# Sign Regulations in Lonsdale, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Lonsdale, Minnesota regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Central and Limited Business Zoning District, Central and Limited Business Districts zoning district are capped at 15 ft from average grade tall and 50 sq ft per surface, with a 2 ft from property line setback (Sec. § 153.079(N)(1)(b-d), (K)(2), (K)(3), (L)(5), (L)(7)). Most commercial signs in Lonsdale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Central and Limited Business Zoning District, Central and Limited Business Districts | 9 | 15 ft from average grade | Coverage not to exceed 75% of window area (between ground level and 8 ft height) | — |
| Residential District | 8 | 10 ft above average grade | 75 sq ft | — |
| Commercial/Business Districts, Industrial Districts, Business Districts | 10 | 30 ft from average grade | 150 sq ft per surface | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 100 sq ft per surface (2 sides allowed) | — |

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

### Central and Limited Business Zoning District, Central and Limited Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft from average grade | 50 sq ft per surface | — | 2 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage per lot or multi-tenant site | Per street frontage per lot or multi-tenant site. Minimum 2 ft setback from property line. May be located within sight triangle if sign does not obstruct driver or pedestrian visibility. | — | § 153.079(N)(1)(b-d), (K)(2), (K)(3), (L)(5), (L)(7) |
| Wall Sign | Cannot extend more than 2 ft above highest outside wall or parapet | — | — | — | 1 per wall per street frontage | Per wall per street frontage | — | § 153.079(N)(2)(a-d), (L)(5), (L)(8) |
| Window Sign | — | Coverage not to exceed 75% of window area (between ground level and 8 ft height) | — | — | — | On window, visible from exterior | — | § 153.079(N)(2)(a), (L)(10), (E)(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per wall per street frontage | Per wall per street frontage | — | § 153.079(N)(2)(a), (L)(9) |
| Canopy, Awning, or Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per wall per street frontage | On canopy, awning, or marquee integral to building | — | § 153.079(N)(2)(a), (L)(9) |
| Electronic Variable Message/Dynamic Sign | Per location (integrated into freestanding sign or building) | 32 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage, integrated into design of freestanding sign or building | — | § 153.079(N)(3), (L)(5) |
| Permanent Reader Board/Changeable Copy Sign | — | 32 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage, integrated into freestanding sign or building | — | § 153.079(N)(4) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft from grade | 8 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per entity | May be placed on public sidewalk/right-of-way directly next to business property. Not in middle of sidewalk or in roadway. | — | § 153.079(O)(5), (K)(3), (K)(4) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Individual Dwelling Unit) | 4 ft above average grade | 2.5 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per dwelling | — | — | § 153.079(M)(1), (L)(5) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Dwelling Group of 6+ Units) | 6 ft above average grade | 12 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per dwelling group | — | — | § 153.079(M)(2), (L)(5) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Non-residential or CUP use) | 10 ft above average grade | 32 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per non-residential use | — | — | § 153.079(M)(3), (L)(5) |
| Freestanding Residential Development/Neighborhood Identification Sign | — | 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | 1 per entrance | — | § 153.079(M)(4) |
| Building or Freestanding Sign (School/Church) | — | 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | Per entrance | — | § 153.079(M)(5) |
| Temporary and Portable Signs | — | 32 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | See general temp/portable sign rules | — | — | § 153.079(M)(6), (O) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Non-residential uses or CUP only) | 4 ft from grade | 8 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per entity | May be placed on public sidewalk/right-of-way next to property. Not in roadway or impeding traffic. | — | § 153.079(O)(5)(a) |
| Park and Playground Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.079(M)(7) |

### Commercial/Business Districts, Industrial Districts, Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft from average grade | 150 sq ft per surface | — | 10 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage per lot or multi-tenant site | Per street frontage per lot or multi-tenant site; 10 ft setback from property line | — | § 153.079(N)(1)(a-d), (L)(5), (L)(7) |
| Wall Sign | Not more than 2 ft above highest outside wall or parapet | — | — | — | 1 per wall per street frontage | Per wall per street frontage | — | § 153.079(N)(2), (L)(5), (L)(8) |
| Window Sign | — | Coverage may not exceed 75% of window area (between ground and 8 ft height) | — | — | — | On window, visible from exterior | — | § 153.079(N)(2), (L)(10), (E)(4) |
| Canopy, Awning, or Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per wall per street frontage | On canopy/awning/marquee | — | § 153.079(N)(2), (L)(9) |
| Electronic Variable Message/Dynamic Sign | — | 32 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage, integrated in building or freestanding sign | — | § 153.079(N)(3), (L)(5) |
| Permanent Reader Board/Changeable Copy Sign | — | 32 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage, integrated in building or freestanding sign | — | § 153.079(N)(4) |
| Fuel Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per canopy side | 1 per canopy side | — | § 153.079(N)(5) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft from grade | 8 sq ft per surface (max 2 surfaces) | — | — | 1 per entity | On sidewalk/right-of-way next to business. Not in roadway. | — | § 153.079(O)(5), (K)(3), (K)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Lonsdale

- No sign shall be erected, altered, reconstructed, maintained or moved in the city without first securing a permit from the city, unless exempted.
- Signs exceeding 250 square feet in area are prohibited.
- Signs within a corner lot sight triangle that obstruct clear visibility of approaching vehicular or pedestrian traffic are prohibited.
- Signs within the city right-of-way, easements or publicly owned land are prohibited unless specifically allowed.
- Off-premise signs are prohibited unless specifically allowed.
- Billboard and dynamic billboard signs are prohibited.
- Signs interfering, by reason of position, shape or color, with the proper functioning or purpose of a traffic sign or signal are prohibited.
- Signs that are painted, attached, or affixed to trees, utility posts, or other similar supports are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or placed upon a building in such a manner that obstructs any window or door for fire escape are prohibited.
- Failure to maintain signs, including keeping them in a state of good repair and free from obnoxious substances, rubbish, and weeds, is prohibited.
- Use of temporary and portable signs in place of permanent signage is prohibited.
- All signs must conform to maintenance, safety, and construction requirements regardless of permit status.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lonsdale

- Signs erected by authorized governmental agencies are exempt from permit requirements.
- The changing of the display surface on painted, printed, or changeable copy sign/reader board signs only is exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs six square feet or less in size per surface, as permitted in this section, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Window signage as permitted in the general standards is exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary and portable signage as permitted in this section is exempt from permit requirements.
- Permit exemptions do not relieve owners from compliance with all other provisions of the section or other applicable laws or ordinances.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A complete set of colored plans showing the necessary elevations, distances, size and details to fully and clearly represent the construction and place of the signs is required with each sign permit application.
- Any additional, unique or other signage not stated in this section shall require City Council approval.
- Drive-through restaurant menu signage shall be approved by the City Administrator (and may implicitly require plan submittal/approval).
- Upon written request to the City Administrator, additional temporary or portable signs may be allowed in appropriate circumstances subject to approval and potential restrictions.

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

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