# Sign Regulations in Montevideo, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Montevideo, Minnesota regulates 34 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Pedestal Signs in the Business districts, Business Districts (B-1, B-2) zoning district are capped at 35 feet tall and 225 square feet, with a Base may be placed within 10 feet of front lot line, sign face may be within 5 feet of front lot line. setback (Sec. 11-14-8 B.1.b(3)(A)). Most commercial signs in Montevideo require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 6 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Business districts, Business Districts (B-1, B-2) | 14 | 35 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| Industrial districts | 2 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | — | 216 square inches | — |

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

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Owner-Occupant) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Affixed to building | — | 11-14-8 A.1.a |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Affixed to building, used by permitted home occupation | — | 11-14-8 A.1.b |
| Apartment Development Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per building | One per building | — | 11-14-8 A.1.c |
| Institutional Sign (Permitted Use) | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per site | One per site | — | 11-14-8 A.1.d |
| Temporary or Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | Up to 3 permits per year | — | — | 11-14-8 A.1.e |
| Institutional Sign (Conditional Use) | More than 8 feet | More than 32 square feet | — | — | More than 1 (requires CUP) | Per site | — | 11-14-8 A.2.a |

### Business districts, Business Districts (B-1, B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pedestal Sign | 35 feet | 225 square feet | — | Base may be placed within 10 feet of front lot line, sign face may be within 5 feet of front lot line. | 1 | — | — | 11-14-8 B.1.b(3)(A) |
| Ground Sign | — | 100 square feet for each 100 feet of front footage | — | Base may be placed within 10 feet of front lot line, sign face may be within 5 feet of front lot line. | 1/100 feet frontage | — | — | 11-14-8 B.1.b(3)(B) |
| Event or Festival Sign | — | 80 square feet | — | — | Up to 6 per event | Not on city property or rights of way without approval | — | 11-14-8 B.1.b(5) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 feet | — | 2 feet | — | — | Sidewalk frontage, furthest from street and closest to business, not adjacent to street, not on vehicles, must be removed at end of business day; placement must not reduce sidewalk clearance below 36 inches or impede line of sight at intersections or interfere with persons entering/exiting parked cars. Sidewalk must be cleared of snow first. | — | 11-14-8 B.1.b(6) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Tenant Building) | — | — | — | — | 1 per tenant | Per tenant in multi-tenant building | — | 11-14-8 B.1.b(7) |
| Feather Sign | 8 feet | — | — | — | 2 per property | — | — | 11-14-8 B.1.b(8) |
| Billboard Sign (Conditional Use, B-2 District) | 35 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | 1 in lieu of pedestal/ground sign | — | — | 11-14-8 B.2.a |
| Pedestal or Ground Sign (Conditional Use, Shopping Center or Multi-Occupant) | — | Greater than area allowed under permitted use | — | — | — | Shopping centers or multi-occupant buildings | — | 11-14-8 B.2.c |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | — | — | — | — | At construction site | — | 11-14-7 A |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 24 inches x 36 inches (2 sq. ft. x 3 sq. ft.) = 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | 11-14-7 K |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11-14-7 C |
| Directional or Private Traffic Control Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On property to which public is directed | — | 11-14-7 D |
| Integral Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Carved or cast into building or structure, e.g. dedication date | — | 11-14-7 F |
| Institutional Sign (General Exemption) | — | — | — | — | — | For institutions including churches, schools, city buildings, and similar | — | 11-14-7 I |
| Flag | — | 60 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | 11-14-7 J |
| Directional Sign on Public Right of Way (Certain Institutions) | — | 216 square inches | — | — | — | On city street sign located adjacent to a state highway, county road, or state aid designated street | — | 11-14-16 |

## Prohibited signs in Montevideo

- Signs shall not violate the front, side, or rear yard requirements of the district in which they are placed, except as otherwise specified.
- The light from any illuminated sign or source shall not adversely affect surrounding or facing residential districts, or adversely affect the safe vision of vehicle operators.
- Illuminated sign light shall not shine or reflect on or into residential structures.
- Signs or sign structures that obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway, or opening intended for ingress or egress for any building or structure are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected at or near any street intersection in such manner as to obstruct free and clear vision.
- No sign shall be located where its position, shape, or color may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No signs may be placed on or over a public right of way, except a wall sign may project up to 12 inches over a public right of way and except as permitted on a canopy or marquee.
- Temporary paper, watercolor, chalk, or similar signs displayed in windows are not counted as sign surface area.
- Searchlights or similar devices are prohibited (without a temporary sign permit).
- Revolving and flashing signs are prohibited.
- Sign posters/handbills on public property or on private property without permission of the owner are prohibited.
- Signs placed on top of marquees, canopies, or buildings are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs placed or painted on any tree or rock in its natural setting are prohibited.
- Inflatable devices are prohibited (without a temporary sign permit).
- Billboards are prohibited along a state or federally designated scenic byway.

## Signs exempt from permit in Montevideo

- Construction signs are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Real estate signs are permitted without a permit in all districts, except real estate signs exceeding 24 inches by 36 inches require a temporary sign permit.
- Political signs are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Directional and private traffic control signs are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Subdivision plat signs are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Integral signs are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Holiday signs are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Informational signs are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Institutional signs are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Flags not exceeding 60 square feet in total area are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Rummage/garage sale signs are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Street signs erected by the city are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Handbills/sign posters erected on private property with permission of the owner are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Replacing advertising copy or a message on a theater marquee or similar sign specifically designed for changeable copy does not require a permit.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or sign structure, unless structural change is made, does not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, altered, or relocated without a permit issued by the administrator, except as otherwise provided (sign permit required for most signs unless specifically exempt).
- Application for a sign permit must contain names/addresses of sign owner, sign erector, property owner, a drawing showing location, size, and design, and any other information required by the zoning administrator.
- Requests for variances from sign regulations can be heard by the board of zoning adjustment.
- Appeals from a decision regarding a sign permit may be made to the board of zoning adjustment.
- Pedestal or ground signs exceeding the square footage allowed under permitted uses in business districts require approval as a conditional use (implying a higher-level review or plan).
- Institutional signs exceeding the permitted number or square footage in residential districts require approval as a conditional use (implying a higher-level review or plan).
- Off-premises signs, multi-occupant or shopping center signs exceeding certain limits in business zones require conditional use approval.

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

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