# Sign Regulations in Newport, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Newport, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/newport
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Newport/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH36ZO_ARTIXSI)

## At a glance

Newport, Minnesota regulates 36 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Non-residential Institutional Use)s in the Residential and Mixed-Use Districts zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 60 sq ft (first sign), subsequent signs on other frontage: 0.5 × area of first sign, with a ≥8 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 36-554(a)(1)i.2). Most commercial signs in Newport require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 128 sq ft | — |
| Residential and Mixed-Use Districts | 12 | 10 ft | 150 sq ft (per sign) | — |
| Residential Districts | 2 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Mixed-Use Districts | 5 | 10 ft | 150 sq ft (per sign) | — |
| Business Districts, Commercial Districts, Mixed-Use Districts | 9 | 35 ft (variance possible beyond 35 ft per requirements) | 150 sq ft (per sign) | — |
| Industrial Districts, I-1, I-2, B-1 | 7 | 50 ft above travelled grade | 700 sq ft per sign surface (+3 ft skirting) | — |

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

### Residential and Mixed-Use Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | One per dwelling unit | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(1)b |
| Recreational Sign (Park/Bulletin Board) | — | 24 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from any street line | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage; not closer than 10 ft to any edge of street line; must not interfere with safe traffic movement. | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(1)c |
| Temporary Sign (Residential districts) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 3 per parcel | Max 3 per parcel | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(1)d |
| Temporary Sign (Real Estate/Sales) | — | See Sec. 36-553(o): 6 sq ft (residential), 32 sq ft (nonresidential/multifamily) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | See Sec. 36-553(o): 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(1)e |
| Residential Subdivision/Multiple-Unit Development Entry Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | 1 per street frontage | At entry to residential subdivision or multi-unit development | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(1)f |
| Wall Sign (Non-residential Institutional Use) | — | 150 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage; must not project >18" from wall or exceed roofline. | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(1)i.1 |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-residential Institutional Use) | 10 ft | 60 sq ft (first sign), subsequent signs on other frontage: 0.5 × area of first sign | — | ≥8 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(1)i.2 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential Development) | — | 128 sq ft | — | ≥100 ft to any residence not part of project. | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage; no closer than 100 ft to dwellings not part of project. | — | Sec. 36-553(n) |

### Business Districts, Commercial Districts, Mixed-Use Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Business/Commercial/Mixed-Use districts) | — | 20 sq ft per sign (general limit), banners may be up to 80 sq ft | — | — | 3 per parcel (plus one additional banner with permit) | Max 3 per parcel (temporary signs); banners must be facade-mounted | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(2)a, (2)b.3, (2)b.4-5 |
| Wall Sign (Business/Commercial/Mixed-Use) | — | 150 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | 1 per street frontage per business | One per street frontage per business/tenant; not <18" from wall/roofline | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(2)b |
| Freestanding Sign (Business/Commercial/Mixed-Use) | 25 ft | 80 sq ft (first sign); subsequent signs up to 0.5 × first's area | — | ≥10 ft from front property line | 1 per building per street frontage | One per building per street frontage. | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(2)c |
| Portable Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Within width of storefront, not in public right-of-way/easement. | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(2)d |
| Monument Sign (Multi-tenant Building) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per side (≤20 acres); 150 sq ft per side (over 20 acres) | — | ≥20 ft from property lines. | 1 per multi-tenant building | One per multi-tenant building | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(2)e |
| Pylon Sign | 35 ft (variance possible beyond 35 ft per requirements) | 150 sq ft | — | ≥50 ft from right-of-way (interstate/state hwy) | 1 per building | Retail/service establishments abutting interstate/freeway/state highway right-of-way. One per building. | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(2)f |
| Flag | — | 45 sq ft (combined for up to 3 flags) | — | — | ≤3 flags | — | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(2)g |
| Electronic Dynamic Display Business Sign | — | Included in total permitted sign area (wall, freestanding, pylon), subject to limits above | — | — | — | As part of wall, freestanding, or pylon sign. | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(2)i |

