstate (where allowed). | — | Ch. 350-40A, 286-6A |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per occupant | Freestanding or wall mounted. | — | 286-6D, 350-36B, 286-7A(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft (residential); 20 sq ft (all other zones) | — | — | One per lot | On lot for sale/rental | — | 286-4E, 286-6E(2), 350-40E(1) |

### General Business Districts, Business Improvement Districts, Developmental Districts, General Business District (GB), Business Improvement District (BID), Development District (D)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 64 sq ft (alone or with ground/pole sign); up to 114 sq ft all business signs for first 100 ft of frontage, up to 214 sq ft after first 100 ft. | — | — | One per unit/use; two per unit/use if not combined with ground/pole sign | On building; must face street | — | 286-6B(2), 350-40B(6), 350-35 |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 25 ft | 50 sq ft for first 100 ft of frontage; may increase 1 sq ft/2 ft over 100 ft (max 150 sq ft per sign) | — | 15 ft from ROW | One per unit/use; see multi-business rules | Min 15 ft from ROW; must not fall outside property if collapsed. | — | 286-6B(2), 350-40C(1) |
| Pole Sign | 25 ft | 50 sq ft for first 100 ft; increasing to 150 sq ft by frontage (see above) | — | 15 ft from ROW | One per parcel | Min 15 ft from ROW; see shopping center/multi-tenant rules. | — | 286-6B(2), 350-40C(2) |
| Pylon Sign | 10 ft | 30 sq ft (unless shopping center/multi-tenant) | — | — | One per multi-tenant lot | Multi-tenant shopping centers only | — | 350-40C(3)(f) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One projecting sign per lot | At least 8 ft clear above ground; attached to building. | — | 350-40B(3) |
| Roof Sign | — | 100 sq ft (total area for bldg/roof signs) | — | — | One per building | On building roof. | — | 350-40B(4) |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board) | 4 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per storefront | Within 15 ft of storefront on sidewalk | — | 350-40E(4) |
| Billboard | 95 ft | 300 sq ft per face | 20 ft | 20 ft property, 25-75 ft ROW, 500 ft other billboards | No more than 1 per 500 ft | See general; within 30 ft of interstate, only as conditional use. Must meet all setback and separation rules. | — | 350-40A |

### Residential Districts, R1, R-1, R-1A, R2, R-2, R3, R-3, S-C

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft maximum (or 1 sq ft/ft of frontage, whichever less) | — | — | One per authorized use | On building | — | 350-40B(6)(c), 286-6B(5)(a) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 5 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | One per lot with authorized use | 80 ft of frontage required; landscaped base. | — | 350-40C(1)(g) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On property for sale/lease | — | 350-40E(1)(a), 286-4E |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per occupant | Wall or freestanding at residence | — | 350-36B, 286-6D |
| Residential Plan Identification Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per plan/building | Wall or ground sign at subdivision entrance | — | 350-40D |
| Temporary Special Event Display | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | One per event/building | On face of public building, church, or nonprofit | — | 350-40E(5) |
| Construction and Development Signs | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On-site only | — | 350-40E(2)-(3) |
| Temporary Real Estate Open House | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | On property for open house | — | 350-40E(1)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Washington

