# Sign Regulations in Prior Lake, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Prior Lake, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/prior-lake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Prior_Lake/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH10ZO_ARTVPEST_DIV9SI)

## At a glance

Prior Lake, Minnesota regulates 28 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Subdivision Identification Signs in the Agricultural District (A), Rural Subdivision Residential District (R-S), Low Density Residential District (R-1), Medium Density Residential District (R-2), High Density Residential District (R-3) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 50 sq ft/side, max 2 sides, with a Min 10 ft from any property line setback (Sec. Sec. 10-790(f)(1), Sec. 10-797(4)). Most commercial signs in Prior Lake 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 ft | 6 sq ft; max height 4 ft | — |
| Agricultural District (A), Rural Subdivision Residential District (R-S), Low Density Residential District (R-1), Medium Density Residential District (R-2), High Density Residential District (R-3) | 5 | 10 ft | 75 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C, C-1, C-2, C-3), Neighborhood Business District (C-1), General Business District (C-2), Business Park District (C-3) | 13 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — |
| Town Center District (TC), Transitional Town Center District (TC-T) | 5 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — |
| Industrial District (I-1) | 7 | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | — |

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

### Agricultural District (A), Rural Subdivision Residential District (R-S), Low Density Residential District (R-1), Medium Density Residential District (R-2), High Density Residential District (R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Building wall of a residential property | — | Sec. 10-791(d), Sec. 10-797(4) |
| Place of Assembly Sign | 10 ft | 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On property for place of assembly | — | Sec. 10-791(g), Sec. 10-792(d), Sec. 10-797(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (Place of Assembly) | 10 ft | 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On property for place of assembly | — | Sec. 10-791(g), Sec. 10-792(d) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft/side, max 2 sides | — | Min 10 ft from any property line | Max 2 at each principal entrance | Principal entrance to residential subdivision or planned unit development on private property. | — | Sec. 10-790(f)(1), Sec. 10-797(4) |
| Banner Sign (Annual, Places of Assembly/Schools/Marina) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Designated exterior location | — | Sec. 10-793(b) |

### Commercial District (C, C-1, C-2, C-3), Neighborhood Business District (C-1), General Business District (C-2), Business Park District (C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 20% of front building facade area or 200 sq ft (whichever is less) | — | — | Varies per business/frontage; see additional requirements | Building wall | — | Sec. 10-791(a), (f); Sec. 10-797(4); Sec. 10-799 |
| Canopy Sign | — | 20 sq ft | 10 ft | — | 2 per property | Vertically on canopy | — | Sec. 10-790(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (C-1/C-2/I-1/TC/TC-T) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from property or right-of-way; 0 ft in Town Center | 1 per street frontage, max 2 per property | Min 10 ft from property/right-of-way; not closer than 40 ft to another freestanding sign. | — | Sec. 10-792(a)(3), (5), (7), (8); Sec. 10-797(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (C-3) | 10 ft | 80 sq ft per side, max 2 sides | — | 10 ft from property or right-of-way; 40 ft from other freestanding sign | 1 per street frontage, max 2 per property | See general location/setback requirements | — | Sec. 10-792(a)(4), (5) |
| Electronic Message Sign (Dynamic Display) | — | Up to 50% of freestanding sign area or 30% of all allowed sign area, whichever is less. | — | Same as for sign to which it is attached | 1 per property | As part of an allowed freestanding or wall sign | — | Sec. 10-792(c) |
| Menu Board Sign (Drive-Through) | — | 50 sq ft if 1 menu board per drive-through; if 2, then up to 36 sq ft each | — | — | Up to 2 per property | Drive-through lane of restaurant | — | Sec. 10-790(c) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft per side, max 2 sides | — | Min 10 ft from property line | Max 2 per entrance | Each principal entrance; private property | — | Sec. 10-790(f)(2), Sec. 10-792(b) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign (TH13/CSAH 42/CSAH 21 frontage) | 20 ft (TC, TC-T, C-1, C-2, I-1); 10 ft (C-3) | 100 sq ft per side (TC, TC-T, C-1, C-2, I-1); 80 sq ft per side (C-3) | — | Min 10 ft from any property line | 1 per eligible street frontage | Along designated routes, street frontage | — | Sec. 10-790(f)(2)b |

