# Sign Regulations in Farmington, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Farmington, Minnesota regulates 54 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Development Project Sign (≤30 Acres)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft from property line; 50 ft from dwellings; not within 30 ft triangle at intersections setback (Sec. 10-6-3 (B)1(d)(1)). Most commercial signs in Farmington 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 | 23 | 10 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 5 | 20 ft at installation | 50 sq ft | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, I-1 | 15 | 30 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| IP Zoning District | 4 | 10 ft | 500 sq ft or 20% of facade | — |
| Spruce Street Commercial Zoning District, Mixed Use Zoning District, Business/Flex Zoning District | 10 | 20 ft | 400 sq ft or 16% of facade | — |
| A-1 Zoning District | 2 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Within 15 feet of right-of-way line on property for sale/lease | — | 10-6-3 (B)1(c) |
| Real Estate Sign (All Other) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Within 15 feet of right-of-way line on property for sale/lease | — | 10-6-3 (B)1(c) |
| Development Project Sign (≤30 Acres) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line; 50 ft from dwellings; not within 30 ft triangle at intersections | 1 per site | On project site | — | 10-6-3 (B)1(d)(1) |
| Development Project Sign (>30 Acres) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line; 50 ft from dwellings; not within 30 ft triangle at intersections | 2 per site | On project site | — | 10-6-3 (B)1(d)(2) |
| Election Sign | 6 ft above grade | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property, not in right-of-way except by council approval | — | 10-6-3 (B)1(f) |
| Awning Sign | 9 inches (for letter height) | 1 line of letters no higher than 9"; emblem/insignia up to 8 sq ft | — | — | — | On awning | — | 10-6-3 (B)1(k) |
| Municipal Entrance Sign | 10 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | At city boundary along roadway | — | 10-6-3 (B)1(m) |
| A-Frame Sign | 3 ft | 2 ft wide by 3 ft high (per face, two-sided) | 2 ft | — | — | Sidewalk adjacent to business or other private property with permission within applicable zones | — | 10-6-3 (B)1(t) |

### B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, I-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Identification Sign (Primary Street Frontage) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line, not in 30 ft triangle at intersections | 1 per street frontage | 10 ft from property line, outside 30 ft triangle of visibility | — | 10-6-3 (B)3(b) |
| Pylon Sign (30 mph) | 18 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | Not in required yard; at least 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | 10-6-3 (B)3(d) |
| Pylon Sign (35 mph) | 20 ft | 75 sq ft | — | 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | Not in required yard; at least 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | 10-6-3 (B)3(d) |
| Pylon Sign (40 mph) | 22 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | Not in required yard; at least 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | 10-6-3 (B)3(d) |
| Pylon Sign (45 mph) | 24 ft | 125 sq ft | — | 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | Not in required yard; at least 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | 10-6-3 (B)3(d) |
| Pylon Sign (50 mph) | 26 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | Not in required yard; at least 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | 10-6-3 (B)3(d) |
| Pylon Sign (55 mph) | 28 ft | 175 sq ft | — | 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | Not in required yard; at least 5 ft from driveway/parking space | — | 10-6-3 (B)3(d) |
| Billboard | 30 ft | 300 sq ft (350 sq ft with cutouts) | — | Setbacks as in I-1 district; 500 ft from residential/parks/intersections; 1,500 ft from other billboards | — | I-1 district only; setbacks/building limitations per district | — | 10-6-3 (B)3(h) |

