Building Signs in Pittsburgh

Name: FASTSIGNS® of Pittsburgh: Edgewood-Swissvale, PA
Address: 7425 Washington Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15218, USA
Telephone: (412) 307-8936

Custom Building Signs for Pittsburgh-Area Storefronts

A building sign is often the first thing a potential customer sees. It identifies your business, reinforces your brand, and can help draw foot traffic from the street. At FASTSIGNS® of Pittsburgh: Edgewood-Swissvale, PA, we work with Pittsburgh-area business owners to match the right sign type, size, and style to their storefront, then carry the project from design through fabrication and code-compliant installation.

Ready to put your business on the map? Call us at (412) 307-8936 to start a conversation about your building sign project.

A Full-Service Team Behind Every Sign

We’re more than a fabricator. Our team includes visual communication professionals, graphic designers, and project managers who work with you from the first conversation to the final install. That means one consistent point of contact, no handoff confusion, and a sign that reflects your actual brand.

Before recommending a sign configuration, our design team looks at your building’s facade, your business type, and your goals. If you already have a logo, color palette, or font standards, we incorporate them. If you’re starting fresh, we help you develop something that works. Every recommendation is shaped around your specific objectives, not a default template. Our team also handles installation, making sure your signage is placed correctly and meets local building codes.

Common Building Sign Types for Pittsburgh Storefronts

The right sign format depends on your building, your neighbors, and how visible you need to be at different times of day. Here’s a quick look at the categories Pittsburgh businesses commonly consider:

Illuminated channel letters: Three-dimensional individual letters with LED illumination inside. These can stay visible after dark and work well on retail storefronts and restaurant facades where nighttime traffic matters.
Dimensional letters: Non-illuminated raised letters or logos mounted directly to the building surface. Clean, professional, and well suited to office buildings or businesses that don’t need after-hours visibility.
Awning signs: Fabric or metal awnings printed or fabricated with your business name. They add architectural character while providing shade and weather protection.
Monument signs: Freestanding signs positioned near a property entrance rather than on the building itself. Common for multi-tenant properties, office parks, and businesses set back from the road.

Sign type and size choices also factor in the surrounding streetscape. A business that wants to stand out on a busy commercial corridor has different needs than one in a quieter neighborhood where a lower-profile sign fits the context better. We help you think through those tradeoffs.

Pittsburgh Building Sign Permits: What to Know Before You Install

Most exterior signs in Pittsburgh require a permit before installation. The City of Pittsburgh’s sign code (Title 9 Zoning, Chapter 919) governs signs visible from the public right-of-way and sets rules on size, mounting height, and illumination. Signs under four square feet are generally exempt, but most commercial building signs exceed that threshold. The code also prohibits signs that extend above a building’s roofline or parapet, and maximum sign size varies by zoning district.

If your business is in Swissvale, Munhall, or another Allegheny County municipality, those jurisdictions set their own separate requirements. A sign that’s permitted in one neighborhood may need a different approval process two blocks away. We recommend confirming requirements with your local zoning office before any installation. Our team is familiar with navigating that process for building signs in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.

Start Your Pittsburgh Building Sign Project

Reach out to FASTSIGNS® of Pittsburgh: Edgewood-Swissvale, PA to tell us about your building and your goals. We can put together a recommendation tailored to your storefront, and we’re happy to walk you through options before you commit to anything. Call us at (412) 307-8936 to get started.

Building Sign Materials & Durability

Exterior signage takes a beating from Pittsburgh’s weather, so material selection matters. Most building signs are built from aluminum frames paired with acrylic or polycarbonate faces. Aluminum resists corrosion and holds up through freeze-thaw cycles, while acrylic and polycarbonate faces are impact resistant and allow light to pass through cleanly for illuminated applications.

LED lighting has become the standard for illuminated building signage. It draws less energy than older fluorescent or neon sources and maintains consistent brightness over a longer service life. With proper installation and routine maintenance, a well-built exterior sign is designed to stay in service for an extended period before needing significant attention.

Building Signs as Part of a Complete Exterior Signage Plan

A primary building sign identifies your location from the street, but it rarely works alone. Many businesses find that a full exterior signage plan includes several elements that work together to guide customers from the road to the door.

Monument signs near the property entrance help customers find a parking lot or driveway, especially for businesses set back from the street. Window lettering reinforces your brand and communicates hours or services at close range. Directional and wayfinding signs move customers through a parking area or toward an entrance once they’ve arrived.

Multi-tenant buildings add another layer. When multiple businesses share a space, each tenant typically needs its own identification alongside whatever primary signage the property carries. Planning all of these elements together rather than adding them one at a time can produce a more consistent result and can simplify the permitting process.