# Sign Regulations in Afton, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Afton, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/afton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Afton, Minnesota regulates 20 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Banner Signs in the Agricultural Zoning District (A), Ag. Preserve (AP), Marine Services Zoning District (MS) zoning district are capped at 10 feet above grade tall, 32 square feet (unless Banner Sign, then 30 square feet per §153.132(A)), and 8 feet (any dimension); Banner: not specified wide, with a at least 10 feet from any lot line or right-of-way setback (Sec. §153.131(C), §153.133, §153.132(A)). Most commercial signs in Afton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Zoning District (A), Ag. Preserve (AP), Marine Services Zoning District (MS) | 12 | 14 feet above average grade | 100 square feet (total for all on-premise signs) | — |
| Rural Residential Zoning District (RR) | 11 | 12 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Village Historic Site: Residential Zoning District (VHS-R), Village Historic Site: Commercial Zoning District (VHS-C) | 13 | 14 feet above average grade | 100 square feet (total for all signs) | — |
| Industrial Zoning District (I) | 14 | 20 feet | 160 square feet for sign face; structure 231 square feet (10.5' x 22') | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 9 square feet or less | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Agricultural Zoning District (A), Ag. Preserve (AP), Marine Services Zoning District (MS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner Sign | 10 feet above grade | 32 square feet (unless Banner Sign, then 30 square feet per §153.132(A)) | 8 feet (any dimension); Banner: not specified | Any sign over 2 sq ft: at least 10 feet from any lot line or right-of-way | One per permitted type per lot frontage (except: 2 temporary, one political sign per candidate) | — | — | §153.131(C), §153.133, §153.132(A) |
| Business Sign | 10 feet above grade | 32 square feet | 8 feet (any dimension) | Signs over 2 sq ft: at least 10 feet from lot line or right-of-way | One per lot frontage | — | — | §153.131(C) |
| Nameplate Sign | 10 feet above grade | 6 square feet per §153.132(G), but §153.131(C)(4): 32 sq ft | 8 feet (any dimension) | Over 2 sq ft: 10 feet from lot line/R/W | One per lot frontage | Surface-mounted on wall of building (§153.132(G)) | — | §153.130(C)(2)(e), §153.131(C), §153.132(G) |
| Political Sign | 10 feet above grade | No more than 32 sq ft (see general size cap) | 8 feet (any dimension) | If over 2 sq ft: 10 feet from lot line/r-o-w | One per candidate | — | — | §153.131(C), §153.130(C)(2)(b), §153.132(I) |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | 12 square feet per side (36" x 48") | — | — | One per business | On same parcel as business; may not be placed in right-of-way; not to interfere with pedestrian traffic | — | §153.131(C), §153.132(J) |
| Real Estate Sales Sign (Over 9 Square Feet) | 10 feet above grade | 32 square feet | 8 feet (any dimension) | 10 feet from lot line or right-of-way | One per lot frontage | On property offered for sale (§153.130(C)(2)(a)) | — | §153.131(C), §153.132(L) |
| Religious Organization Sign (On-Premises) | 14 feet above average grade | 100 square feet (total for all on-premise signs) | 16 feet | If over 2 sq ft: 10 feet from lot line/r-o-w | — | On premises | — | §153.130(D)(2), §153.133, §153.131(C) |
| Wall Sign | 10 feet above grade | 32 square feet | 8 feet (any dimension) | If over 2 sq ft, setback 10 feet from lot line/r-o-w | One per lot frontage | Attached parallel to building wall (§153.130(B)) | — | §153.131(C), §153.133 |

### Rural Residential Zoning District (RR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | 8 feet above grade | 6 square feet | 4 feet | Any sign over 2 sq ft: 10 feet from lot line/right-of-way | One per lot frontage | Surface-mounted to building wall | — | §153.131(D), §153.130(C)(2)(e), §153.132(G), §153.133 |
| Political Sign | 8 feet above grade | 16 square feet | 4 feet | ≥10 feet from lot line/right-of-way | One per candidate | — | — | §153.131(D), §153.132(I) |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | 12 square feet per side (36" x 48") | — | — | One per business | On same parcel as business; not in r-o-w; not interfere with pedestrian traffic | — | §153.132(J), §153.133 |
| Real Estate Sales Sign (Over 9 Square Feet) | 8 feet above grade | 16 square feet | 4 feet | 10 feet from lot line or right-of-way | One per lot frontage | On property being offered | — | §153.131(D), §153.133 |
| Real Estate Sales Sign (Up to 9 Square Feet) | — | 9 square feet | — | 10 feet from property line | One per lot frontage | On property being offered | — | §153.133 |
| Temporary Sign | 5 feet | 12 square feet | — | 10 feet from lot line or right-of-way | Two per parcel | — | — | §153.131(D), §153.132(M) |
| Wall Sign | 8 feet above grade | 16 square feet | 4 feet | ≥10 feet from lot line/right-of-way | One per lot frontage | Attached parallel to building wall | — | §153.131(D), §153.133 |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign (Public/Non-Profit/Religious) | — | 20" x 30" | — | 10 feet from property line or right-of-way | Per sign permit process | Mounted on single steel post | — | §153.132(H) |

