# Sign Regulations in Ada, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ada, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/ada
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Ada/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH6ALBE_ARTIISACO_DIV33.2PEMALILI_S6-86APRESIINWA)

## At a glance

Ada, Minnesota regulates 22 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Individual establishment)s in the Commercial (C-1) zoning district are capped at 35 feet tall and 250 square feet, with a At least 10 feet from street right-of-way, 5 feet from side lot line setback (Sec. Section 10, Subd. 24.E.1(d)). Most commercial signs in Ada require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single- and two-family residential (R-1), Multifamily residential (R-2), Mobile home park (R-3), Urban-agricultural (U-A) | 11 | 10 feet above ground | 100 square feet | — |
| Commercial (C-1) | 12 | 35 feet | 250 square feet | — |
| Industrial (I-1) | 9 | 35 feet | 250 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Single- and two-family residential (R-1), Multifamily residential (R-2), Mobile home park (R-3), Urban-agricultural (U-A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation or Special Home Occupation) | 6 feet above ground | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling | One per dwelling; can be wall or freestanding | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.2(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Home Occupation or Special Home Occupation) | 6 feet above ground | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling | One per dwelling | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.2(a) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Multiple-family dwellings) | — | 10 square feet | — | — | 1 per building | One per building | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.2(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Area/Subdivision identification) | 10 feet above ground | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per abutting street, maximum of 2 | Premises of the development/subdivision; one per abutting street (up to 2 if multiple streets abutted) | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(a)(1) and Section 2, Definition: Sign, area identification |
| Wall Sign (Public/semi-public building entrance: school, etc.) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per public entrance | Immediately above or beside each public entrance to a public/semi-public building used as a school | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Public/semi-public buildings/uses) | 10 feet above ground | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per abutting street, maximum of 2 | On premises; one per abutting street (max 2 if multiple street frontages) | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(a)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Public/semi-public building) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per building | On the public/semi-public building | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(b)(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 10 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On property for sale/lease; one per property | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.D.11(a) |

### Commercial (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Roof Sign | 10 feet above roof line or maximum of 35 feet, whichever is less | 250 square feet | — | — | 1 per establishment in lieu of freestanding | In lieu of freestanding sign | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.1(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Individual establishment) | 35 feet | 250 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from street right-of-way, 5 feet from side lot line | 1 per establishment | On premises; one per establishment not in a shopping center | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.1(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping center) | 35 feet | 250 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from street right-of-way, 5 feet from side lot line | 1 per shopping center complex | A single sign for the shopping center complex | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.1(e) |
| Wall Sign (Public/semi-public building entrance: school, etc.) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per public entrance | Immediately above or beside each public entrance to that part of the building which is used as a school | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Public/semi-public buildings/uses) | 10 feet above ground | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per abutting street, maximum of 2 | Premises; one per abutting street (max 2 if multiple street frontages) | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(a)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Public/semi-public building) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per building | On the public/semi-public building | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(b)(2) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Public/semi-public, e.g., churches) | 10 feet above ground (freestanding) | 100 square feet (freestanding); 50 square feet (wall) | — | — | Per above | One per abutting street (max 2 for freestanding); one wall sign per building; per public/semi-public use | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(a)(1) and (b)(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On property for sale/lease; one per property | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.D.11(a) |

### Industrial (I-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Roof Sign | 10 feet above roof line or maximum of 35 feet, whichever is less | 250 square feet | — | — | 1 per establishment in lieu of freestanding | In lieu of freestanding sign | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.1(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Individual establishment) | 35 feet | 250 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from street right-of-way, 5 feet from side lot line | 1 per establishment | On premises; one per establishment not in a shopping center | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.1(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping center) | 35 feet | 250 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from street right-of-way, 5 feet from side lot line | 1 per shopping center complex | A single sign for the shopping center complex | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.1(e) |
| Wall Sign (Public/semi-public building entrance: school, etc.) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per public entrance | Immediately above or beside each public entrance to that part of the building which is used as a school | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Public/semi-public buildings/uses) | 10 feet above ground | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per abutting street, maximum of 2 | Premises; one per abutting street (max 2 if multiple street frontages) | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(a)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Public/semi-public building) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per building | On the public/semi-public building | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.E.3(b)(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Industrial) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On property for sale/lease; one per property | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.D.11(a) |
| Temporary Campaign Sign (Industrial) | — | 32 square feet | — | At least 20 feet from nearest curb line intersection | — | On private property with owner's permission | — | Section 10, Subd. 24.D.6 |

## Prohibited signs in Ada

- Signs that, by reason of position, shape or color, would interfere with the proper function of a traffic sign or signal.
- Signs within a public right-of-way or easement, except for signs installed by governmental subdivisions.
- Signs that resemble any official marker erected by a governmental agency or that displays such words as 'Stop' or 'Danger' which are not erected by legal authority.
- Signs or sign structures that obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway or opening intended to provide ingress or egress for any building structure. (With reference to commercial districts, signs painted on the inside glass portion of windows or doors are permitted.)
- Sign posters that are tacked or posted on trees, fences, utility posts, or other such supports.
- Billboards.
- All other signs not expressly permitted by this ordinance.
- No sign shall extend more than two feet above the eave or parapet of the building to which it is mounted.
- No part of any permanent freestanding sign shall be closer than five feet from the side lot line.
- No part of any sign shall project over or beyond the property line of the property upon which the sign is located.
- The supporting columns of a freestanding sign, exceeding 16 square feet in area, shall not materially impede vision between a height of 2½ and 7½ feet above the centerline grade of the street. Such signs must be set back at least ten feet from the street right-of-way line. Freestanding signs within 25 feet of intersecting streets must have a minimum vertical clearance of ten feet above the centerline grade.
- When electrical signs are installed, their installation shall be subject to inspection by the state board of electricity.
- Canopies and marquees are considered an integral part of the structure to which they are attached; any sign attached is considered part of the wall area used.
- Any sign or sign structure which may become rotted, unsafe, or unsightly must be repaired or removed by the property owner upon notice from the zoning administrator.
- It is unlawful to erect, alter, repair, move, equip, or maintain any sign or sign structure or permit such action in violation of any provisions of this ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ada

- Traffic control signs, noncommercial governmental signs, local notices, and temporary nonadvertising safety or emergency signs.
- Flags, badges, or insignia of any government or governmental agency, or of any civic, religious, fraternal or similar organizations.
- Emergency signs required by other governmental agencies.
- Temporary displays erected to celebrate, commemorate or observe a civil or religious holiday.
- The following essential services are permitted in any district: the erection, construction, alteration, or maintenance, by public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies of systems, including gas, electrical, steam or water transmission or distribution systems; collection, communication, supply or disposal systems; elevated and underground water storage tanks; poles, wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conductance, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants, and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith; reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate service of such public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies or for the public health or safety or general welfare, but not including buildings.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All building construction for commercial, industrial, or multiple dwellings shall be accompanied by a complete site plan. The site plan must show, among other things, the locations and specifications of signs.
- Applications for commercial, industrial, and multiple dwelling building permits shall be accompanied by building and site development plans showing, among other things, size and location of all signs.
- If a building permit application involves the approval of a zoning amendment, variance, or conditional use permit, no building permit shall be issued until the planning commission and council have taken appropriate approving action. Sign variances follow the variance process set out in Section 4, Subd. 6.
- Site plans must be prepared by a registered architect, civil engineer, landscape architect, or land surveyor.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Ada, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Ada+MN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-ada

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