# Sign Regulations in Fergus Falls, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Fergus Falls, Minnesota regulates 31 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 40 square feet per face, with a Not within 15 feet of driveway access; not within 100 feet of residential zone for illuminated temporary/electronic/animated lights setback (Sec. § 154.176(L)). Most commercial signs in Fergus Falls require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 6 feet | 40 square feet per face | — |
| R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, All classes of residence districts (R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5) | 12 | 15 feet max, 2 feet min above ground | 96 square feet | — |
| B-1, Limited Business Districts | 4 | — | 48 square feet | — |
| B-2, Business Districts, B-3, Business Districts, B-4, Business Districts | 5 | — | Subject to formula from wall sign; hanging sign below: 6 square feet max | — |
| B-5 and B-6, Shopping Center Business Districts | 3 | 55 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| I-1 and I-2, Industrial Districts | 5 | — | Subject to formula from wall sign; hanging sign below: 6 square feet max | — |
| I-3, Industrial Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Non-residential zoning districts | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 40 square feet per face | — | Not within 15 feet of driveway access; not within 100 feet of residential zone for illuminated temporary/electronic/animated lights | Up to 7 per parcel/year | Front yard; not within 15 feet of any driveway access to a public street; not over property line | — | § 154.176(L) |
| Electronic Message Center Sign (Non-Residential Zoning Districts) | — | — | — | — | 1 per property; more with CUP | On property in non-residential zoning districts. May be within 400 feet of residential district with CUP. | — | § 154.176(M) |
| Painted Sign | — | Subject to zone | — | — | — | On a building | — | § 154.176(C) |
| Sign Projecting Over Right-of-Way | — | — | — | — | — | May not project more than 4 feet over public right-of-way; face/edge of marquees/awnings exempt; must be at least 8 feet above ground/walk | — | § 154.176(D) |
| Sign Exempt from Permit (General) | — | 3 square feet or less | — | — | — | — | — | § 114.23, § 154.177 |

### R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, All classes of residence districts (R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Subdivision/Development Sign - Main | 15 feet max, 2 feet min above ground | 96 square feet | — | — | 1 | Any front yard (not side yard) | — | § 154.171(A)(3)(a) |
| Temporary Subdivision/Development Sign - Secondary | 15 feet max, 2 feet min above ground | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 | Any front yard (not side yard) | — | § 154.171(A)(3)(b) |
| Directional Sign (Subdivision or Development) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per major thoroughfare approach | Not adjacent to minor residential streets | — | § 154.171(A)(3)(c) |
| Temporary Contractor/Construction Sign | 15 feet max, 2 feet min above ground | 96 square feet | — | — | — | Any front yard (not side yard) | — | § 154.171(A)(4) |
| Institution Identification Sign (Church/School/Hospital/etc.) | — | 48 square feet | — | — | 1 | Any front yard (not side yard) | — | § 154.171(A)(5) |
| Dwelling Group Identification Sign (5-12 units) | — | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per group | Any front yard (not side yard) | — | § 154.171(A)(7) |
| Dwelling Group Identification Sign (12+ units) | — | 48 square feet | — | — | 1 per group | Any front yard (not side yard) | — | § 154.171(A)(7) |
| Small Retail Food/Grocery Store Sign (Conditional Use) | — | 48 square feet | — | — | 1 per store | Residence district (conditional use only) | — | § 154.171(A)(9) |

### I-1 and I-2, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Front) | — | See formula | — | — | — | Front of building | — | § 154.175(A)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Rear) | — | See formula | — | — | — | Rear of building | — | § 154.175(A)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Side - Corner Lot) | — | See formula | — | — | — | Side of building (corner lot) | — | § 154.175(A)(3) |
| Roof/Marquee/Awning Sign | — | Subject to formula from wall sign; hanging sign below: 6 square feet max | — | — | — | Roof of covered walk/marquee; below covered walk/marquee; face or edge of marquee/awning | — | § 154.175(A)(4) |
| Billboard (Industrial) | — | — | Structure not to exceed 55 ft in total length | 800 ft from other billboard, 100 ft from residential zone | 2 per facing | Not within 100 ft of residential district; not within 800 ft of other billboard on same side except back-to-back | — | § 154.175(A)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Fergus Falls

- No sign shall be permitted within the public right-of-way or easements, except as provided for by conditional or special permits.
- Rotating and flashing signs, not characterized as an electronic message center (EMC), shall not be permitted in any district, except as expressly allowed by conditional use permit.
- No sign shall project more than four feet over a public right-of-way, except where located on edge or face of marquees or awnings and except where hanging below a covered walk or marquee.
- Any sign projecting over a public right-of-way must be at least eight feet above the walk or ground grade line.
- No signs shall project more than 24 inches across a required front or side yard, except as allowed by code.
- No sign shall be placed that resembles any official marker erected by a governmental agency or that may interfere with, obstruct, or be confused with authorized traffic control devices.
- No sign shall use the words 'stop', 'look', 'drive-in', 'danger' or any similar words, phrases, symbols or characters in a manner as to mislead or confuse traffic.
- No sign shall be permitted to obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway or other opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress.
- Signs which are or may become rotted, unsafe or unsightly must be repaired or removed by the sign or property owner upon notice.
- No sign shall be illuminated in a way that the light source is directed into any part of a residence or into any residential district.
- Temporary signs are not permitted in any residential district except as specifically exempted.
- A temporary sign shall not be larger than 40 square feet for each exposed face and no more than six feet in height above grade.
- A temporary sign shall not be located within 15 feet of any driveway access to a public street.
- No temporary sign placed within 100 feet of an area zoned residential may have blinking, flashing, rotating or fluttering lights or illuminating devices with changes in intensity, brightness or color.
- Temporary signs shall not be placed or affixed to a vehicle or trailer where the sign causes allowable square footage to be exceeded or for the apparent sole purpose of advertising.
- No temporary sign may be placed upon or project into the public right-of-way, except as allowed by city permission (and only certain sandwich or sidewalk signs in specific districts).
- No person shall place, erect, construct or deposit any sign or object upon any street, alley, public grounds or city-owned property without first obtaining a written permit.
- It is unlawful to engage in the business of hanging or installing signs without a license from the city.
- No flashing, strobing, or intermittent lighting is allowed (applies also to vending site signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in Fergus Falls

- Official, traffic and street signs are exempt from the requirements of the sign ordinance.
- Non-commercial signs of any size may be posted in any number from 46 days before the state primary in a state general election year until ten days following the state general election.
- Temporary signs identifying an engineer, architect, contractor or product engaged in construction, when meeting size, location and timing requirements.
- The erection of temporary signs is exempt from the requirements for a licensed sign hanger (§§ 114.20 through 114.23).
- No sign hanger’s license is required for constructing or installing a residential, professional or institutional sign or nameplate not exceeding three square feet.
- The city must grant permission (no permit required) to install any banner (unless banner is to be installed for less than 24 hours).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for permits must be accompanied by detailed plans and other information to determine the location and compliance with all applicable regulations.
- Every sign which requires a permit must display the name of the permit holder and the permit number.
- For conditional uses (e.g., rotating and flashing signs, certain billboard placements, electronic message center signs near residential districts), approval is required from the Planning Commission and/or a conditional use permit.
- Permit applications (excluding exempted signs) must be filed for erection and maintenance of signs.
- A license from the Council is required to place any banner or sign over or across a street right-of-way.
- For electronic message center signs and for temporary signs outside of absolute exemptions, staff review and/or conditional use permit process applies.
- Banners and certain temporary signs require city permission or a permit if installed beyond a minimal duration.

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

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