### Spruce Street Commercial Zoning District, Mixed Use Zoning District, Business/Flex Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Identification Sign (Single Occupant, Under 100,000 sq ft) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line; not within 30 ft triangle | 1 per structure/parckel/street frontage | At least 10 ft from property line; not within 30 ft triangle at street intersections | — | 10-6-3 (B)5(a)(1)A |
| Monument Identification Sign (Single Occupant, Over 100,000 sq ft, Primary) | 15 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line; not within 30 ft triangle | 1 per street frontage | At least 10 ft from property line; not within 30 ft triangle at street intersections | — | 10-6-3 (B)5(a)(1)B |
| Monument Identification Sign (Single Occupant, Over 100,000 sq ft, Secondary) | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line; not within 30 ft triangle | 1 per street frontage | At least 10 ft from property line; not within 30 ft triangle at street intersections | — | 10-6-3 (B)5(a)(1)B |
| Wall Sign (Single Occupant) | — | 400 sq ft or 16% of facade | — | — | — | On building | — | 10-6-3 (B)5(a)(2) |
| Monument Identification Sign (Multiple Occupant, Primary) | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line; not in 30 ft triangle | 1 per street frontage | At least 10 ft from property line; not within 30 ft triangle at street intersections | — | 10-6-3 (B)5(b)(1) |
| Monument Identification Sign (Multiple Occupant, Secondary) | 6 ft | 75 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line; not in 30 ft triangle | 1 per street frontage | At least 10 ft from property line; not within 30 ft triangle at street intersections | — | 10-6-3 (B)5(b)(1) |
| On Premises/Traffic Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | Within 5 ft of ROW | — | At driveway within 5 ft of right-of-way; within a development | — | 10-6-3 (B)5(c) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | 4 ft projection from building; max thickness 1 ft | — | — | Perpendicular to building; bottom ≥8 ft above sidewalk | — | 10-6-3 (B)5(e) |

## Prohibited signs in Farmington

- All signs not expressly permitted under this section or exempt from regulation hereunder in accordance with this section are prohibited.
- Rotating, moving, animated, or flashing signs shall not be permitted in any district.
- No sign shall be erected that, by reason of position, shape or color would interfere in any way with the proper functioning or purpose of a traffic sign or signal.
- Snipe signs are prohibited anywhere within the city.
- Roof signs, roof advertising symbols, roof logos, roof statues, or roof sculptures shall not be permitted in any district. No sign shall extend above the roofline.
- Signs shall not be painted, attached or affixed to trees, rocks, or similar natural surfaces, nor affixed to a fence or utility pole.
- No sign shall be upon or overhang any public right of way, with the exception of B-2 districts where an overhang of fifteen inches (15") is possible.
- Signs which advertise an activity, business, product, or service that has not been produced or conducted on the premises for more than thirty (30) days and are considered obsolete.

## Signs exempt from permit in Farmington

- Except for banners, flags, temporary signs, and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this section, all signs must be constructed of permanent materials and permanently attached.
- Flags or insignia of any government.
- Traffic/street signs approved by the director of public works.
- Temporary holiday signs and displays relating to noncommercial messages associated with national, state or local holidays or festivals.
- Integral signs displaying only the name, address of the building, or date of construction not to exceed two (2) square feet.
- No trespassing and no dumping signs (size and placement restrictions apply).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A multiple occupancy building in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, and I-1 zoning districts must submit a sign plan that addresses height, location, size, number, type, decorative theme, design, color, and materials to be used. The plan must be reviewed and approved by the zoning officer prior to issuance of a sign permit.
- A multiple occupancy building in the IP zoning district must submit a similar sign plan, reviewed and approved by the zoning officer prior to issuance of a sign permit.
- A multiple occupancy building in the Spruce Street Commercial, Mixed Use, and Business/Flex zoning districts must submit a sign plan that is reviewed and approved by the zoning officer prior to permit issuance.
- The owner of the building is responsible for complying with the approved sign criteria and ensuring signs erected are in compliance with the sign plan.
- Projecting signs in certain districts must be approved by the planning commission during the sign permit application process.
- Any person aggrieved by denial, suspension, or revocation of a sign permit may request a hearing before the planning commission, and the commission may grant a permit, confirm suspension or revocation, or reinstate a permit.
- Permit applicants may appeal interpretations by the zoning officer to the planning commission for a hearing and possible variance.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/farmington