# Sign Regulations in Richfield, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Richfield, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/richfield
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Richfield/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=APXBRIZOCO_S549SIRE)

## At a glance

Richfield, Minnesota regulates 30 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (R, R-1)s in the Residential Districts (R, R-1, MR-2, MR-3) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 6 square feet, with a 5-foot setback from all lot lines. No part of sign may be within 14 feet behind the curb. setback (Sec. 549.23, Subd. 1(a), 549.21, Subd. 5.). Most commercial signs in Richfield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R, R-1, MR-2, MR-3) | 5 | 18 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Permitted Nonresidential Uses in Residential Districts | 2 | 20 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-2) | 7 | 20 feet (27 ft if abutting interstate or state highway/adjacent frontage road) | 200 square feet per surface | — |
| Service Office District (SO) | 2 | 15 feet | 60 square feet per surface | — |
| Industrial District (I) | 4 | 27 feet | 250 square feet per surface | — |
| Planned Mixed Use District (MU-N, MU-C, MU-R) | 8 | 27 feet | 250 square feet per surface | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 8 ft (site ≤2 acres); 10 ft (site >2 acres) | 32 sq ft (site ≤2 acres); 64 sq ft (site >2 acres) | — |

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

### Residential Districts (R, R-1, MR-2, MR-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (R, R-1) | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | 5-foot setback from all lot lines. No part of sign may be within 14 feet behind the curb. | One per street frontage. | On site. One sign per street frontage. | — | 549.23, Subd. 1(a), 549.21, Subd. 5. |
| Freestanding Sign (MR-2, MR-3) | 8 feet | 24 square feet | — | 5-foot setback from all lot lines. No part of sign may be within 14 feet behind the curb. | One per street frontage. | On site. One sign per street frontage. | — | 549.23, Subd. 1(a), 549.21, Subd. 5. |
| Wall Sign (MR-2, MR-3) | — | 10% of wall area | — | — | — | On building wall. | — | 549.23, Subd. 1(b). |
| Wall Sign (R, R-1 - Required Address Sign) | — | Sufficient for visibility from street assigned | — | — | One per building or portion with separate address | On building wall; must be clearly visible from the street to which the address is assigned. | — | 549.21, Subd. 3; 549.23, Subd. 1(b). |
| Scoreboard Panel (Public Parks and Schools) | 18 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | One per playing field. | At outdoor sports arena or complex. | — | 549.23, Subd. 1(d) |

### Commercial District (C-1, C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (C-1, SO, MU-N) | 15 feet | 60 square feet per surface | — | 5-foot setback from lot lines. No part of sign within 14 feet behind curb. | 1 per frontage; additional allowed within height/area limits. | On site. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(a), 549.21, Subd. 5. |
| Freestanding Sign (C-2, MU-C - Sites <1 acre) | 20 feet (27 ft if abutting interstate or state highway/adjacent frontage road) | 100 square feet per surface | — | 5-foot setback from lot lines. No part of sign within 14 feet behind curb. | 1 per frontage; more as allowed by area/height limitation. | On site. 27 ft max height if abutting specified highways and within 100 ft of lot line. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (C-2, MU-C - Sites 1-2 acres) | 20 feet (27 ft if abutting interstate or state highway/adjacent frontage road) | 150 square feet per surface | — | 5-foot setback from lot lines. No part of sign within 14 feet behind curb. | 1 per frontage; more as allowed by area/height limitation. | On site. 27 ft max height if abutting specified highways and within 100 ft of lot line. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (C-2, MU-C - Sites >2 acres) | 20 feet (27 ft if abutting interstate or state highway/adjacent frontage road) | 200 square feet per surface | — | 5-foot setback from lot lines. No part of sign within 14 feet behind curb. | 1 per frontage; more as allowed by area/height limitation. | On site. 27 ft max height if abutting specified highways and within 100 ft of lot line. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(a) |
| Wall Sign (All C-1, C-2) | — | 15% of wall area | — | — | — | On building wall. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(b). |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of window area | — | — | — | Located within window/visible from exterior. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(c). |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee, Projecting Sign (All C-1, C-2) | — | Subject to wall sign area limits | — | — | — | Building façade; not into public right-of-way. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(d) |

