# Sign Regulations in Lakeville, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lakeville, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/lakeville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/lakevillemn/latest/lakeville_mn/0-0-0-7319)

## At a glance

Lakeville, Minnesota regulates 16 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Institutional/Public use)s in the RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4, RS-CBD, RSMH, RST-1, RST-2, RM-1, RM-2, RH-1, RH-2 zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 100 sq ft per sign face, with a 15 ft from ROW, 5 ft from other property lines; for dynamic display, min 50 ft from any side or rear lot line abutting residential setback (Sec. 11-23-19.B).

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| A-P, RA | 9 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4, RS-CBD, RSMH, RST-1, RST-2, RM-1, RM-2, RH-1, RH-2 | 12 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| O-R, C-1 | 10 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| M-1, M-2, C-2, C-3, C-CBD | 10 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| O-P, I-CBD, I-1, I-2 | 10 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| Freeway Corridor District | 10 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| P-OS | 11 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Development District | 9 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4, RS-CBD, RSMH, RST-1, RST-2, RM-1, RM-2, RH-1, RH-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Institutional/Public use) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft per sign face | — | 15 ft from ROW, 5 ft from other property lines; for dynamic display, min 50 ft from any side or rear lot line abutting residential | 1 per lot (+1 if >1 entrance, at major collector/arterial street) | One per lot, +1 if >1 entrance from major collector/arterial street | — | 11-23-19.B |
| Wall, Canopy, or Marquee Sign (Institutional/Public use, Single Occupancy) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per elevation fronting public street (+1 for corner/through lot), additional signs for entrances | 1 per elevation fronting public street (corner/through lots may have 2) | — | 11-23-19.B.1.b |
| Freestanding Sign (Multifamily Apartments) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft per side | — | 15 ft from ROW, 5 ft from other property lines | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | 11-23-19.B.2.a |
| Wall, Canopy, or Marquee Sign (Multifamily Apartments) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 or 2, see conditions | 1 per elevation fronting public street (2 if corner/through lot, or elevation with primary entrance) | — | 11-23-19.B.2.b |
| Billboard | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — | — | One per property | Existing billboards (pre-1980) | — | 11-23-15.W |
| Subdivision Entry Sign - Permanent | 10 ft (residential), 20 ft (commercial/industrial/institutional) | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per intersection | At intersection within or abutting the plat with a collector or arterial street | — | 11-23-15.X.1 |
| Subdivision Entry Sign - Temporary | 8 ft | 64 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per frontage | 1 per project/subdivision or 1 per frontage to collector/arterial street | — | 11-23-15.X.2 |
| Subdivision Model Home Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 sign, up to 3 flags | Same lot as the model home | — | 11-23-15.X.2.b |

### O-R, C-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per sign face | — | 15 ft from ROW, 5 ft from property lines | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | 11-23-19.C.1 |
| Wall, Canopy, or Marquee Sign (Single Occupancy) | — | 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 per elevation (max 2 for corner/through lot) | 1 per elevation (2 for corner/through lot); not facing interior side/rear yard abutting residential district | — | 11-23-19.C.1.b |
| Temporary Sign | — | 50 sq ft per sign face (100 sq ft per sign face in Freeway Corridor District) | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | 11-23-15.G |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | Commercial districts only; not over vehicular drive aisle or right-of-way (except C-CBD) | — | 11-23-15.V |
| Billboard | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — | — | One per property | Existing billboards (pre-1980) | — | 11-23-15.W |
| Subdivision Entry Sign - Permanent | 10 ft (residential), 20 ft (commercial/industrial/institutional) | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per intersection | At intersection within or abutting the plat with a collector or arterial street | — | 11-23-15.X.1 |
| Subdivision Entry Sign - Temporary | 8 ft | 64 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per frontage | 1 per project/subdivision or 1 per frontage to collector/arterial street | — | 11-23-15.X.2 |
| Subdivision Model Home Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 sign, up to 3 flags | Same lot as the model home | — | 11-23-15.X.2.b |

