# Sign Regulations in Aurora, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Aurora, Minnesota regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Subdivision Identification Signs in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 10 sq. ft., with a As prescribed in § 150.36(K) and not in sight triangle. setback (Sec. § 150.36(L)(1)(b)1.). Most commercial signs in Aurora require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 5 | 6 ft. | 10 sq. ft. | — |
| Business District (C-1, C-2, C-3) | 3 | 15 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial Park District | 5 | 15 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | 15 sq. ft. per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Wall or monument mounted (or combination thereof) | — | § 150.36(L)(1)(a)1. |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft. | 10 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft from any property line; not in sight triangle. | — | — | — | § 150.36(L)(1)(a)2. |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 6 ft. | 10 sq. ft. | — | As prescribed in § 150.36(K) and not in sight triangle. | One per street frontage | One per street frontage, neighborhood, subdivision or development, in each location. | — | § 150.36(L)(1)(b)1. |
| Apartment/Condominium Complex Entrance Identification Sign | 6 ft. | 10 sq. ft. | — | As prescribed in § 150.36(K) and not in sight triangle. | One per entrance | One per entrance to apartment or condo complex. | — | § 150.36(L)(1)(b)2. |
| Home Occupation Sign | 6 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | As prescribed in § 150.36(K) and not in sight triangle. | One | Front yard | — | § 150.36(L)(1)(c). |

### Industrial Park District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Tenant Building) | — | 64 sq. ft. | — | — | One per tenant (unless multi-tenant building) | Flat wall sign. | — | § 150.36(L)(3)(a) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Tenant Building) | 15 ft. | — | — | — | — | Flat wall sign. | — | § 150.36(L)(3)(c) |
| Monument Sign (Single Tenant Building) | 15 ft. | 64 sq. ft. per surface area | — | As prescribed in § 150.36(K) | One per use | — | — | § 150.36(L)(3)(b) |
| Monument Sign (Multi-Tenant Building) | 6 ft. (max height 15 ft overall) | 64 sq. ft. per side | — | As prescribed in § 150.36(K) | One per multi-tenant building | — | — | § 150.36(L)(3)(d) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Canopy signage may be substituted for allowed building signage. | — | § 150.36(L)(3)(e) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board (Easel) Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. (24 inch x 48 inch) | — | — | One per lot | — | — | § 150.36(C)(15) |
| Temporary Political Campaign, Real Estate Sales, Festival, Yard Sale Sign | — | 15 sq. ft. per side | — | — | — | — | — | § 150.36(C)(4), (C)(5) |
| On-premise Informational Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | § 150.36(C)(6) |
| Building Address Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | § 150.36(C)(7) |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. per side | — | — | — | Not on public property or public right-of-way | — | § 150.36(C)(3) |
| Public Sign / Street Sign / Safety Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As needed by public authority | — | § 150.36(C)(10) |
| Noncommercial Directional Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | One per avenue or street | Limited to one per avenue or street directly leading to establishment; with property owner's permission. | — | § 150.36(C)(13) |
| Construction Site Sign (Temporary) | — | 15 sq. ft. total temporary site signage | — | — | — | On premise during construction; up to 60 days prior and removed 10 days after. | — | § 150.36(C)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Aurora

- Signs are prohibited within any public right-of-way except by special permit from the Council for temporary signs and decorations (not to exceed 90 days).
- No flashing sign containing an intermittent or flashing light source, including those with the illusion of flashing or animation, is allowed. Exception: electronic automatic changing signs where messages change no more frequently than five-second intervals, traveling message signs, or signs providing time, temperature, or date information.
- No sign shall, by location, color, or intensity, create a hazard to the safe, efficient movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- Signs painted, attached, or affixed to trees, rocks, or similar natural surfaces, or attached to public utility poles, bridges, towers, or similar public structures are prohibited.
- All off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Signs advertising by letters, words, or figures painted upon any sidewalk within the city are prohibited.
- Signs that emit sound are prohibited.
- Signs painted or attached to vehicles where the vehicle is parked on a property and not intended to be moved for 48 hours or more are prohibited. Vehicles containing advertising/signage cannot be parked along the property frontage.
- Vacant or abandoned building signs must be removed within 60 days after notification by the City Administrator and/or Planning and Zoning Official.
- Signs anchored by guy wires, chains, cables, or similar devices that project down to the ground are prohibited.
- Changeable copy signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected to obstruct access/egress to or from fire escapes, windows, doors, exits, or fire lanes.
- No pylon sign may be erected in such a manner that it projects over any building or public right-of-way.
- All signs must be constructed and maintained to be safe to the general public and not be a menace to persons or property.
- Abandoned signs must be removed in accordance with ordinance definitions and timeframes.

## Signs exempt from permit in Aurora

- The changing of the display surface on a painted or printed sign only (poster replacement and on-site changes involving sign painting elsewhere than directly on a building).
- Signs six square feet or less in size.
- Signs for directing vehicular or pedestrian traffic, not more than three square feet per side, and not located on public property or a public right-of-way.
- Display of directional signs, street name signs, or other signs authorized and erected by a governmental body.
- Temporary political campaign, real estate sales signs in residential neighborhoods, festival, yard sale, and similar signs, subject to: state or federal law, limited to 15 square feet per side, and removed within 48 hours after the close of the event.
- Signs with a commercial message placed upon construction sites for temporary use (may be erected 60 days prior to construction and shall be removed within ten days after completion; total temporary signage not to exceed 15 square feet).
- On-premise informational signs of six square feet or less.
- Building address signs of two square feet or less.
- Emergency signs as required by a governmental agency.
- Signs or posters attached or painted on the inside of a display window (not flashing signs); not to obstruct/interfere with window/doorways/fire escapes; not exceeding 50% of window area or 32 square feet (whichever is more restrictive); prohibited in residential districts.
- Public signs, street signs, warning signs, or signs of public service companies for the purpose of promoting safety.
- Noncommercial flags.
- Pedestrian, vehicular-traffic, and parking directional signs in parking lots, provided their face meets Minnesota Department of Transportation standards and do not contain commercial speech.
- Noncommercial directional signs not illuminated and not exceeding two square feet; limited to one per avenue or street directly leading to the establishment, with permission of property owner.
- Temporary or permanent signs by public utilities erected to warn the public.
- Easel and/or sandwich signs not exceeding 24 x 48 inches, limited to one per lot, and must not be permanent in nature.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into or attached to masonry or noncombustible material.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A complete set of plans showing the necessary elevations, distances, size and details to fully and clearly represent the construction and place of the signs is required as part of every sign permit application (applies to all signs requiring a permit; no separate 'master sign plan' terminology used).
- For multi-tenant sites, aggregate area of wall signs and monument signs is regulated, suggesting the need for coordinated signage planning, although no separate 'master sign plan' is specified.
- Changes, alterations, or enlargement of legal non-conforming signs require conformance with the subchapter, and substantial destruction/removal of a sign triggers the need for compliance and a new permit, along with accompanying plans.
- No explicit master sign plan or sign plan or sign variance meeting is mentioned for general compliance; each sign application requires submission of detailed plans as per §150.36(A)(1)(d).

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

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