### Planned Mixed Use District (MU-N, MU-C, MU-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (MU-N, SO, C-1) | 15 feet | 60 square feet per surface | — | 5-foot setback from lot lines. No part of sign within 14 feet behind curb. | 1 per frontage; additional allowed within height/area limits. | On site. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(a); 549.21, Subd. 5 |
| Freestanding Sign (MU-C - Sites <1 acre) | 20 feet (27 ft if abutting interstate or state highway/adjacent frontage road) | 100 square feet per surface | — | 5-foot setback from lot lines. No part of sign within 14 feet behind curb. | 1 per frontage; more as allowed by area/height limitation. | On site. 27 ft max height if abutting specified highways and within 100 ft of lot line. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (MU-C - Sites 1-2 acres) | 20 feet (27 ft if abutting interstate or state highway/adjacent frontage road) | 150 square feet per surface | — | 5-foot setback from lot lines. No part of sign within 14 feet behind curb. | 1 per frontage; more as allowed by area/height limitation. | On site. 27 ft max height if abutting specified highways and within 100 ft of lot line. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (MU-C - Sites >2 acres) | 20 feet (27 ft if abutting interstate or state highway/adjacent frontage road) | 200 square feet per surface | — | 5-foot setback from lot lines. No part of sign within 14 feet behind curb. | 1 per frontage; more as allowed by area/height limitation. | On site. 27 ft max height if abutting specified highways and within 100 ft of lot line. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (MU-R, I) | 27 feet | 250 square feet per surface | — | 5-foot setback from lot lines. No part of sign within 14 feet behind curb. | 1 per frontage; additional allowed within height/area limits. | On site. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(a); 549.21, Subd. 5 |
| Wall Sign (All MU Districts) | — | 15% of wall area | — | — | — | On building wall. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(b) |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of window area | — | — | — | Located within window/visible from exterior. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(c) |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee, Projecting Sign (All MU Districts) | — | Subject to wall sign area limits | — | — | — | Building façade; not into public right-of-way. | — | 549.23, Subd. 2(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Richfield

- Any sign located, designed or maintained in a manner which is likely to cause confusion or interfere with the visibility of traffic signs, traffic control devices, crossroads, driveways, crosswalks or pedestrian, bicycle or wheelchair accessible routes.
- Roof signs.
- Portable signs, except those listed as exemptions in Section 549.09.
- Searchlights, beacons, strobe lights or other illuminated signs emitting a beam consisting of a collection or concentration of rays of light.
- Outdoor advertising signs.
- Stringers.
- Balloon signs.
- Abandoned signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Richfield

- The changing of a changeable message as defined in Subsection 549.05 or a dynamic display message.
- The changing of the display surface on a painted or printed sign only. This exemption, however, shall apply only to poster replacement and/or on-site changes involving sign painting elsewhere than directly on a building.
- Signs six (6) square feet or less in size, including portable signs defined by Section 549.05, Subd. 25 (a) and (b), subject to certain limitations.
- Window signs.
- Street identification numbers/address signs.
- Bench signs complying with Subsection 805.19, Subd. 4 of the City Code.
- Signs on vehicles when the vehicle is being used in the normal day-to-day operation of that business as described in Subsection 549.05, Subd. 30.
- Traffic signs and/or signs erected by public officials in performance of official duties for the purpose of traffic control and public safety. These are also exempt from size, setback and dynamic display regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign plan (including the number of sign faces, sign colors and construction materials, sign dimensions, type, direction, location and intensity of illumination, method of attachment, and structural calculations) is required as part of the permit application for any sign in the City.
- Site plans indicating the exact location of the sign relative to buildings, structures, streets, and property lines are required with the permit application.
- Variances from the requirements of this section are processed by the Planning Commission.
- Master sign plan is not specifically mentioned in this excerpt; however, sign plans and specifications are required for permit applications.

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

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