# Sign Regulations in Blaine, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Blaine, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/blaine
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/mn/blaine/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPBZO_CH133SI)

## At a glance

Blaine, Minnesota regulates 32 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Sign — Standard (Single-tenant or Multi-tenant)s in the Commercial districts (B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, MU, PBD, DF with commercial land uses) zoning district are capped at Up to 14 ft. tall and Up to 140 sq ft per monument sign face., with a Minimum 10 ft from any lot line or public right-of-way (Sec. 133-5(b)). setback (Sec. Sec. 133-7(a)(2)a.1). Most commercial signs in Blaine require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | Max 50 ft above the elevation grade of the road read to; up to 65 ft by conditional use permit to clear artificial structures. | Up to 700 sq ft primary face; temporary extensions up to 25% of primary face area may extend from top or sides. | — |
| Highway 65/Main Street Interchange District | 1 | Up to 50 ft. | Up to 180 sq ft per sign face. | — |
| Commercial districts (B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, MU, PBD, DF with commercial land uses) | 10 | Up to 25 ft. | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10% wall area cap). | — |
| industrial districts (I-1, I-1A, I-2, I-2A, DF with industrial land uses) | 5 | Up to 14 ft. | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10% wall area cap). | — |
| Neighborhood Business District (B-1) | 2 | Up to 14 ft. | Up to 140 sq ft per sign face. | — |
| Residential districts (R-1, R-1B, R-1A, R-1AA, R-2, R-3, R-4, AG, FR, RE, DF with residential land uses) | 8 | Up to 10 ft. | Up to 80 sq ft. | — |
| Planned office district (POD) | 2 | Up to 10 ft. | Up to 50 sq ft. | — |
| Regional recreation (RR) | 6 | Up to 25 ft. | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10% wall area cap), unless administratively increased per trade-off provision. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Commercial districts (B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, MU, PBD, DF with commercial land uses)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign — Single-Tenant Building | — | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10% wall area cap). | — | — | 1 per principal building; if building abuts 2+ streets, 1 per abutting street (with admin approval). | On building wall(s). One wall sign per principal building; if the building abuts two or more streets, one wall sign oriented to each abutting street may be permitted with zoning administrator design approval. | — | Sec. 133-7(a)(1)a.1–4, d–e |
| Freestanding Monument Sign — Standard (Single-tenant or Multi-tenant) | Up to 14 ft. | Up to 140 sq ft per monument sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line or public right-of-way (Sec. 133-5(b)). | 1 per building (single- or multi-tenant). | On the lot of the use; monument style required. | — | Sec. 133-7(a)(2)a.1 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign — Additional sign for qualifying multi-tenant frontage | Up to 14 ft. | Up to 140 sq ft for the additional sign. | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot lines/ROW. | 1 additional monument sign (in addition to the primary). | For multi-tenant buildings that are NOT a major shopping center/commercial complex, with at least 400 ft linear frontage abutting an arterial street. | — | Sec. 133-7(a)(2)a.2 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign — Major Shopping Center/Commercial Complex | Up to 25 ft. | Up to 180 sq ft per monument sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot lines/ROW. | 1 per complex + 1 additional per arterial frontage. | On major shopping center/commercial complex sites (≥100,000 sq ft of occupied building/complex area). | — | Sec. 133-7(a)(2)a.3; definition of major shopping center/commercial complex Sec. 133-2 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign — Collaborative multi-lot sign | Up to 18 ft. | Up to 180 sq ft per monument sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot lines/ROW. | 1 shared monument sign for multiple businesses. | For adjoining commercial lots establishing a single shared freestanding sign with multiple business identifications, in exchange for eliminating individual freestanding signs (by restrictive covenant). | — | Sec. 133-7(a)(2)a.4 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign — Multiple buildings on one parcel (CUP) | Up to 14 ft for all monument signs. | First monument sign up to 140 sq ft; all subsequent monument signs up to 90 sq ft each. | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot lines/ROW. | 1 monument sign per qualifying building pad area (first up to 140 sq ft; additional up to 90 sq ft). | On parcels with multiple buildings (with CUP). | — | Sec. 133-7(a)(2)a.5 |
| Drive-Through Sign (Restaurants) | Up to 10 ft. | Up to 50 sq ft per sign. | — | Comply with general setbacks and safety standards. | Additional drive-through signs allowed; no explicit numeric maximum stated. | Adjacent to drive-through lanes on restaurant sites providing drive-through/take-out service. | — | Sec. 133-7(a)(2)a.7 |
| Area Identification Monument Sign (Commercial or Industrial Areas) | Up to 14 ft. | Up to 50 sq ft per sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot lines/ROW (general rule for freestanding signs). | As approved; not specifically limited in number. | Signs identifying the name of a recognized commercial or industrial area (not a shopping center) in commercial or industrial districts. | — | Sec. 133-7(d) |

