# Sign Regulations in Bloomington, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bloomington, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/bloomington
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/bloomington/latest/bloomington_mn/0-0-0-111153)

## At a glance

Bloomington, Minnesota regulates 28 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the B-2 General Commercial District, C-1 Freeway Office and Service District, C-2 Freeway Commercial District, C-3 Freeway Commercial Center District, C-4 Freeway Office District, CR-1 Regional Commercial District, CO-1 Commercial Office District, CS-0.5 Commercial Service District, CS-1 Commercial Service District, I-2 Limited Industry District, I-3 General Industry District, IP Industrial Park District, FD-2 Freeway Development District, IT Innovation and Technology District zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 150 sq. ft., with a 15 feet for signs 8 feet or less in height, 20 feet for signs taller than 8 feet. setback (Sec. § 21.304.16(c)). Most commercial signs in Bloomington 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 | 14 | — | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| R-1 Single-Family Residential District, RS-1 Large Lot Single-Family Residential District, R1-A Restricted Large Lot Single-Family Residential District, SC Conservation District | 10 | 20 feet | 40 sq. ft. | Yes |
| R-3 Townhouse Residential District, R-4 Multiple-Family Residential District, RM-12 Multiple-Family Residential District, RM-24 Multiple-Family Residential District, RM-50 Multiple-Family Residential District, RM-100 Multiple-Family Residential District, RO-24 Residential Office District, B-1 Neighborhood Office District, I-1 Industrial Park District | 10 | 8 feet | 40 sq. ft. for residential uses, 64 sq. ft. for nonresidential uses. | Yes |
| B-2 General Commercial District, C-1 Freeway Office and Service District, C-2 Freeway Commercial District, C-3 Freeway Commercial Center District, C-4 Freeway Office District, CR-1 Regional Commercial District, CO-1 Commercial Office District, CS-0.5 Commercial Service District, CS-1 Commercial Service District, I-2 Limited Industry District, I-3 General Industry District, IP Industrial Park District, FD-2 Freeway Development District, IT Innovation and Technology District | 12 | 20 feet | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | Yes |
| CX-2 Mixed Use District | 13 | 20 feet | 500 sq. ft. | Yes |
| HX-R High Intensity Mixed Use with Residential District, B-4 Neighborhood Commercial Center District, C-5 Freeway Mixed Use District, LX Lindau Mixed Use District, TI Transitional Industrial District | 11 | 8 feet | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | Yes |

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

### B-2 General Commercial District, C-1 Freeway Office and Service District, C-2 Freeway Commercial District, C-3 Freeway Commercial Center District, C-4 Freeway Office District, CR-1 Regional Commercial District, CO-1 Commercial Office District, CS-0.5 Commercial Service District, CS-1 Commercial Service District, I-2 Limited Industry District, I-3 General Industry District, IP Industrial Park District, FD-2 Freeway Development District, IT Innovation and Technology District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 20 feet | 150 sq. ft. | — | 15 feet for signs 8 feet or less in height, 20 feet for signs taller than 8 feet. | 1 monument or pylon sign per public street frontage. | 15 feet setback for signs 8 feet or less in height, 20 feet for signs taller than 8 feet. | Yes | § 21.304.16(c) |
| Pylon Sign | 20 feet | 150 sq. ft. | — | 15 feet for signs 8 feet or less in height, 20 feet for signs taller than 8 feet. | 1 monument or pylon sign per public street frontage. | 15 feet setback for signs 8 feet or less in height, 20 feet for signs taller than 8 feet. | Yes | § 21.304.16(d) |
| Menu Board | 8 feet for primary, 6 feet for secondary | 36 sq. ft. for primary, 15 sq. ft. for secondary | — | 75 feet from residential property. | 1 primary menu board per order station, 1 secondary menu board per drive-through. | Must be located at least 75 feet from a property that is zoned and used residentially. | Yes | § 21.304.16(e) |
| Directional Sign | 6 feet when freestanding, 12 feet when mounted on a building. | 8 sq. ft. when freestanding, 12 sq. ft. when mounted on a building. | — | 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way, 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | — | Freestanding signs must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way and 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | No | § 21.304.12(12) |
| Incidental Sign | 6 feet when freestanding, 12 feet when mounted on a building. | 8 sq. ft. when freestanding, 12 sq. ft. when mounted on a building. | — | 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way, 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | — | Freestanding signs must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way and 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | No | § 21.304.12(12) |
| Wall Sign | — | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | — | — | No limit. | 4 building elevations allowed. | Yes | § 21.304.17(d) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | — | — | — | 4 building elevations allowed. | Yes | § 21.304.17(c)(4) |
| Suspended Sign | — | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | — | — | — | 4 building elevations allowed. | Yes | § 21.304.17(c)(4) |

