# Sign Regulations in Fairmont, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fairmont, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/fairmont
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Fairmont/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CICO_CH26ZO_ARTXSI)

## At a glance

Fairmont, Minnesota regulates 19 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Wall/Building Signs in the Business District (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4) zoning district are capped at 2 ft above highest outside wall/parapet tall and B-1: 100 sq ft/sign; B-2/B-3/B-4: 288 sq ft/sign, with a 10 ft from any lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)b) setback (Sec. Sec. 26-808(1, 2a, 4), Sec. 26-806(2), Sec. 26-805). Most commercial signs in Fairmont 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 | 3 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business District (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4) | 7 | 10 ft above grade | 350 sq ft per sign | — |
| Industrial District (I-1, I-2) | 6 | 40 ft | 350 sq ft | — |
| Residential District (R districts) | 7 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-1 Single-Family Residential District | 2 | — | 2 sq ft | — |

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

### Business District (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Building Sign | 2 ft above highest outside wall/parapet | B-1: 100 sq ft/sign; B-2/B-3/B-4: 288 sq ft/sign | — | 10 ft from any lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)b) | 3 per lot; unified centers: per shop; B-2: 3 per business | On building. Over sidewalks allowed (B-2 only), must be minimum 10 ft above sidewalk, can extend to within 1 ft of curb/paved area. | — | Sec. 26-808(1, 2a, 4), Sec. 26-806(2), Sec. 26-805 |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign | B-1, B-2: 28 ft; B-3: 40 ft; B-4: 55 ft | — | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)b) | See wall sign limits | On-site, minimum 12 ft height | — | Sec. 26-808(2b), Sec. 26-805, Sec. 26-806(2) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 10 ft above grade | — | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)b) | See wall sign limits | On-site | — | Sec. 26-808(2c), Sec. 26-805 |
| Electronic Message Sign (B-3/B-4 only) | — | — | — | — | — | On site. Must be minimum 12 ft above street grade and 100 ft from any street intersection. | — | Sec. 26-806(2) |
| Portable Message Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | Follow temporary sign setbacks: 10 ft from lot line | 1 per lot | On site, must follow temporary sign setbacks (10 ft from lot line) | — | Sec. 26-809 |
| Unified Shopping Center Sign (Identification) | — | 350 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)b) | One per street frontage, up to maximum 3 | On site, for identification only | — | Sec. 26-808(3) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft (single family); 6 sq ft (multi-family) | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On building | — | Sec. 26-808(1) |

### Industrial District (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Building Sign | 2 ft above highest outside wall/parapet | 288 sq ft per sign (1000 sq ft max on interstate) | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)c) | 3 per lot | On building | — | Sec. 26-808(1,2a); Sec. 26-805 |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign | 40 ft | — | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)c) | See wall sign limits | On site, minimum 12 ft height | — | Sec. 26-808(2b); Sec. 26-805 |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 10 ft above grade | — | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)c) | See wall sign limits | On site | — | Sec. 26-808(2c); Sec. 26-805 |
| Unified Industrial Park Identification Sign | — | 350 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)c) | 1 per park | At main entrance/site | — | Sec. 26-808(5) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft (single family); 6 sq ft (multi-family) | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On building | — | Sec. 26-808(1) |
| Portable Message Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot line (per temp sign rules, 26-806(12)) | 1 per lot | On site, must follow temporary sign setbacks (10 ft from lot line) | — | Sec. 26-809 |

### Residential District (R districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign (Single-Family) | — | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)a) | 1 per dwelling | On dwelling | — | Sec. 26-807(1), Sec. 26-802(2) |
| Nameplate Sign (Multi-Family) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)a) | 1 per building | On building | — | Sec. 26-807(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)a) | 1 per permitted home occupation | On lot | — | Sec. 26-807(3) |
| Institution Sign (Public, Charitable, Religious) | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)a) | — | Premises of institution | — | Sec. 26-802(3) |
| Decorative Feature/Floodlit Sign | — | — | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)a) | — | On building | — | Sec. 26-807(4) |
| General Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | — | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)a) | — | On lot | — | Sec. 26-807(5) |
| Electronic Message Center Sign (Public/Semi-Public Uses) | — | — | — | 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 26-806(12)a); must not be oriented toward residences | 1 per parcel | On site, must be integral to a permanent sign structure; only on major roads as specified | — | Sec. 26-807(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Fairmont

- No sign shall be installed which by reason of position, shape, color or wording would interfere with the proper functioning of any traffic sign or signal.
- Illuminated flashing signs or devices giving off intermittent, sequential, or rotating beams of light shall not be permitted in any district.
- Except for grand openings, special occasions and holidays, banners and streamers may not be used without obtaining a permit from the city.
- There shall be no more than one temporary (three months or less) sign on any one lot.
- No sign in the city shall obstruct access to fire escapes or required windows, doors, exits or standpipes.
- No signs shall be placed upon or overhang the public right-of-way or easement, except with a special temporary permit granted by the city council.
- Signs on roofs shall not be allowed in any district.
- Signs shall not be painted directly on any exterior building surface. Signs, letters and symbols may be attached directly to a wall by adhesive or mechanical means.
- All existing signs shall be removed from the building and property by the owner within thirty days after the business or use is terminated.
- Exposed backs of all signs and sign structures must be painted a neutral color and otherwise maintained.
- Permit required: It is unlawful to erect, structurally alter or relocate any sign without first obtaining a permit and paying the required permit fee.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fairmont

- Temporary real estate signs not exceeding thirty-five square feet in a business or industrial district, and nine square feet in a residential district.
- Residential and professional nameplates, not exceeding two square feet in surface area.
- Signs or bulletin boards, not over thirty-two square feet, for public, charitable, or religious institutions, where located on the premises of said institutions.
- Temporary political signs in regard to a candidate or an election; must be removed within fourteen days following the election.
- Temporary construction signs not exceeding thirty-two square feet in area in multiresidential, business or industrial districts during construction, which identify the project, contractors and subcontractors.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices and other such temporary, emergency, or nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the city council.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and dates of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material.
- Flags, decorations, emblems and signs of civic, political, patriotic and religious holidays may be displayed no more than forty days prior to, nor more than seven working days after, the appropriate holiday.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Submission of two blueprints or ink drawings of sign plans or specifications and method of construction and attachment to building or ground may be required by the community development director as part of the permit application.
- A detailed site plan must be submitted to the city engineer for portable message signs used for a period exceeding one month in a calendar year, indicating the permanent location of the sign and adjacent property lines.
- Variance requests for signs require following the procedure outlined in Article II, Division 5.
- Additional information may be required by the community development director to show full compliance with all ordinances as part of the permit process.

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

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