# Sign Regulations in Callaway, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Callaway, Minnesota regulates 10 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Business Signs in the C-1 Business District, Commercial C-1 Zone zoning district are capped at 10 ft (except no sign shall project higher than 32 ft above average grade at base) tall, 150 sq ft per sign face, and 15 ft in total length wide, with a Not within 25-ft sight triangle at intersections (unless at least 9 ft above grade); Not within 30 ft of property line abutting residential district. setback (Sec. § 17150.05(A)(2-3,7-9), § 17150.07(C), § 17150.08). Most commercial signs in Callaway require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1 Business District, Commercial C-1 Zone | 6 | 10 ft (except no sign shall project higher than 32 ft above average grade at base) | 150 sq ft per sign face | — |
| C-2 Light Industry District, Light Industrial C-2 Zone | 6 | 10 ft (except no sign shall project higher than 32 ft above average grade at base) | 150 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Residential District | 2 | No more than 15 feet; bottom no less than 2 feet from ground | 12 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### C-1 Business District, Commercial C-1 Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign - Wall, Roof, or Marquee | Not to extend above the roof or parapet line. If hanging below covered walk or marquee, not more than 8 ft above walk or ground grade. | Whichever is greater of (a) 2 sq ft/ft of lot frontage, (b) 15% of building facing area, or (c) 75 sq ft | — | — | — | On building wall, roof of covered walk, or marquee. Hanging signs must be at least 2 ft inside all curb lines. | — | § 17150.05(A)(4-5), § 17150.07(C), § 17150.08 |
| Freestanding Business Sign | 10 ft (except no sign shall project higher than 32 ft above average grade at base) | 150 sq ft per sign face | 15 ft in total length | Not within 25-ft sight triangle at intersections (unless at least 9 ft above grade); Not within 30 ft of property line abutting residential district. | — | On lot; not within 25-ft sight triangle at street intersections unless bottom at least 9 ft above grade | — | § 17150.05(A)(2-3,7-9), § 17150.07(C), § 17150.08 |
| Advertising Sign - Freestanding | 10 ft (except no sign shall project higher than 32 ft above average grade at base) | 150 sq ft per sign face | 15 ft in total length | Not within 25-ft sight triangle at intersections (unless at least 9 ft above grade); Not within 30 ft of property line abutting residential district. | — | On lot; not within 25-ft sight triangle at street intersections unless bottom at least 9 ft above grade | — | § 17150.05(A)(2-3,6,9-10), § 17150.07(C), § 17150.08 |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | See general sign height limits (10 ft max for freestanding; max 32 ft from grade) | Electronic portion: 75 sq ft or 50% of sign face, whichever greater | — | 100 ft from principal residential structure; 100 ft from other electronic signs. | 1 per zoning lot (up to 2 for multi-street-front, only 1 per street front) | On site of use identified. Must be at least 100 feet from principal residential structure. | — | § 17150.07(E)(1-10), § 17150.08 |
| Electronic Graphic Display Sign | See general sign height limits (10 ft max for freestanding; max 32 ft from grade) | Electronic portion: 75 sq ft or 50% of sign face, whichever greater | — | 100 ft from principal residential structure; 100 ft from other electronic signs. | 1 per zoning lot (up to 2 for multi-street-front, only 1 per street front) | On site of use identified. Must be at least 100 feet from principal residential structure. | — | § 17150.07(E)(1-10), § 17150.08 |
| Portable Sign (Temporary) | — | 54 sq ft per side (except inflatable signs for ≤10 days) | — | Not in public right-of-way | 2 per lot or business | Private property only | — | § 17150.05(B), § 17150.07(A)(2) |

