# Sign Regulations in Milaca, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Milaca, Minnesota regulates 17 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboards in the B-1, B-2, I-1 zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall and 400 sq ft per face, with a 10 ft from ROW; 1,200 ft from nearest billboard; 750 ft from listed road features; 15 ft from buildings; 700 ft from R zones/property setback (Sec. § 156.135). Most commercial signs in Milaca require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-1, B-2, I-1 | 6 | 30 ft | 400 sq ft per face | — |
| Agricultural District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3), Residential Areas | 3 | — | 6 sq ft (2 ft x 3 ft) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 40 sq ft (aggregate) | — |

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

### B-1, B-2, I-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate or Construction Sign | — | 4 sq ft in B-1; 8 sq ft in B-2/I-1 | 2 ft by 2 ft in B-1 | — | — | On property being sold, leased, or developed | — | § 156.132(A) |
| Temporary Banner (including feather flag banner) | — | 120 sq ft total | — | — | — | — | — | § 156.132(I) |
| Business Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the structure or premise, must be flush to wall, not extend beyond side or roof | — | § 156.133(B) |
| Freestanding Business Sign | 30 ft | 400 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per business premise | On private property; must not project onto/over right of way | — | § 156.133(E) |
| Portable Business Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business premise | On private property | — | § 156.133(F) |
| Billboard | 30 ft | 400 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from ROW; 1,200 ft from nearest billboard; 750 ft from listed road features; 15 ft from buildings; 700 ft from R zones/property | — | Along Hwy 169, Central Ave (County-State Aid Rd 36), Hwy 23 in B-1/B-2 only; not in R districts | — | § 156.135 |

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3), Residential Areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per single lot | On single lot; not on trees, shrubs, city signs/posts | — | § 156.132(D) |
| Identification Sign (One or Two Family Dwelling) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On dwelling | — | § 156.132(E) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 6 sq ft (2 ft x 3 ft) | 2 ft x 3 ft | — | 1 per home occupation | On property with valid CUP for home occupation | — | § 156.134(B)-(E) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate or Construction Sign | — | 8 sq ft (see zone-specific for B-1) | — | — | — | On property being sold, leased, or developed. | — | § 156.132(A) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property | — | § 156.132(B) |
| Special Event Temporary Sign (Non-Profit) | — | 32 sq ft | 4 ft x 8 ft | — | — | — | — | § 156.132(C) |
| Pedestrian/Vehicular Directional or Parking Lot Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | Parking lots | — | § 156.132(F) |
| Traffic-Control, Government, Railroad, Safety/Emergency Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 156.132(G) |
| Temporary Sign (not on principal business building) | — | 40 sq ft (aggregate) | — | — | — | — | — | § 156.132(H) |
| Bulletin Board (church, school, public building) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On property used as church, school, or similar | — | § 156.133(A) |
| Temporary Off-Premise Special Event Sign | — | 16 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 2 per permit | Any zoning district; off-premise display allowed | — | § 156.141 |

## Prohibited signs in Milaca

- It is unlawful to erect, alter, repair, move, equip, or maintain any sign or sign structure, or cause or permit the same to be done, in violation of any provision of this subchapter.
- No sign permit will be issued if the sign does not comply with the requirements of this subchapter.
- No sign or billboard involving flashing lights or lighting which constitutes a traffic hazard may be erected.
- No sign shall block safe driving vision, official signs, or safety signals.
- No sign with flashing lights or moving parts which may cause highway traffic hazards is allowed.
- No sign shall be erected within the public right-of-way unless authorized by the state, county, or city and used for official service.
- Existing nonconforming signs may not be improved, upgraded, changed to another nonconforming sign, enlarged or expanded, relocated (unless it will conform), repaired after major damage (>50% fair market value), re-established after abandonment for one year, or continued for more than one year after a change in effective control of the land or business, except as specified.
- Garage sale signs may not be affixed or attached to a tree, shrub, or any city street/avenue sign or post.
- All signs must comply with building and electrical codes at the time of installation, repair, or replacement.

## Signs exempt from permit in Milaca

- Temporary real estate or construction signs not exceeding eight square feet (with additional B-1 zone size restriction) on property being sold, leased, or developed; must be removed after sale, lease, or development.
- Non-commercial signs of any size posted from August 1 in a general election year until 10 days following the election, or from 30 days before to 10 days after a special election.
- Special event temporary signs for non-profit organizations, subject to size (maximum four feet by eight feet) and time restrictions (not more than 90 days before the event, removal within ten days after the event, extension only by variance).
- Public portable signs by the city or non-profit for community-interest events, placed on public property, displayed no more than 7 days before the event, promptly removed after.
- One garage sale sign per single lot in residential areas if the sale is not commercial, sign is no larger than four square feet, removed within 72 hours, and not displayed more than one consecutive 72-hour period per four months; may not be attached to trees, shrubs, or city signs/posts.
- Identification signs for one or two family dwellings, less than two square feet in area.
- Pedestrian, vehicular traffic, and parking directional signs in parking lots, less than nine square feet in area.
- Traffic-control signs, non-commercial governmental signs, railroad crossing signs, and temporary non-advertising safety or emergency signs.
- Temporary signs (other than those specifically exempted elsewhere) not exceeding 40 feet total square footage, not placed on the principal building, and not displayed more than 90 days per 12-month period.
- In B-1, B-2, or I-1, temporary banners including up to three feather flag banners not exceeding 120 total square feet, secured to not flap/emit noise, displayed no more than 90 days per 12-month period.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required prior to the installation or remodeling of any sign, except those signs specifically exempted in § 156.132.
- Permit applications must be submitted on a form provided by the City Building Inspector and accompanied by a sign permit fee.
- A variance from the application of any section of the sign ordinance requires a public hearing by the Board of Adjustments and Appeals and approval by the City Council.
- For certain sign types (e.g. billboards), the permit is issued at the City Council's discretion and may include restrictions on size, lighting, location, or construction.
- No mention of a master sign plan or coordinated sign plan requirement appears in the text.

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

---

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