# Sign Regulations in Anoka, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Anoka, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/anoka
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Anoka/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_CH78ZO_ARTVIIISI)

## At a glance

Anoka, Minnesota regulates 15 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Home Occupation Business Sign - Wall or Freestandings in the Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), R-F Farm Residence District, R-1 Low Density Residential District, R-2 Medium Density Residential District, R-3 High Density Residential District, R-4 Manufactured Home Park Residence District zoning district are capped at 6 ft (Overall for freestanding); must be at least 5 ft from property lines tall and 5 sq ft, with a 5 ft from property lines setback (Sec. Sec. 78-237(d)(7)f). Most commercial signs in Anoka require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Planned Unit Development District (PUD, PCD, PID, PRD, PTOD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Adult Establishment District, M-1 Light Industrial District (M-1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), R-F Farm Residence District, R-1 Low Density Residential District, R-2 Medium Density Residential District, R-3 High Density Residential District, R-4 Manufactured Home Park Residence District | 2 | 6 ft (Overall for freestanding); must be at least 5 ft from property lines | 5 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 10 ft for monument signs | 200 sq ft (single sign surface); no combination of signs to exceed 200 sq ft | — |
| Main Street Mixed-use District (MS), West Main Street Subdistrict (WM), East Main Street Subdistrict 1 (EM-1), East Main Street Subdistrict 2 (EM-2), East Main Street Subdistrict 3 (EM-3) | 2 | 25 ft for freestanding sign | 200 sq ft (single sign); no combination of signs to exceed 200 sq ft | — |
| B-1 Highway Business District (B-1), B-2 Shopping Center Business District (B-2), B-3 General Business District (B-3), B-4 Limited Business District (B-4), B-5 Regional Business District (B-5), B-6 Neighborhood Commercial Business District (B-6) | 1 | B-1/B-5: 25 ft (pylon); B-5 / B-6 monument: 10 ft | B-6: 200 sq ft per single business (total signs); B-5 monument: 40 sq ft per business, entrance monument 300 sq ft max | — |
| M-2 General Industrial District (M-2), M-3 Light Industrial/Commercial Overlay District (M-3) | 1 | Maximum building height is 50 ft; sign heights not specifically stated—must not exceed district building height or as approved by permit. | — | — |
| Transit Oriented Development District (TOD, TOD-R, TOD-E), TOD-R Transit Oriented Development District with a Residential Emphasis, TOD-E Transit Oriented Development District with an Employment Emphasis | 1 | — | 150 sq ft or 5% of building wall area | — |
| South Ferry Riverfront District (SFRD), SFRD Subarea 1 (North Mixed-use), SFRD Subarea 2 (Open Space - Low-Density Residential), SFRD Subarea 3 (Low-Density Residential), SFRD Subarea 4 (South Mixed-use) | 1 | 10 ft (monument signs) | 200 sq ft (single sign surface), no more in aggregate; Monument signs: 40 sq ft max | — |
| Sensitive Development District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Anoka County Rum River Human Services (ACRRHS) District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Mississippi River Critical Area Corridor, Rum River Management District, Floodplain Management District, Shore land Management District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones (Overlay Districts: Mississippi River Critical Area Corridor, Rum River Management District, Floodplain Management District, Shore land Management District) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), R-F Farm Residence District, R-1 Low Density Residential District, R-2 Medium Density Residential District, R-3 High Density Residential District, R-4 Manufactured Home Park Residence District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Business Sign - Wall or Freestanding | 6 ft (Overall for freestanding); must be at least 5 ft from property lines | 5 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property lines | 1 per home occupation | On the property; may not be within the sight triangle of any intersection or driveway. | — | Sec. 78-237(d)(7)f |
| Signs for Model Homes and Temporary Real Estate Offices | — | — | — | — | — | On property until development is completed. | — | Sec. 78-239(c)(1)m; Sec. 78-240(c)(14); Sec. 78-241(c)(13) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Signs (Commercial, Office, Mixed-use, Industrial, and South Ferry Riverfront District SFRD) | 10 ft for monument signs | 200 sq ft (single sign surface); no combination of signs to exceed 200 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line; no signs in sight triangle | Subject to total area calculation and frontage | Signs must be set back at least 5 ft from property line; Monument signs no taller than 10 ft; No sign within sight triangle. | — | Sec. 78-318(h) (South Ferry Riverfront District); Sec. 78-269(m), Sec. 78-270(m), Sec. 78-316(j)(6), Sec. 78-317(l)(7), Sec. 78-514 to Sec. 78-516 |

### Main Street Mixed-use District (MS), West Main Street Subdistrict (WM), East Main Street Subdistrict 1 (EM-1), East Main Street Subdistrict 2 (EM-2), East Main Street Subdistrict 3 (EM-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business & Nameplate Signs (EM-1, EM-2, EM-3) | 10 ft for monument signs | 200 sq ft (single sign); no combination of signs to exceed 200 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line; monument signs only | Limited by total area and frontage; 1 hanging sign per storefront | Min 5 ft from property line; no freestanding sign in sight triangle; On building or in allowed monument location. | — | Sec. 78-316(j)(6); Sec. 78-518; Sec. 78-514 to 78-516 |
| Business & Nameplate Signs (WM) | 25 ft for freestanding sign | 200 sq ft per business (all signs); no more than 150 sq ft building attached, 60 sq ft ground sign | — | 5 ft from property line for freestanding signs | Limited to total area; multi-tenant buildings subject to further restrictions | On building, or monument/pylon location with required setbacks. | — | Sec. 78-316(j)(6).WM. |

