# Sign Regulations in Mendota Heights, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Mendota Heights, Minnesota regulates 19 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Pylon or Monument Signs in the B-2, B-3, B-4, I Districts zoning district are capped at 25 ft from avg grade tall and 100 sq ft per surface, with a ≥10 ft from lot lines, ≥5 ft from drive/parking setback (Sec. 12-1D-15: I.2.a, b, c). Most commercial signs in Mendota Heights require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 100 sq ft of advertising surface | — |
| R Districts | 7 | 10 ft above average grade | 100 sq ft per surface | — |
| R-1, R-1A | 2 | 9 ft from average grade | 100 sq ft per surface | — |
| B-1, B-1A | 2 | 20 ft from avg. grade | 80 sq ft per surface | — |
| B-2, B-3, B-4, I Districts | 5 | 25 ft from avg grade | Total for theater: 200 sq ft (aggregate, incl. pylon, marquee, etc.) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Maintenance Requirement | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12-8-6: A and B; 12-1D-15: B |
| Temporary Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On any lot | — | 12-1D-15: D |
| Real Estate Sign (Standard) | — | 15 sq ft per surface | — | — | — | Front yard of property to be sold/leased | — | 12-1D-15: C.1 |
| Real Estate Sign (Development/Project) | — | 100 sq ft of advertising surface | — | — | 1 | Upon project site (res. ≥6 units, commercial ≥3 ac., industrial ≥10 ac.) | — | 12-1D-15: C.2 |
| Election Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property; not within 100 ft of polling place on election day | — | 12-1D-15: G |

### R Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign (Dwelling) | — | 2 sq ft per surface | — | — | 1 per dwelling | — | — | 12-1D-15: H.1 |
| Nameplate Sign (Dwelling Group ≥6 units) | — | 6 sq ft per surface | — | — | 1 per group | — | — | 12-1D-15: H.2 |
| Nameplate Sign (Non-Residential Use/Use by CUP) | — | 12 sq ft per surface | — | — | 1 | — | — | 12-1D-15: H.3 |
| Nameplate Sign (Non-Residential Use CUP - Option 2nd sign) | 9 ft from avg. natural grade | 100 sq ft per surface | — | — | 1 per roadway frontage, max 2 | Parcel ≥40 acres, frontage on ≥2 public roadways, max 1 oriented per roadway | — | 12-1D-15: H.3.a |
| Wall Sign (Non-Residential Use CUP) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Parcel ≥5 acres | — | 12-1D-15: H.4 |
| Floodlit Architectural Element (Statue/Sculpture/Symbol) | — | — | — | — | — | Nonresidential buildings | — | 12-1D-15: H.5 |
| General Sign Over 1 sq ft | 10 ft above average grade | — | — | ≥10 ft from any property line | — | — | — | 12-1D-15: H.6 |

### B-2, B-3, B-4, I Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate or Business Sign | — | Aggregate per lot as per formula. Max individual sign surface: 100 sq ft. 2+ signs cannot exceed 100 sq ft if combined. | — | — | — | On premises, fronting ROW at least 50' wide | — | 12-1D-15: I.1.b |
| Pylon or Monument Sign | 25 ft from avg grade | 100 sq ft per surface | — | ≥10 ft from lot lines, ≥5 ft from drive/parking | 1 per lot | On any single lot | — | 12-1D-15: I.2.a, b, c |
| Theater Sign (B-4 only) | — | Total for theater: 200 sq ft (aggregate, incl. pylon, marquee, etc.) | — | — | — | B-4 District (theater use) | — | 12-1D-15: I.1.b(2) |
| Electronic Display Sign (Motor Fuel Station) | — | 6 sq ft in area (electronic display portion) | — | — | — | Motor fuel station only | — | 12-1D-15: I.3 |
| Comprehensive Sign Plan (Industrial Development) | — | — | — | — | — | Industrial developments (site-wide) | — | 12-1D-15: I.4 |

## Prohibited signs in Mendota Heights

- Unless a sign is specifically permitted under this chapter, the sign is prohibited.
- Signs within the public right of way or easement; except by city council conditional use permit for a specified time not to exceed 60 days.
- Illuminated flashing signs within the R, B-1 or B-2 district.
- In all districts, illuminated signs or devices giving off an intermittent, steady or rotating beam consisting of a collection or concentration of rays or lights greater than two (2) square feet in area.
- Any sign that, by reason of position, shape or color would interfere in any way with the proper functioning or purpose of a traffic sign or signal.
- Signs painted directly on the outside wall of buildings.
- Signs painted on fences, rocks, or similar structures or features in any district.
- Paper and similar signs attached directly to a building wall by an adhesive or similar means.
- Feather flag signs.
- Animated signs, lighter than air inflatable devices, string lights, striplighting outlining structures, and signs attached or mounted on a vehicle parked primarily for use as a sign.
- Roof signs.
- All signs shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural condition at all times; dangerous or defective signs must be removed or repaired.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mendota Heights

- No permit required for signs erected by a governmental unit.
- No permit required for signs which are entirely within a building and not visible from outside such building.
- No permit required for address, nameplate and/or identification signs having an area of two (2) square feet or less.
- No permit required for garage sale, rummage sale and other similar signs in conjunction with the sale of household goods and materials from private residences.
- No permit required for real estate signs as regulated.
- No permit required for election signs as regulated.
- Holiday displays are not considered signs for the purposes of this section.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan is required for industrial developments, detailing the location, size, height, lighting and orientation of all signs, and must be submitted to the Planning Commission for preliminary plan approval. Exceptions to sign performance standards may be permitted if the plan as a whole conforms to chapter intent and results in an improved relationship between signs.

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

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