# Sign Regulations in Maple Plain, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Maple Plain, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/maple-plain
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Maple_Plain/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH3BUBURE_ART3SI)

## At a glance

Maple Plain, Minnesota regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Name Plate (Single-Family Dwelling)s in the Residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 2 sq ft per surface; max 2 surfaces, with a Not within public right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 3-53(1)b.). Most commercial signs in Maple Plain require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 6 | 6 feet (all signs in R districts) | 20 sq ft per surface; max combined 20 sq ft; 2 surfaces allowed | — |
| Mixed-use and office districts | 5 | 36 feet | 100 sq ft per surface; max 2 surfaces | — |
| Industrial districts | 1 | As per mixed-use/office | Wall sign area: 10% of wall area per business space | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 64 sq ft per surface, single surface | — |

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

### Residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | 6 feet (all signs in R districts) | — | — | Not within public right-of-way | — | On residence | — | Sec. 3-53(1)a. |
| Name Plate (Single-Family Dwelling) | 6 feet | 2 sq ft per surface; max 2 surfaces | — | Not within public right-of-way | 1 per single-family dwelling | On single-family dwelling | — | Sec. 3-53(1)b. |
| Name Plate (Multiple Dwelling < 8 units) | 6 feet | 4 sq ft per surface; max 2 surfaces | — | Not within public right-of-way | 1 per multiple dwelling | On multiple dwelling (<8 units) | — | Sec. 3-53(1)c. |
| Name Plate (Multiple Dwelling 8+ units) | 6 feet | 10 sq ft per surface; max 2 surfaces | — | Not within public right-of-way | 1 per multiple dwelling | On multiple dwelling (8 or more units) | — | Sec. 3-53(1)d. |
| Name Plate (Development Area, 10+ lots) | 6 feet | 10 sq ft per surface; max 2 surfaces | — | Not within public right-of-way | 1 per development area | At development area (10 or more lots) | — | Sec. 3-53(1)e. |
| Name Plate / Institutional Sign / Bulletin Board | 6 feet | 20 sq ft per surface; max combined 20 sq ft; 2 surfaces allowed | — | Not within public right-of-way | 1 or 2 on corner lot (see additional requirements) | On institutional building single lot | — | Sec. 3-53(1)f. |

### Mixed-use and office districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Residential Sign Types | Varies (see Residential districts) | Varies (see Residential districts) | — | As per residential | — | As per residential | — | Sec. 3-53(2)a. |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of wall area per business space | — | — | Per business space in multi-tenant | Affixed to building wall | — | Sec. 3-53(2)c.1. |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | Max 80 sq ft per surface; max 2 surfaces | — | ≥10 ft from public right-of-way | 1 per business lot | On business lot, min 10 ft setback from right-of-way | — | Sec. 3-53(2)c.2. |
| Projecting Sign | — | 10 sq ft per surface | — | — | — | Projects 12 inches or more from building | — | Sec. 3-53(2)c.3. |
| Pylon Sign (Shopping Centers/Major Commercial/Industrial Areas) | 36 feet | 100 sq ft per surface; max 2 surfaces | — | — | 1 per major thoroughfare | At shopping center, commercial, or industrial area—per major thoroughfare | — | Sec. 3-53(2)c.4.(i) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | Min 10 ft from property line for freestanding | — | Mounted to building wall or freestanding (not on public property/easement/right-of-way); freestanding must be at least 10 ft from property line | — | Sec. 3-55(c), (e), (f) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Temporary; Exempt) | — | — | — | Not on public right-of-way | 1 per business per street frontage | Directly in front of or adjacent to the business; off-site with written property owner authorization (not in right-of-way) | — | Sec. 3-55(c)(8)c. |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary; Individual Parcels, Exempt) | — | 4 sq ft per surface (single parcel sale/lease) | — | — | — | On property offered for sale/lease | — | Sec. 3-55(c)(8)e. |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary; Acreage/Multiple Dwellings/Nonresidential, Exempt) | — | 32 sq ft, single surface | — | ≥ 100 ft from preexisting residence | 1 per street frontage | On property; minimum 100 ft from any preexisting residence | — | Sec. 3-55(c)(8)f. |
| Construction Sign (Temporary; Exempt) | — | 64 sq ft per surface, single surface | — | — | 1 per construction site | On construction site | — | Sec. 3-55(c)(8)g. |
| Campaign Sign (Temporary; Exempt) | — | — | — | — | — | Any lot (compliant with Minn. Stats. § 211B.045) | — | Sec. 3-55(c)(8)h. |
| Window Sign (Permanent or Temporary; Exempt) | — | If less than 6 sq ft and <30% window area | — | — | — | On/in window | — | Sec. 3-55 (c)(8)d.; 3-54(e)(4); 3-52(e) |
| Name Plate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 3-54(e)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Maple Plain

- Flashing signs and motion signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Billboards are prohibited in all districts.
- Signs painted directly on walls or roofs of buildings are prohibited in all districts. (Exception: public art on public buildings.)
- Signs placed on the roof or in the air space over the roof of any structure are prohibited in all districts.
- Window signs, neon, or other illuminated signs in excess of six square feet and/or occupying more than 30 percent of the window area are not permitted.
- It is unlawful to attach any sign, advertisement, political endorsement, or notice on any public tree.

## Signs exempt from permit in Maple Plain

- No permit is required for signs having an area of four square feet or less.
- No permit is required for name plate signs.
- No permit is required for signs erected by a governmental unit.
- No permit is required for window signs, neon, or other illuminated signs less than six square feet and/or occupying less than 30 percent of the window area (electrical permits may apply).
- No permit is required for memorial signs or tablets containing the name of the building, its use, and date of erection when cut or built into the walls of the building and constructed of bronze, brass, stone, marble, or similar material.
- Temporary sign permit and fee requirements are exempt for: garage and yard sale signs; signs by government units, schools, and churches; one sandwich board sign per business per street frontage (subject to restrictions); window signs, neon, or other illuminated signs less than six square feet and/or occupying less than 30 percent of the window area (electrical permits may apply); real estate signs for sale of individual parcels (not exceeding four square feet per surface and removed within seven days after sale/lease); certain real estate signs for acreage/tract sale (one per abutting street, not exceeding 32 square feet, with other specific requirements); construction signs (one per project, not exceeding 64 square feet, to be removed upon completion); campaign signs compliant with Minn. Stats. § 211B.045.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All development projects requiring approval by the City Council shall be accompanied by a sign plan showing the size, type, and location of proposed signs. Approval includes general location, size, and type; major changes require City Council approval.
- A sign package (i.e., master sign plan) can be requested by the applicant or required by the City for developments within mixed-use zoning districts for projects such as office complexes, multi-tenant structures, shopping centers, planned unit developments, churches/institutions/schools, and mixed-use developments.
- The sign package application must include a site plan showing all freestanding signs and building signage, elevations, dimensions, area totals, and color renderings. The Planning Commission reviews and makes recommendations to City Council.
- Sign package modifications require approval of a new sign package application.
- Electronic message signs may be approved as part of a sign package and calculated within sign allotment unless otherwise approved within the package.

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

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