# Sign Regulations in Lakeland, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lakeland, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/lakeland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Lakeland, Minnesota regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Nameplate Signs in the Agricultural District (A), Residential District (R) zoning district are capped at 4 feet max for any dimension; Top of sign not above 12 feet above grade tall, 16 sq. ft. (per sign); Total for all signs max 32 sq. ft./lot; 2 sq. ft. or less exempt from permit., and 4 feet max for any dimension wide, with a 10 ft from property line or street/public right-of-way setback (Sec. § 159.183(B)(1), § 159.183(B)(5), § 159.192(A), § 159.192(D), § 159.205). Most commercial signs in Lakeland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | Not less than 3 inches in height | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Agricultural District (A), Residential District (R) | 8 | 4 feet max for any dimension; Top of sign not above 12 feet above grade | Not specified; total for all signs max 32 sq. ft./lot | — |
| Retail Business District (RB) | 14 | Top of sign max 12 ft. above adjacent foundation grade | 180 sq. ft. max overall | — |
| PUD District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | Not less than 3 inches in height | — | — | — | — | On building or at a location clearly visible from street | — | § 159.191 |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Not specified | On site of project under construction | — | § 159.190 |
| Real Estate Development Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | At least 100' from any existing residence | 1 per road frontage, max 3 per project | On each road frontage of a single-family residential project with 10 or more units | — | § 159.189 |
| Private Traffic Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Private property in alleys, parking lots, or other hazardous situations | — | § 159.187 |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | Not specified (see zone rules for per-lot rules) | On private property, with owner's permission | — | § 159.188 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 159.203 |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of window area | — | — | — | Interior of window or painted on window | — | § 159.199 |
| Gasoline Pump Island Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On gasoline pump island canopy | — | § 159.198, § 159.193(J) |

### Agricultural District (A), Residential District (R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | 4 feet max for any dimension; Top of sign not above 12 feet above grade | 16 sq. ft. (per sign); Total for all signs max 32 sq. ft./lot; 2 sq. ft. or less exempt from permit. | 4 feet max for any dimension | 10 ft from property line or street/public right-of-way | 1 per lot frontage | On lot frontage | — | § 159.183(B)(1), § 159.183(B)(5), § 159.192(A), § 159.192(D), § 159.205 |
| Political Sign | 4 feet max for any dimension; Top of sign not above 12 feet above grade | Not specified; total for all signs max 32 sq. ft./lot | 4 feet max for any dimension | 10 ft from property line or street/public right-of-way | 1 per candidate per lot frontage | On lot frontage with property owner’s consent | — | § 159.183(B)(2), § 159.192(A), § 159.192(C), § 159.205 |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential, 9 sq. ft. or less) | 4 feet max for any dimension; Top of sign not above 12 feet above grade | 9 sq. ft. | 4 feet max for any dimension | 10 ft from property line or street/public right-of-way | 1 per lot frontage | On lot frontage | — | § 159.183(B)(5), § 159.192(A), § 159.205 |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential, over 9 sq. ft.) | 4 feet max for any dimension; Top of sign not above 12 feet above grade | 16 sq. ft. | 4 feet max for any dimension | 10 ft from property line or street/public right-of-way | 1 per lot frontage | On lot frontage | — | § 159.192(A), § 159.205 |
| Temporary Sign | 4 feet max for any dimension; Top of sign not above 12 feet above grade | 16 sq. ft. | 4 feet max for any dimension | 10 ft from property line or street/public right-of-way | 2 per lot frontage | Hung on primary structure or crossbar/poles (not on fence or accessory buildings) | — | § 159.183(B)(6), § 159.183(B)(7), § 159.192(A), § 159.192(C), § 159.192(H), § 159.205 |
| Warning Sign (9 sq. ft. or less) | — | 9 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from property line or street/public right-of-way | 1 per lot frontage | On lot frontage | — | § 159.183(B)(8), § 159.192(A), § 159.205 |
| Warning Sign (over 9 sq. ft.) | 4 feet max for any dimension; Top of sign not above 12 feet above grade | 16 sq. ft. | 4 feet max for any dimension | 10 ft from property line or street/public right-of-way | 1 per lot frontage | On lot frontage | — | § 159.192(A), § 159.205 |
| Area Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 159.205 |