### Residential districts (R-1, R-1B, R-1A, R-1AA, R-2, R-3, R-4, AG, FR, RE, DF with residential land uses)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign (R-1, R-1A, R-1AA, R-1B, RE, R-4, R-2, DF-Residential) | — | Up to 2.5 sq ft. | — | — | 1 per household. | On the dwelling (wall). | — | Sec. 133-7(c)(1)a |
| Home Occupation Sign (FR, AG) — Option A: Wall Sign | — | Up to 2.5 sq ft. | — | — | 1 per household (Option 1). | On the dwelling or accessory building (wall), FR and AG only. | — | Sec. 133-7(c)(1)b |
| Home Occupation Sign (FR, AG) — Option B: Freestanding | Up to 4 ft. | Up to 2.5 sq ft. | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line/ROW (general rule for freestanding signs). | 1 per household (Option 2). | On the FR or AG property as a freestanding sign. | — | Sec. 133-7(c)(1)b |
| Wall Sign — Places of Worship, Schools, Other Public Places; Residential Subdivisions; Multi-Family Complexes | — | Up to 80 sq ft. | — | — | 1 per principal building; if building abuts 2+ streets, 1 per abutting street (with admin approval). | On building wall(s). One wall sign per principal building; if the building abuts two or more streets, one wall sign oriented to each abutting street may be permitted with zoning administrator design approval. | — | Sec. 133-7(c)(2)a |
| Monument Sign — Places of Worship, Schools, Other Public Places; Residential Subdivisions; Multi-Family Complexes | Up to 10 ft. | Up to 36 sq ft per sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line/ROW (Sec. 133-5(b)). | 1 monument sign. | On site of the use. | — | Sec. 133-7(c)(2)b |
| Electronic Readerboard Component — Places of Worship, Schools, Other Public Places; Residential Subdivisions; Multi-Family Complexes | — | At least 50% of the area of the overall sign must be static (i.e., not electronic). | — | Same as the host sign. | — | As part of a permitted sign for the above uses, only if the sign is located adjacent to a collector or arterial road as designated in the City's Comprehensive Plan. | — | Sec. 133-7(c)(2)c; Sec. 133-7(a)(2)a.8(i)–(iv) |
| Monument Sign — FR district agricultural/recreation/commercial rural uses | Up to 10 ft. | Up to 36 sq ft per sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line/ROW (Sec. 133-5(b)). | 1 monument sign per site. | FR Farm Residential Zoning District uses: golf courses, golf driving ranges, commercial stables, nurseries, garden supply stores, and general farming or garden operations. | — | Sec. 133-7(c)(3) |
| Off-site Directional Sign (FR parcels along specific corridors) | Sign standard not to exceed 8 ft in height. | Up to 15 sq ft per sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from all property lines. | 1 off-site directional sign per business/organization; maximum 1 sign per parcel. | Limited to FR Farm Residential zoned parcels with frontage along Lexington Avenue, Radisson Road, and Main Street (125th Avenue NE). | — | Sec. 133-9(a)–(f) |

