# Sign Regulations in Oakdale, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Oakdale, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/oakdale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Oakdale/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH25ZO_ART19SI)

## At a glance

Oakdale, Minnesota regulates 31 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Free-Standing Sign (Residential Districts, General)s in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 8 ft (general), max 10 ft for non-residential/institutional uses tall and (See specific use), with a Min 10 ft to property line setback (Sec. Sec. 25-349(a)(1)e, 25-349(a)(1)g(2), 25-349(a)(1)f). Most commercial signs in Oakdale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 4 sq ft per facing | — |
| Residential Districts | 10 | Not to exceed roofline; may not project >18 inches from wall | 150 sq ft (individual sign); ≤20% of wall area (total) | — |
| Commercial District | 9 | 30 ft | 350 sq ft (per sign) | — |
| Industrial Districts | 4 | 15 ft (general max); 20 ft (district max) | 150 sq ft per sign | — |
| CC District, I-O District, GI District | 1 | 35 ft | 700 sq ft (+ up to 15% extensions of total area) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential 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 | — | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(1)a |
| Recreational Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft to edge of street line | 1 per street frontage | For parks and recreational use | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(1)b |
| Temporary Signs (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Adjacent to public right-of-way | — | Sec. 25-348(k) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential Projects) | — | 128 sq ft | — | Min 100 ft to unrelated residence | 1 per street frontage | — | — | Sec. 25-348(j) |
| Free-Standing Sign (Residential Districts, General) | 8 ft (general), max 10 ft for non-residential/institutional uses | (See specific use) | — | Min 10 ft to property line | 1 per street frontage | Non-specified unless for non-residential | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(1)e, 25-349(a)(1)g(2), 25-349(a)(1)f |
| Wall Sign (Non-Residential Institutional Uses) | Not to exceed roofline; may not project >18 inches from wall | 150 sq ft (individual sign); ≤20% of wall area (total) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On building wall | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(1)g(1) |
| Free-Standing Sign (Non-Residential Institutional Uses) | 10 ft | 60 sq ft (1st sign); additional signs at 50% of the first sign | — | Min 10 ft to property line | 1 per street frontage; see restriction for multiples | At least 10 ft from property line; 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(1)g(2)-(3) |
| Electronic Message Sign (Non-Residential Institutional Uses, Free-Standing Only) | (See permitted free-standing sign height) | 32 sq ft for electronic portion | — | — | — | As part of free-standing sign | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(1)g(5) |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Standard Business | Not to exceed roofline; may not project >18 inches from wall | 150 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | 1 per street frontage per business | On building wall | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(2)a |
| Wall Sign - Big Box Retail (Primary Tenant) | Not to exceed roofline; may not project >18 inches from wall | 350 sq ft (per sign) | — | — | 1 per street frontage per business | On building wall | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(2)a |
| Wall Sign - Big Box Retail (Sub-tenant/Sub-brand) | Not to exceed roofline; may not project >18 inches from wall | 150 sq ft or 350 sq ft if >60,000 sq ft GFA | — | — | 1 per street frontage per sub-tenant | On building wall | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(2)a |
| Free-Standing Sign (Commercial) | 25 ft | 80 sq ft (first), 40 sq ft (subsequent) | — | Min 10 ft to front property line | 1 per building per street frontage | At least 10 ft from front property line | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(2)b |
| Pylon Sign (Retail/Service - Interstate Freeway) | 30 ft | 150 sq ft (one tenant); 350 sq ft (multi-tenant Big Box) | — | Min 50 ft to interstate ROW | 1 pylon sign per qualifying property | No closer than 50 ft to interstate right-of-way | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(2)d |
| Bulletin Sign (Wall-Mounted) | — | ≤50% of main sign area | — | — | — | On wall or free-standing structure | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(2)c |
| Bulletin Sign (Portable) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Within width of storefront | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(2)c |
| Electronic Dynamic Business Sign (Free-Standing/Bulletin/Nameplate) | — | 40 sq ft electronic portion, as part of allowed sign area | — | — | — | Free-standing, Bulletin, or Nameplate/Building Identification only | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(2)e |

### Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Free-Standing Identification Sign | 15 ft (general max); 20 ft (district max) | 80 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft to front property line | 1 per building | At least 10 ft from front property line | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(3)a, d |
| Wall Sign | — | 150 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant entrance | At or near tenant's entrance on wall | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(3)b |
| Temporary Signs (Industrial) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(3)c |
| Traffic Directional Signs | — | — | — | — | — | On property as required for traffic | — | Sec. 25-349(a)(3)e |

## Prohibited signs in Oakdale

- Non-accessory freestanding and wall signs are prohibited in all districts, except in areas specially designated in this ordinance.
- No sign, other than public traffic controls, directional or street name signs, shall be erected or temporarily placed within any street right-of-way or upon any public easements, except campaign yard signs as provided in Subsection (i) below.
- Portable, internally lit signs are not allowed as permanent signs in any District.
- No signs are allowed which contain moving parts or flashing lights, except for intermittent display of time and temperature.
- Roof signs shall be prohibited in all districts.
- No signs are allowed which are not constructed in a manner or of such material as to be safe and substantial (must comply with Building and Zoning Codes).
- No sign may be erected within fifty (50) feet of a street/highway regulatory sign, traffic sign/signal, crossroad, or crosswalk, unless it is shown not to interfere with visibility or be distracting/confusing to traffic.
- No sign placement or design shall block or impede the visibility necessary for safe vehicular movement, especially near intersections and driveways.
- Bench signs may only be located at MTC bus stops.
- No signs with moving parts or flashing lights are allowed, except for specific time/temperature displays.
- Any freestanding sign within twenty-five (25) feet of any intersection of street right-of-way lines or driveway entrances must provide vertical clearance for proper visibility.
- The total sign area on multi-faced freestanding or projecting wall signs cannot exceed twice that of a two-sided sign or three times that of a three-sided sign; such applications require Planning Commission and Council review.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all districts.

## Signs exempt from permit in Oakdale

- Signs which are located on the interior of a building and are not visible from the outside are exempt from the provisions of this ordinance and do not require permits or fees.
- No permit is required for a window sign placed within a building and not exceeding fifty percent (50%) of the window area.
- No permit is required for signs erected by a governmental unit or public school district.
- No permit is required for memorial signs or tablets containing the name of the building, its use and date of erection when cut or built into the walls of the building and constructed of bronze, brass, stone or marble.
- No permit is required for signs which are completely within a building and are not visible from the outside.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Freestanding signs along major thoroughfares are subject to a Design Review Committee, which reviews the design and material quality (Section 25-348(c)).
- All applications for signs of more than two (2) sides (multi-faced signs) require review by the Planning Commission and Council (Section 25-348(n)).
- Requests for variances from the literal provisions of the ordinance require filing a notice of appeal and hearing before the City Council (Sec. 25-353).

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

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