# Sign Regulations in White Oak, Pennsylvania

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

- **Jurisdiction:** White Oak, Pennsylvania (PA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/pennsylvania/white-oak
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

White Oak, Pennsylvania regulates 31 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Pole Business Signs in the Commercial District, C-1, C-2 zoning district are capped at 22 ft, bottom edge not less than 7 ft from grade tall and 150 sq ft, with a 1375.08(l) setback (Sec. 1375.12(c)(1)-(6)). Most commercial signs in White Oak require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 15 | 12 ft above grade or above the ceiling of the ground floor, whichever is less | 200 sq in | — |
| Commercial District, C-1, C-2 | 8 | 40 ft above curb | 300 sq ft per sign face, 2 faces per structure | — |
| Industrial District, I-1 | 4 | 40 ft above curb | 300 sq ft per sign face, 2 faces per structure | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | max 7 ft, min 3 ft above ground if mounted in yard | — | — |

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

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-Premises Sale of Produce Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises; parallel or freestanding | — | 1375.09(a) |
| Mailbox/Doorbell Sign | — | 36 sq in | — | — | 1 | On mailbox or doorbell | — | 1375.09(d) |
| Name and Address Sign | — | 200 sq in | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | 1375.09(e) |
| Home Occupation Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | 1375.09(f) |
| Bulletin/Announcement Board for Nonresidential Use | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | 1375.09(g) |
| Sign for Nonconforming Use | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | 1375.09(h) |
| For Sale or Rental Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | 1375.09(i) |
| Development Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | 1375.09(j) |

### Commercial District, C-1, C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Residential Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1375.12(a) |
| Parallel Business Sign (Ground Floor Occupant) | — | Max 25% of wall area to which attached | — | — | — | Parallel to building wall, includes signs in or on windows if combined area >50% of window area | — | 1375.12(b)(1),(3),(4) |
| Parallel Business Sign (No Ground Floor Occupancy) | — | Max 25% of wall area to which attached | — | — | — | Parallel to building wall | — | 1375.12(b)(2),(4) |
| Freestanding Pole Business Sign | 22 ft, bottom edge not less than 7 ft from grade | 150 sq ft | — | 1375.08(l) | 1 (except as in 1375.08(i)) | On-premises, not mounted to roof | — | 1375.12(c)(1)-(6) |
| Freestanding Ground Business Sign | 4 ft, bottom edge max 18 in above grade | 32 sq ft | — | 1375.08(l) | 1 (except as in 1375.08(i)) | On-premises, not mounted to roof | — | 1375.12(c)(1),(3)(B),(5),(7),(8) |
| Electronic Message Display (C-1 and C-2) | — | 30 sq ft per site | — | — | — | — | — | 1375.12(e) |
| Off-premises Traffic/Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1375.13(a) |
| Billboard (C-2 only, see suffix) | 40 ft above curb | 300 sq ft per sign face, 2 faces per structure | Sign face: 20 ft high, 60 ft long | Per minimum front, side, rear yard for principal use in district; building coverage counts for lot | — | Only permitted on PA Route 48 (Jacks Run Rd/Long Run Rd), Lincoln Way east of Rt 48 intersection, on properties zoned C-2, within 200 ft of highway centerline | — | 1375.16 |

### Industrial District, I-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Residential Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1375.14(a) |
| Parallel Business Sign (Industrial) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | Parallel to building wall | — | 1375.14(b) |
| Freestanding Business Sign (Industrial) | 22 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises | — | 1375.14(c) |
| Billboard (I-1 only, see suffix) | 40 ft above curb | 300 sq ft per sign face, 2 faces per structure | Sign face: 20 ft high, 60 ft long | Per minimum front, side, rear yard for principal use in district; building coverage counts for lot | — | Only permitted on PA Route 48 (Jacks Run Rd/Long Run Rd), Lincoln Way east of Rt 48 intersection, on properties zoned I-1, within 200 ft of highway centerline | — | 1375.16 |

## Prohibited signs in White Oak

- No sign shall be placed in a position that will cause danger on the street by obscuring the view (obstruction).
- No signs except those of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices, shall be allowed within street lines.
- No person shall paint, paste, brand, stamp, or attach any written, printed, painted or other advertisement, bill, notice, sign, card or poster on or to any tree, telegraph, electric light or other pole on any street in the Borough.
- Roof signs, flashing signs, and festoon lighting are not permitted in any district.
- No sign shall be erected containing information stating or implying that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance in the zoning district in which the property is located.
- Any sign which is allowed to become dilapidated may be removed by the Borough at the expense of the property owner.
- Unsafe and unlawful signs: If a sign is unsafe, insecure, a menace to the public, or is being maintained in violation of the ordinance, the Building Inspector may mandate removal or alteration or remove the sign at the owner's expense.
- Any vehicle to which a sign is affixed so that carrying the sign becomes a primary purpose rather than incidental is considered a freestanding sign and subject to those provisions.
- No bare cuts are permitted on a hillside (specific to billboard construction).
- Billboards shall not be constructed within the clear sight triangle of the public street or road, and shall not obstruct or impede traffic safety.
- No billboard structure, sign, face, or display lighting shall move, flash, or emit noise.
- No display lighting on billboards shall cause distractions, confusion, nuisance or hazard to traffic, aircraft, or other properties.
- The use of colored lighting on billboards shall not be permitted.
- Political or election signs are prohibited on any fire alarm, telegraph, telephone or electric light pole or on any public property or building.

## Signs exempt from permit in White Oak

- Holiday decorations displayed for recognized federal or state holidays are exempted except as they may interfere with glare, traffic safety, or become a public safety hazard.
- Official signs erected or installed by the State, County or Borough are exempt from restrictions that apply to other signs.
- Street banners, when displayed by civic or charitable nonprofit organizations, are exempt from the size restrictions but must comply with time limits for display.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs must conform with the provisions of this article and any other ordinance or regulations of the Borough not inconsistent herewith.
- Except for official signs, all on-premises signs over six square feet in area and all off-premises signs regardless of size require the issuance of a building permit before erection or replacement.
- Any sign that becomes nonconforming must be brought into conformity with the Zoning Ordinance at the time of replacement or rebuilding, and a zoning permit will be required.
- Prior to the submission of an application for a building permit for a billboard, the applicant must obtain and submit with the application approvals from the County of Allegheny or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), when applicable.
- Billboards require approval by the Zoning Hearing Board as a use by special exception in accordance with procedures and criteria contained in Section 1309.07.

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

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