### C-2 Light Industry District, Light Industrial C-2 Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign - Wall, Roof, or Marquee | Not to extend above the roof or parapet line. If hanging below covered walk or marquee, not more than 8 ft above walk or ground grade. | Whichever is greater of (a) 2 sq ft/ft of lot frontage, (b) 15% of building facing area, or (c) 75 sq ft | — | — | — | On building wall, roof of covered walk, or marquee. Hanging signs must be at least 2 ft inside all curb lines. | — | § 17150.05(A)(4-5), § 17150.07(C), § 17150.08 |
| Freestanding Business Sign | 10 ft (except no sign shall project higher than 32 ft above average grade at base) | 150 sq ft per sign face | 15 ft in total length | Not within 25-ft sight triangle at intersections (unless at least 9 ft above grade); Not within 30 ft of property line abutting residential district. | — | On lot; not within 25-ft sight triangle at street intersections unless bottom at least 9 ft above grade | — | § 17150.05(A)(2-3,7-9), § 17150.07(C), § 17150.08 |
| Advertising Sign - Freestanding | 10 ft (except no sign shall project higher than 32 ft above average grade at base) | 150 sq ft per sign face | 15 ft in total length | Not within 25-ft sight triangle at intersections (unless at least 9 ft above grade); Not within 30 ft of property line abutting residential district. | — | On lot; not within 25-ft sight triangle at street intersections unless bottom at least 9 ft above grade | — | § 17150.05(A)(2-3,6,9-10), § 17150.07(C), § 17150.08 |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | See general sign height limits (10 ft max for freestanding; max 32 ft from grade) | Electronic portion: 75 sq ft or 50% of sign face, whichever greater | — | 100 ft from principal residential structure; 100 ft from other electronic signs. | 1 per zoning lot (up to 2 for multi-street-front, only 1 per street front) | On site of use identified. Must be at least 100 feet from principal residential structure. | — | § 17150.07(E)(1-10), § 17150.08 |
| Electronic Graphic Display Sign | See general sign height limits (10 ft max for freestanding; max 32 ft from grade) | Electronic portion: 75 sq ft or 50% of sign face, whichever greater | — | 100 ft from principal residential structure; 100 ft from other electronic signs. | 1 per zoning lot (up to 2 for multi-street-front, only 1 per street front) | On site of use identified. Must be at least 100 feet from principal residential structure. | — | § 17150.07(E)(1-10), § 17150.08 |
| Portable Sign (Temporary) | — | 54 sq ft per side (except inflatable signs for ≤10 days) | — | Not in public right-of-way | 2 per lot or business | Private property only | — | § 17150.05(B), § 17150.07(A)(2) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign – For Sale or Lease | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 17150.06(A)(1) |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Engineer, Architect, Contractor, Product) | No more than 15 feet; bottom no less than 2 feet from ground | 12 sq ft per sign (unless larger required by state or federal regs) | — | — | — | Front yard only. Not in any side yard. | — | § 17150.06(A)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Callaway

- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except as permitted by § 17150.05(B).
- Signs that are structurally unsafe, in disrepair or abandoned are prohibited.
- Illuminated signs that cause glare onto the public right-of-way or adjacent property are prohibited.
- Signs and decorations containing words or pictures of obscene, pornographic or immoral character are prohibited.
- Signs are prohibited if, by reason of size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination, they may be confused with the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle, a traffic sign, signal or device, or that hide from view any traffic sign, signal or device.
- Signs and decorations are not permitted within the public right-of-way.
- No sign is permitted that resembles any official marker erected by a governmental agency or that displays such words as 'stop' or 'danger'.
- No sign may obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway or opening intended to provide air, ingress or egress to any building or structure.
- Any sign with any form of audio speakers or pyrotechnics is prohibited.
- Images projected onto buildings or other objects are prohibited.
- Any signs not listed as permitted are prohibited.
- Undue brightness from illuminated signs is prohibited, defined as illumination exceeding 7500 nits during the day or 500 nits at night.
- Electronic signs must be equipped to freeze or discontinue the display in case of malfunction.
- Illumination must not impair the vision of a motor vehicle driver or interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device, or signal.

## Signs exempt from permit in Callaway

- Election signs containing non-commercial speech may be posted from August 1 in any general election year until ten days following the general election, and 13 weeks prior to any special election until ten days following the special election, on private property, notwithstanding other provisions.
- Certain small, unobtrusive, and incidental signs to the principal use of the respective lots may be allowed without a permit, subject to substantive requirements.
- Inflatable signs and balloon signs do not require a permit unless they are displayed for more than ten days.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application for sign placement must be accompanied by detailed plans and other necessary information to determine compliance with location and applicable regulations, as required by § 17150.08(B).
- A permit, including Council approval, is required for the erection or maintenance of most signs.
- Prior to issuance of a permit for electronic message board signs, written certification from the manufacturer is required concerning light intensity and control.

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

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