# Sign Regulations in Mounds View, Minnesota

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

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

## At a glance

Mounds View, Minnesota regulates 21 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the B-1 zoning district are capped at 16 ft tall and 100 sq ft per side, two sides max, with a 3 ft to building (unless parallel), 15 ft to perimeter lot line; not within 30-ft sight triangle setback (Sec. § 161.037(B) (Sign Table), § 161.037(C) (Sign Height Table), § 161.038(A)). Most commercial signs in Mounds View require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2 | 9 | 16 ft at ground level / 10 ft above roof | 100 sq ft | — |
| R-3, R-4 | 10 | 16 ft at ground level / 10 ft above roof | 100 sq ft | — |
| R-5 | 11 | 16 ft at ground level / 10 ft above roof | 100 sq ft | — |
| B-1 | 11 | 16 ft | 100 sq ft per side, two sides max | — |
| B-2, B-3, B-4, I-1, CRP | 15 | 16 ft per table (see note (3); billboard in some locations: 45 ft) | 100 sq ft | — |
| PUD | 1 | As allowed by PUD Narrative. If no document, per B-3 (16 ft ground signs, 300 sq ft wall signs, etc.) | As allowed by PUD Narrative. If no document, per B-3 (see above for B-3 limits) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 45 ft (County Rd 10/I-35W: 35 ft) | Up to 700 sq ft per side, max extensions 25% area (subject to special locations and interim use permit) | — |

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

### R-5

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table); Directional*** |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per side, up to 2 sides | — | See setbacks for ground signs. | — | — | — | § 161.037(C), § 161.038(A), § 161.037(B) (Sign Table) |
| Statue | 16 ft at ground level / 10 ft above roof | 100 sq ft | — | Same as ground sign setbacks. | — | Ground or attached to building. Setbacks as ground signs. | — | § 161.038(I) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Affixed to house or garage on the property | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table); § 161.038(G) |
| Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | On property for sale/lease | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table), § 161.020(B)(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | 64 sq ft (per building) | — | — | — | On exterior wall | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table); § 161.038(B)(3) |

### B-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table); Directional*** |
| Ground Sign | 16 ft | 100 sq ft per side, two sides max | — | 3 ft to building (unless parallel), 15 ft to perimeter lot line; not within 30-ft sight triangle | See § 161.038(A)(6) for multiple street frontages | — | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table), § 161.037(C) (Sign Height Table), § 161.038(A) |
| Statue | 16 ft at grade / 10 ft above roof | 100 sq ft | — | Same as ground signs | — | On ground or attached to building as with ground sign setbacks. | — | § 161.038(I) |
| Identification Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On property for sale/lease | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table), § 161.020(B)(1) |
| Wall Sign and Projected Sign (Combined Area) | — | 100 sq ft (area aggregate for wall, ground, projection signs combined) | — | — | — | On exterior wall or projection per code. | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table), § 161.038(B)(4) |

### B-2, B-3, B-4, I-1, CRP

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Drive-thru Menu Board - Primary | — | 36 sq ft (max 2 primary) | — | — | Maximum two primary | — | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table) |
| Drive-thru Menu Board - Secondary | — | 15 sq ft (max 2 secondary) | — | — | Maximum two secondary | — | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table) |
| Ground Sign | 16 ft per table (see note (3); billboard in some locations: 45 ft) | B-2: 200 sq ft; B-3: 200 sq ft; B-4: 200 sq ft; I-1: 200 sq ft; CRP: 100 sq ft | — | 3 ft to building (unless parallel), 15 ft to perimeter lot line; not within 30-ft sight triangle. County Rd 10: 5-ft setback. | See § 161.038(A)(6) for multiple signs criteria | — | — | § 161.037(B), § 161.037(C), § 161.038(A),(I) |
| Statue | 16 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Same as ground signs | — | — | — | § 161.038(I) |
| Projection Sign | 10 ft above roof/parapet | Included in wall sign area | — | — | — | Perpendicular to building wall, not over public ROW; may project over private sidewalk. | — | § 161.038(C) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 32 sq ft (B-2/3/4/CRP); 64 sq ft (I-1) | — | — | — | On property for sale/lease | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table), § 161.020(B)(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft (B-2); 300 sq ft (B-3, B-4, I-1); wall sign area per building occupant (B-2-4/I-1); CRP - no wall sign | — | — | — | On exterior building wall | — | § 161.037(B) (Sign Table), § 161.038(B) |
| Dynamic Display Sign | — | Max 50 sq ft | — | Same as sign type | — | Permitted only in B-2, B-3, B-4, I-1, PUD | — | § 161.038(H)(2),(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Mounds View

