# Sign Regulations in Minnetonka, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Minnetonka, Minnesota regulates 39 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Temporary Off-Premise Commercial Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 3 sq. ft., with a At least 5 ft. from public street edge. setback (Sec. Section 325.03(e)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 9 | 8 ft. | 60 sq. ft. | — |
| Office Business District (B-1) | 9 | 36 inches for 1-2 story, 48 inches for 3-4 story, 60 inches for 5+ stories | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Business District (B-2, B-3), Industrial District (I-1) | 22 | 36 in (graphic), 26 in (copy) | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Planned Unit Development Districts (PUD, Planned I-394 District) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Sexually-Oriented Businesses | 2 | — | 1 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Address Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | One per property | On curb, building, mailbox, or device visible from street. | — | Section 325.03(a) |
| Parking Lot Sign | 6 ft. | 7 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per 60° change in drive aisle direction | Within 5 ft. of drive aisles in parking lots; proximity to direction change. | — | Section 325.03(d) & Table 325.1 |
| Temporary Off-Premise Commercial Sign | 6 ft. | 3 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft. from public street edge. | 1 per parcel, per topic | At least 5 ft. from the edge of a public street; not on right-of-way of county, state, or municipal state-aid roads. | — | Section 325.03(e) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Development Properties - Low Density) | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per development | — | — | Table 325.4 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (For Sale or Lease Properties - Low/Medium Density) | 6 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | Table 325.4 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (For Sale or Lease Properties - High Density) | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | Table 325.4 |
| Banner Attached to Wall (For Sale or Lease Properties - High Density) | — | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | Attached to wall. | — | Table 325.4 |
| Banner (Conditionally Permitted Principal Use) | — | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | Property with conditionally permitted use | — | Table 325.4 |

### Office Business District (B-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Monument Sign (Adjacent ROW < 100 ft) | 15 ft. | 72 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per development | — | — | Section 325.2(a)1, Table 325.5 |
| Permanent Monument Sign (Adjacent ROW ≥ 100 ft) | 15 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per development | — | — | Section 325.2(a)1, Table 325.5 |
| Wall Sign | 36 inches for 1-2 story, 48 inches for 3-4 story, 60 inches for 5+ stories | — | — | — | 1 per building wall with street frontage | Each building wall facing public street may have one sign. | — | Section 325.2(a)2, Table 325.5 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Vacant Properties, During Construction) | 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 or 2 based on lot size | — | — | Table 325.6 |
| Temporary Freestanding or Wall Sign (For Sale or Lease) | — | — | — | — | Not specified | — | — | Table 325.6 |
| Banner (General Temporary Signs) | — | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant | — | — | Table 325.6 |
| Sandwich Sign | 4 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant | Directly in front of the tenant space associated. Must not reduce sidewalk area to less than 4 ft. wide. | — | Table 325.6 |
| Non-Commercial Banner or Freestanding Sign | 3 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per sign, 18 sq. ft. per property (aggregate) | — | 5 ft. from edge of public street. | 3 per property | At least five feet from the edge of public street, not in right-of-way. | — | Table 325.6 |

### Commercial Business District (B-2, B-3), Industrial District (I-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign (Greater than 400,000 sq. ft. buildings) | 30 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per development (2 if drive-thru) | — | — | Section 325.3(a)1, Table 325.7 |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign (100,000 - 400,000 sq. ft. buildings) | 24 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per development (2 if drive-thru); possible 2 monuments for multi-access, see addtl. notes | — | — | Section 325.3(a)1, Table 325.7 |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign (20,000 - 100,000 sq. ft. buildings) | 18 ft. | 80 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per development (2 if drive-thru) | — | — | Section 325.3(a)1, Table 325.7 |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign (Second Sign for drive-thru) | 8 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 additional per drive-thru | For properties with a drive-thru window. | — | Section 325.3(a)1, Table 325.7 |
| Monument Sign (Second Sign for drive-thru) | 8 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 additional per drive-thru | For properties with a drive-thru window. | — | Section 325.3(a)1, Table 325.7 |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Tenant Building - Horizontal-Mounted) | 36 in (graphic), 26 in (copy) | — | — | 2 ft from lease line. | 1 per wall face (2 per tenant max) | 1 per tenant exterior wall face (max 2 total per tenant); must be at least 2 ft from lease line. | — | Section 325.3(a)2(b), Table 325.9 |
| Sandwich Sign | 4 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant | Directly in front of tenant space; must not reduce sidewalk to less than 4 ft. | — | Table 325.10 |
| Non-Commercial Banner or Freestanding Sign | 3 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per sign, 18 sq. ft. aggregate per property | — | 5 ft. from public street edge. | 3 per property | At least 5 ft. from edge of public street, not in right-of-way. | — | Table 325.10 |

## Prohibited signs in Minnetonka

- Signs not specifically authorized under section 325.
- Portable signs, except for temporary traffic control devices in temporary traffic control zones as required by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices or portable signs specifically permitted in section 325.06.
- Feather flags and pennants.
- Signs designed to resemble official traffic control devices, except those used to control traffic on private property.
- Abandoned signs.
- Blank signs.
- Merchandise boxes or signs not affixed to a principal structure, excluding signs permitted in subdivision 8(d).
- Permanent off-premises signs.
- Signs may not be painted on the wall of a building.
- Signs that are an imminent danger to life or property or that may not be replaced under the ordinance must be removed immediately at the expense of the owner.
- No sign may be brighter than is necessary for clear and adequate visibility.
- No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance as to impair the vision of a motor vehicle driver or interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
- Illuminated signs must not be directly oriented to any residential district.
- All illuminated signs must be directed so the illumination does not interfere with safe traffic operations.
- Signs on public property or within public right-of-way are prohibited and may be impounded by the city without notice.
- Abandoned signs or signs in disrepair are prohibited and must be removed within 30 days after notification.
- Permanent freestanding signs must have self-supporting structures erected on and permanently attached to concrete foundations.
- All electric signs must be approved and labeled as conforming to relevant standards (Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., United States bureau of standards or similar).
- Any violation of an approved sign plan or sign covenants is a misdemeanor.

## Signs exempt from permit in Minnetonka

- Traffic control devices on private or public property erected and maintained to comply with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Permanent and temporary signs required by law or ordinance for regulatory/notification purposes.
- Address numerals identifying the property for emergency services purposes (provided size and location requirements are met).
- Temporary off-premise commercial signs (if within specific display times, size, and location requirements are met).
- On all signs authorized by the chapter, noncommercial copy is allowed in lieu of any other copy; for new signs with noncommercial messages, sign fee is waived until such time as the sign is converted to commercial.
- Permanent and temporary signs located in planned unit developments that have approved sign plans differing from the general section requirements.
- Certain temporary on-premise signs, such as those specific to vacancy or property sale/lease, banners for grand openings, sandwich signs, search light/inflatable signs, and non-commercial banners/freestanding signs, may not require permits as indicated in tables (with compliance to placement, size, and display duration).
- Regulatory signs that the city requires adjacent to driveways at street/highway intersections.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The city may enforce, in the same manner as the sign ordinance, any terms of an approved sign plan or sign covenants; violations are misdemeanors.
- Permanent and temporary signs in planned unit development and planned I-394 districts are regulated according to the standards for the corresponding land use and zoning category, or by a city-approved sign plan that may differ from general requirements.
- A sign plan in planned unit developments may be considered by the city if the development includes high-rise structures, multiple structures or substantial site area, mixed uses, unique needs for visibility, or if the plan includes permanent sign covenants enforceable by the city.

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

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