# Sign Regulations in Marshall, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Marshall, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/marshall
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-10
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://marshall-mn.municipalcodeonline.com/book/print?type=ordinances&name=DIVISION_86-VI-2_SIGN_REGULATIONS)

## At a glance

Marshall, Minnesota regulates 55 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Permanent Freestanding Sign (Residential Single Family Use)s in the R-3 and R-4 zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall and 1 sq ft, with a 5 ft setback (Sec. Table 86-185). Most commercial signs in Marshall require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 40 feet unless limited otherwise | — | — |
| Agricultural District (A) | 6 | 20 ft for main, 6 ft for additional | 32 sq ft for main, 2 sq ft each for additional | — |
| R-1 and R-2 | 10 | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-3 and R-4 | 15 | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-M | 14 | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| B-1, B-3, I-1, and I-2 | 14 | 30 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| B-2 | 12 | 16 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Downtown | 14 | 30 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Heritage District | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### R-3 and R-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Residential Single Family Use) | 3 ft | 1 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Residential Other Use) | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Portable) | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Directional Sign (Residential Other Use) | 6 ft | 5 sq ft each | — | 5 ft | 2, plus per acreage | On property for directing traffic | — | Table 86-185 |
| Flag Ground Sign (Residential Single Family Use) | 10 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Ground | — | Table 86-185 |
| Flag Ground Sign (Residential Other Use) | 20 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 2 | Ground | — | Table 86-185 |
| Flag Ground Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 20 ft | 24 sq ft each | — | 5 ft | 2 | Ground | — | Table 86-185 |

### R-M

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Residential Single Family Use) | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per entrance + per lot | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Residential Other Use) | 3 ft | 1 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Portable) (Residential Single Family Use) | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per lot | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Portable) (Residential Other Use) | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Portable) (Non-Residential Use) | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Flag Ground Sign (Residential Single Family Use) | 15 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Ground | — | Table 86-185 |
| Flag Ground Sign (Residential Other Use) | 20 ft | 24 sq ft each | — | 5 ft | 2 | Ground | — | Table 86-185 |

### B-1, B-3, I-1, and I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Residential Single Family Use) | 3 ft | 1 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Residential Other Use) | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Non-Residential Use ex. Downtown) | 30 ft | 120 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1, up to 2 per options | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Portable) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 86-185 |
| Directional Sign (Non-Residential Use ex. Downtown) | 6 ft | 5 sq ft each | — | 5 ft | 2, plus per acreage | For directing traffic | — | Table 86-185 |
| Feather Sign (Non-Residential Use ex. Downtown) | 15 ft | 24 sq ft each | — | 5 ft | 2 | Ground | — | Table 86-185 |
| Flag Ground Sign (Residential Single Family Use) | 20 ft | 24 sq ft each | — | 5 ft | 2 | Ground | — | Table 86-185 |
| Flag Ground Sign (Residential Other Use) | 20 ft | 24 sq ft each | — | 5 ft | 2 | Ground | — | Table 86-185 |

## Prohibited signs in Marshall

- Signs that purport to be or resemble official traffic control devices, signals, or interfere with them, including signs higher than 3 feet in visibility triangles.
- Signs prominently displaying 'stop' or 'danger' unless necessary for warning or traffic control.
- Signs containing obscene statements, words, or pictures.
- Signs placed on public right-of-way or recorded easements, except as provided by code or state law.
- Signs placed on private land without owner consent.
- Signs attached to trees, shrubs, rocks, natural features, utility poles, flagpoles, or pylons supporting another sign, except government signs.
- Signs giving off intermittent or rotating light beams, flashing, pulsating, or moving lights or images.
- Structurally unsafe, in disrepair, or abandoned signs.
- Signs with dynamic displays unless otherwise allowed, with illumination shielded to avoid impairing driver vision or interfering with traffic signs; no direct shine on residences.
- Signs protruding over roadways, alleys, access easements, driveways, parking, or vehicular traffic areas.
- Roof signs.
- Freestanding banners except those for city-wide special events.
- Multi-faced signs, rotating and moving signs, and use of real objects on signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Marshall

- Traffic control devices complying with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Signs required by law or ordinance for regulatory, notification, or safety purposes.
- Signs with surface area not exceeding 2 square feet.
- Directional signs.
- Signs located on gas pumps.
- Utility box signs.
- Flags mounted on a roof or wall.
- Government signs.
- Integral signs.
- All temporary signs.
- Awning or canopy mounted signs on vertical edges consisting of separate letters.
- Window signs.
- Signs allowed pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 211B.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Off-premises signs (advertising signs or billboards) are regulated as a 'use' and require a conditional use permit.
- Installation of full-size objects as elements mounted on a sign may be allowed by a conditional use permit in commercial, mixed, and industrial districts.
- Sign permit applications require a site plan showing location, specifications, scale drawings, and details of existing signs on request; appeals of denials go to the planning commission and then city council.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/marshall