# Sign Regulations in Princeton, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Princeton, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/princeton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-11
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://princetonmn.org/uploads/dm/18106/Chapter_07_Signage.pdf)

## At a glance

Princeton, Minnesota regulates 21 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Pylon Sign (Greater than 900 feet from Highway 169 and Rum River Drive Interchange)s in the Neighborhood Business (B-2) zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 75 square feet, with a 10 feet clearance; 15 feet from buildings setback (Sec. Section 7.C). Most commercial signs in Princeton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | May extend 10% above roof line, mansard, or parapet | 48 square feet | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1) | 4 | 10% above roof line | 40 square feet | — |
| B-1 | 7 | 20 feet | 75 square feet | — |
| Neighborhood Business (B-2) | 9 | 60 feet | 500 square feet per face | — |
| General Commercial (B-3) | 9 | 60 feet | 500 square feet per face | — |
| Industrial Districts (MN-1, MN-2) | 9 | 60 ft | 500 sq ft per face | — |
| Health Care (HC-1) | 7 | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Medical Office Residential (MOR) | 6 | 10% above | 90 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Neighborhood Business (B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pylon Sign (Greater than 900 feet from Highway 169 and Rum River Drive Interchange) | 20 feet | 75 square feet | — | 10 feet clearance; 15 feet from buildings | 1 per lot | On property, freestanding | — | Section 7.C |
| Pylon Sign (Less than 900 feet from Highway 169 and Rum River Drive Interchange) | 60 feet | 150 square feet | — | 10 feet clearance; 15 feet from buildings | 1 per lot | On property, freestanding | — | Section 7.C |
| Monument Sign (Single Site) | 8 feet | 60 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On property | — | Section 7.E |
| Monument Sign (Multi-Tenant Site) | 8 feet | 90 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On property | — | Section 7.E |
| Multi-Tenant Business Sign (MTB) | 60 feet | 500 square feet per face | — | 10 feet from road ROW; 40 feet from side lot if adjacent lower intensity zone; 10 feet same zone | — | Within 900 feet of Hwy 169 major interchanges or along Hwy 95 west of 13th Ave N | — | Section 7.D |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | Same as host sign | Same as host sign | — | 125 feet from residence or shielded | — | Not within 125 feet of residence without shielding | — | Section 7.F |
| Electronic Graphic Display Sign | Same as host sign | Same as host sign | — | 125 feet from residence or shielded | — | Not within 125 feet of residence without shielding | — | Section 7.F |
| Video Display Sign | Same as host sign | Same as host sign | — | 125 feet from residence or shielded | — | Not within 125 feet of residence without shielding | — | Section 7.F |

### General Commercial (B-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pylon Sign | 60 feet | 150 square feet | — | 10 feet clearance; 15 feet from buildings | 1 per lot | On property, freestanding | — | Section 7.C |
| Billboard | 30 feet | 50 square feet per face | — | 30 feet from highway ROW; 1000 feet between on same side; 500 feet from intersections; 500 feet from residential, parks, schools, etc. | 1 structure (2 faces) | Adjoining Highway 169 and State Highway 95 | — | Section 7.B |
| Monument Sign (Single Site) | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On property | — | Section 7.E |
| Monument Sign (Multi-Tenant Site) | 10 feet | 120 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On property | — | Section 7.E |
| Multi-Tenant Business Sign (MTB) | 60 feet | 500 square feet per face | — | 10 feet ROW; 40/10 feet sides | — | Within 900 feet of Hwy 169 interchanges or Hwy 95 west of 13th Ave N | — | Section 7.D |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | Same | Same as host | — | 125 ft or shielded | — | Not within 125 ft residence w/o shield | — | Section 7.F |
| Electronic Graphic Display Sign | Same | Same | — | Same | — | Same | — | Section 7.F |
| Video Display Sign | Same | Same | — | Same | — | Same | — | Section 7.F |

