# Sign Regulations in Clearwater, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clearwater, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/clearwater
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Clearwater/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIILADEOR_CH117ZO_ARTXIISI)

## At a glance

Clearwater, Minnesota regulates 11 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Monument, Pole, or Pylon)s in the Residential/Office Transition District (ROT), Highway Commercial District (C-1), Community Commercial District (C-2) zoning district are capped at I-94: 24 ft.; T.H. 24/75: 22 ft.; arterial/collector: 20 ft.; local street: 18 ft. tall and If facing I-94: 175 sq. ft.; T.H. 75 and/or T.H. 24: 150 sq. ft.; other arterial/collector: 125 sq. ft.; local street: 100 sq. ft. (not to exceed total area allowed per lot), with a 10 ft. from all property lines setback (Sec. Sec. 117-1256, Permanent Sign Table). Most commercial signs in Clearwater require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Urban Reserve District (U-R), Residential, Single-Family—Urban District (R-1), Residential, Single-Family—Low-Density Urban District (R-2), Residential, Single-Family—Suburban District (R-3), Residential, Low-Density Attached Dwelling District (R-4) | 4 | 8 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential, Medium-Density Attached Dwelling District (R-5), Residential, High-Density District (R-6) | 2 | 8 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential/Office Transition District (ROT), Highway Commercial District (C-1), Community Commercial District (C-2) | 2 | I-94: 24 ft.; T.H. 24/75: 22 ft.; arterial/collector: 20 ft.; local street: 18 ft. | If facing I-94: 175 sq. ft.; T.H. 75 and/or T.H. 24: 150 sq. ft.; other arterial/collector: 125 sq. ft.; local street: 100 sq. ft. (not to exceed total area allowed per lot) | — |
| Old Town District (C-3) | 3 | 36 inches (3 ft.) | — | — |
| General Commercial District (C-4) | 2 | I-94: 24 ft.; TH 24/75: 22 ft.; arterial/collector: 20 ft.; local: 18 ft. | I-94: 175 sq. ft.; TH 75/24: 150 sq. ft.; arterial/collector: 125 sq. ft.; local: 100 sq. ft.; not to exceed maximum sign area per lot | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-1), General Industrial District (I-2) | 2 | I-94: 24 ft.; T.H. 24/75: 22 ft.; arterial/collector: 20 ft.; local: 18 ft. | I-94: 175 sq. ft.; T.H. 75/24: 150 sq. ft.; arterial/collector: 125 sq. ft.; local: 100 sq. ft.; not to exceed total sign area per lot | — |
| Public Institutional District (P/I) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned Unit Development District (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Floodplain Overlay District (FP), Shoreland Management Overlay District (S), Wild, Scenic and Recreational River District (WS) | 1 | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Manufactured Housing Park District (R-MH) | 2 | 8 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Urban Reserve District (U-R), Residential, Single-Family—Urban District (R-1), Residential, Single-Family—Low-Density Urban District (R-2), Residential, Single-Family—Suburban District (R-3), Residential, Low-Density Attached Dwelling District (R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 117-1256, Table: Permanent signs by zoning district; Sec. 117-1253 |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | Setback: 10 ft. from all property lines | — | Yard, minimum setback 10 ft. from all property lines | — | Sec. 117-1256, Permanent Sign Table |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from all property lines | — | Yard, minimum setback 10 ft. | — | Sec. 117-1256, Permanent Sign Table |
| Nameplate | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 117-1250, 117-1256 |

### Residential/Office Transition District (ROT), Highway Commercial District (C-1), Community Commercial District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument, Pole, or Pylon) | I-94: 24 ft.; T.H. 24/75: 22 ft.; arterial/collector: 20 ft.; local street: 18 ft. | If facing I-94: 175 sq. ft.; T.H. 75 and/or T.H. 24: 150 sq. ft.; other arterial/collector: 125 sq. ft.; local street: 100 sq. ft. (not to exceed total area allowed per lot) | — | 10 ft. from all property lines | One per access or frontage on public street | Yard, minimum setback 10 ft. from property lines | — | Sec. 117-1256, Permanent Sign Table |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Any combination up to total allowed | Building wall | — | Sec. 117-1256, Permanent Sign Table |