### Regional recreation (RR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10% wall area cap), unless administratively increased per trade-off provision. | — | — | 1 per principal building; if building abuts 2+ streets, 1 per abutting street (with admin approval). | On building wall(s). One wall sign per principal building; if the building abuts two or more streets, one wall sign oriented to each abutting street may be permitted with zoning administrator design approval. | — | Sec. 133-7(f)(1)a–c |
| Freestanding Sign — One per outdoor athletic field | Up to 8 ft. | Up to 32 sq ft per sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot lines/ROW (general rule for freestanding signs). | 1 per outdoor athletic field. | At each outdoor athletic field within a regional recreation complex or RR-zoned site. | — | Sec. 133-7(f)(2)a |
| Freestanding Sign — One per parking lot | Up to 8 ft. | Up to 32 sq ft per sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot lines/ROW (general rule for freestanding signs). | 1 per parking lot. | At each parking lot within a regional recreation complex or RR-zoned site. | — | Sec. 133-7(f)(2)a |
| Freestanding Sign — One per public road entrance | Up to 8 ft. | Up to 8 sq ft per sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot lines/ROW (general rule for freestanding signs). | 1 per public road entrance. | At each entrance to a regional recreation complex from a public road. | — | Sec. 133-7(f)(2)b |
| Freestanding Sign — One per intersection of two public roads | Up to 8 ft. | Up to 40 sq ft per sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot lines/ROW (general rule for freestanding signs). | 1 per intersection. | At each intersection of two public roads serving the regional recreation complex. | — | Sec. 133-7(f)(2)c |
| Freestanding Monument Sign — Regional recreation complex monument | Up to 25 ft. | Up to 180 sq ft per sign face. | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot lines/ROW (general rule for freestanding signs). | 1 monument sign + 1 additional per arterial frontage. | At a regional recreation complex. | — | Sec. 133-7(f)(2)d |

## Prohibited signs in Blaine

- Signs that, by reason of position, shape or color, would interfere with the proper function of a traffic sign or signal.
- Signs within a public right-of-way, except for signs installed by governmental subdivisions.
- Signs within an easement, except for signs installed by governmental subdivisions or approved by the holder of the easement.
- Signs that resemble any official marker erected by a governmental agency or that display words such as “stop” or “danger” without legal authority.
- Flashing signs, including indoor signs visible from public streets.
- Signs or displays with rotating beams or beacons of flashing illumination.
- Signs or sign structures that obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway, or opening intended to provide ingress or egress.
- Balloons, inflatables, and stringers.
- Sign posters tacked or posted on trees, fences, utility posts, or similar supports.
- Portable signs, except as allowed in Sec. 133-6 or when approved under a special event temporary sign permit (Sec. 133-12).
- Roof signs, except individual channel letters up to three feet high on single-story, flat-roofed buildings without visible supports.
- Off-premises signs, except billboards as provided in Sec. 133-8.
- Any signs not expressly permitted by the chapter.
- Projecting signs.
- Abandoned signs.
- Signs with rotating or moving parts.
- Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles or trailers parked on public right-of-way, public property, or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way where the apparent purpose is to advertise or direct people to a business or activity on the same or nearby property.
- Signs which have become rotted, unsafe, or unsightly.
- Signs for citywide community events sponsored by government or nonprofit organizations unless approved with a temporary sign permit (Sec. 133-12).

