Penn Hills Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 1276
Signs
§ 1276.01 Signs in Residential Districts.
[Ord. 2121, passed 11-9-1992; Ord. 2420, passed 5-3-2004]
Signs shall be permitted in Residential Districts subject to the following conditions:
(a)
Nameplate Sign. Only one such sign shall be permitted for each front yard per dwelling unit. No sign shall exceed 0.75 square feet in area.
(b)
Identification Sign. One such sign shall be permitted for each front yard per non-residential building, and per multifamily dwelling containing more than five dwelling units. No sign shall exceed 32 square feet in area and shall not be closer than five feet to any property line. Non-residential uses approved in Residential Districts as conditional uses may install signage in accordance with § 1276.02.
(c)
"For Sale" or "For Rent" Sign. Only one such sign shall be permitted for each front yard. Such sign shall not exceed 10 square feet in area and shall not be closer than five feet to any property line.
(d)
Signs Advertising Lots or Houses for Sale. In real estate developments, where 10 or more contiguous lots in common ownership are for sale simultaneously, only one such sign shall be permitted for each primary entrance to the development, but no more than two signs shall be permitted per development. Each sign shall not exceed 25 square feet in area and shall be within 1,300 feet of the nearest lot originally for sale and shall not be closer than five feet to any property line.
(1)
Such sign shall not be erected unless an application for a permit to erect such sign is applied for and issued by the Code Enforcement Officer. Pursuant to the issuance of such permit, the Code Enforcement Officer shall receive from the applicant a performance bond of $200 per sign. Such sign shall be removed within two years after receipt of a permit, or when all of the original lots have been sold, whichever is sooner, at which time the performance bond will be returned.
(2)
Failure to remove the sign within the stated time period shall result in the forfeiture of the bond and shall constitute a violation of this Zoning Code.
(e)
Signs Identifying a Subdivision or Real Estate Development (Not Including Identification of the Owner, Developer, or Realtor).
(1)
Letters not exceeding 12 inches in height may be affixed to or engraved on an ornamental structure, giving the name of a real estate development or subdivision, and serving as a permanent indication of the entrance(s) to such development.
(2)
No sign shall be closer than five feet to any property line.
(f)
Bulletin Signs for Houses of Worship. Only one such sign shall be permitted in each front yard. No sign shall exceed 15 square feet in area nor be closer than five feet to any property line.
(g)
Flashing, Animated or Moving Signs. No flashing, animated, or moving signs shall be permitted. With the exception of signs advertising real estate developments, all signs may be illuminated by a small, white light shining on the sign, sufficient to permit the sign to be read from the nearest roadway when dark.
(h)
Signs permitted with a home occupation shall not exceed one square foot in area.
§ 1276.02 Signs in Business, Industrial and M Districts.
[Ord. 2121, passed 11-9-1992; Ord. 2420, passed 5-3-2004; amended 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-2705]
Commercial, Industrial and M Districts. In B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2 and M Districts, non-flashing, non-animated business signs are permitted, subject to the following conditions:
(a)
Permits Required.
(1)
A sign permit is required before a sign may be erected. No sign, whether free-standing or attached to a structure, shall be erected, re-erected, enlarged, altered or replaced without the issuance of a permit in accordance with this Zoning Code.
(2)
Maintenance of a legal sign by painting, repainting, or cleaning shall not be considered an erection or alteration which requires a sign permit. Changes in the text/graphics or an expansion of the text/graphics would require a permit.
(b)
Number of Business Signs Permitted.
(1)
Unless otherwise specified each individual detached building in a commercial district shall be permitted one free-standing and any number of flush-mounted signs in accordance with the requirements of Subsections (c) and (d) hereof.
(2)
If more than five business establishments are together in a detached building or a contiguous group, such group or building is permitted an additional free-standing sign to identify this group of businesses as a single unit.
(3)
A contiguous group of more than 30 business establishments is permitted two additional free-standing signs identifying the group of businesses as a single unit.
(4)
The additional signs above may be combined on one pole, provided the total square footage does not exceed 100 square feet.
(c)
Size of Signs Permitted.
(1)
The total area of flush-mounted signage shall not exceed one square foot of signage for each linear foot of building frontage. The square footage of signage shall be determined by "boxing" the periphery of letters and/or symbols.
(2)
The total area of free-standing signs shall not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of building frontage, but in any case, shall not exceed 50 square feet, unless as described in Subsection (b) of this section, where the sign shall not exceed 100 square feet.
(d)
Location of Signs.
(1)
All portions of signs shall be a minimum of 15 feet from any right-of-way unless flush-mounted.
(2)
With the exception of billboards, all parts of a sign shall be within 15 feet of the existing grade over which it is located, unless flush-mounted, or in cases where more than one freestanding sign is permitted and the are combined on one pole, all parts of the sign shall be within 25 feet of the existing grade over which it is located.
(3)
A sign shall be placed so as not to interfere with the regular and orderly flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
(4)
Flush-mounted signs shall be permitted on all sides of a building, provided they are in conformance with the area requirements and other provisions of this Zoning Code.
Free-standing signs shall be permitted in any yard area, provided they are in conformance with the performance standards of this section and other provisions of this Zoning Code.
(e)
Temporary Signs.
