# Sign Regulations in Alexandria, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Alexandria, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/alexandria
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-04
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://alexandriamn.city/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/10-Section-10.24-Signs-1.pdf)

## At a glance

Alexandria, Minnesota regulates 14 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the B-1, B-2, B-I, B-R, I-1, I-2, PUD zoning district are capped at Varies - see general regs: up to 18 ft north of 18th Ave, 24 ft between 18th Ave & T.H. 27/34th, 36 ft south of T.H. 27/34th, 45 ft within 100' of I-94 or relevant interchanges tall and Up to 300 sq ft (or 64 sq ft future use), with a 50 ft from adjoining lines, 155 ft from other signs (for additional signs); see height for area setback (Sec. Section 10.24, Subd. 13, plus Subd. 16 for height). Most commercial signs in Alexandria require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All zoning districts | 7 | 3 ft (if freestanding) | Up to 25% of ground floor window surface | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-1, R-2, O-A | 1 | 4 ft | 8 sq ft (single), 16 sq ft (total for all) | — |
| R-3, R-4, R-DUP | 1 | 4 ft | 12 sq ft (single), 24 sq ft (total for all) | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-I, B-R, I-1, I-2, PUD | 2 | Varies - see general regs: up to 18 ft north of 18th Ave, 24 ft between 18th Ave & T.H. 27/34th, 36 ft south of T.H. 27/34th, 45 ft within 100' of I-94 or relevant interchanges | Up to 300 sq ft (or 64 sq ft future use) | — |
| I-1 “Light Industrial”, I-2 “Heavy Industrial” | 1 | 36 ft (unless within 100 ft of I-94 or an interchange, then up to 45 ft) | 400 sq ft per sign face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### All zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft (if freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises, not in public right-of-way, for direction, safety, or convenience | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 5.B |
| Informational Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises, not in public right-of-way | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 5.C |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | Up to 25% of ground floor window surface | — | — | — | Except in residential zones; painted on or otherwise displayed from inside window | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 5.D |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On site or off site related to sale or rental of property | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 5.E |
| Banner (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | On premises for grand openings or special events | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 5.G |
| Campaign Sign (Political) | — | — | — | — | — | Private property, with owner's consent, not within ROW | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 5.H |
| Traditional Public Forum Noncommercial Sign | — | 8 sq ft per person; up to 32 sq ft if two or more holding | — | — | — | Traditional public forum areas as defined | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 5.I |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from adjoining property lines, within 15 ft of principal structure, not in public ROW, 50 ft minimum separation | 2 per business frontage | Business or industrial zoned districts, on-premises | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 11.B |
| Temporary Portable Changeable Copy Sign | — | 12-32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/business at a time | On-premises, not in public ROW | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 11.A |
| Area Identification Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per entrance | Not in public ROW; for planned developments, subdivisions, multi-family/condo (10+ units), shopping centers, office complexes, industrial areas; at each entrance | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 10 |

### B-1, B-2, B-I, B-R, I-1, I-2, PUD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | Varies - see general regs: up to 18 ft north of 18th Ave, 24 ft between 18th Ave & T.H. 27/34th, 36 ft south of T.H. 27/34th, 45 ft within 100' of I-94 or relevant interchanges | Up to 300 sq ft (or 64 sq ft future use) | — | 50 ft from adjoining lines, 155 ft from other signs (for additional signs); see height for area | — | On-premise, setbacks per district and general regulations | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 13, plus Subd. 16 for height |
| Wall Sign | Not above the parapet or roofline per definition of wall sign | Up to 300 sq ft standard; up to 10% of visible gross building silhouette for large buildings | — | — | — | Parallel to wall; not above parapet | — | Section 10.24, Subd. 13 and definitions |