- It is unlawful to install, construct, erect, alter, revise, reconstruct or relocate any outdoor sign or structure without first obtaining a permit, except as otherwise provided.
- No sign shall be so located as to obscure or tend to obscure any existing sign.
- No sign structure shall be attached or placed upon any building in such a manner as to obstruct any fire escape or any window or door nor shall any sign structure be attached to a fire escape.
- No swinging sign shall be erected or hung on or attached to any building within the city, and existing swinging signs deemed unsafe by the Building Inspector must be removed or brought into compliance.
- All illuminated signs shall have a shielded light source and no sign may display light sources directly visible to pedestrians or operators of motor vehicles.
- No sign shall display matter that has been deemed obscene by a court of competent jurisdiction.
- No sign shall have moving sections or intermittent, blinking or flashing lights, except for government signs and signs with dynamic displays as allowed in the ordinance.
- No sign shall be brighter than necessary for clear visibility and must adhere to specified luminance limits.
- No sign shall interfere with the functioning of a traffic sign, signal, or constitute a traffic hazard.
- No temporary or permanent signs are allowed within public rights-of-way, except for directional signs and those expressly allowed.
- Flashing signs, beacons, and searchlights are prohibited.
- Vehicles or trailers used as signs are prohibited, except for magnetic, decal, or permanently painted signs that do not obscure windows or alter vehicle silhouette.
- Roof signs are prohibited unless integrally incorporated into the roof design (then considered projection signs).
- Billboards are prohibited, except as otherwise provided.
- Nuisance signs (including those in a state of disrepair or in violation) are prohibited.
- Signs or lights that mimic or appear similar to emergency vehicles or traffic-control lights are prohibited.
- Signs with blinking, flashing or fluttering lights are prohibited.
- No sign shall be designed, located, or maintained to obscure, conceal, or cause confusion as to any traffic-control sign or device.
- No sign shall be located or maintained on or over any public street or highway right-of-way unless specifically permitted.
- There shall be no use of revolving beacons, zip flashers, flashing signs or similar devices that would distract automobile or motor vehicle traffic to constitute a safety hazard.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mounds View

- Permits are not required for any sign less than or equal to eight square feet in area (excluding temporary signs), provided all other requirements are satisfied.
- Permits are not required for signs pertaining only to the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which displayed.
- Permits are not required for signs on residential property stating only the name or identity of the occupant.
- Permits are not required for construction signs or contractor signs, provided the sign is removed immediately upon completion of the work.
- Permits are not required for home occupation signs and incidental residential signs.
- Permits are not required for national, state, regional, local, institutional or cultural flags.
- Permits are not required for advertising on a transit bench or within a transit shelter or enclosure.
- Permits are not required for official notices authorized by a court, public body, or public safety official.
- Permits are not required for government signs (including traffic-control, identification, informational, danger, and official city event signs).
- Permits are not required for flag or pennant stringers.
- Permits are not required for sandwich boards not exceeding eight square feet and ground signs not exceeding four square feet that are located within 15 feet of the business advertised.
- Permits are not required for non-commercial signs (expression of opinion or viewpoint of a non-commercial nature), provided the sign is not illuminated and does not exceed nine square feet combined, and location restrictions for multi-unit properties are observed.
- Window signs, as allowed, are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permit applications require submission of detailed plans including position, elevations, distances, size, construction details, and specifications.
- Permit applications must identify if the sign is illuminated, has moving/blinking lights, is single/double/multi-faced, has changeable copy, relates to on-premises activity, or has any dynamic display (including area and style).
- Variance requests must include all information required for a sign permit application.
- Conditional use permit (CUP) approval is required for dynamic display signs on the sites of schools, churches, places of worship, or institutional land uses.
- For planned unit developments (PUDs), signage requirements may be established by the PUD Narrative document; if not, B-3 zoning district standards apply.
- No master sign plan requirement is explicitly stated in the general provisions, but PUD and CUP processes may serve similar review purposes.
- Variance (“sign variance”) requests, including those seeking relief from the requirements, require written application, applicable fees, and complete sign permit documentation.
- The City Council may allow for placement of area identification signs and may require documentation, dedication of land for signage, and recorded maintenance agreements.

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

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