Pittston City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXVIII
Sign Regulations
§ 480-101 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to protect the safety and orderly development of the community through the regulation of signs and sign structures.
§ 480-102 General.
Sign types and the computation of sign area shall be as depicted in Figures 480-102(1) through 480-102(2). Sign permissions are listed in Table 480-102(3).
 Figure 480-102(1) General Sign Types |
 Figure 480-102(2) Comparison — Roof and Wall or Fascia Signs |
Table 480-102(3) Signage by Zoning District | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Key: NP-Not Permitted | ||||||||
OS | R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | NC | CB | I | MSO | |
Billboards | NP | NP | NP | NP | NP | NP | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP |
Directional signs | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP | ||||||
Free-standing signs | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP | ||||||
Projecting signs | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | Permitted (See Article XV) | ||||||
Portable signs | NP | NP | NP | NP | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP | NP |
Roof signs | NP | NP | NP | NP | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP |
Menu boards | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP | ||||||
Sandwich board signs | Permitted (See Article XV) | |||||||
Temporary signs • Real estate signs • Development and construction signs • Special promotion, grand opening, event signs • Special events in public rights-of-way • Political signs | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP | ||||||
Wall signs | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | Permitted (See Article XV) | ||||||
Window signs | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | Permitted (See Article XV) | ||||||
Canopy and marquee signs | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP | ||||||
Awning signs | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP | ||||||
Freestanding/pylon/ground signs | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP | ||||||
Signs for development complexes | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP | ||||||
Under-canopy signs | Permitted (See Article XXVIII) | NP | ||||||
§ 480-103 Conformance to codes.
Any sign hereafter erected shall conform to the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the International Building Code and of any other ordinance or regulation within the City of Pittston.
§ 480-104 Signs in rights-of-way.
No sign other than an official traffic sign or similar sign shall be erected within two feet of the lines of any street, or within any public way, unless specifically authorized by other ordinances or regulations in the City of Pittston or by specific authorization of the code official.
§ 480-105 Projections over public ways.
Signs projecting over public walkways shall be permitted to do so only subject to the projection and clearance limits either defined herein or, if not so defined, at a minimum height of 10 feet from grade level to the bottom of the sign. Signs, architectural projections or sign structures projecting over vehicular access areas must conform to the minimum height clearance limitations imposed by the City of Pittston.
§ 480-106 Traffic visibility.
No sign or sign structure shall be erected at the intersection of any street in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, nor at any location where by its position, shape or color it may interfere with or obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
§ 480-107 Computation of frontage.
If a premise contains walls facing more than one property line or encompasses property frontage bounded by more than one street or other property usages, the sign area(s) for each building wall or property frontage will be computed separately for each building wall or property line facing a different frontage. The sign area(s) thus calculated shall be permitted to then be applied to permitted signs placed on each separate wall or property line frontage.
§ 480-108 Animation and changeable messages.
Animated signs and changeable message signs are not permitted.
EXCEPTION: Manually activated changeable signs are permitted in NC, CB and I Zones.
§ 480-109 Maintenance, repair and removal.
A.
Every sign permitted by this chapter shall be kept in good condition and repair. When any sign becomes insecure, in danger of falling or otherwise deemed unsafe by the code official, or if any sign shall be unlawfully installed, erected or maintained in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the owner thereof or the person or firm using same shall, upon written notice by the Zoning Officer in the case of immediate danger, and in any case within not more than 10 days, make such sign conform to the provisions of this chapter, or shall remove it. If within 10 days the order is not complied with, the Zoning Officer shall be permitted to remove or cause such sign to be removed at the expense of the owner and/or the user of the sign.
B.
Any sign copy that no longer advertises or identifies a use conducted on the property on which said sign is erected must have the sign copy covered or removed within 30 days after written notification from the code official; and upon failure to comply with such notice, the Zoning Officer is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign copy, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building, structure or ground on which the sign is located.
C.
Any sign legally existing at the time of the passage of this chapter that does not conform in uses, location, height or size with the regulations of the zone in which such sign is located shall be considered a legal nonconforming use or structure and shall be permitted to continue in such status until such time as it is either abandoned or removed by its owner, subject to the following limitations:
(1)
Structural alterations, enlargement or re-erection are permissible only where such alterations will not increase the degree of nonconformity of the signs.
(2)
Any legal nonconforming sign shall be removed or rebuilt without increasing the existing height or area if it is damaged, or removed if allowed to deteriorate to the extent that the cost of repair of restoration exceeds 50% of the replacement cost of the sign as determined by the code official.