### Industrial Districts (MN-1, MN-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pylon Sign | 20 feet | 150 square feet | — | 10 ft clear; 15 ft bldgs | 1 per lot | On property | — | Section 7.C |
| Billboard | 30 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | General billboard setbacks | 1 (MN-1) | Adjoining Hwy 169/95 (MN-1 only) | — | Section 7.B |
| Monument Sign (Single Site) | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property | — | Section 7.E |
| Monument Sign (Multi-Tenant Site) | 10 feet | 120 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property | — | Section 7.E |
| Multi-Tenant Business Sign (MTB) | 60 ft | 500 sq ft per face | — | General MTB | — | Hwy 169/95 areas (MN-1 only) | — | Section 7.D |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | Same | Same | — | 125 ft or shield | — | Not 125 ft res w/o shield | — | Section 7.F |
| Electronic Graphic Display Sign | Same | Same | — | Same | — | Same | — | Section 7.F |
| Video Display Sign | Same | Same | — | Same | — | Same | — | Section 7.F |

## Prohibited signs in Princeton

- No sign shall be permitted as a main or accessory use except in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
- No flashing signs (signs with distracting flashing or moving lights resembling an emergency vehicle or designed as a traffic hazard).
- No signs that constitute a traffic hazard through lighting, placement, or design.
- No unsafe or dangerous signs.
- No signs placed in the public right-of-way.
- No abandoned signs (signs no longer identifying a bona fide business or activity with no legal owner).
- No snipe signs (temporary signs or posters affixed to trees, fences, etc.).
- Off-premise signs prohibited except as billboards in specified industrial and commercial zones.
- All signs must be constructed of durable materials, meet applicable building and electrical codes, and be properly maintained without excessive fading, chipping, or peeling.

## Signs exempt from permit in Princeton

- Bulletin boards not exceeding 32 square feet for churches, schools, or similar buildings (unlit or externally lit).
- Temporary real estate or construction signs not exceeding eight square feet on property being sold, leased, or developed, removed upon sale, development, or occupancy.
- Banners or pennants for non-business special events, installed no more than 25 days prior and removed within 5 days after.
- Banners or pennants for business anniversaries, grand openings, or promotions, allowed for maximum of 10 days.
- Political signs: noncommercial opinion signs for 90 days (or extended during election years), one per candidate per premise, removed within 10 days after election.
- Sandwich signs meeting specific size, location, and operational requirements (one per establishment per street frontage, during business hours, etc.).
- Garage sale or home sale signs in residential areas: maximum 4 square feet, not connected to commercial enterprise, removed within 72 hours.
- Identification signs for one- or two-family dwellings less than 2 square feet.
- Pedestrian, vehicular traffic, and parking directional signs in parking lots less than 9 square feet.
- Traffic control signs, noncommercial governmental signs, local notices, and temporary non-advertising safety or emergency signs.
- Temporary holiday displays, removed within 10 days after the event.
- Construction signs not exceeding 32 square feet aggregate on work site, removed 10 days after completion.
- Signs or posters inside display windows occupying less than 25% of window area (including illuminated but not flashing).
- Flags, badges, or insignia of governments or organizations, freestanding flags limited to 30 feet height with 8 feet clearance over walkways.
- Wall graphics not used for advertising, with Zoning Administrator approval.
- Real estate signs: temporary for selling/leasing individual lots/buildings (size limits by property type), one per building for leasing units/offices (10 sq ft), development signs for projects with conditions (size by project area, removal timelines).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Comprehensive sign plan required for future wall sign permits on new multi-tenant buildings, including shopping centers, to ensure similar design standards for material, color, style, spacing, and size, approved by Zoning Administrator.
- MTB plan (Multi-Tenant Business Sign plan) required for erecting or maintaining Multi-Tenant Business Signs in B-2, B-3, and MN-1 districts; must be signed by property owners, include standards for proportions and landscaping, and cover at least 10 acres with businesses within 1/2 mile.
- Monument sign areas and heights for multi-tenant sites may be approved as part of a Multi-tenant Business Sign Plan by the Planning Commission.

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

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