West Homestead City Zoning Code
PART 10
SIGN REGULATIONS
§ 27-1001 General Performance Standards.
[Ord. No. 745, 1/13/2026]
1.
Any and all signs are subject to the following performance standards:
A.
Maintenance.
(1)
Signs shall be properly maintained so as to present a legible appearance. All signs shall be maintained in good repair. All inoperative, broken, excessively weathered, or faded signs shall be repaired or removed.
(2)
All temporary signs shall be removed at the expiration of the event or sale for which they were erected.
B.
Prohibited Signs.
(1)
No flashing, animated, or moving signs (other than electronic time/temperature or message boards) shall be permitted in any district. Digital signs with changing still images are permitted.
(2)
Billboards. Billboards and/or other off-site advertising signs are not permitted in any residential district in the Borough. In the Commercial and Riverfront Development District, signs shall conform the requirements in § 27-1003.
(3)
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 way, or entering or leaving a lot.
(4)
No sign shall be erected or maintained on the roof or eaves of any building.
C.
"For Sale" or "For Rent" Sign.
(1)
Only one such sign shall be permitted for each front yard in addition on commercial building two such signs may be affixed to a building. Such sign shall not exceed 30 square feet in total surface area. A permit shall not be required.
D.
Vacation. All signs, other than the permitted "for sale" or "for rent" signs, in any Commercial district shall be removed from the zoning lot within 30 days of the closing or vacation of any said business.
§ 27-1002 Residential Districts.
[Ord. No. 745, 1/13/2026]
1.
Signs shall be permitted in any residential district, subject to the following conditions:
A.
Nameplate Sign. Not more than one such sign shall be permitted for each single-family dwelling unit. Each sign shall not exceed two square feet in total surface area. Any such sign shall be limited to address number, street name, name of occupant, and/or approved home occupation. A permit shall not be required.
B.
Identification Sign. Not more than one such sign shall be permitted for each multi-family dwelling structure containing more than five dwelling units. Each sign shall not exceed eight square feet in total surface area and shall not be closer than 10 feet to any property line or public right-of-way. A permit shall not be required.
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 total surface area and shall not be closer than five feet to any property line. A permit shall not be required.
D.
Development Sign (Temporary). Signs advertising lots or houses or sale in real estate developments, where three or more contiguous lots in common ownership are for sale simultaneously. Only one such sign shall be permitted for any such development, except that a second sign shall be permitted where any such development is comprised of 10 or more contiguous lots in common ownership. Not more than two such signs may be permitted for any such development. Each sign shall not exceed 25 square feet in total surface area; and shall be located within the boundaries of any such development, but not closer than five feet to any private property line or public right-of-way.
(1)
A building permit and a sign permit shall be required for each temporary development sign.
(2)
A performance bond equal to $100 per sign shall be required.
(3)
Any such sign shall not be erected unless an application for a sign permit is applied for and approved by the Zoning Officer. Any 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.
(4)
Failure to remove the sign within the stated time period shall result in the immediate forfeiture of the bond and the removal and disposal of the sign by the Borough. Any such failure shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
E.
Development Sign (Permanent).
(1)
A building permit and a sign permit shall be required for each permanent development sign.
(2)
Letters not exceeding 12 inches in height may be affixed to or engrave on an ornamental structure, giving the name of the real estate development or subdivision, and serving as a permanent indication of the entrance(s) to such development.
(3)
Any such sign shall not include identification of the owner, developer, builder, or realtor.
(4)
Any such sign shall not exceed 25 square feet in total surface area and may not be located closer than five feet to any private property line or public right-of-way.
(5)
Such a sign may be indirectly illuminated by a small white light (not flashing) shining on the sign which is sufficient to permit the sign to be read from the nearest roadway at night.
F.
Bulletin Signs for Houses of Worship. Not more than one such sign shall be permitted for each zoning lot. Each sign shall not exceed 15 square feet in total surface area and shall not be located closer than five feet to any private property line or public right-of-way.
§ 27-1003 Commercial and Industrial Districts.
[Ord. No. 745, 1/13/2026]
1.
Commercial and Industrial Districts. In any Commercial and Industrial District (C-1, Ave-Bus, MU, IND and SC) signs are permitted, subject to the following conditions:
A.
Permits Required. A building permit and a sign permit is required for each sign,
B.