### Industrial District (I-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 20% of front building facade area or 200 sq ft (whichever is less) | — | — | Varies per business/frontage; see additional requirements | Building wall | — | Sec. 10-791(a), (f) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from property or right-of-way | 1 per street frontage, max 2 per property | At least 10 ft from property or right-of-way; not closer than 40 ft to other freestanding sign. | — | Sec. 10-792(a)(3), (5), (7), (8) |
| Electronic Message Sign (Dynamic Display) | — | Up to 50% of freestanding sign area or 30% of all allowed sign area, whichever is less. | — | Same as for sign to which it is attached | 1 per property | As part of an allowed freestanding or wall sign | — | Sec. 10-792(c) |
| Off-Premises Identification Sign (Business/Industrial Parks) | 15 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 20 ft from ROW, 10 ft from property lines, 200 ft from freestanding, 500 ft from other off-premises signs. | Max 2 per park | On property abutting county or state highways, at least 20 ft from ROW, 10 ft from property lines. Minimum 200 ft from any freestanding sign, 500 ft from other off-premises identification signs. | — | Sec. 10-790(e) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign (Industrial) | 20 ft (TH13/CSAH42/CSAH21); 10 ft (elsewhere) | 100 sq ft per side, max 2 sides (20 ft high for I-1 along TH13/CSAH42/CSAH21), 50 sq ft per side/10 ft high elsewhere | — | Min 10 ft from property line | Max 2 per entrance, 1 per designated frontage | As permitted for principal entrances and along key regional routes. | — | Sec. 10-790(f)(2)b |
| Banner Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | One specified exterior location per permit | — | Sec. 10-793(b) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per business | On sidewalk adjacent/near entity front entrance, min 3 ft clear path for pedestrians. | — | Sec. 10-793(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Prior Lake

- The following signs are prohibited: beacons, bench signs, billboard signs, off-premises signs (except off-premises identification signs and off-premises regional directional signs as allowed), painted wall signs, roof signs, rotating signs, signs with flashing or blinking lights, snipe signs, vehicular signs, video display signs.
- All signs not expressly allowed under this division are prohibited.
- No sign shall, by reason of position, illumination, shape, size, color, or any other characteristic, interfere in any way with vehicle or pedestrian traffic, including but not limited to, interference with the proper functioning or purpose of a traffic sign or signal or interference with traffic visibility.
- No sign shall be located on public property or within a public right-of-way unless approved in writing by the public entity owning or controlling the property.
- Illumination of signs is prohibited in all agricultural and residential zoning districts unless noted otherwise in relation to a specific zoning district or sign type.
- In town center, commercial, and industrial zoning districts, signs shall be illuminated only by steady, stationary, shielded light sources that are either directed solely at the sign or are internal to them, without causing glare for motorists, pedestrians, or neighboring property.
- All signs must maintain a setback of ten feet from any property line unless noted otherwise in relation to a specific zoning district or sign type.
- No sign shall be located so as to violate traffic visibility regulations.
- All signs not maintained in a safe, non-deteriorating, and sound structural condition are prohibited and subject to removal.
- All signs involving electrical components must be wired by a licensed electrician.
- No illuminated sign can cause glare to motorists, pedestrians, or neighboring property.
- No sign with dynamic display may be of such intensity or brilliance that it interferes with the effectiveness of official traffic signs or signals, or the safety of the public.
- No snipe sign is allowed; the city may remove all snipe signs without notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Prior Lake

- The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this division: incidental signs, incidental window signs, government/regulatory signs, works of art, athletic field signs.
- In addition to signs exempted from regulation by state or federal law, the listed exemptions above apply.
- Changing the advertising copy or message on a marquee, changeable copy, electronic message, or similar sign specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy does not require a new sign permit.
- Painting, repainting, replacement, or cleaning of a legal sign structure or sign whereby only the color or message is altered does not require a new sign permit.
- Strings of lights are allowed, other than temporary holiday lighting, in town center, commercial, and industrial zoning districts as described, subject to requirements listed.
- Wetland buffer signs are exempt from removal without the written consent of the installing/controlling agency.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign permit shall be issued until a sign plan for the entire property or building on which the sign will be erected has been submitted to the city and approved by the zoning administrator.
- The sign plan must include: owner/contact info, description and dimensions of all existing signage, identification of proposed signs, scaled site plan with locations, design and specs, existing/proposed façades and sign locations, current photographs, construction specifications, lighting details, and, for multi-business buildings, a comprehensive plan for all tenant spaces and sign locations.
- For multi-business buildings, a comprehensive sign plan must be submitted and approved by the zoning administrator, which will serve as a reference for all future sign permit applications on that subject property.
- A signage plan and agreement, subject to the approval of the city, must be entered into and recorded against the property for off-premises identification signs in business or industrial parks, detailing sign allocation and maintenance.

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

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