# Sign Regulations in Moorhead, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Moorhead, Minnesota regulates 8 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Portable Sign - On-premises in the Commercial (MU-3, NC, CC, RC), Community Commercial (CC), Regional Commercial (RC) zoning district are capped at 6 ft sign face, 8 ft overall tall, 60 sq. ft., and 10 ft wide (Sec. § 10-22-9). Most commercial signs in Moorhead require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial (MU-3, NC, CC, RC), Community Commercial (CC), Regional Commercial (RC) | 6 | 35 ft (closer than 100' to property line), 50 ft (100' or more), 60 ft (within 150' of I-94 ROW) | 750 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial (LI, HI) | 6 | 35 ft (<100' from property line), 50 ft (>=100'), 60 ft (within 150' of I-94 ROW) | 750 sq. ft. | — |
| Public/Institutional (P, INS), Public Facilities District (P), Institutional (INS) | 6 | 35 ft (<100'), 50 ft (100'+), 60 ft (within 150' of I-94 ROW) | 750 sq. ft. | — |
| Downtown Mixed Use (MU-1) | 5 | Multi-tenant: 40 ft; Single tenant: 25 ft | 100 sq. ft. (multi-tenant); 80 sq. ft. (single tenant) | — |
| Corridor Mixed Use (MU-2) | 5 | 40 ft (multi-tenant), 25 ft (single tenant), 7 ft (residential) | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential (RMD-1, RMD-2, RHD-1) | 4 | 7 ft | 60 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 16 sq. ft. (except noncommercial signs during election period, any size/number) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Commercial (MU-3, NC, CC, RC), Community Commercial (CC), Regional Commercial (RC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Pylon or Monument | 0-25': 25 ft; 25-100': 35 ft; >100': 50 ft; within 400' of interstate ROW: 70 ft | Greater of 3 sq. ft. per linear foot or 40% of front wall of building; 100 sq. ft. maximum | — | — | Minimum 1 per lot | Per lot; each frontage calculated separately | — | § 10-22-7 |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall area (primary structure), 50% (accessory) | — | — | Minimum 1 per lot, maximum 1 per 20 ft of wall | On building or accessory structure | — | § 10-22-7 |
| Dynamic Display Sign | — | — | — | — | One dynamic display per sign structure or display surface | May not be placed within 150' of an area zoned for residential use | — | § 10-22-7 |
| Portable Sign - On-premises | 6 ft sign face, 8 ft overall | 60 sq. ft. | 10 ft | — | 1 per property (2 for 6+ tenants) | On the same parcel for which the advertisement/notice is intended | — | § 10-22-9 |
| Portable Sign - Off-premises | 6 ft sign face, 8 ft overall | 60 sq. ft. | 10 ft | — | 1 per property | May colocate with on-premises portable sign during display period | — | § 10-22-9 |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 35 ft (closer than 100' to property line), 50 ft (100' or more), 60 ft (within 150' of I-94 ROW) | 750 sq. ft. | — | 300' from residential, 250' between signs | — | Only in CC, RC, LI, HI, P districts | — | § 10-22-8 |

### Industrial (LI, HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Pylon or Monument | 0-25': 25 ft; 25-100': 35 ft; >100': 50 ft; within 400' of interstate ROW: 70 ft | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per 300' street frontage | Per lot | — | § 10-22-7 |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall area (primary), 50% (accessory) | — | — | Min 1, Max 1/20' wall | On primary and accessory structures | — | § 10-22-7 |
| Dynamic Display Sign | — | — | — | — | One per structure/display surface | Not within 150' of residential zone | — | § 10-22-7 |
| Portable Sign - On-premises | 6 ft sign face; 8 ft overall | 60 sq. ft. | 10 ft | — | 1 per property (2 for 6+ tenants) | Same parcel as use | — | § 10-22-9 |
| Portable Sign - Off-premises | 6 ft sign face; 8 ft overall | 60 sq. ft. | 10 ft | — | 1 per property | — | — | § 10-22-9 |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 35 ft (<100' from property line), 50 ft (>=100'), 60 ft (within 150' of I-94 ROW) | 750 sq. ft. | — | 300' from residential, 250' from other billboards | — | LI or HI zones only | — | § 10-22-8 |