### CX-2 Mixed Use District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 20 feet | 500 sq. ft. | — | 20 feet from public streets, 5 feet from side or rear yard. | 1 per public street frontage. | 20 feet setback from public streets, 5 feet from side or rear yard. | Yes | § 21.304.16(c) |
| Pylon Sign | 20 feet | 150 sq. ft. | — | 15 feet for signs 8 feet or less in height, 20 feet for signs taller than 8 feet. | 1 monument or pylon sign per public street frontage. | 15 feet setback for signs 8 feet or less in height, 20 feet for signs taller than 8 feet. | Yes | § 21.304.16(d) |
| Menu Board | 8 feet for primary, 6 feet for secondary | 36 sq. ft. for primary, 15 sq. ft. for secondary | — | 75 feet from residential property. | 1 primary menu board per order station, 1 secondary menu board per drive-through. | Must be located at least 75 feet from a property that is zoned and used residentially. | Yes | § 21.304.16(e) |
| Directional Sign | 6 feet when freestanding, 12 feet when mounted on a building. | 8 sq. ft. when freestanding, 12 sq. ft. when mounted on a building. | — | 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way, 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | — | Freestanding signs must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way and 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | No | § 21.304.12(12) |
| Incidental Sign | 6 feet when freestanding, 12 feet when mounted on a building. | 8 sq. ft. when freestanding, 12 sq. ft. when mounted on a building. | — | 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way, 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | — | Freestanding signs must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way and 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | No | § 21.304.12(12) |
| Wall Sign | — | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | — | — | No limit. | 4 building elevations allowed. | Yes | § 21.304.17(d) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | — | — | — | 4 building elevations allowed. | Yes | § 21.304.17(c)(4) |
| Suspended Sign | — | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | — | — | — | 4 building elevations allowed. | Yes | § 21.304.17(c)(4) |

### HX-R High Intensity Mixed Use with Residential District, B-4 Neighborhood Commercial Center District, C-5 Freeway Mixed Use District, LX Lindau Mixed Use District, TI Transitional Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 150 sq. ft. | — | 15 feet from public streets, 5 feet from side or rear yard. | 1 per public or private street frontage. | 15 feet setback from public streets, 5 feet from side or rear yard. | Yes | § 21.304.16(c) |
| Menu Board | 8 feet for primary, 6 feet for secondary | 36 sq. ft. for primary, 15 sq. ft. for secondary | — | 75 feet from residential property. | 1 primary menu board per order station, 1 secondary menu board per drive-through. | Must be located at least 75 feet from a property that is zoned and used residentially. | Yes | § 21.304.16(e) |
| Directional Sign | 6 feet when freestanding, 12 feet when mounted on a building. | 8 sq. ft. when freestanding, 12 sq. ft. when mounted on a building. | — | 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way, 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | — | Freestanding signs must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way and 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | No | § 21.304.12(12) |
| Incidental Sign | 6 feet when freestanding, 12 feet when mounted on a building. | 8 sq. ft. when freestanding, 12 sq. ft. when mounted on a building. | — | 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way, 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | — | Freestanding signs must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from public streets or right-of-way and 5 feet from side and rear lot lines. | No | § 21.304.12(12) |
| Wall Sign | — | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | — | — | No limit. | 4 building elevations allowed. | Yes | § 21.304.17(d) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | — | — | — | 4 building elevations allowed. | Yes | § 21.304.17(c)(4) |
| Awning Sign | — | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | — | — | — | 4 building elevations allowed. | Yes | § 21.304.17(c)(3) |
| Canopy Sign | — | 250 sq. ft. when visible from and within 250 feet of a dwelling on designated residential property. | — | — | — | 4 building elevations allowed. | Yes | § 21.304.07 |

## Prohibited signs in Bloomington

- Signs or sign structures, whether temporary or permanent, placed on or within the public right-of-way, except for government signs, public signs, public utility signs, or traffic control devices, unless expressly permitted in this sign code.
- Signs or sign structures placed upon any public lighting system, public bridge, public drinking fountain, public emergency response or safety equipment, traffic control device, utility apparatus, public retaining or noise-barrier wall, or public fence, unless the sign is a government sign, public sign, or public utility sign.
- Signs or sign structures that prevent a person operating a vehicle from having a clear and unobstructed view of any official traffic control device or approaching or merging traffic.
- Signs or sign structures that attempt or appear to attempt to direct the movement of traffic, or which imitate, resemble, or interfere with or obstruct the view of a traffic control device.
- Signs that display any rotating beam, beacon or flashing illumination resembling any emergency light, unless the sign is a government sign, public sign, public utility sign, or traffic control device.
- Signs or sign structures greater than three feet in height and located in the clear view triangle area, as defined by § 19.03, or otherwise located in such a manner as to materially impede the view of any street or highway intersection or in such a manner as to materially impede the view of the intersection of a street or highway with a railroad crossing.
- Signs or sign structures located in a manner that could impede traffic on any street, alley, sidewalk, bikeway, trail, or other pedestrian or vehicular travel way.
- Signs painted on, attached to, or maintained upon trees, shrubs, rocks, or other natural features.
- Signs that fluctuate in light intensity or use intermittent, strobe, or moving lights that do not fall under the definition of video signs, electronic changeable copy signs, or electronic graphic display signs.
- Abandoned signs.
- Balloon signs.
- Flashing signs.
- Off-site advertising signs, unless expressly allowed by this sign code.
- Roof signs.
- Shimmering signs.
- Rotating signs.
- Portable signs, unless expressly allowed by this sign code.
- Vehicle signs.
- Unlawful signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bloomington

- Building address numbers as required in Chapter 17 of the city code.
- Grave markers.
- Interior signs.
- Temporary decorations, rope lights, string lights, or mini-lights.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan for a multi-tenant building must be consistent with all regulations of this sign code.
- Comprehensive sign plans may only be submitted for sites or planned developments that have multi-tenant buildings.
- A comprehensive sign plan is a discretionary tool that can be used to establish building sign area allocation, building sign location, and building sign construction type.
- A comprehensive sign plan may not be used to reallocate unused building sign area to other building elevations or increase the maximum number of signs allowed on an individual building elevation.
- A comprehensive sign plan application must include property owner consent, written documentation, plans and other documentation, and the required application fee.
- Flexibility to sign regulations of this sign code, including the number, size, location, and type of signs, may be granted by the City Council through approval of a master sign plan.

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

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