# Sign Regulations in Austin, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Austin, Minnesota regulates 39 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign (Residential, Office, Multi-dwelling)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 30" x 36" (7.5 sq ft), with a 5 ft setback (Sec. § 4.50, Subd. 4.C.18). Most commercial signs in Austin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 23 | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| A-1, R-1, R-2, R-M | 6 | 8 ft | 30 sq ft | — |
| R-O, B-1 | 4 | 20 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| B-2, B-3 | 5 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft per face (max 600 sq ft back-to-back or V-type); side-by-side up to 300 sq ft each or 672 sq ft paint unit | — |
| I-1, I-2 | 6 | No more than 30 feet above highest point of roof | 600 sq ft | — |
| Shopping centers, PUDs and other comprehensive development (Special Areas) | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Entirely on property to which it pertains. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.C.8 |
| Identification Sign for Public/Charitable/Education/Religious Institution | 8 ft (ground-mounted); not above parapet (wall-mounted) | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On property of institution. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.C.9 |
| No Trespassing/No Dumping Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 4 | On property line. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.C.12 |
| Political/Campaign Sign | — | 12 sq ft total per lot | — | — | 1 per candidate/issue | Not in or over public right-of-way. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.C.17 |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential, Office, Multi-dwelling) | 5 ft | 30" x 36" (7.5 sq ft) | — | 5 ft | 1 per frontage | On property for sale or rent. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.C.18 |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per frontage | On property for sale or rent. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.C.18 |
| Construction Sign | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — | — | 2 | On site of construction. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.C.19 |
| Subdivision/Housing Development Sign | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | At dedicated entrances to subdivisions or developments (6+ units). | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.C.21 |

### A-1, R-1, R-2, R-M

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All signs permitted in Schedule I | — | — | — | — | — | As per Schedule I/general regulations. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.D.1.a (Schedule II, 1.a) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Flat against building or as part of architectural feature. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.D.1.b (Schedule II, 1.b) |
| Wall Sign (Apartment/Mobile Home Park Identification, under 10 units) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On apartment building or manufactured home court. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.D.1.c (Schedule II, 1.c) |
| Wall Sign or Freestanding Sign (Apartment/Mobile Home Park Identification, 10+ units) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property of apartment complex/manufactured home park. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.D.1.c (Schedule II, 1.c) |
| Legal Non-conforming Use Replacement Sign | — | Same as existing sign | — | — | — | Location of previous sign. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.D.1.d (Schedule II, 1.d) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 30 sq ft (for 10+ units, see above) | — | Minimum 8 ft front yard and 10 ft side yard setback | — | — | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.D.2.a (Schedule II, 2.a) |

### I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All signs permitted in Schedule I | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.G.1.a (Schedule V, 1.a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street bounding property | On each street bounding the property. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.G.2.a–b |
| Fascia (Wall) Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street bounding property | On each street bounding property. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.G.2.c |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street bounding property | On each street bounding property. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.G.1.b |
| Roof Sign | No more than 30 feet above highest point of roof | 600 sq ft | — | — | — | Roof of building. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.G.2.d |
| Billboard/Outdoor Advertising Sign | 22 ft | 300 sq ft per face (max 600 sq ft back-to-back or V-type); side-by-side up to 300 sq ft each or 672 sq ft paint unit | — | — | — | Not within 100 feet of church, school, park, government, or museum. | — | § 4.50, Subd. 4.G.1.c |

