# Sign Regulations in Shorewood, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Shorewood, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/shorewood
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-30
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.shorewoodmn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/348/Sign-Ordinance-PDF)

## At a glance

Shorewood, Minnesota regulates 25 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Area Identification Sign (Monument Type Only)s in the Residential/Commercial District (R-C) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a ≥5 ft from property line; no protrusion over ROW. setback (Sec. Subd. 11.e(2)(a) (regulated per e(1)); Subd. 11.e(1)(a)). Most commercial signs in Shorewood 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 | 12 | — | 50 sq ft per sign | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-1D, R-2A, R-2B, R-2C, R-3A, R-3B) | 4 | 8 ft above grade | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential/Commercial District (R-C) | 7 | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial District (C-1) | 7 | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-2, C-3, C-4) | 4 | 20 ft | ≤25% of total allowable sign area (from the 10% silhouette calculation) | — |
| Planned Unit Development District (PUD) | 2 | — | Total construction sign area ≤ 300 sq ft; no individual sign > 200 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Campaign Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 6 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from any street surface; general 5 ft from property line applies where relevant. | — | Not closer than 10 ft from any street surface; not placed in front of any property without consent of property owner. | — | Subd. 11.b(1)(d) |
| Political Campaign Sign (All Other Zoning Districts) | — | 12 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from street surface; general setbacks apply. | — | Not closer than 10 ft from any street surface; consent of property owner required for placement in front of property. | — | Subd. 11.b(1)(d) |
| Construction Sign (General) | — | 50 sq ft per sign | — | General setbacks apply. | One per major street frontage. | On the construction site; at dedicated street entrance(s) if applicable. | — | Subd. 11.b(1)(f); Subd. 11.e(4) (PUD exception) |
| Real Estate Sale or Rental Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 6 sq ft | — | General setbacks apply. | 1 per premises; exceptions: 2 on corner lots; 2 on lakeshore lots. | On the subject property; corner lots: one per frontage; lakeshore: one facing lake and one front. | — | Subd. 11.b(1)(g) |
| Real Estate Sale or Rental Sign (All Other Districts) | — | 20 sq ft | — | General setbacks apply. | 1 per premises; exceptions: 2 on corner lots; 2 on lakeshore lots. | On the subject property. | — | Subd. 11.b(1)(g) |
| Informational/Directional Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | General setbacks apply. | — | On-premises directional/informational placement per district rules. | — | Subd. 11.b(1)(h) |
| Owner-Occupant Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | General setbacks apply. | One. | On residential property. | — | Subd. 11.b(1)(i) |
| Temporary Sign / Temporary Devices (with permit) | — | 32 sq ft (temporary signs) | — | ≥5 ft from property line; no protrusion over ROW. | — | Per permit; cannot protrude over public right-of-way; not within public ROW or on public lands/easements (except governmental signs and political campaign signs). | — | Subd. 11.c(4); Subd. 11.b(2)(d)-(e); Subd. 11.c(5) |

### Residential/Commercial District (R-C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Area Identification Sign (Monument Type Only) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from property line; no protrusion over ROW. | One per bordering street (where applicable). | Dedicated street entrance(s); one sign facing each bordering street for developments of 20+ units. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(a) (regulated per e(1)); Subd. 11.e(1)(a) |
| Institution Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from property line; no protrusion over ROW. | One. | On institution property. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(a) (regulated per e(1)); Subd. 11.e(1)(b) |
| Park Identification Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from property line; no protrusion over ROW. | One per bordering street. | Park entrances/border streets. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(a) (regulated per e(1)); Subd. 11.e(1)(c) |
| Subdivision Plat Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | General setbacks apply. | Up to 2. | Dedicated street entrances. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(a) (regulated per e(1)); Subd. 11.e(1)(d) |
| Wall Sign - Option 1 | — | — | — | General setbacks apply. | 1 wall sign (paired with 1 freestanding sign under Option 1). | On building façade. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(b) |
| Wall Sign - Option 2 | — | — | — | General setbacks apply. | Up to 2 wall signs total (no freestanding sign with this option). | On building façade(s). | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business) - Option 1 | 15 ft | — | — | ≥5 ft from property line; no protrusion over ROW. | 1 per lot (under Option 1). | On the lot; must comply with setback and no protrusion over ROW. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(b) |

