# Sign Regulations in Minneapolis, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Minneapolis, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/minneapolis
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Minneapolis/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=MICOOR_TIT20ZOCO_CH560SI)

## At a glance

Minneapolis, Minnesota regulates 28 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Commercial Use ≥ 20,000 sq. ft.)s in the Urban Neighborhood District, RM1 District, PK1 District zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 16 sq. ft., with a 10 ft. from nearest property line abutting urban neighborhood/residential mixed-use setback (Sec. Table 560-1 - note 1). Most commercial signs in Minneapolis require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Urban Neighborhood District, RM1 District, PK1 District | 15 | 20 ft. or top of wall, whichever is less | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| RM2 District, RM3 District, Commercial Mixed-Use District (CM1, CM2, CM3, CM4) | 6 | 20 ft. | 180 sq. ft. (commercial not to exceed 30 sq. ft., see table) | — |
| Downtown District (DT1, DT2, Downtown Entertainment Area) | 4 | 48 ft. (DT1/DT2); No limit Downtown Entertainment Area | 120 sq. ft. (DT1/DT2); 300 sq. ft. (Entertainment Area) | — |
| Production District, Production and Transportation Districts, PR1 Production Mixed-Use District | 4 | 34 ft. | 180 sq. ft. | — |
| General Billboard District | 1 | Top of sign not to exceed 25 ft. above roof; no sign on roof over 2 stories or >28 ft. above grade | 300 sq. ft. per side | — |
| Downtown Opportunity Billboard District | 1 | Top of sign not to exceed 35 ft. above roof; no sign on roof of bldg over 3 stories or >40 ft above grade | 672 sq. ft. per side (plus up to 25% temporary extension) | — |
| Limited Access Roadway Opportunity Billboard District | 1 | 35 ft. from grade, or 35 ft. above roof if on a building not exceeding 3 stories or 40 ft. above grade | 672 sq. ft. per side (plus up to 25% temporary extension) | — |
| Downtown East Entertainment Billboard District, Downtown West Entertainment Billboard District | 1 | Up to 45 ft. above roof; not on buildings over 4 stories or >56 ft above grade; regional sports arenas: up to 20 ft above building wall | Variable; 10x building perimeter as measured at foundation | — |
| SH Shoreland Overlay District, MR Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Overlay Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | Not to exceed zone height for wall signs; Freestanding: 6 ft. | As for permanent signs unless exempted (see exemptions) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Urban Neighborhood District, RM1 District, PK1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Identification Sign (Commercial Use < 20,000 sq. ft.) | 20 ft. or top of wall, whichever is less | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building; 2 on corner lot | Flat against building wall | — | Table 560-1 |
| Wall Identification Sign (Commercial Use ≥ 20,000 sq. ft.) | 20 ft. or top of wall, whichever is less | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building; 2 on corner lot | Flat against building wall | — | Table 560-1 |
| Monument Sign (Commercial Use ≥ 20,000 sq. ft.) | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from nearest property line abutting urban neighborhood/residential mixed-use | 1 per lot | Front or corner side yard, min. 10 ft. from property line abutting urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use | — | Table 560-1 - note 1 |
| Wall Identification Sign (Institutional and Civic Use < 20,000 sq. ft.) | 20 ft. or top of wall, whichever is less | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building; 2 on corner lot | Flat against building wall | — | Table 560-1 |
| Monument Sign (Institutional and Civic Use ≥ 20,000 sq. ft.) | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from nearest property line abutting urban neighborhood/residential mixed-use | 1 per lot | Front or corner side yard, min. 10 ft. from property line abutting urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use | — | Table 560-1 - note 1 |
| Monument Sign (Cemetery) | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from nearest property line abutting urban neighborhood/residential mixed-use | 1 per public driveway entrance | Front or corner side yard, min. 10 ft. from residential/urban neighborhood lot | — | Table 560-1 - note 1 |
| Monument Sign (Child Care Center) | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. | 1 per lot | Front or corner side yard, min. 10 ft. from residential/urban neighborhood lot | — | Table 560-1 - note 1 |
| Monument Sign (Public Park) | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. | 1 per lot | Front/corner side yard, min. 10 ft. from nearest property line abutting urban/residential lot | — | Table 560-1 - note 1 |

