# Sign Regulations in Excelsior, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Excelsior, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/excelsior
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Excelsior/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXEZO_ART15NOUSSTLOSI)

## At a glance

Excelsior, Minnesota regulates 20 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the Downtown Commercial District (DC district) zoning district are capped at 8 square feet, with a At least 7 ft above public sidewalk. May project max 5 ft into right-of-way. setback (Sec. Sec. 24-9(4)). Most commercial signs in Excelsior require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 5 feet | 6 square feet per side | — |
| Residential District (R districts) | 6 | 8 feet | 32 square feet (aggregate) | — |
| Downtown Commercial District (DC district) | 4 | 8 inches | 27 square feet per sign; max 40 square feet if multiple signs are combined/integrated | — |
| Community Commercial District (CC district), Mixed Use District (MU district), General Commercial District (GC district) | 7 | 8 inches | 75 square feet per sign; 100 square feet max for grouping/combined signs. | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts | 1 | 5 feet | 6 square feet (per side) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential District (R districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dwelling Sign | — | 2 square feet per surface | — | — | 1 per dwelling; 1 per frontage if abutting >1 right-of-way | On property (likely attached to house or in yard). | — | Sec. 24-8(a) |
| Monument Sign (Multiple Dwellings with 4+ units) | 6 feet | — | — | — | 1 per multiple dwelling (4+ units) | Yard/lot of multi-dwelling building (4+ units). | — | Sec. 24-8(b) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Dwellings with 4+ units) | — | 32 square feet (aggregate) | — | — | 1 per multiple dwelling (4+ units) | On wall of multiple dwelling structure (4+ units). | — | Sec. 24-8(b) |
| Monument Sign (Other Nonresidential Uses) | 8 feet | — | — | — | 1 per nonresidential use | On yard/lot of nonresidential uses permitted/conditionally permitted in R district. | — | Sec. 24-8(c) |
| Wall Sign (Other Nonresidential Uses) | — | 32 square feet (aggregate) | — | — | 1 per nonresidential use | Attached to nonresidential owner/tenant building. | — | Sec. 24-8(c) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per home occupation | On property with home occupation. | — | Sec. 24-8(d) |

### Downtown Commercial District (DC district)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permitted Signs (Wall, Projecting, Freestanding, Window, or Awning/Canopy Signs) | — | 27 square feet per sign; max 40 square feet if multiple signs are combined/integrated | — | — | Up to 3 (more permitted w/ admin permit for multi-tenant) | On property frontage (see formula); window signs as allowed; awning/canopy signs on entry. | — | Sec. 24-9(1)-(3), (5) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | At least 7 ft above public sidewalk. May project max 5 ft into right-of-way. | — | Projecting from building into public right of way. | — | Sec. 24-9(4) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | 8 inches | 7 square feet | — | — | — | On awning or canopy at building entrance. | — | Sec. 24-9(5) |
| Freestanding Sign | 4.5 feet | — | — | — | — | On lot frontage in compliance with historic requirements. | — | Sec. 24-9(6) |

### Community Commercial District (CC district), Mixed Use District (MU district), General Commercial District (GC district)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permitted Signs (Wall, Projecting, Freestanding, Window, or Awning/Canopy Signs) (CC/MU) | — | 27 square feet per sign; max 40 square feet if multiple signs are combined or integrated. | — | — | Up to 3 (more with admin permit for multi-tenant) | On property as described in formula. | — | Sec. 24-10(1)-(3), (5) |
| Permitted Signs (Wall, Projecting, Freestanding, Window, or Awning/Canopy Signs) (GC district) | — | 75 square feet per sign; 100 square feet max for grouping/combined signs. | — | — | Up to 3 (more with admin permit for multi-tenant) | On property as described in formula. | — | Sec. 24-10(1)-(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | Projecting from building into public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 24-10(4) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | 8 inches | 7 square feet | — | — | — | On awning or canopy at building entrance. | — | Sec. 24-10(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Historic District properties) | 4.5 feet | — | — | — | — | On property in Excelsior Downtown Historic District. | — | Sec. 24-10(6) |
| Monument Sign (outside Historic District) | 4.5 feet (8 feet in GC district) | — | — | — | — | On property outside Excelsior Downtown Historic District. | — | Sec. 24-10(6) |
| Motor Fuel Facility Price Sign | — | 10 square feet (within a permitted business sign) | — | — | Only as integrated into business signs | Part of an allowed business sign. | — | Sec. 24-10(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Excelsior