## Signs exempt from permit in Blaine

- Identification signs for one- and two-family dwellings under 2 sq ft in area; address numbers are exempt.
- On-site pedestrian, vehicular-traffic, and parking directional signs in parking lots: freestanding under 8 sq ft and under 5 ft high; building-mounted under 8 sq ft; must not create a traffic hazard.
- Traffic control signs, noncommercial governmental signs, local notices, railroad crossing signs, and temporary non-advertising safety or emergency signs.
- One worksite sign per architect, engineer, contractor, financer, or owner (aggregate not to exceed 32 sq ft); remove within 10 days after construction completion.
- Changing the copy/message on permitted changeable copy signs (including billboards).
- Noncommercial signs of any size and number on private property with owner permission from 46 days before the state primary in a state general election year until 10 days after the state general election.
- Interior window signs/posters occupying less than 25% of the window area (may be illuminated; flashing not allowed).
- Flags: (a) Noncommercial flags; (b) Corporate/commercial flags if flown from a ground- or roof-mounted pole on the business lot, minimum 15 ft setback, maximum height 40 ft, maximum area 32 sq ft, and number of poles limited by frontage/50 ft (one flag per pole).
- Temporary displays for civil or religious holidays; remove within 30 days after the event/holiday.
- Wall graphics not used for advertising, with zoning administrator approval.
- Temporary real estate signs: residential up to 10 sq ft and 10 ft high; non-residential up to 32 sq ft and 10 ft high; remove within 10 days after lease/sale.
- One building sign (up to 32 sq ft) for leasing dwelling units or commercial/industrial space in multi-unit buildings.
- One development announcement/promotional sign subject to conditions: residential projects must have ≥6 dwellings/lots; ≥130 ft from any pre-existing home; removal within 2 years of first building permit or 90% sold/rented; max area 32 sq ft for projects <10 acres, 140 sq ft for ≥10 acres.
- One feather sign (max 3.5 ft wide, 18 ft high) OR one banner (max 32 sq ft) without a temporary sign permit.
- Interim banner signs for new establishments, sized per applicable wall/freestanding limits; allowed until permanent signs are installed or 60 days, whichever is less.
- Garage sale signs compliant with Sec. 129-10.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for all signs unless exempted under Sec. 133-6; electrical permits are required for electric signs (Sec. 133-10(a)).
- Monument signs taller than 10 feet require a building permit in addition to a sign permit (Sec. 133-5(e)).
- Temporary sign permit: up to four weeks per calendar year (minimum 7 days per issuance); limits include up to two 32 sq ft banners, two feather signs (max 3.5 ft by 18 ft), and five small freestanding signs ≤6 sq ft; signs allowed under Sec. 133-6 count toward these limits (Sec. 133-12(b)–(c)).
- Special event temporary sign permit: up to two weeks per calendar year (minimum 7 days per issuance); limits include one portable sign ≤48 sq ft, three banners ≤80 sq ft, five feather signs (max 3.5 ft by 18 ft), and five small freestanding signs ≤6 sq ft (Sec. 133-12(d)).
- New businesses are allowed two additional weeks of temporary signage (Sec. 133-12(g)).
- The zoning administrator may allow substitutions/exchanges among temporary sign types as long as total number and square footage are not exceeded, and may issue a temporary conditional administrative permit to address hardships from public road construction (Sec. 133-12(f), (h)).
- Off-site directional signs require a sign permit that specifies exact location and height and is signed by both the applicant and the property owner (Sec. 133-9(f)).
- Billboards require a sign permit (Sec. 133-8(e)(4)); billboards between 50 and 65 feet in height may be allowed only by conditional use permit (Sec. 133-8(c)(2)).
- Collaborative freestanding signs for adjoining commercial lots require zoning administrator approval and a restrictive covenant relinquishing individual freestanding sign rights (Sec. 133-7(a)(2)a.4).
- Multiple buildings on one parcel with a conditional use permit may be allowed one monument sign per building meeting lot standards (Sec. 133-7(a)(2)a.5).
- Certain wall sign configurations, larger individual wall signs (in exchange for reducing other wall signage), and wall graphics require zoning administrator approval (Sec. 133-7(a)(1)c–d; Sec. 133-6(10)).
- No master sign plan requirement is specified in the ordinance.

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

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