Number of Business Signs Permitted. Each individual detached building in a C-1, Ave-Bus, MU, IND or SC District may be permitted one free-standing, and any number of flush-mounted signs in accordance with the requirements of Subsections 3 and 4.
2.
A contiguous group of more than 10 business establishments may be permitted one additional freestanding sign, identifying the group of businesses as a single unit.
3.
Size of Signs Permitted.
A.
The total gross surface area in square feet for all permitted signage shall not exceed a ratio of one times the lineal feet of frontage for the zoning lot on dedicated public streets right-of-ways or approved private streets.
B.
Billboards shall be a maximum size of 10 feet by 25 feet equals 250 square feet. The maximum height of a billboard shall be 45 feet.
4.
Locations of Signs, Including Billboards.
A.
All portions of business signs shall be a minimum of five feet from any dedicated public right-of-way unless flush-mounted.
B.
All parts of a sign shall be within 15 feet of the general ground level over which it is located, unless flush-mounted.
C.
A sign shall be placed so as not to interfere with the safe, regular, and orderly flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
D.
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 chapter.
E.
Free-standing signs shall be permitted in any yard area provided they are in conformance with the performance standards of this Part and other applicable provisions of this chapter.
F.
No new billboard shall be erected or installed after the effective date of this chapter within 1,500 feet of any existing billboard, whether such existing billboard is located inside or outside the Borough boundaries.
5.
Illumination.
A.
A sign with display lighting or an electronic sign panel shall be constructed so that it does not glare upon adjoining property. All measurements of light intensity from a billboard shall be taken at a height of six feet at the yard setback line on parcels that adjoin the parcel where the billboard is located or at a building on parcels that adjoin the parcel where the billboard is located, if a then-existing building is closer to the deed line than the yard setback identified in that particular zoning district. When the lot where the billboard is located adjoins commercial or industrial zoning districts, the light intensity, at its brightest, shall not exceed 3.0 footcandles at the measuring point. When the lot where the sign is located adjoins a residential zoning district, the light intensity, at its brightest, shall not exceed 1.0 footcandle at the measuring point.
6.
Temporary Signs. Temporary signs may be permitted for a period not to exceed 14 consecutive calendar days and not more than 28 calendar days in any one calendar year. 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, sale, or ownership is being advertised, and that such signs shall not constitute a hazard or impediment to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
7.
Prohibited Signs. Banners, streamers, pennants, balloons, flags (other than national, state and/or municipal flags), etc., are not permitted without authorization by Council.
8.
Directional Signs. Only two directional signs are permitted per curb opening. Any such directional sign may not exceed two square feet in total surface area.
9.
Menu Boards. In addition to other permitted signs, a fast-food restaurant may provide a menu board for drive-through customers. A menu board shall not be located within the required front yard setback area, shall not exceed 20 square feet in total surface area, and shall not impede the safe flow of traffic.
10.
Automobile Service Stations.
A.
Not more than two price signs may be attached to the permitted free-standing sign. The area of these signs shall be included in the total permitted signage surface area. The total surface area of all free-standing signs shall not exceed 50 square feet.
B.
Additional signs are permitted on and above gasoline pump islands, provided they do not extend beyond the edge of the island and are within 15 feet of the ground. The total surface area of all permitted free-standing and pump island signs shall not exceed 200 square feet.
C.
State inspection shingles, where applicable, shall not exceed 24 inches by 26 inches in dimension and may be flush-mounted on the structure.
11.
Awning Signs. Signs on awnings are exempt from the limitations imposed on this Part regarding the location of signs with respect to the public right-of-way. An awning sign shall be affixed flat to the surface of the awning, shall not be illuminated, and shall indicate only the name and/or address of the business, and shall otherwise conform to the regulations outlined under this Part.
12.
Marquee Signs.
A.
Number. Only one sign shall be permitted for each business and may be located in a required front yard.
B.
Size. Such sign shall not exceed 10 square feet in total surface area and shall not be closer than five feet to any private property line or public right-of-way.
C.
Real estate "for sale" or "for rent" signs in any District shall not exceed 24 inches in height unless approved by Council.
§ 27-1004 WDD District.
[Ord. No. 745, 1/13/2026]
Signs within the WDD District shall conform to the regulations contained in Part 9, and shall be designated on the plot plan submitted with an application for building permit under Part 15.
