# Sign Regulations in Stillwater, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Stillwater, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/stillwater
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Stillwater/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH28ZO_ARTVPEST_DIV2RENOST_S28-348SIRE)

## At a glance

Stillwater, Minnesota regulates 27 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the CA, NC zoning district are capped at CA: 6 ft; NC: 5 ft tall and CA: 30 sq ft; NC: 15 sq ft, with a 15 ft setback (CA only) setback (Sec. Sec. 28-348(h)1.d). Most commercial signs in Stillwater require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RA, LR, TR, CR, RB, CTR, CCR, CTHR, RCM | 13 | 4 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (for up to 25 acres); up to 200 sq ft aggregate (26–50 acres, 1 or 2 signs); up to 300 sq ft aggregate (over 50 acres, up to 3 signs), no dimension exceeds 25 ft (exclusive of supports) | — |
| RCH | 4 | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| CA, NC | 7 | Parapet or eave of wall or 15 ft from base, whichever is less | CA: 30 sq ft; NC: 15 sq ft | — |
| BP-C, BP-O, BP-I, CMU, HMU | 6 | 25 ft (State Hwy 36); 20 ft (specified roads); 6 ft elsewhere | 120 sq ft per side | — |
| VC | 5 | 20 ft or parapet line, whichever is less | 100 sq ft per face, 200 sq ft max aggregate | — |
| CRD | 2 | 25 ft (on State Hwy 36), 20 ft elsewhere | 120 sq ft per side | — |
| PA, PROS, PWFD | 3 | 25 ft (on State Hwy 36); 20 ft elsewhere | 120 sq ft per side | — |
| DDR | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### RA, LR, TR, CR, RB, CTR, CCR, CTHR, RCM

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noncommercial Sign (outside election exemption period) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 28-348(f)2.b.1 |
| Political Sign (during election exemption period) | No limit | No limit | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 28-348(f)2.a |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 sq ft (single-family residential districts) | — | — | 1 per street | On construction site | — | Sec. 28-348(f)3 |
| Real Estate Development Project Sign | — | Up to 100 sq ft (for up to 25 acres); up to 200 sq ft aggregate (26–50 acres, 1 or 2 signs); up to 300 sq ft aggregate (over 50 acres, up to 3 signs), no dimension exceeds 25 ft (exclusive of supports) | — | — | See area summary | On project site | — | Sec. 28-348(f)4.c |
| Nameplate Sign (1–5 units) | — | 2 sq ft per structure | — | — | 1 per structure | Wall-mounted | — | Sec. 28-348(f)5.a |
| Nameplate Sign (6+ units) | — | 6 sq ft per surface | — | — | 1 per dwelling group | Wall-mounted | — | Sec. 28-348(f)5.b |
| Garage Sale Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Not on right-of-way, parks, or public property | — | Sec. 28-327(c) |
| Bed and Breakfast Identification Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per B&B | On site | — | Sec. 28-325(a)(4) |

### CA, NC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noncommercial Sign (outside election exemption period) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 28-348(f)2.b.1 |
| Political Sign (during election exemption period) | No limit | No limit | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 28-348(f)2.a |
| Wall Sign | Parapet or eave of wall or 15 ft from base, whichever is less | — | — | — | 1 per street building face | Wall-mounted, per business | — | Sec. 28-348(h)1.b |
| Freestanding Sign | CA: 6 ft; NC: 5 ft | CA: 30 sq ft; NC: 15 sq ft | — | 15 ft setback (CA only) | 1 per business/business face | Any required yard; 15 ft setback from vehicular access, public roadway, property line (CA only) | — | Sec. 28-348(h)1.d |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Not above or below awning/canopy | — | — | — | — | On awning/canopy | — | Sec. 28-348(h)1.e |
| Three-dimensional Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 28-348(h)1.f |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Oriented to sidewalk/pedestrian view | — | Sec. 28-348(h)1.g |