### Old Town District (C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Max one wall sign per lot | Building wall | — | Sec. 117-1256, Permanent Sign Table |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft. | — | — | — | One per lot | — | — | Sec. 117-1256, Permanent Sign Table |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 36 inches (3 ft.) | — | 30 inches | — | No more than one per business | Displayed only during store hours. Not to influence/obstruct driveways, entries, sidewalks; must not impact sightlines | — | Sec. 117-1258 |

## Prohibited signs in Clearwater

- Signs within any public right-of-way or upon public lands or easements or other public rights-of-way (except for governmental signs) are prohibited (Sec. 117-1251(2)).
- Signs obstructing ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, stairway or other opening are prohibited (Sec. 117-1251(3)).
- A sign or sign structure attached to a fire escape is prohibited (Sec. 117-1251(4)).
- Abandoned signs are prohibited (Sec. 117-1251(5)).
- Any sign that obstructs the vision of drivers or pedestrians or detracts from the visibility of any official traffic control device is prohibited (Sec. 117-1251(6)).
- Any sign which becomes structurally unsafe or endangers the safety of a building or premises or endangers the public safety is prohibited and must be removed (Sec. 117-1251(7)).
- Signs which are not authorized by a governmental unit which claim to be or imitate any official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or emergency vehicle signal are prohibited (Sec. 117-1251(1)).
- Unless stated otherwise, permanent signs shall be set back at least ten feet from all property lines and 20 feet from the edge of rights-of-way at intersections (Sec. 117-1252(4)).
- Signs shall not be placed on fences, trees or other vegetation, public street/traffic signs, utility poles or city/public property (Sec. 117-1250(b)).
- Billboards are prohibited in all residential zoning classifications (Sec. 117-1257(e)).
- Signs shall not be enlarged or altered in a way that increases nonconformity (Sec. 117-1259(1)).
- No sign may be affixed to a structure or erected without a permit, except where explicitly exempted (Sec. 117-1253(a)).
- Flashing, revolving, or moving signs (other than official traffic control devices), as prohibited elsewhere in the ordinance (implied by general purpose of safety and prohibited signs, though not specifically listed in this section).

## Signs exempt from permit in Clearwater

- The changing of the display surface on a previously approved painted or printed sign does not require a permit (Sec. 117-1250(a)(1)).
- One sign six square feet or less in size per lot does not require a permit (Sec. 117-1250(a)(2)).
- Governmental signs, including but not limited to, traffic control, other regulatory purpose or street signs, informational signs, danger signs, and railroad crossing signs, do not require a permit (Sec. 117-1250(a)(3)).
- Any public sign whose primary purpose is to communicate community events and is erected by or on the order of a duly constituted public office of city, county, state or federal governments in pursuance of their public duties does not require a permit (Sec. 117-1250(a)(4)).
- Political campaign signs posted on private property with owner consent do not require a permit, provided they are not within 100 feet of polling sites, not in the public right-of-way, not posted before August 1, and are removed within ten days after the election (Sec. 117-1250(a)(5)).
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material, do not require a permit (Sec. 117-1250(a)(6)).
- Window signs, provided that no more than half of an individual window is covered, do not require a permit (Sec. 117-1250(a)(7)).
- Flags do not require a permit (Sec. 117-1250(a)(8)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except as provided in section 117-1250 (signs exempt from permit), no person shall install, erect, alter, remodel, or move any sign in the corporate limits without first obtaining a sign permit (Sec. 117-1253(a)).
- A master signage plan is required in any nonresidential development plan, site or plot plan and/or nonresidential planned unit development with more than one individual business or tenant. No permit shall be issued for an individual sign requiring a permit in a commercial and/or industrial zoning district where more than one business or industry will be located until a master signage plan has been approved by the city (Sec. 117-1254(a)).
- The master signage plan must include a scaled site plan showing building and signage locations, scaled building elevations showing signage, computation of maximum sign areas, and must be signed by all owners or agents (Sec. 117-1254(b)-(e)).
- The master signage plan controls the maximum number of signs affixed to a building by each business within the building (Sec. 117-1254(c)).
- A master signage plan amendment may be filed administratively (Sec. 117-1254(f)).
- After approval of a master signage plan, no sign shall be erected, placed, painted, or maintained, except in conformance with the approved plan (Sec. 117-1254(g)).

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

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