- It is unlawful to erect, alter, or relocate any sign without first obtaining a permit from the zoning administrator, unless otherwise exempted.
- Any sign, signal, marking or device which imitates or resembles any official traffic control device, railroad sign or signal, or emergency vehicle sign, or that attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or hides/interferes with official traffic-control devices or railroad signs/signals is prohibited.
- No sign may be attached/hung from any building until wall and roof attachments have been approved by the city building official.
- No signs, guys, stays or attachments shall be erected, placed or maintained on rocks, fences or trees nor interfere with utility wires or their supports.
- Illuminated signs must not direct lights at oncoming traffic or interfere with/obscure official traffic signs or signals. This includes indoor signs visible from public streets.
- No sign shall be placed within any drainage or utility easement or within the public right-of-way except by license agreement issued according to regulations.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected/maintained that blocks free ingress or egress from doors, windows, or fire escapes, or is attached to a stand pipe or fire escape.
- No sign or structure shall be placed on or protrude over the public right-of-way except certain exceptions (wall, canopy, awning, marquee, and nonilluminated sandwich board signs up to eight square feet per side) and must be at least eight feet above grade.
- The top edge of a wall sign shall not extend above the mean roof level (with specific rule for mansard roofs).
- If a sign is not part of or attached to the principal structure, it must conform to setback requirements.
- Obsolete signs (reason of business closure or vacation of premises) must be removed by the property owner or agent.
- Upon written notice of a violation or prohibition from the zoning administrator, the sign must be removed or corrected by the owner, lessee, or manager within 30 days.
- All signage shall comply with design standards and requirements of the heritage preservation commission, where applicable.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except expressly allowed under section 24-6(4).
- Except for traffic control, all signs are prohibited within the public right-of-way or easements, except by administrative permit.
- Prohibited signs include: revolving beacons, revolving signs, moving signs or parts, zip flashers, flashing signs (excluding some time & temperature and barber poles), content classified as obscene per state law, artificially lit roofs/walls except security or architectural highlighting, illuminated signs which flash, scroll, animate or change color/intensity (with some exceptions), pylon signs, electronic changeable copy signs, electronic graphic display signs, multivision signs, roof signs, signs on trees/natural surfaces/utility poles/bridges/towers/public structures, and video display signs.
- No internal or back lighting of signs is allowed.
- All artificially illuminated signs must use minimal artificial light needed to light the sign and lighting must be facing downward (or up as permitted), with minimal glare/reflected light.
- Flashing signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- All signage must comply with outdoor lighting standards per section 16-5.
- Artificial light fixtures must be fully enclosed by opaque material, transmitting light in only one direction (except specified bulb types).
- All artificial light sources must be contained in fully opaque fixtures controlling light to prevent broadcast/glare beyond the sign.
- All artificial illumination of signs must be turned off at the close of business or by 11:00 p.m., whichever is later.

## Signs exempt from permit in Excelsior

- Official signs are permitted without a permit.
- All noncommercial speech signs of any size, number, and duration allowed during the period from 46 days before the state primary to 10 days after the general election, and 13 weeks before any special election to 10 days after the election, provided they comply with state law.
- One sign per street frontage is allowed when a building or site is under construction (not exceeding 32 square feet, eight feet in height, not illuminated, removed within one year of building permit or project completion) without a permit.
- One sign per street frontage is allowed when a building is for sale or lease, with limitations based on zoning district and sign size/height, and must be removed within seven days of sale or lease, without a permit.
- Temporary signs printed or attached on the interior of a window in commercial zones are exempt if they do not exceed 25 percent of window area.
- Flags or insignia of any government or governmental agency are permitted without a permit.
- One temporary sign per property in residential districts not exceeding five square feet in size does not require a permit.
- Existing historic signs as allowed by the Heritage Preservation Commission are exempt.
- Three signs not exceeding four square feet each are permitted per property without permit.
- Portable signs are permitted to occupy public/private sidewalks in commercial districts if within five feet of business entry, only during business hours, not impeding traffic/access, and between three and five feet in height and three to six square feet in area, without permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Comprehensive sign plans are required for any multi-tenant building or development where different occupancies will compete for permitted sign square footage on a single lot.
- A comprehensive sign plan must be approved by the zoning administrator before any permanent sign is erected by any owner or occupant of the building/property.
- A comprehensive sign plan application must include a site plan, tables/calculations of allowable sign areas and frontages, sign location/orientation, and potentially color/material/illustration details.
- Comprehensive sign plans may be amended only by filing a new plan and obtaining zoning administrator approval.
- After approval of a comprehensive sign plan, all permanent signs must comply with the plan and have a permit.
- Variances for signs may be granted by the city council per article 6 of the ordinance.
- Aggregate sign area or number exceptions for signs in various districts, multi-tenant buildings, or certain monument/freestanding signs may require an administrative permit or conditional use permit per site, but are subject to general plan/permit requirements.

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

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