### BP-C, BP-O, BP-I, CMU, HMU

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft from base or parapet, whichever is less | — | — | — | 1 per building face | Outermost wall | — | Sec. 28-348(h)2.b |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft (State Hwy 36); 20 ft (specified roads); 6 ft elsewhere | 100 sq ft/face, 200 sq ft total | — | 15 ft | 1 per development site | 15 ft setback from front/side property line | — | Sec. 28-348(h)2.c |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | Not above the top of awning/canopy | — | — | — | — | Affixed to or on awning/canopy/marquee | — | Sec. 28-348(h)2.d |
| Multitenant Master Sign (<40,000 sq ft building) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Freestanding | — | Sec. 28-348(h)2.e.1 |
| Multitenant Master Sign (40,000–100,000 sq ft building) | 20 ft | 75 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per building | Freestanding | — | Sec. 28-348(h)2.e.2 |
| Multitenant Master Sign (>100,000 sq ft building) | 25 ft | 120 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per building | Freestanding | — | Sec. 28-348(h)2.e.3 |

## Prohibited signs in Stillwater

- No sign or sign structure may be erected or maintained if it prevents free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape, or is attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- A sign must not be erected, positioned, or maintained so as to obstruct the architectural features of a building.
- All signs must be compatible with the building and neighborhood where located, including any approved building sign plan.
- No signs may be erected or temporarily placed within any right-of-way, upon public lands or easements without approval from the Community Development Director or designee, except for public signs, signs approved by the City Council pursuant to an event permit, and signs allowed by encroachment agreement.
- The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts: Abandoned signs; Any sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or resembles any official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or emergency vehicle signs, or which attempts to direct movement of traffic or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal; Any sign that obstructs the vision of drivers or pedestrians or detracts from the visibility of any official traffic control device; Off-premises commercial signs; Billboard signs; Any sign that moves or rotates, except barber poles; Signs that display any moving parts, are illuminated with any flashing or intermittent lights or are animated; Roof signs; Any sign with banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, string or light bulbs, spinners or similar devices, except where used for noncommercial purposes or as part of an approved sign application; Portable signs including signs with wheels removed, attached temporarily or permanently to the ground; Signs mounted on a vehicle for promotional purposes, parked and visible from the public right-of-way, except signs identifying the related business when the vehicle is being used on the normal day-to-day operations of that business; Signs painted, attached or in any other manner affixed to trees, rocks, or similar natural surfaces, directly on building walls, or attached to public utility poles, telephone cables or wires, bridges, towers, or similar public structures or the supports thereof; Illuminated signs or spotlights giving off an intermittent or rotating beam; Revolving beacons, beamed lights or similar devices; Hot air, gas filled or inflated objects used for commercial speech; Signs supported by guy wires; Signs in a state of disrepair.
- All signs must be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural condition at all times, including the replacement of defective parts, cleaning and other items required for maintenance of the sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Stillwater

- The following signs shall not require a permit and are allowed in every zoning district: Public signs and integral signs; Noncommercial signs (with provisions for exemption during election periods and regulated outside those periods); Construction signs (subject to location, size, and duration limits); Real estate signs (subject to size and removal limits); Nameplate signs; Window signs covering no more than one-third of the window area; Garage and rummage sale signs (if they comply with Section 28-327(c)).
- Temporary signs for noncommercial purposes such as elections are exempt from regulation during specified periods (general election: 46 days before the state primary to 10 days after the general election; for special elections: 13 weeks before to 10 days after).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An approved building sign plan is required if there is more than one business or use in a building (as part of the sign permit application).
- Where a principal building is devoted to two or more permitted uses, the operator of each use may install a wall sign for its use consistent with a building sign plan approved by the City. The total gross signage for the entire building is subject to maximums as described in the ordinance.
- Multi-tenant wall signs and master identification signs require a coordinated sign plan to achieve a unified signage appearance in heights, widths, depths, coloring and lettering, including use of common lettering style and color scheme.
- In certain districts, design review or adherence to adopted design guidelines is required for signs (e.g., Downtown, Village Commercial, graphic design signs in DDR and NC).
- Temporary signs that do not conform to the requirements of this section may be approved by the City Council as part of an event permit.

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

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