(3)
Signs that comply with either Subsection C(1) or (2) above need not be permitted.
§ 480-110 Exempt signs.
A.
The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter. No sign shall be exempt from § 480-106.
(1)
Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public safety official.
(2)
Directional, warning or informational signs authorized by federal, state or municipal governments.
(3)
Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones when cut or carved into a masonry surface or when made of noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure.
(4)
The flag of a government or noncommercial institution, such as a school.
(5)
Religious symbols and seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season.
(6)
Works of fine art displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise where the enterprise does not receive direct commercial gain.
(7)
Street address signs and combination nameplate and street address signs that contain no advertising copy and which do not exceed six square feet in area.
§ 480-111 Prohibited signs.
A.
The following devices and locations shall be specifically prohibited:
(1)
Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
(2)
Except as provided for elsewhere in this Code, signs encroaching upon or overhanging public right-of-way. No sign shall be attached to any utility pole, light standard, street tree or any other public facility located within the public right-of-way.
(3)
Signs which blink, flash or are animated by lighting in any fashion that would cause such signs to have the appearance of traffic safety signs and lights, or municipal vehicle warnings from a distance.
(4)
Portable signs except as allowed for temporary signs.
(5)
Any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property, except for signs meeting the following conditions:
(a)
The primary purpose of such a vehicle or trailer is not the display of signs.
(b)
The signs are magnetic, decals or painted upon an integral part of the vehicle or equipment as originally designed by the manufacturer, and do not break the silhouette of the vehicle.
(c)
The vehicle or trailer is in operating condition, currently registered and licensed to operate on public streets when applicable, and actively used or available for use in the daily function of the business to which such signs relate.
(6)
Vehicles and trailers are not used primarily as static displays, advertising a product or service, nor utilized as storage, shelter or distribution points for commercial products or services for the general public.
(7)
Balloons, streamers or pinwheels except those temporarily displayed as part of a special sale, promotion or community event. For the purposes of this subsection, "temporarily" means no more than 20 days in any calendar year.
(8)
Any type of sign on a tree, its tree guard or ground of a tree lawn.
(9)
Outdoor advertising and off-premises signs.
§ 480-112 Permits, construction and changes.
A.
Unless specifically exempted, a permit must be obtained from the Zoning Officer for the erection and maintenance of all signs erected or maintained within this jurisdiction. Exemptions from the necessity of securing a permit, however, shall not be construed to relieve the owner of the sign involved from the responsibility for its erection and maintenance in a safe manner and in a manner in accordance with all the other provisions of this chapter.
B.
Before any permit is granted for the erection of a sign or sign structure requiring such permit, construction documents shall be filed with the details of construction, including loads, stresses, anchorage and any other pertinent data. The permit application shall be accompanied by the written consent of the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is to be erected and by engineering calculations signed and sealed by a registered design professional where required by the International Building Code.
C.
No sign shall be structurally altered, enlarged or relocated except in conformity to the provisions herein, nor until a proper permit, if required, has been secured. The changing or maintenance of movable parts or components, changing of copy, business names, lettering, sign faces, colors, display and/or graphic matter, or the content of any sign shall not be deemed a structural alteration.
D.
Permit fees to erect, alter or relocate a sign shall be in accordance with the fee schedule adopted within the City of Pittston.
§ 480-113 Identification signs.
A.
Wall signs. Every single-family residence, multiple-family residential complex, commercial or industrial building, and every separate nonresidential building in a residential zone may display wall signs per street frontage subject to the limiting standards set forth in Table 480-113(1). For shopping centers, planned industrial parks or other multiple-occupancy nonresidential buildings, the building face or wall shall be calculated separately for each separate occupancy, but in no event will the allowed area for any separate occupancy be less than 500 square feet.
B.
Directional signs. No more than two directional signs shall be permitted per street entrance to any lot. There shall be no limit to the number of directional signs providing directional information interior to a lot. In residential zones, the maximum area for directional signs shall be three square feet. For all other zones, the maximum area for any directional sign visible from adjacent property or rights-of-way shall be 15 square feet. Not more than 25% of the area of any directional sign shall be permitted to be devoted to business identification or logo, which area shall not be assessed as identification sign area.
