# Sign Regulations in Benson, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Benson, Minnesota regulates 21 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign (On-Premises)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall, 16 sq ft on <10 acres; 32 sq ft on ≥10 acres, and Any dimension max 4 feet in some zones—see zone restrictions. wide, with a At least 10 feet from property line setback (Sec. § 154.020(F)(11)(a), (H)(1)). Most commercial signs in Benson 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 | 13 | 12 feet above ground unless face is sheet metal/non-combustible material | 100 square feet total area; rigid material temporary sign max 24 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural zoning district (A) | 12 | 10 feet | 100 sq ft total per parcel; rigid material max 24 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning districts (R) | 10 | 10 feet | 100 sq ft total per parcel; rigid material max 24 sq ft | — |
| Business zoning districts (B-1, B-2) | 13 | 10 feet | 100 sq ft; rigid material max 24 sq ft | — |
| Business zoning districts (B-3) | 15 | 10 feet | 100 sq ft; rigid material max 24 sq ft | — |
| Industrial zoning districts | 15 | 10 feet | 100 sq ft; rigid material max 24 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 12 feet above ground unless face is sheet metal/non-combustible material | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.020(E)(2) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 1 square foot for home occupations. 2 square feet per building for general cases. | — | — | 1 per building | Must be surface-mounted on building wall/entrance. | — | § 154.020(F)(5), (H)(9), (K)(1) |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | 30 inches by 30 inches per side (each side), total height no more than 4 feet. | 30 inches | — | 1 per business | On same parcel as business; not in right-of-way; not in pedestrian travel area. | — | § 154.020(F)(10) |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet for rigid material sign | 100 square feet total area; rigid material temporary sign max 24 sq ft | — | 10 feet from property line/right-of-way in agricultural/residential; 2 feet in business/industrial | 2 per parcel | — | — | § 154.020(F)(13) |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On property where construction/development is occurring | — | § 154.020(F)(3) |
| Real Estate Sign (On-Premises) | 10 feet | 16 sq ft on <10 acres; 32 sq ft on ≥10 acres | Any dimension max 4 feet in some zones—see zone restrictions. | At least 10 feet from property line | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale/rent/lease | — | § 154.020(F)(11)(a), (H)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Off-Premises - Business/Industrial) | 10 feet | 32 sq ft | — | At least 10 feet from property line | 1 per building | Business and industrial districts, same subdivision/development as advertised building | — | § 154.020(F)(11)(b) |
| Traffic Sign | — | 3 square feet (private traffic circulation signs/warning signs) | — | — | — | On private property exclusively for traffic control; not to be confused with government-placed official signs. | — | § 154.020(F)(14)(c), (H)(5) |

### Agricultural zoning district (A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | 16 square feet per sign | 4 feet max any dimension | Any sign over 2 square feet: at least 10 feet from lot line or right-of-way. | 1 per permitted type per lot frontage | — | — | § 154.020(K)(3)(c) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 square feet per building | 4 feet max any dimension | — | 1 per building | On building | — | § 154.020(K)(3)(a), (H)(9) |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | 30 inches by 30 inches per side; max height 4 feet | 30 inches | — | 1 per business | — | — | § 154.020(K)(3)(a), (F)(10) |
| Real Estate Sales Sign | 10 feet | 16 square feet (<10 acres); 32 square feet (≥10 acres) | 4 feet max any dimension | ≥10 feet from property line or right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | On subject property | — | § 154.020(K)(3)(a), (F)(11)(a), (K)(3)(c) |
| Religious Organization Sign | 8 feet | 16 square feet | 4 feet max any dimension | ≥10 feet from property line or right-of-way | 4 per religious organization | — | — | § 154.020(K)(3)(a), (K)(3)(e), (K)(3)(f) |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 100 sq ft total per parcel; rigid material max 24 sq ft | 4 feet max any dimension | ≥10 feet from lot line or right-of-way | 2 per parcel | — | — | § 154.020(K)(3)(a), (K)(3)(e), (K)(3)(c), (F)(13) |
| Wall Sign | 8 feet | 16 square feet | 4 feet max any dimension | ≥10 feet from lot line or right-of-way | 1 per type per lot | — | — | § 154.020(K)(3)(a), (K)(3)(c), (K)(3)(f), (K)(3)(e) |
| Off-Premises Sponsorship Sign (Outfield Fence) | 3 feet | 18 square feet (3' x 6') | 6 feet | — | — | Mounted on outfield fence, backstop or scoreboard, city property only | — | § 154.020(K)(3)(b) |

