# Sign Regulations in Medina, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Medina, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/medina
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-11
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.medinamn.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/admin/documents/city-code-book/may-2025-changes/815.pdf)

## At a glance

Medina, Minnesota regulates 16 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Highway (CH), Commercial Highway-Railroad (CH-RR), Business (B) Districts zoning district are capped at 20 feet (25 feet if adjacent to railroad right-of-way abutting principal arterial) tall and 80 square feet, with a 10 feet from all property lines, not in Clear Vision Triangle setback (Sec. 815.11 Subd. 1(a)). Most commercial signs in Medina require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 3 feet | 32 square feet per surface | — |
| Residential Districts | 4 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Commercial Highway (CH), Commercial Highway-Railroad (CH-RR), Business (B) Districts | 4 | 20 feet (25 feet if adjacent to railroad right-of-way abutting principal arterial) | 200 square feet per individual sign | — |
| Commercial General (CG), Business Park, Industrial Park Districts | 4 | 10 feet (20 feet along principal arterial; 25 feet adjacent to railroad abutting principal arterial) | 200 square feet per individual | — |
| Commercial Neighborhood (CN) District | 4 | 10 feet | 64 square feet per individual | — |
| Mixed Use District | 2 | — | — | — |
| Uptown Hamel District (UH-1, UH-2) | 6 | 10 feet | 64 square feet per individual | — |
| Public/Semi-Public, Rural Public/Semi-Public Districts | 3 | 10 feet | 64 square feet per individual | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Site Sign | — | 32 square feet per surface | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | Two per construction site | Upon the subject construction site | — | 815.07 Subd. 1 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | One per property at a time | On property, set back 10 feet from property lines | — | 815.07 Subd. 2 |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | One per property at a time | On property, set back 10 feet from property lines | — | 815.07 Subd. 2 |
| Attached Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Attached to building or within dimensional extent of existing freestanding sign | — | 815.07 Subd. 3 |
| Event Sign | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | One per intersection per event | Within right-of-way, not interfering with traffic or pedestrian circulation | — | 815.07 Subd. 4 |

### Commercial Highway (CH), Commercial Highway-Railroad (CH-RR), Business (B) Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet (25 feet if adjacent to railroad right-of-way abutting principal arterial) | 80 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines, not in Clear Vision Triangle | One per lot, second if frontage on >1 street (not same street) | On lot | — | 815.11 Subd. 1(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet per individual sign | — | — | — | Affixed to exterior wall | — | 815.11 Subd. 1(b) |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window | — | — | One per structure (or per tenant in multi-tenant) | On window or glass door, visible from right-of-way | — | 815.11 Subd. 1(c) |
| Directional Sign | — | <4 square feet, two surfaces | — | 5 feet from curb or right-of-way | Two per property | For drive-thru, loading/staging areas | — | 815.11 Subd. 1(d) |

### Uptown Hamel District (UH-1, UH-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 10 feet | 40 square feet | — | 10 feet from property lines, not in Clear Vision Triangle | One per lot | On lot | — | 815.17 Subd. 1(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | 64 square feet per individual | — | — | — | On wall | — | 815.17 Subd. 1(b) |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window | — | — | One per frontage (per tenant) | On window | — | 815.17 Subd. 1(c) |
| Directional Sign | — | <4 square feet | — | 5 feet from curb | Two | Drive-thru/loading | — | 815.17 Subd. 1(d) |
| Historic Sign | — | <5 square feet | — | — | — | On property | — | 815.17 Subd. 1(e) |
| Porch Sign | — | — | — | — | One per property | On porch, overhang, canopy, arcade | — | 815.17 Subd. 1(f) |

## Prohibited signs in Medina

- Abandoned Signs
- Billboards
- Roof Signs
- Mylar or metallic balloons displayed or flown outside
- Vehicle Signs
- Signs posted within the public right-of-ways and public property, excluding Directional Signs and Signs expressly allowed herein and by other governmental agencies
- Signs located within a Clear Vision Triangle at intersections

## Signs exempt from permit in Medina

- One Sign smaller than five square feet in area (excluding temporary signs) may be posted on any parcel of land, except that such Sign may not be an Off-Premise Sign
- Signs posted by authorized government officials on public land or right-of-way
- Signs within a business, office, mall or other enclosed area that cannot be seen from the outside
- Up to two Address Signs per property
- Incidental Signs
- Flags (no flag on a flagpole shall exceed 40 square feet in area; no single property shall fly more than three flags at one time; flagpoles shall not extend more than 40 feet above grade, except if attached to a structure; if total area exceeds 72 square feet, excess included in Sign Area calculations; wall-mounted flags limited to one per property and not exceeding 20 square feet)
- Internal Site Signs
- Window Signs
- Attached Temporary Signs posted consistent with Section 815.07 Subd. 3
- Event Signs posted consistent with Section 815.07 Subd. 4
- Noncommercial speech signs exempted by Minnesota Statute 211B.045
- Signs located within city-owned parks and other city-owned recreational areas which are internal to the site and intended for the benefit of those within such property are exempt from the requirements of this ordinance

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan shall be included for any Sign permit applications that involve any residential, mixed-use, commercial, business park and industrial planned unit developments that include multiple structures and/or substantial site area and/or mixed uses. The master signage plan must address the visibility needs of the entire development area, while remaining consistent with the intent of this ordinance to require high quality signage. The master signage plan shall also include permanent Sign covenants which can be enforced by the city.
- Variances from the provisions of this ordinance shall be reviewed by the provisions of the City Code related to zoning variances.

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

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