### RM2 District, RM3 District, Commercial Mixed-Use District (CM1, CM2, CM3, CM4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Freestanding/Roof Sign Present) | 20 ft. | 180 sq. ft. (commercial not to exceed 30 sq. ft., see table) | — | — | No limit within size allocation | Attached to buildings; not backlit | — | Table 560-2 |
| Wall Sign (No Freestanding/Roof Sign) | 20 ft. | 180 sq. ft. (commercial not to exceed 30 sq. ft., see table) | — | — | No limit within size allocation | Attached to buildings; not backlit | — | Table 560-2 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. (RM2/RM3), 54 sq. ft. (CM1), 80 sq. ft. (CM2/CM3/CM4) | — | minimum 10 ft. from nearest property line abutting urban neighborhood/residential mixed-use | 1 per zoning lot (or per frontage in CM2/CM3 exceeding 200 ft) | In required front/corner yard, not closer than 10 ft to urban neigh./residential mixed-use district boundary | — | Table 560-2 |
| Dynamic Changeable Copy Sign | 14 ft. or top of wall, whichever is less | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | Primary building wall or as part of freestanding sign | — | 560.230(c) |
| Dynamic Sign (conditional use) | 14 ft. or top of wall | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | Primary building wall or as part of freestanding sign (not as projecting sign outside Downtown) | — | 560.230(d) |
| Painted Wall Sign (Non-primary Building Wall) | Matches zone height for wall signs | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per non-primary building wall | Non-primary building walls | — | 560.230(h), Table 560-2 |

### Production District, Production and Transportation Districts, PR1 Production Mixed-Use District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Freestanding/Roof Sign Present) | 34 ft. | 180 sq. ft. | — | — | No limit within overall sign area | Attached to buildings | — | Table 560-4 |
| Wall Sign (No Freestanding/Roof Sign) | 34 ft. | 180 sq. ft. | — | — | No limit within sign area | Attached to buildings | — | Table 560-4 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 8 ft. | 80 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from nearest property line abutting urban neighborhood/residential mixed-use | 1 per 600 ft. primary frontage (max 2); 1 per secondary frontage of 600 ft. or more | Front/corner yard, min. 10 ft. from nearest urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use | — | Table 560-4 |
| Dynamic Changeable Copy Sign | 14 ft. or top of wall, whichever is less | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | Primary building wall or as part of freestanding sign | — | 560.230(c), Table 560-4 |

## Prohibited signs in Minneapolis

- No person shall place, erect or maintain a sign, nor permit property to be used for a sign, which does not conform to the requirements of this chapter, relevant building codes, and all other applicable regulations.
- No sign shall be installed in a way that obstructs clear vision of persons using the streets or may be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- A sign in direct line of vision of any traffic signal shall not have red, green or amber illumination.
- Signs which are deemed unsafe by the zoning administrator shall be either repaired or removed immediately.
- Whenever a sign is removed, all supporting brackets, frames or other structural elements shall be removed completely.
- Any sign not listed as either permitted or conditional, or not determined by the zoning administrator to be substantially similar to a permitted or conditional sign, is prohibited.
- Audible signs are prohibited.
- Backlit awning or canopy signs are prohibited.
- Balloon signs are prohibited.
- Dynamic and dynamic changeable copy roof signs (on-premises) are prohibited.
- Freestanding flag signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises roof signs that project beyond the face of any wall of the building are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs painted on the exterior of a building are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs that do not comply with the regulations of this chapter are prohibited.
- On-premises signs with moving or swinging parts or elements are prohibited, except in the downtown districts and CM4 District or as a window sign.
- Searchlights and strobe lights are prohibited, except as allowed in section 545.720.
- Signs attached to skyway bridges and intended to be read from the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs placed on or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer and parked with the primary purpose of providing signage are prohibited.
- Signs placed or maintained on natural features are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Stringer signs are prohibited.
- Murals are prohibited if they do not have permission of the property owner or are graffiti.
- Signs must not be poorly maintained (e.g., must be kept free from peeling paint, rust, damaged or rotted supports, framework or other material, broken or missing faces or missing letters).
- No painted wall sign with changed advertising copy or graphics painted over an existing nonconforming painted wall sign is allowed.
- No sign shall be illuminated in a manner inconsistent with luminance and lighting restrictions as specified.
- No sign shall be located in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal, or device or obstruct/ interfere with a driver's view.
- No off-premises sign shall be placed on any historic preservation site or within any historic district, except as designated by the heritage preservation commission or as a contributing feature.
- No off-premises sign shall be within three hundred feet of a parkway or public park of three acres or more, except as designated by the heritage preservation commission or as a contributing feature.
- No off-premises sign in the Central riverfront district except as specified.
- No off-premises sign shall be located on a zoning lot with insufficient minimum lot frontage as specified by the table requirements.
- Off-premises signs on bus shelters and benches are regulated by other ordinances or franchises.