### Public/Institutional (P, INS), Public Facilities District (P), Institutional (INS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 7 ft | 80 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 monument sign per lot | — | — | § 10-22-7 |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall area (primary), 50% (accessory) | — | — | Min 1, Max 1/20' wall | Primary or accessory structure | — | § 10-22-7 |
| Dynamic Display Sign | — | — | — | — | One per sign structure/display | Not within 150' of residential zone | — | § 10-22-7 |
| Portable Sign - On-premises | 6 ft sign face, 8 ft overall | 60 sq. ft. | 10 ft | — | 1 (2 for 6+ tenants) | Same parcel as use | — | § 10-22-9 |
| Portable Sign - Off-premises | 6 ft sign face, 8 ft overall | 60 sq. ft. | 10 ft | — | 1 per property | — | — | § 10-22-9 |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 35 ft (<100'), 50 ft (100'+), 60 ft (within 150' of I-94 ROW) | 750 sq. ft. | — | 300' from residential, 250' from other billboards | — | Allowed in P district | — | § 10-22-8 |

## Prohibited signs in Moorhead

- Signs that have broken supports or are overgrown with vegetation.
- All signs, including supports, frames, and embellishments, that are located within a public right-of-way if they do not meet regulations in 10-22-3B, and signs located on public property other than right-of-way and/or are attached, affixed, or painted on any utility pole, light standard, utility box or pedestal, tree, rock, or other natural object located within the public right-of-way or on public property, unless approved by the City Council in accordance with section 8-1-3. The City may impound unauthorized signs.
- Any sign which constitutes a hazard to traffic including, but not limited to, signs located within thirty feet (30') of the intersection of curb lines of an intersection, if it would impede vision between a height of two feet (2') and eight feet (8').
- Signs that block entrances or exits to buildings.
- Any sign, signal, marking or device that purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles any official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or emergency vehicle signal, or that attempts to direct the movement of traffic or that obscures or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal.
- Any sign that creates or causes interference with the operations of radio or electronic facilities at the airport or with radio or electronic communications between the airport and aircraft, makes it difficult for pilots to distinguish between airport lights and other lights, results in glare in the eyes of pilots using the airport, impairs visibility in the vicinity of the airport, or otherwise endangers the landing, taking off, or maneuvering of aircraft.
- All other signs, as defined in section 10-22-2, that are not expressly exempt or expressly permitted under this chapter.
- Sign foundations, bases, or posts may not be located upon City property or rights-of-way unless an encroachment permit is granted.
- No part of any sign or projection may protrude over the public right-of-way within six feet (6') of the curb line.
- No part of any sign or projection may be erected within ten feet (10') of a driveway.
- All sources of artificial light (except streetlights) shall not measurably increase the amount of light to any abutting residential lot.
- All signs must comply with Minnesota Department of Transportation and Federal aviation authority regulations, where applicable.
- All signs must comply with State Building Code requirements.
- All signs and sign structures must be kept in good repair and in a proper state of maintenance.
- Setback and height requirements must be followed as described in section 10-22-3.

## Signs exempt from permit in Moorhead

- Signs not legible to a person of ordinary eyesight (with vision adequate to pass a State driver's license exam) standing at ground level at a location on the public right-of-way or on other private property.
- Public signs, including signs on mass transit vehicles.
- The changing of the display surface only of an existing sign, provided there are no changes to the size, frame or support.
- One exempt sign per street frontage of a property, unless otherwise required by government bodies.
- Exemption for all noncommercial signs of any size and number posted in any manner on private property during regular and special Citywide elections and State primary and general elections, from forty six (46) days before the election until ten (10) days following the election.
- A residential subdivision may have a noncommercial, informational identification sign at each entrance that does not exceed thirty two (32) square feet in display surface area.
- Signs that meet the exemption criteria are not exempt from responsibility of erection, maintenance, and compliance with code; exemption only relieves from the permit process.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For developments containing several buildings or businesses, a common signage plan for the development shall be submitted for approval. Each development may have a shared sign on any lot within the development if the total number of signs and the sum of allowed square footage for all properties are not exceeded. (10-22-7, On Premises Signs)
- Prior to issuance of a permanent sign permit on a new lot or in a new development containing several buildings or businesses, a common signage plan for the development shall be submitted for approval. Drawings, sketches, and/or photographs shall be submitted and kept on file to demonstrate the common signage plan. (10-22-11A3, Administration of Sign Permits)
- Common signage plan shall include: identification of sign locations on buildings and property, description of sign and materials including construction materials and proposed lighting, itemization of sign sizes and land area at identified locations, description of dominant letter style and height to be used.

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

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