## Prohibited signs in Austin

- No sign shall, by reason of its location, color or intensity, create a hazard to the safe, efficient movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- No private sign shall contain words which might be construed as traffic controls, such as 'stop,' 'caution,' 'warning' and the like unless the sign is intended to direct traffic on the premises.
- Signs shall not be erected, placed or maintained by any person on rocks, fences or trees, nor in a manner as to interfere with any electric light, power, telephone, telegraph wires or the supports thereof.
- Signs that are not specifically permitted in this section are prohibited.
- Balcony signs and signs mounted or supported on a balcony are prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs any part of a doorway or fire escape is prohibited.
- Signs containing electrical wiring must comply with the governing Electrical Code.
- No sign, guy, stay or attachment thereto shall be erected on rocks, fences or trees.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain signs on curbs, sidewalks, bridges, hydrants, trees, utility poles and the posts or poles of traffic devices and street lights.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain signs which bear or contain statements, words or pictures of an obscene or pornographic character.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain signs which move in any manner or have visible moving parts, except certain rotating signs as permitted.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain signs which emit audible sound, odor or visible matter.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain signs which are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hides from view any traffic or street sign or signal, or which may cause danger to traffic.
- Outdoor advertising roof signs and painted wall signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- No outdoor advertising sign shall be constructed that resembles any official marker erected by the city, state or other governmental agency, or that by reason of position, shape, or color would conflict with the proper functioning of any traffic sign or signal.
- No sign or its supporting structure shall project into or over a public right-of-way, except as may be specifically permitted.
- No person shall erect or maintain any electric sign or similar device that interferes with the visibility of any official traffic control or warning signal.
- All sign vertical supports shall be placed upon private property and shall not project into or over a public right-of-way.
- Signs found to be in dangerous or defective condition must be removed or repaired by the owner of the sign or premises.
- It is a misdemeanor to place or maintain a sign in the traveled or untraveled portion of any street or other public property without a permit from the Chief of Police.
- It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of sign hanging, erection, removal or repair-in-place without a city-issued license.
- No sign shall be erected, altered or relocated without a permit issued by the Administrator, except as otherwise provided.
- Abandoned signs (on-premise signs on property vacant/unoccupied for 3+ months, or signs for events that have passed) must be removed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Austin

- Governmental signs for traffic control and other regulatory purposes, street signs, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and all other signs erected by or on the order of a public official in the performance of duty.
- Flags, emblems or insignia of any nation or political subdivision.
- Signs of a primarily decorative nature, clearly incidental and customarily associated with any national, local or religious holiday.
- Signs required to be maintained or posted by law or governmental order, rule or regulations.
- Signs on products, product containers or product dispensers.
- Announcements of concerts, plays, lectures, community events, church and club activities placed in the windows of consenting businesses, provided such announcements are removed no later than two weeks after the event.
- Signs on vehicles of any kind, provided the sign does not project or extend horizontally more than one inch beyond the original manufactured body of the vehicle.
- Signs which direct or instruct the public without advertising a business or product, located entirely on the property to which they pertain and not exceeding four square feet in area (horizontal directional signs painted on pavement are exempt from the size limits).
- Signs giving the name or a simple announcement for any public, charitable, educational or religious institution and not exceeding 24 square feet in area.
- Integral building signs such as building names, erection dates, monumental citations, commemorative tablets, plaques, etc. when carved, incised or cast into stone, concrete, metal or similar permanent material and made an integral part of the structure.
- Signs within the interior of any building, not intended to be viewed from the public right-of-way.
- No trespassing and no dumping signs not exceeding two square feet in area per sign and not exceeding four in number per lot (more allowed by Administrator under special circumstances).
- House numbers and nameplates not exceeding two square feet attached to a house or on a freestanding post.
- Plaques and advertising symbols not exceeding four square feet attached flat against a building to identify the building or occupants.
- Rummage/garage/auction sale signs posted only on the premises of the sale (and specific city-sanctioned locations), limited in placement duration to the sale period.
- Window signs (permanent signs not exceeding two square feet or 25% of window area, or temporary display-related signs displayed no more than 30 consecutive days).
- Political or campaign signs within prescribed timeframes and size/location limits.
- Real estate signs per allowances by zoning and when meeting removal, size, and placement restrictions.
- Construction signs conforming to size, quantity, and removal requirements (must be associated with an active building permit).
- Temporary signs, banners and pennants, subject to time and condition limits.
- Subdivision and housing development signs when advertising development of at least six units, subject to time and size limits.
- Routine maintenance or replacing advertising copy on changeable-copy signs or marquees (does not require new sign permit).
- Normal maintenance such as painting, repainting, cleaning, and repair not involving structural change (does not require new sign permit).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan may be required for shopping centers, planned unit developments (PUDs) and other comprehensive developments. Such plans must show the location, size, height, lighting, and orientation of all signs and be submitted for preliminary plan approval.
- Exceptions to the sign schedule regulations within the Sign Code may be permitted if a comprehensive sign plan is presented and the sign areas and densities as a whole conform to the intent of the code.
- The comprehensive sign plan allows for exceptions that result in an improved relationship between the various parts of the plan.
- Shopping centers, PUDs and other comprehensive developments are subject to the submission of a comprehensive sign plan; see Subd. 13, Subpar. D.
- Signs in these areas (covered by a sign plan) may deviate from standard district rules, provided the overall plan remains consistent with the Sign Code's intent.

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

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