- No sign shall be located, designated or constructed in a manner to obstruct or interfere with any traffic control signal, device, sign or intersection sight triangle.
- No sign shall be permitted that is deemed to constitute a hazard of any kind, obscure light or air from any building, or prevent ingress or egress from any window or exit.
- Signs may not be attached to any type of pole or street tree except for municipal purposes.
- Signs or devices with flashing, moving or similar lighting or animation are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- No electrical bulbs shall be exposed unless satisfactorily shielded from view by a globe or other visible barrier.
- Business signs shall be permitted only in connection with a legal business or industry located on the immediate premises.
- Waving banners and fluttering appurtenances are specifically prohibited from all business establishments.
- No business or identification sign facing mounted upon a building shall be readable from the rear of the property unless authorized as a special exception and only when the property and site involve double frontage.
- No business or industrial sign shall be placed to face an abutting residential district except when authorized as a special exception.
- No sign mounted to a wall or other structure shall be located less than 10 feet in height as measured from the sidewalk, porch, or entrance area to the bottom or lowest part of the sign.
- No sign shall be erected containing information which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter.
- No sign shall be erected within, or project into, the lines of a street right-of-way, except for traffic signs and similar regulatory notices of a duly constituted governmental body.
- No artificial light or reflecting device shall be used as part of a sign where such light or device interferes with, competes for attention with, or may be mistaken for a traffic signal, or in any other way would be a detriment to public safety.
- No sign shall be located in the clear sight triangle prescribed in §350-54.
- Signs featuring animation of any kind are prohibited.
- Signs imitating traffic control devices are prohibited.
- Signs may not be painted on walls or chimneys of a building or on fences or walls.
- Signs may not be posted on trees, utility poles, or official traffic control devices or signs.
- Signs on or affixed to vehicles/trailers parked primarily to advertise a business/product, that are visible from within the public right-of-way, are prohibited (except for overnight storage of business vehicles and normal business operations).
- Attention-getting devices are prohibited unless approved as a temporary special event display.
- No nonconforming advertising sign, billboard, commercial advertising structure or statuary shall be moved to another position on the building or lot.
- Nonconforming signs' area shall not be increased nor structurally altered.
- A repainted, repaired or replaced nonconforming sign may not exceed existing dimensions.
- Signs shall not project into a street or alley right-of-way and must be set back a minimum of five feet from back of curb or edge of pavement.

## Signs exempt from permit in Washington

- Signs of a duly constituted local, state or federal governmental body, including traffic and safety/regulatory devices, legal notices, railway warning signals, memorial signs or tablets.
- Small signs (not exceeding 3 sq. ft.) displayed for direction or convenience of the public, identifying landmarks, parking areas, convenience facilities, meeting times and place of public or nonprofit organizations.
- One temporary nonlighted sign (not exceeding 32 sq. ft.) on a construction site denoting engineer, architect, contractor, funding agencies and related development information.
- Flags of political, civic or noncommercial religious or educational organizations.
- One temporary nonlighted real estate property sign (not exceeding 6 sq. ft.) for sale, lease, hire, or rental of property on which the sign is displayed.
- Temporary signs (not exceeding 4 sq. ft.) for noncommercial private garage or similar sales, street fairs, or other temporary activities, one sign per site, erected no sooner than 7 days prior and removed within 24 hours after event; with permission and not in public right-of-way.
- Political campaign signs not exceeding 6 sq. ft., erected no sooner than 45 days before election, removed within 7 days after, with owner permission and not in public right-of-way.
- Public signs.
- Residential identification signs not exceeding 2 sq. ft.
- Building markers.
- Holiday decorations (provided they do not interfere with traffic safety and are removed within 15 days after the holiday).
- No trespassing, no hunting, or private property signs not exceeding 2 sq. ft.
- Political signs, subject to other applicable ordinances.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All sign permit applications must be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing the exact size, shape and dimensions of the sign and its proposed location or placement upon any structure or property (§350-35B).
- In multi-tenant properties (e.g., shopping centers), sign permits must be issued in the name of the lot owner or agent, not the individual business enterprise (§350-35D).
- Applications for conditional use (such as billboards) or joint/multibusiness signs (per §286-6B(2)(f)) require review and approval by the Planning Commission and/or Mayor and Council, and must be coordinated aesthetically and architecturally.
- Permits are required unless the sign falls within an exempted category specified in §286-4 or §350-36.
- For advertising signs (billboards), a permit must be obtained and the application must include the approval of applicable authorities including the Zoning Officer (§286-6A(1)(e)).
- Permit applications must include all drawings and data required by the Zoning Officer (§286-7B), and fees as established by City resolution.

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

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