### Retail Business District (RB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 50 sq. ft. max per sign | — | — | 1 per lot | On exterior wall or building face | — | § 159.193(A), (B), (C), (D), (I), § 159.205 |
| Business Sign | — | 50 sq. ft. max per sign; no combo on premises over 150 sq. ft. total | — | — | 1 per lot | On exterior wall, freestanding/ground sign | — | § 159.193(A), (B), (D), (I), § 159.205 |
| Sale Sign | — | 50 sq. ft. max per sign | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot | — | § 159.193(A), (B), (C), (D), § 159.205 |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per candidate per lot | On lot, with owner's permission | — | § 159.193(A), (B), (C), § 159.205 |
| Freestanding/Ground Sign | Top of sign max 12 ft. above adjacent foundation grade | 50 sq. ft. max per sign (multi-faced: 100 sq. ft. max); total not over 150 sq. ft. (shopping center/bldg w/3+ business: 180 sq. ft. max) | — | 10 ft from property line; over 100 sq. ft.: 50 ft from residential/agricultural zone; no part closer than 2 ft to property line or right-of-way | — | On lot; setback required | — | § 159.193(A), (C), (D), (F), (G), (I), § 159.205 |
| Shopping Center/Building Sign (for 3+ businesses) | — | 180 sq. ft. max overall | — | — | — | On shopping center/building complex | — | § 159.193(A), (B), (D), § 159.205 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | 50 ft from edge of paved intersection; 20 ft from edge of street/right-of-way | — | On primary structure or crossbar/poles – not on fence or accessory buildings | — | § 159.193(H), § 159.205 |
| Warning Sign (9 sq. ft. or less) | — | 9 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | § 159.205 |

## Prohibited signs in Lakeland

- No sign shall be allowed that prevents ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape or in any way constitutes a hazard to health, safety, or general welfare of the public.
- No sign shall be permitted which, by reason of advertising content, location, shape, or overall impression, may reasonably be expected to be confused with, obscure, or interfere with any official traffic sign or device or otherwise serve as a traffic hazard.
- No sign shall be permitted on benches, news stands, car stands, school bus stop shelters, or similar places.
- Canopy/awning signs are not allowed in any district.
- Flashing signs are not permitted.
- Flying signs, such as blimps or kites designed to be kept aloft by mechanical, wind, chemical, or hot air means, whether tethered or not, are prohibited.
- Home occupation signs are not permitted.
- Inflatable signs, including but not limited to balloons, are not allowed.
- Motion signs are not permitted, except for a barber pole defined as a rotating pole with red and white diagonal stripes used as a sign to identify a barbershop.
- Obscene signs are prohibited; no sign shall contain any obscene pictures or written matter.
- Off-site signs are not permitted.
- Painted signs directly on or mounted on a bench, building, fence, tree, stone, or any other natural growth, or on any utility pole or structure, are not permitted.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Reader board signs are not permitted.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts, with the exception of single-faced signs painted on or attached to the exterior of a mansard.
- Signs are not allowed on utility poles.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited; a vehicle may not be used as a sign nor as the base for a sign where the primary purpose of the vehicle in that location is its use as a sign.
- No exterior neon signs shall be permitted. Neon signs visible from the outside are limited to indicating 'open/closed' and must be placed only in the interior of a window.
- Electrical signs are not permitted in residential or agricultural zoning district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lakeland

- Nameplate signs 2 square feet or less do not require a permit.
- Political signs do not require a permit.
- Public notices placed or located on private property with permission of the landowner, or on public property or public right-of-way do not require a permit.
- Public safety signs, including road and street signs, public building identification signs, and hazard warning devices erected by the State of Minnesota, County of Washington, or City of Lakeland do not require a permit.
- Real estate sale signs 9 square feet or less do not require a permit.
- Residential garage sale signs or yard sale signs do not require a permit.
- Residential open house directional signs do not require a permit.
- Warning signs which do not exceed 9 square feet in area do not require a permit.
- Commercial real estate sale, lease, or rental signs of 50 square feet or less do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator or approval as part of a conditional use permit, except those specifically exempted in § 159.183.
- All sign applications require specifications and drawings showing materials, color, design, dimensions, structural supports, and electrical components of the proposed sign (§ 159.205).
- A comprehensive sign plan may be required for proposed signs, with city approval as defined in the ordinance.
- Master/comprehensive sign plan diagrams are for illustrative purposes only; text of ordinance controls if there is a conflict.
- Certain signs (e.g., area identification sign, illuminated sign, freestanding sign in retail business, real estate signs over certain size, etc.) require a conditional use permit or interim use permit, which includes a public hearing.
- Any change to the size, design, shape, or language of any sign requires an application for approval.

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

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