### Industrial Districts, I-1, I-2, B-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Industrial) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 3 per parcel | Max 3 per parcel | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(3)a |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Industrial) | 15 ft (in text), up to 20 ft max; height measured as commercial freestanding. | 80 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from front property line | 1 per building | One per building | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(3)b |
| Wall Sign (Industrial: Private Entry for Multi-tenant) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant private entry | One per tenant with private entrance (multi-tenant buildings); at/near tenant entry. | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(3)c |
| Wall Sign (Industrial: Commercial/Business Use Option) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(3)c |
| Billboard (Off-premises Sign) | 50 ft above travelled grade | 700 sq ft per sign surface (+3 ft skirting) | — | ≥5 ft to right-of-way, ≥25 ft to buildings, ≥500 ft to residential/mixed-use district | Spacing: ≥1 mile in any direction between billboards | Only on property abutting Interstate 494; not on buildings. | — | Sec. 36-555, 36-556 |
| Dynamic Display Billboard (Off-premises) | — | Included in billboard size (up to 700 sq ft) | — | See Billboard requirements above. | — | Billboard face only; not on building. | — | Sec. 36-556 |
| Non-commercial (Election) Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 36-554(a)(3)e |

## Prohibited signs in Newport

- Prohibit signs whose location, size, type, illumination, or other physical characteristics negatively affect the environment where the communication can be accomplished by having less impact on the environment and public health, safety, and welfare.
- Non-accessory freestanding and wall signs are prohibited in all districts except in areas specially designated for off-premises signs.
- No sign other than public traffic controls shall be erected within any street right-of-way or upon any public easements except as permitted in this section.
- Roof signs shall be prohibited in all districts.
- Billboards shall be prohibited in all districts except as expressly allowed in section 36-555.
- Temporary signs such as flying signs, air inflated devices, and search lights shall not be allowed at any time, in any zoning district, unless otherwise specified in this chapter.
- Off-premises signs, except permitted temporary signs and permitted pylon signs and billboards in business, commercial, and industrial districts, are prohibited in all districts.
- No sign shall contain any obscene matter as described by M.S.A. § 617.241 or successor statutes.
- No sign may be erected, mounted, displayed, or maintained except in conformance with the provisions of these regulations.
- All signs, billboards, and other advertising structures together with their supports, braces, guys and anchors must be maintained to be structurally sound, safe, and in good repair.
- All illuminated signs shall have a shielded light source.
- Portable, dynamic display signs are not allowed as permanent signs in any district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Newport

- Signs which are completely within a building, are not on or within three feet of a window and are not visible from the outside of the building.
- Nameplate or address plate not exceeding two square feet in size.
- Up to three temporary signs that are six square feet in area or less on a property for the duration permitted by this section.
- Signs erected by the city on city properties and public rights-of-way.
- Window signs in business, industrial and mixed-use districts that comply with this section.
- Non-commercial signs that comply with M.S.A. § 211B.045 or successor statutes.
- Signs may be placed on parcels that are currently offered for sale provided such signs are not closer than ten feet to any property line and shall not exceed 36 square feet in area for multifamily residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed uses. One sign shall be permitted for each street frontage.
- Signs may be erected on parcels that are currently under construction for single-family or multiple-family residences, subject to specified area, quantity, removal, and location requirements.
- Back-lighted signs are allowed on the ends of bus shelters, and signs are allowed on benches at bus stops.
- Signs located in the interior of a building and not visible from the outside of the building are exempt from the provisions of this section and shall not require permits or payment of fees.
- Established churches are exempt from permit requirements, number of days, and frequency guidelines for temporary special event signs in residential and mixed-use districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The city zoning administrator may require submission of a complete set of plans showing the location, setbacks, elevation, size, materials, and details of the sign that fully and clearly represent the construction and placement of the sign as part of the sign permit application process.
- Freestanding, on-premises signs along major thoroughfares are subject to review by the zoning administrator, who will also consider the sign's relationship to any architectural theme of existing or proposed structures on the parcel.
- All applications for signs of more than two sides shall be reviewed by the zoning administrator, and at his/her discretion by the planning commission and city council.
- Application for a variance (e.g., to increase pylon sign height) must be accompanied by a site plan showing the location of the proposed sign, property lines, road alignments, and necessary cross-sectional drawings.
- Applicants for a dynamic display billboard sign permit shall enter into an agreement with the city (requiring council approval) to provide community and public service message time before a permit is issued.
- Conditional use permits, sign permits, or sign licenses are required for certain types of signs, such as electronic message signs for institutional uses, and dynamic display off-premises signs.
- Permit applications in general must include owner information, legal description, complete plan sets, type of sign, and proof of required state permits (if located along a state or interstate highway).

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

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