### Village Historic Site: Residential Zoning District (VHS-R), Village Historic Site: Commercial Zoning District (VHS-C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 6 square feet (total area). In addition, may have one 8" x 10" sign. | — | — | One per lot frontage | Surface-mounted to building wall (§153.132(G)) | — | §153.131(E), §153.132(G) |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | 12 square feet per side (36" x 48") | — | — | One per business | On same parcel as business; not in road right-of-way; not to interfere with pedestrian traffic | — | §153.132(J), §153.133 |
| Real Estate Sales Sign (Over 9 Square Feet) | — | 16 square feet | — | 2 feet from property line (§153.132(M)(5)) | One per lot frontage | On property for sale/lease | — | §153.131(E), §153.133 |
| Real Estate Sales Sign (Up to 9 Square Feet) | — | 9 square feet | — | 2 feet from property line | One per lot frontage | On property for sale/lease | — | §153.130(C)(2)(a), §153.133 |
| Religious Organization Sign (On-Premises) | 14 feet above average grade | 100 square feet (total for all signs) | 16 feet | — | One sign for church/other place of worship per lot frontage | On premises | — | §153.130(D)(2), §153.131(E), §153.133 |
| Temporary Sign | 5 feet | 12 square feet | — | 2 feet from property line (§153.132(M)(5)) | Two per parcel | — | — | §153.132(M), §153.131(E), §153.133 |
| Wall Sign | 14 feet above grade | 16 square feet (business); total for business signs max 16 sq ft | — | In no case closer than 2 feet to a vertical line at property line | One per lot frontage | Attached parallel to wall | — | §153.131(E), §153.133 |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign (Public/Non-Profit/Religious) | — | 20" x 30" | — | 2 feet from property line | Per sign permit process | Mounted on steel post | — | §153.132(H), §153.133 |

## Prohibited signs in Afton

- No sign shall be allowed that prevents ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape; that tends to accumulate debris as a fire hazard; or that is attached to a standpipe or fire escape or in any other way constitutes a hazard to health, safety or general welfare of the public.
- Signs shall not be painted directly on the outside wall of a building except by a sign permit.
- Signs shall not be placed or mounted on a fence, tree, stone or other natural growth nor on any utility pole or structure.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs on benches, newsstands, car stands, bus stop shelters and similar places shall be prohibited.
- No sign shall contain any indecent or offensive picture or written matter.
- Signs flashing shall be prohibited.
- Neon and fluorescent signs are not allowed except for interior use.
- Private signs, other than public utility warning signs, are prohibited within the public right-of-way of any street or way or other public right-of-way.
- No sign may be erected that, by reason of position, shape, movement, color or any other characteristic, interferes with the proper functioning of a traffic sign or signal or otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard; nor shall signs be permitted which would otherwise interfere with traffic control.
- No sign will be permitted which by reason of advertising content, location, shape or overall impression may be expected to be confused with, obscure or interfere with any official traffic sign or device or otherwise serve as a traffic hazard.

## Signs exempt from permit in Afton

- No permit will be required for real estate sale signs nine square feet or less.
- No permit will be required for political signs.
- No permit will be required for warning signs which do not exceed five square feet in area.
- No permit will be required for public notices defined as notices placed or authorized by the city which are located on private property with permission of the landowner, or on public property or right-of-way.
- No permit will be required for nameplate signs two square feet in area or less.
- The regulations contained in this subchapter do not apply to signs attached by adhesive or otherwise attached to or visible through windows and glass portions of doors.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except as otherwise provided, no sign shall be erected, constructed, altered, rebuilt or relocated until a conditional use permit or sign permit for the sign has been issued according to the sign permit chart in § 153.133.
- Where a use is permitted in a zoning district by conditional use permit, the sign for that use shall require a conditional use permit unless the sign is otherwise provided for in this subchapter.
- All applications for a sign permit in VHS-R and VHS-C Zoning Districts shall be reviewed by the Design Review/Heritage Preservation Commission.
- Gateway sign proposals require City Council review and approval.
- Sign permit is required for displays, off-premises directional signs for public and non-profit organizations, portable signs, real estate development project sales signs, real estate sales sign (over 9 square feet), temporary signs and wall signs in certain zones as per the sign permit chart.
- Illuminated signs and signs for churches or other places of worship in some districts require a conditional use permit.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 5 zoning districts in Afton — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Afton+MN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-afton

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