## Prohibited signs in Alexandria

- No sign may resemble or purport to be an official traffic control device, sign or signal, or interfere with traffic control devices or obstruct a driver's view of traffic.
- Signs may not prominently display the words 'stop' or 'danger.'
- Signs may not contain statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character or that would offend public morals or decency.
- No sign may be placed on the right-of-way of the interstate system, except as otherwise permitted by law.
- No sign may be erected on private land without the consent of the owner.
- No signs may be attached to trees, shrubs, fences, or public utility poles, including snipe signs.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited.
- Off-premise signs are not permitted within 500 feet of national, state, or local parks, historical sites, public picnic or rest areas, or within 100 feet of a church or school.
- The use of unshielded or prohibited flashing lights on signs (unless permitted as video display signs) is prohibited.
- Off-premise advertising signs, including billboards, are generally prohibited.
- Signs with dynamic displays are prohibited except as specifically allowed under Subdivision 16; displays must be shielded so as not to impair driver visibility, and may not interfere with or obscure traffic signs/signals.
- Structurally unsafe signs, signs in disrepair, or abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Signs containing or consisting of pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of lights, spinners, or similar devices are prohibited.
- Signs within the public right-of-ways or easements are prohibited except for those erected by public authorities, authorized community promotion signs, or projecting signs that meet clearance requirements.
- Sidewalk decals, balloon signs greater than 24 inches in diameter, rotating signs (except barber pole signs), and search lights are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited unless placed on a parapet or integrated into building design for a finished appearance.
- Signs not listed as permitted in the ordinance are prohibited.
- Signs in traditional public forum areas not in compliance with the ordinance are prohibited.
- No sign may, by location, color or intensity, create a hazard for vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- No private sign may contain words that might be construed as traffic controls unless used to direct on-site traffic.
- No sign or sign structure may prevent fire ingress/egress, block doors, windows, fire escapes, or be attached to standpipes, streetlights, or fire escapes.
- No sign shall obstruct traffic flow or sight views or otherwise constitute a traffic hazard.
- No sign may be brighter than necessary for visibility; may not impair driver vision or interfere with traffic signals.
- No sign may be erected, altered, reconstructed, or moved without a permit, unless exempted.
- No abandoned sign, as defined, may remain.

## Signs exempt from permit in Alexandria

- Changing the copy on existing, non-dynamic signs (that does not involve structural alterations and meets area requirements) does not require a permit.
- On-premises directional signs up to 6 square feet in area or 3 feet in height, displayed for direction/safety/convenience (with limited logo use), are exempt from permitting.
- Informational signs not exceeding 2 square feet for public convenience and with no advertising (e.g., address, mailbox, restrooms, ownership, no trespassing, etc.) are exempt from permitting.
- Permanent window signs (except in residential zones), covering up to 25% of ground floor window surface, are exempt from permitting and counted separately from other permitted signs.
- Temporary real estate signs (on-site and off-site), max one per property and 6 square feet, are exempt from permit but must be removed within 7 days after sale/lease/rental.
- Community promotion signs are exempt from permitting.
- Temporary banners for grand openings or special events (max 10 days, once per year) are allowed without permit; permanent banners as wall signs must comply with area requirements.
- Political campaign signs on private property are permitted subject to owner/occupant consent, state law, distance from polling sites and right-of-way, and time limits before and after elections.
- Hand-held/noncommercial signs in traditional public forum areas are exempt from permit if held by a person, displayed only during certain hours, and within other specified limits on size, manner, and safety (Section 10.24, Subd. 5.I).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan is required for any non-residential development plan, site plan/building permit review, exterior remodel, non-residential planned development district, or developments with more than one individual business or tenant.
- No individual sign permit will be issued in a multi-business/tenant development until a master signage plan is approved by the City.
- The master signage plan must control total sign area and placement to eliminate inconsistencies as tenants or occupants change.
- Master signage plans must provide a scaled site plan showing all existing and proposed signs, scaled color building elevations showing sign locations, computation of maximum sign areas and heights, and specification of styles, lighting, and proportions.
- The maximum number of signs per building/business is controlled by the master signage plan.
- The plan must be signed by all owners or authorized agents and may be amended per city requirements.
- After approval, no sign may be erected or maintained except in conformance with the approved plan; the plan is enforceable as the ordinance itself.

## 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 6 zoning districts in Alexandria — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Alexandria+MN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-alexandria

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