### General Commercial District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Area Identification Sign (Monument Type Only) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from property line; no protrusion over ROW. | One per bordering street (where applicable). | Dedicated street entrance(s); one per bordering street for developments of 20+ units. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(a) (regulated per e(1)); Subd. 11.e(1)(a) |
| Institution Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from property line; no protrusion over ROW. | One. | On institution property. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(a) (regulated per e(1)); Subd. 11.e(1)(b) |
| Park Identification Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from property line; no protrusion over ROW. | One per bordering street. | Park entrances/border streets. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(a) (regulated per e(1)); Subd. 11.e(1)(c) |
| Subdivision Plat Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | General setbacks apply. | Up to 2. | Dedicated street entrances. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(a) (regulated per e(1)); Subd. 11.e(1)(d) |
| Wall Sign - Option 1 | — | — | — | General setbacks apply. | 1 wall sign (paired with 1 freestanding sign under Option 1). | On building façade. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(b) |
| Wall Sign - Option 2 | — | — | — | General setbacks apply. | Up to 2 wall signs total (no freestanding sign with this option). | On building façade(s). | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business) - Option 1 | 15 ft | — | — | ≥5 ft from property line; no protrusion over ROW. | 1 per lot (under Option 1). | On the lot; must comply with setback and no protrusion over ROW. | — | Subd. 11.e(2)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Shorewood

- Signs that obstruct the vision of drivers or pedestrians or detract from the visibility of any official traffic-control device are prohibited.
- Signs that contain or imitate an official traffic sign or signal are prohibited, except private on-premise directional signs.
- Signs that move, rotate, have moving parts, or give the illusion of motion are prohibited; exemptions include time and temperature displays and barber poles, and moving message signs may be allowed only when messages are primarily nonadvertising news/public announcements.
- Banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or similar devices are prohibited except holiday signs and those allowed by a temporary sign permit.
- Portable signs are prohibited except as allowed under a temporary sign permit.
- Attaching signs to trees, fences, utility poles, or similar permanent supports is prohibited.
- Flashing or intermittent illumination and animation are prohibited; lighting must be shielded to avoid glare to drivers, may not interfere with or obscure official traffic signs or signals, and may not be directed onto a lake so as to interfere with navigation.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- No portion of any sign may be located within five feet of any property line.
- No signs (other than governmental signs and political campaign signs as specified) may be erected or temporarily placed within any street right-of-way or upon public lands, easements, or rights-of-way.
- No sign or sign structure may protrude over a public right-of-way.
- Obsolete signs (signs that no longer advertise or identify a business/service/product on the premises) must be removed within 60 days from the date of vacancy.

## Signs exempt from permit in Shorewood

- Signs allowed without a city sign permit (must comply with other provisions): public signs; address signs; integral signs; political campaign signs (with size, identification, location, and timing limits); holiday signs (displayed ≤30 days and ≤32 sq ft); construction signs (on-site only, removed within 2 years or upon completion, one per major street frontage, ≤50 sq ft); real estate sale/rental signs (removed within 14 days after sale/rental; size and quantity limits, with special allowances for corner and lakeshore lots); informational/directional signs (≤3 sq ft); one residential owner-occupant name sign (≤2 sq ft).
- Traffic signs and the flag, emblem, or insignia of a nation, political unit, school, or religious group, and integral signs are exempt from these sign regulations.
- Interior signs are not regulated unless their face is visible from the exterior of the building.
- Governmental signs and political campaign signs (as specified) are exempt from the general prohibition on placement within street rights-of-way or on public lands/easements/rights-of-way.
- Exemptions to specific prohibitions: time and temperature displays and barber poles may employ motion/animation; moving message signs may be permitted when messages are primarily nonadvertising news/public announcements; private on-premise directional signs may resemble official signs to the extent permitted; holiday signs and signs authorized by a temporary sign permit may use banners/pennants, and portable signs may be used when authorized by a temporary sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs requiring a permit are subject to review and approval by the City Council before permit issuance.
- Temporary signs, searchlights, banners, pennants, and similar devices require a temporary sign permit (valid for 7 consecutive days, permit must be displayed; maximum of two temporary permits per property in any 12‑month period; temporary signs ≤32 sq ft).
- For shopping centers or sites with two or more business uses in C-2 through C-4 districts, a conditional use permit may be granted for the entire center based on an overall site and signage plan indicating the size, location, and height of all signs; under this CUP a shopping center may have two freestanding identification signs.
- In Planned Unit Developments (PUDs), signs must be approved by the City Council for each development and be consistent with the requirements of the district most closely associated with each use; for PUDs of 20 acres or more, larger construction signs may be allowed subject to City approval.

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

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