(1)
Temporary signs, in conjunction with the issuance of a new occupancy permit, shall be permitted for a period not to exceed 14 days. There shall be no limit as to the number or size of temporary signs, except that such signs must be located on the lot of the business whose opening, or ownership is being advertised, and that such signs shall not constitute a hazard or impediment to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(2)
Temporary signs may be erected for a period of 30 days in conjunction with an approved temporary use. The total area of temporary use signage shall not exceed 32 square feet.
(f)
Directional Signs. Only two directional signs are permitted per curb opening. A directional sign may not exceed two square feet in size.
(g)
Menu Boards. In addition to other permitted signs, a fast-food restaurant may provide a menu board for drive-thru customers. A menu board shall not be located within the required front yard setback area, shall not exceed 20 square feet, and shall not impede the safe flow of traffic.
(h)
Automobile Service Stations.
(1)
Gasoline price signs (not to exceed two and not exceeding 20 square feet each) may be erected, in addition to a free-standing business sign. The total of all signs shall not exceed 90 square feet.
(2)
Signs are permitted on and above gasoline pump islands, provided they do not extend beyond the edge of the island and are within 10 feet of the ground.
(3)
State Inspection shingles, where applicable, shall not exceed 24 inches by 26 inches and may be mounted at any place on the property, provided they do not interfere with the regular and ordinary flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(i)
Awning Signs. In addition to other business signage normally permitted, each business establishment in a shopping plaza is entitled to one awning sign perpendicular to the structure, not exceeding two square feet, and visible only to pedestrians using the sidewalk.
(k)
"For Sale" or "For Rent" Signs.
(1)
Number. Only one such sign shall be permitted for each front yard.
(2)
Size. Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and shall not be closer than five feet to any property line.
(3)
Signs advertising the sale or lease of vacant land shall not exceed 32 square feet and must meet all other performance standards.
(l)
Billboards.
(1)
Billboards are not permitted in any R, C, B, or M District within the Municipality of Penn Hills, or in any residential use in a non-residential district. Billboards are permitted in I-1 and I-2 Districts only.
(2)
Billboards must have a minimum separation of 1,000 feet as measured from another billboard on the same side of the roadway.
(3)
Billboards located adjacent to an interstate highway shall not exceed 672 square feet in area per sign face. All other billboards shall not exceed 100 square feet in area per sign face.
(4)
Billboards may not be mounted on the roof, wall, or other part of a building or any other structure.
(5)
All billboards must conform to § 1276.01(g), Subsection (d) hereof and § 1276.03, except billboards located adjacent to an interstate highway shall not exceed 40 feet in height, as measured from the surface of the interstate highway to the top of the billboard.
(6)
Billboards may utilize LED sign faces with electronically changing messages and such billboards shall conform to all PennDOT rules and requirements including those contained in Section 5.04 of PennDOT Publication 581, as amended from time to time.
(m)
Special Use Signs. Businesses and community facilities which traditionally rely on seasonal sales, weekend events, community events, and entertainment may have one additional sign not exceeding 20 square feet for the sole purpose of promoting this activity. Examples include, but are not limited to, lawn and garden centers and fruit markets that obtain a supply of seasonal products, restaurants and taverns that feature live entertainment, church bazaars, and fire department reader boards. Special use signs do not include reduced-price retail sales, promotional ads, and signs that promote standard retail activity. Special Use Signs must be specifically approved by the chief zoning officer and otherwise meet all performance standards of this section.
§ 1276.03 Performance Standards, All Signs.
[Ord. 2121, passed 11-9-1992; Ord. 2420, passed 5-3-2004]
Any and all signs are subject to the following performance standards:
(a)
All signs shall be properly maintained so as to present a legible appearance. All signs and sign structures shall be maintained in good repair. The display surface of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted at all times. There shall be no nails, tacks or wires protruding from the sign or other advertising structure. Excessively weathered or faded signs shall be removed or put into a good state of repair. If panels and/or display surfaces of a sign are removed, the entire sign shall be removed.
(b)
All non-operative or broken interior-illuminated signs shall be repaired or removed. All temporary signs shall be removed at the expiration of the event or sale for which they were erected. This section shall apply retroactively to all existing signs and any new signs.
(c)
No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to be distractive or hazardous, or to obstruct visibility with respect to the safety of motorists or pedestrians proceeding along any public ways or entering or leaving a lot.
(d)
No sign shall be erected or maintained on the roof or eaves of any building.
(e)
No signs of any type shall be permitted on an accessory structure.
§ 1276.04 Removal of Temporary Signs.
[Ord. 2420, passed 5-3-2004]
(a)
The Zoning Officer is hereby empowered to remove or cause to be removed any temporary sign or other advertising structure which has been constructed, erected, altered, relocated, or maintained in violation of this Zoning Code.
(b)
Any temporary sign or advertising display unlawfully located in the public right-of-way may be removed without notice. Upon removal the zoning officer shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owner or beneficial user of the sign, informing them that the sign can be reclaimed upon payment of the prescribed fee and within 10 days of removal. The Municipality will not be responsible for damages to temporary signs that may occur during the removal process. If the owner does not claim the sign within the ten-day period, the Municipality may sell or otherwise dispose of the sign and all costs associated shall be born by the owner.
(c)
The zoning officer or police officer is hereby authorized to cause the immediate removal or repair of any temporary sign found to be unsafe, defective, or a traffic hazard to the extent that it creates an immediate and emergency hazard to persons or property. Actual notice to the property owner or sign beneficiary is not required. After removal the zoning officer shall make a reasonable effort to provide notice as prescribed in Subsection (b) above.