## Prohibited signs in Anoka

- No conditional use permits are allowed in the Sensitive Development District (Overlay District).
- Conditional uses in the R-1 district are prohibited in the Sensitive Development District.
- No open storage is permitted in front, side, or rear required yards in industrial districts.
- Open storage is generally prohibited in commercial and mixed-use districts, except where clearly permitted.
- Outdoor storage of material, merchandise offered at wholesale, items for salvage or disposal, or items used in the operation of a business, is prohibited in the Main Street Mixed-use and South Ferry Riverfront Districts (except where specifically noted).
- Outdoor storage and open storage is prohibited in commercial districts, unless specifically permitted or with required screening.
- Outdoor business displays may not be placed where they obstruct the line of sight of passing motorists.
- Open storage of hazardous chemicals and materials as defined by state law is prohibited outside in M-2 General Industrial District.
- All exterior trash and storage areas, service yards, loading areas and mechanical equipment must be screened from public view; chainlink, wood, vinyl or barbed wire fences are not permitted for screening.
- No sign may block or obliterate design details, windows, or cornices of the building upon which they are placed.
- No outside storage or display is permitted for home occupations.
- Painted or unpainted concrete block, aluminum, vinyl, or fiberglass siding or roofing materials, pre-cast concrete panels, and painting of previously unpainted brick are not allowed as exterior opaque materials on new non-residential and multifamily buildings except in specific subdistricts where explicitly allowed.
- Use of bars, chains, or similar security devices that are visible from public street or sidewalk is prohibited.
- No sign permits, conditional/interim use permits, building permits, or site plan approvals shall be issued unless the requirements of the applicable district have been met.
- No pylon signs allowed in Main Street Mixed-use District, South Ferry Riverfront District, B-5 Regional Business District, or other specified districts.
- No flashing, moving, or scrolling electronic variable signs are allowed (except as may be otherwise stated).
- Rooftop signs are prohibited in all districts except as specifically allowed by code.
- No sign to be located within sight triangles or within prohibited setback areas as specified by code.
- Business signs must not exceed maximum square footage or number per business as specified for each district.
- Home occupation signs are prohibited unless allowed with an interim use permit, and even then are heavily restricted in size and location.
- Junk vehicles may not be located outside at any time in industrial districts; outside storage of any kind is generally prohibited except where explicitly permitted.
- No exterior sign may be illuminated by exposed light bulbs, flashing, or moving lights, except as specifically allowed.
- No sign permit will be issued unless application requirements are met and the sign complies with all standards of the applicable district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Anoka

- Projects involving only work, maintenance or repairs to the interior of a building or structure are exempt from the district's exterior architectural standards and site plan review.
- Projects involving only ordinary maintenance or the replacement of similar or identical materials of an existing building are exempt from architectural and site plan review requirements.
- Pre-existing structures, parking areas, or signs that lawfully exist before the effective date of current ordinances may be continued in their existing form, subject to any applicable nonconforming use regulations.
- Buildings destroyed by an act of nature may be reconstructed with similar materials as existed prior to being destroyed, subject to applicable nonconforming standards.
- Shared parking is permitted and encouraged, and parking requirements may be lessened accordingly in several districts.
- Sign plans approved by the city council for multi-tenant buildings (in certain zones) can supersede standard city sign regulations if approved as a variance.
- Changes in exterior building material that are similar or identical to existing materials (i.e., in-kind replacement) are exempt from site plan approval in most commercial and mixed-use districts.
- The installation, replacement, or alteration of residential signs are regulated separately and may be exempt from business sign standards.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Site plan approval (including sign location and design) is required for all new construction, major exterior renovations, or sign changes that require a permit in business, mixed-use, and most overlay districts.
- Within the B-6 Neighborhood Commercial and Main Street Mixed-use Districts, sign plans for multi-tenant buildings, if approved by city council, can supersede the standard sign code but must be approved according to the variance procedure.
- In B-2 Shopping Center districts, a general development plan (including sign placement and type) is required with rezoning and any substantial change in plan requires re-approval.
- Site plan and/or master plan reviews in Planned Unit Developments (PUD) and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) districts require sign locations and details to be included as part of the plan submittal.
- Sign permits will not be issued unless the required site plan (which may include sign details) is approved and the application is in full compliance with all applicable requirements.
- Major developments (i.e., shopping centers, mixed-use, PUDs, etc.) may require a master sign plan or comprehensive sign package approved as part of the PUD or site plan. Approval of an alternate sign plan may be processed as a variance if exceeding standard allowances.
- If a multi-tenant center seeks a sign plan exceeding standard regulations, this must be approved as a variance and has the effect of a specific ordinance for the property.

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

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