## Signs exempt from permit in Minneapolis

- Official public notices or signs required by local, state or federal regulations are exempt.
- Governmental signs (including but not limited to traffic control and other regulatory purpose signs, street signs, informational signs, danger signs and railroad crossing signs) are exempt.
- Official government flags and emblems are exempt, provided such signs are not placed or maintained in the public right-of-way.
- Incidental notification signs are exempt, provided each sign does not exceed three square feet in area, no more than two such signs are on a zoning lot, and such signs are not placed or maintained in the public right-of-way and are not illuminated.
- Historic plaques placed by recognized historical agencies are exempt, provided they are not in the public right-of-way, are not illuminated, and do not exceed four square feet in area.
- Religious symbols attached to institutional and civic buildings are exempt, provided they are not in the public right-of-way and are not illuminated.
- Interior signs are exempt.
- Murals are generally exempt unless they are graffiti or do not have property owner permission.
- Address signs less than one square foot in area are exempt (with a maximum of two per zoning lot).
- Off-premises signs are not exempt from regulation.
- For on-premises sign permits, no permit is required for installation of: signs less than eight square feet in area; portable signs less than twelve square feet in area; temporary signs less than eight square feet in area and six feet in height; signs placed inside any building that are not visible from the exterior; window signs (except dynamic signs); replacement of the changeable copy portion of a sign with a stationary framework or structure; approved signs that are taken down, painted, and replaced without change in size, form, illumination, or ownership; painted wall signs; and on-premises incidental signs guiding traffic safely to parking/loading/stacking areas, entry/exit, that do not exceed four square feet in area and four feet in height and bear no commercial speech.
- For billboards, no sign permit is required for replacement of the changeable copy portion of a billboard with a stationary framework or structure, or for repainting a legal existing billboard when there is no change in copy or size for which previous permits had been issued.
- Decorative banners (subject to limitations) are generally exempt from total allowable sign area calculations.
- Political/non-commercial speech signs may be posted from August 1 in any general election year until ten days following the general election, and thirteen weeks prior to any special election until ten days following, provided they are not posted on the public right-of-way (including boulevard trees and utility poles).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan is required for multiple tenant buildings. Any application for a sign permit for a multiple tenant building shall include a master sign plan for the building. The plan must be drawn to scale, fully dimensioned, and show all signage to be provided in compliance with the code.
- Approval of signs for planned unit developments shall be as specified by the conditional use permit in Chapter 550, Development Standards.
- Sign adjustments (variances or conditional use permits) may be applied for adjustments to number, type, height, area or location of allowed signs for unusual site conditions in RM2, RM3, commercial mixed-use, downtown, production or transportation districts.
- Applicants seeking to establish dynamic signs (except where allowed as of right in the Downtown Entertainment Area) must obtain a conditional use permit, subject to Ch. 525, Administration and Procedures.
- Applicants seeking to exceed certain wall sign limitations (e.g., number or area in excess of tables) may apply for a conditional use permit, subject to Ch. 525.
- In order to construct or structurally alter any off-premises sign within any Opportunity Billboard District, prior to permit issuance, the applicant must provide/establish nonconforming off-premises sign area credits in accordance with section 560.80 and the applicable tables.
- In order to convert an existing nonconforming off-premises sign to a flashing off-premises sign, the applicant must comply with section 560.80(e) and credit requirements.

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

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