Table 480-113(1) Identification Sign Standards — Wall Signs | |
|---|---|
Land Use | Aggregate Area (square feet) |
Single-family residential | 3 |
Multiple-family residential | 4 |
Nonresidential in a residential zone | 6 |
Commercial and industrial | 2 square feet in area for every linear foot of building frontage, up to the maximum of 40 square feet |
Table 480-113(2) Identification Sign Standards - Freestanding Signs (a)(b)(c) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Land Use | Number of Signs | Height (feet) | Area (square feet) | Spacing |
Single-family residential | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 per subdivision entrance (a) |
Multiple-family residential | 1 (2 on corner lot) | 6 | 4 | 1 per driveway (a) |
Nonresidential in a residential zone | 1 (2 on corner lot) | 10 | 6 | n/a |
Commercial | 2 | 20 | 50% of lot frontage | 150 (b) |
Industrial | 2 | 30 | 65% of lot frontage | 150 (b) |
Notes: | |
|---|---|
(a) | For subdivision or apartment identification signs placed on a decorative entry wall approved by the code official, two identification signs shall be permitted to be placed at each entrance to the subdivision or apartment complex, one on each side of the driveway or entry drive. |
(b) | For shopping centers or planned industrial parks, two monument-style freestanding signs not exceeding 50% each of the permitted height and area, and spaced not closer than 100 feet to any other freestanding identification sign, shall be permitted to be allowed in lieu of any freestanding sign otherwise permitted in this table. |
(c) | For any commercial or industrial development complex exceeding 1,000,000 square feet of gross leasable area, or 40 acres in size, such as regional shopping centers, auto malls or planned industrial parks, one freestanding sign per street front shall be permitted to be increased in sign area by up to 50%. |
§ 480-114 Temporary signs.
[Amended 8-21-2024 by Ord. No. 8-2024]
A.
All temporary signs shall be restricted to one sign per 2,500 square feet of total property per property.
B.
All temporary signs shall be less than 18 square feet in area.
C.
All temporary signs shall be less than four feet in height, inclusive of temporary posts and/or attachments and shall be measured from the ground to the uppermost top of a sign.
D.
All temporary signs shall not be posted or displayed for more than 45 consecutive days in any three-month period and not more than 90 days per calendar year.
E.
All temporary signs are prohibited from being erected, posted or displayed on public property or in the public right-of-way.
§ 480-115 Requirements for specific sign types.
A.
Canopy and marquee signs.
(1)
The permanently affixed copy area of canopy or marquee signs shall not exceed an area equal to 25% of the face area of the canopy, marquee or architectural projection upon which such sign is affixed or applied.
(2)
Graphic striping, patterns or color bands on the face of a building, canopy, marquee or architectural projection shall not be included in the computation of sign copy area.
B.
Awning signs.
(1)
The copy area of awning signs shall not exceed an area equal to 25% of the background area of the awning or awning surface to which such sign is affixed or applied, or the permitted area for wall or fascia signs, whichever is less.
(2)
Neither the background color of an awning, nor any graphic treatment or embellishment thereto such as striping, patterns or valances, shall be included in the computation of sign copy area.
C.
Projecting signs.
(1)
Projecting signs shall be permitted in lieu of freestanding signage on any street frontage limited to one sign per occupancy along any street frontage with a public entrance to such an occupancy, and shall be limited in height and area to 10 square feet per each 10 lineal feet of building frontage, except that no such sign shall exceed an area of 100 square feet.
(2)
No such sign shall extend vertically above the highest point of the building facade upon which it is mounted by more than 10% of the height of the building facade.
(3)
Such signs shall not extend over a public sidewalk in excess of 50% of the width of the sidewalk.
(4)
Such signs shall maintain a clear vertical distance above any public sidewalk a minimum of 10 feet.
D.
Under-canopy signs.
(1)
Under-canopy signs shall be limited to no more than one such sign per public entrance to any occupancy and shall be limited to an area not to exceed six square feet.
(2)
Such signs shall maintain clear vertical distance above any sidewalk or pedestrian way a minimum of eight feet.
E.
Roof signs.
(1)
Roof signs shall be permitted in commercial and industrial districts only.
(2)
Such signs shall be limited to a height above the roofline of the elevation parallel to the sign face of no more than 10% of the height of the roofline in commercial/factory districts.
(3)
The sign area for roof signs shall be assessed against the aggregate permitted area for wall signs on the elevation of the building most closely parallel to the face of the sign.
F.
Window signs. Window signs shall be permitted for any nonresidential use in a residential district, and for all commercial and commercial/factory districts, subject to the following limitations:
(1)
The aggregate area of all such signs shall not exceed 25% of the window area on which such signs are displayed. Window panels separated by muntins or mullions shall be considered as one continuous window area.