### P-OS

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 100 sq ft per sign face | — | 15 ft from ROW, 5 ft from property lines | 1 per lot (+1 for extra entrance) | 1 per lot (+1 if >1 entrance from major collector/arterial street) | — | 11-23-19.G |
| Freestanding Sign (Electronic Display) (Public Use Only) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft per sign face (max 40 sq ft of electronic display area) | — | — | — | City public uses & named ISD schools only, in yard abutting minor expander/connector/reliever st | — | 11-23-19.G.1.d(2) |
| Wall, Canopy, or Marquee Sign (Single Occupancy) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | 1 per elevation fronting public street; +1 for corner/through lot. Additional up to 48 sq ft per entrance | — | 11-23-19.G.2 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 50 sq ft per sign face (100 sq ft per sign face in Freeway Corridor District) | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | 11-23-15.G |
| Billboard | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — | — | One per property | Existing billboards (pre-1980) | — | 11-23-15.W |
| Subdivision Entry Sign - Permanent | 10 ft (residential), 20 ft (commercial/industrial/institutional) | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per intersection | At intersection within or abutting the plat with a collector or arterial street | — | 11-23-15.X.1 |
| Subdivision Entry Sign - Temporary | 8 ft | 64 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per frontage | 1 per project/subdivision or 1 per frontage to collector/arterial street | — | 11-23-15.X.2 |
| Subdivision Model Home Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 sign, up to 3 flags | Same lot as the model home | — | 11-23-15.X.2.b |

## Prohibited signs in Lakeville

- Any sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles any official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or emergency vehicle signs, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal.
- All signs over six hundred (600) square feet in area, except within the P-OS district.
- All off premises signs except as allowed by subsection 11-23-15W.
- Balloon signs.
- Changeable copy signs, electronic except as allowed by subsections 11-23-15O1c and 11-23-19H1d.
- Content classified as 'obscene' as defined by Minnesota statutes section 617.241.
- Dynamic display signs, except as may be allowed by this title and this code.
- Electronic graphic display signs except as allowed by subsections 11-23-15T2 and 11-23-19H1d.
- Flashing signs.
- Multivision signs.
- Portable signs.
- Roof signs.
- Rotating signs.
- Shimmering signs.
- Signs painted, attached or in any other manner affixed to trees or similar natural surfaces, or attached to utility poles, utility boxes, bridges, towers, or similar public structures, or public fences.
- Video display signs.
- Only those signs installed at the direction of the Minnesota department of transportation, Dakota County or the city of Lakeville shall be located within public rights of way.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected or maintained that prevents free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign or sign structure shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No signs, guys, stays or attachments shall be erected, placed or maintained on trees nor interfere with any electric light, power, telephone or telegraph wires or the supports thereof.
- No sign shall be attached or allowed to hang from any building until all necessary wall and roof attachments have been approved by the zoning administrator.
- All signs must comply with adopted design and construction standards per the uniform sign code.
- Installation of electrical signs must comply with the State's electrical code and must have underground electrical service.
- Signs whose location, size, type, illumination or other physical characteristics negatively affect the environment and where the communication can be accomplished by means having a lesser impact on the environment and public health, safety and welfare.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lakeville

- The changing of the display surface on a painted or printed sign only. This exemption applies only to poster replacement and/or on site changes involving sign painting elsewhere than directly on a building.
- Within commercial and industrial districts, two (2) signs not to exceed twelve (12) square feet in area, erected up to a height of six feet, and setback a minimum of five feet from property lines are allowed for each access to a lot from a public street.
- One sign per property in residential districts not to exceed nine (9) square feet.
- All noncommercial signs of any size posted in any number from forty six (46) days before the state primary in a state general election year until ten (10) days following the general election, and thirteen (13) weeks prior to any special election until ten (10) days following the special election.
- Official signs.
- One sign per street frontage when a building or parcel not subject to section 11-23-15.X.2. is offered for sale or lease, subject to area and height limits.
- Sandwich board signs are allowed within commercial zoning districts subject to conditions, except in the C-CBD district where a permit and insurance are required for placement on public sidewalks.
- Window signs not exceeding twenty five percent (25%) of the total area of the window in which they are displayed.
- Exemptions do not relieve the owner of responsibility for the erection and maintenance of the sign, or for compliance with the provisions of this chapter or any other law or ordinance.

## Sign permit fees & timelines in Lakeville

| Item | Details | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Review | within sixty (60) days of submission of a complete application (starts when Submission of a complete sign permit application) | — |

_The full published fee and review-timeline schedule for Lakeville is available in PermitPal (free account)._

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

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