### Residential zoning districts (R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 square feet per building | 4 feet max any dimension | — | 1 per building | On building | — | § 154.020(K)(4)(a), (H)(9) |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | 30 inches by 30 inches per side; max height 4 feet | 30 inches | — | 1 per business | — | — | § 154.020(K)(4)(a), (F)(10) |
| Real Estate Sales Sign | 10 feet | 16 square feet (<10 acres); 32 square feet (≥10 acres) | 4 feet max any dimension | ≥10 feet from property line or right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | On subject property | — | § 154.020(K)(4)(a), (F)(11)(a), (K)(4)(c) |
| Religious Organization Sign | 5 feet | 16 square feet | 4 feet max any dimension | ≥10 feet from property line or right-of-way | 4 per religious organization | — | — | § 154.020(K)(4)(a), (K)(4)(e), (K)(4)(f) |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 100 sq ft total per parcel; rigid material max 24 sq ft | 4 feet max any dimension | ≥10 feet from lot line or right-of-way | 2 per parcel | — | — | § 154.020(K)(4)(a), (K)(4)(e), (K)(4)(c), (F)(13) |
| Wall Sign | 5 feet | 16 square feet | 4 feet max any dimension | ≥10 feet from lot line or right-of-way | 1 per type per lot | — | — | § 154.020(K)(4)(a), (K)(4)(c), (K)(4)(f), (K)(4)(e) |
| Off-Premises Sponsorship Sign (Outfield Fence) | 3 feet | 18 square feet (3' x 6') | 6 feet | — | — | Mounted on outfield fence, backstop or scoreboard, city property only | — | § 154.020(K)(4)(b) |
| Off-Premises Sponsorship Sign (Scoreboard) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Mounted on scoreboard, city property only | — | § 154.020(K)(4)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Benson

- No sign shall be allowed that prevents egress from or ingress to any door, window, or fire escape.
- No sign shall tend to accumulate debris as a fire hazard.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape or in any other way constitute a hazard to health, safety, or general welfare of the public.
- No sign shall contain any indecent or offensive picture or written material.
- Multi-faced signs shall not exceed two times the allowed square footage of single faced signs, except for advertising signs which shall be limited to single facing.
- Signs shall not be permitted within the public right-of-way, or within dedicated public easements except as otherwise provided.
- 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.
- Signs shall not be placed on any property without approval of the property owner(s).
- A vehicle may not be used as a sign or as the base for a sign where the primary purpose of the vehicle in that location is its use as a sign.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts; signs or other signs attached to a building projecting above the roof line or parapet of the building to which it is attached shall constitute a roof sign.
- No sign which revolves, rotates, or has any visibly moving parts shall be permitted, except signs alternately displaying time and temperature and barber poles may be allowed.
- Signs shall not be placed or mounted on a fence, tree, stone or other natural growth nor on any utility pole or structure.
- Signs shall not be painted directly on the outside wall of a building.
- No sign may be erected that interferes with the proper functioning of a traffic sign or signal or otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard.
- 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.
- No advertising sign/billboard shall be allowed within the city’s boundary.
- Inflatable signs are not permitted.
- No electrically illuminated sign shall be permitted in a residential or agricultural zoning district.
- Signs giving off intermittent, rotating, or direction lights are prohibited.
- No illuminated sign shall have a light source that is directly visible or placed to cause confusion or hazard to traffic or conflict with traffic control signs or lights.
- No temporary or permanent sign shall be tacked, or otherwise attached to trees, fences, utility poles, or other such structures or supports unless expressly permitted.
- Signs which by reason of deterioration may become unsafe or unsightly shall be repaired or removed upon notification by the City Zoning Administrator.
- Any sign which becomes structurally unsafe, in disrepair, abandoned or endangers safety shall be taken down and removed or structurally improved within ten days after written notification.
- No wooden blocks or anchorage with wood used in connection with screws or nails shall be considered proper anchorage for wall signs, except in case of wall signs attached to buildings with walls of wood.
- All signs shall direct primary attention to the business, commodity, service activity, or entertainment conducted, sold or offered on the premises where the sign is located, except as otherwise specified and allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Benson

- No sign permit will be required for real estate signs as set forth herein.
- No sign permit is required for flags, badges, or insignia of any government or government agency, or of any civic, religious, fraternal, or professional organization.
- Commercial and industrial establishments may display on a single flag or on a single awning or on a single canopy the official corporate seal or insignia as identification (one per establishment); advertising or promotion of specific products or services is prohibited unless otherwise approved.
- No sign permit is required for temporary signs for non-commercial announcements for civic groups and for political campaigns; such signs must contain the name of the responsible person and be removed by them.
- No sign permit is required for warning signs that do not exceed five square feet in area.
- No sign permit is required for street, warning, directional, and other official non-commercial signs erected by a government agency.
- No permit is required for railroad signs.
- No permit is required for public notices defined as notices placed or authorized by the city on private property with landowner permission or on public property/right-of-way.
- No permit is required for address letters and numerals required by and in conformance with city code, and related identification signs not to exceed two square feet displayed for the convenience of the public.
- No permit is required for nameplate signs of two square feet per building (individual occupant, not multi-tenant).
- No permit is required for rummage (garage) sale signs not exceeding four square feet, removed within two days after end of sale, and not located in the public right-of-way.
- The regulations do not apply to signs attached by adhesive or otherwise attached directly to or visible through windows and glass portions of doors.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site plan drawn to scale showing the location of the lot lines, building structures, parking areas, existing and proposed signs and any other physical feature may be required as part of a sign permit application.
- Plans, location, specifications, materials, method of construction and attachment to buildings or placement method in the ground may be required as part of a sign permit application.
- A sign permit is required for all permanent, portable, temporary, and other signs unless specifically exempted in section (H).
- All applications for a sign permit shall be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator.
- The city may require other information to demonstrate full compliance, such as color and material samples.
- Where a use is permitted in a zoning district by sign permit, a sign permit is required unless otherwise provided.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/benson