(2)
Window signs shall not be assessed against the sign area permitted for other sign types.
G.
Menu boards. Menu board signs shall not be permitted to exceed 36 square feet.
H.
Freestanding/pylon/ground signs.
(1)
The required setback distance of 10 feet shall be measured from the outermost edge of the sign and not from the supporting structure. If an existing building has a front yard setback which is less than 10 feet, any proposed new sign shall be attached flat against the building as a wall sign.
(2)
Whenever possible, freestanding signs shall be designed with two support posts or columns to help frame the message board, versus a single pole or pylon, to better integrate the signage architecture with the landscape.
(3)
Whenever possible, ground signs shall be installed and maintained, versus freestanding signs, to better integrate the signage architecture with the landscape.
(4)
Freestanding/pylon/ground signs shall not exceed 50 square feet in area or 12 feet in height, unless a sign area bonus is achieved in accordance with Subsection H(5).
(5)
The square footages of freestanding signs and ground signs may be increased up to 10% above the areas listed if the Zoning Officer determines that enhanced landscaping will be installed and maintained in accordance with the value-added attributes set forth below.
I.
Value-added attributes of well-designed signage and landscaping.
(1)
In order to achieve a sign area bonus of up to 10%, the applicant shall demonstrate, through the submission of plans and images, that the proposed signage will provide the features described below, and will be constructed and maintained with quality materials.
 |
(a)
Large ground/monument sign.
[1]
Low walls of masonry material and generous landscaping.
[a]
Stone walls.
[b]
Stone piers.
[c]
Seasonal flowers and evergreen shrubs in a continuously mulched planting bed.
 |
(b)
Freestanding sign with double posts or columns.
[1]
Masonry materials, and generous landscaping at base of freestanding/pylon sign.
[a]
Brick posts or columns with detailing.
[b]
Finial cap on columns.
[c]
Seasonal flowers in a continuously mulched planting bed.
 |
(c)
Ground/directional sign.
[1]
Varied masonry materials and complimentary landscaping.
[a]
Stone base.
[b]
Brick body.
[c]
Sandstone cap.
[d]
Seasonal flowers, perennial flowers, and evergreen groundcovers in a continuously mulched planting bed.
§ 480-116 Signs for development complexes.
A.
All landlord or single-owner-controlled multiple-occupancy development complexes on parcels exceeding eight acres in size, such as shopping centers or planned industrial parks, shall submit to the Zoning Officer a master sign plan prior to issuance of new sign permits. The master sign plan shall establish standards and criteria for all signs in the complex that require permits, and shall address, at a minimum, the following:
(1)
Proposed sign locations.
(2)
Materials.
(3)
Type of illuminations.
(4)
Design of freestanding sign structures.
(5)
Size.
(6)
Quantity.
(7)
Uniform standards for non-business signage, including directional and informational signs.
B.
In addition to the freestanding business identification signs otherwise allowed by this chapter, every multiple-occupancy development complex shall be entitled to one freestanding sign per street front, at the maximum size permitted for business identification freestanding signs, to identify the development complex. No business identification shall be permitted on a development complex sign. Any freestanding sign otherwise permitted under this chapter may identify the name of the development complex.
C.
All applications for sign permit for signage within a multiple-occupancy development complex shall comply with the master sign plan.
D.
Any amendments to a master sign plan must be signed and approved by the owner(s) within the development complex before such amendment will become effective.
§ 480-117 Billboards.
Billboard signs are only permitted in the Industrial (I) District and are subject to the following:
A.
The total sign size or sign area shall not exceed 312.5 square feet, and the sign shall have no more than two sides or faces. In no event shall the sign exceed 625 square feet.
B.
Signs shall comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
C.
No sign shall be permitted upon the roof of a building.
D.
No sign shall be placed within 30 feet of the street right-of-way line or within 10 feet of a side or rear lot line.
E.
No sign shall be erected or maintained within a 500-foot radius of any other billboard sign, or within a 500-foot radius of a residential zone or lot line of an existing residential use.
F.
No sign shall exceed 35 feet in height.
G.
Lighting shall conform to all applicable regulations. No lighting shall be permitted to spill over onto adjoining property, nor shall it be permitted to interfere with, or be hazardous to, persons using public highways.
H.
All signs must be of unipole construction.
I.
Stacking of signs is prohibited.
J.
Any sign that does not have advertising for more than a year must be removed.
K.
Billboard signs are prohibited in all other zoning districts.
L.
Digital, electronic messaging and/or LED signs shall only be permitted by special exception.
