# Sign Regulations in Waconia, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Waconia, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/waconia
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Waconia/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_PTXIXZO_CH900ZOOR_S900.10SIRE)

## At a glance

Waconia, Minnesota regulates 28 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Monument Sign (General)s in the B-1 Highway Business District (B-1), B-4 Health Care Business District (B-4) zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall, 40-60 sq ft (see formula), and 15 ft wide, with a Minimum 10 feet from public right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.C.1). Most commercial signs in Waconia require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Single-Family Residential District (R-1), R-2 Single-Family Residential District (R-2), R-4 Mixed Residential District (R-4), A Agricultural District (A), P Public District (P), C Conservation District (C), Shoreland Overlay District | 5 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| R-3 Medium-Density Residential District (R-3), R-5 High Density Residential District (R-5) | 4 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| B-1 Highway Business District (B-1), B-4 Health Care Business District (B-4) | 5 | 15 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| B-2 General Business District (B-2), B-3 Central Business District (B-3) | 6 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| I-1 Industrial Park District (I-1), I-2 General Industrial District (I-2) | 4 | 8 ft | 60 sq ft (100 sq ft for multi-tenant, 50 sq ft max per tenant) | — |
| F-1 Fairgrounds District (F-1) | 2 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Development District (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Floodway District (overlay) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Flood Fringe District (overlay) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Floodplain District (overlay) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Shoreland Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### B-1 Highway Business District (B-1), B-4 Health Care Business District (B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (General) | 15 ft | 40-60 sq ft (see formula) | 15 ft | Minimum 10 feet from public right-of-way | 1 per premises of record | Must be on the frontage calculated and not closer than 10 feet to any public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.C.1 |
| Wall Sign (General) | — | Up to 10% of building face per wall sign (or as specified per option) | — | — | As per option chosen and tenant limitation | On building faces. | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.C.2 |
| Development Identification Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | 15 ft | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way. | Max 2 per development | Not closer than 10 feet to any public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.C.3 |
| Directional Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 3 per premises | — | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.C.5 |
| Auto Service Station Canopy Sign | — | 10% of canopy face area | — | — | — | Gas pump island canopy | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.C.4 |

### B-2 General Business District (B-2), B-3 Central Business District (B-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (General) | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | 6 ft | — | 1 per premises of record | — | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.D.1 |
| Wall Sign (General) | — | — | — | — | 1 per face, max 2 per building | On each building face; for multi-tenant, up to two per tenant on separate building faces. | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.D.2 |
| Auto Service Station Canopy Sign | — | 10% of canopy face | — | — | — | Gas pump island canopy | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.D.3 |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | Discretion of city | — | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.D.4 |
| Awning Sign | — | 8 sq ft (reduces wall sign area permitted sq ft-for-sq ft) | — | — | 1 per premises of record | Awnings min. height: 8 ft (wooden) or 6.5 ft (cloth) above sidewalk/street | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.D.5 |
| Sidewalk Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | — | 1.5 ft | — | 1 per building frontage | On sidewalk in front of building (must not limit pedestrian use) | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 4.D.6 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Temporary Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft (lower in residential/shorland zones) | 15 ft | 10 ft from boundary/right-of-way | 1 per premises at a time | Private property, at least 10 ft from lot lines or right-of-way | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 3.D |
| Banner | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | see chart | On wall of building/structure | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 3.E |
| Temporary Sale or Lease Sign | 8 ft | 9 sq ft (R-1, R-2, R-4, Agric., Conservation, Shoreland); 18 sq ft (R-3, R-5); 32 sq ft (B/I/Public) | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 3.F |
| Special Event Sign (Temporary) | — | 9 sq ft (residential/shorland/agri), 18 sq ft (R-3/R-5), 32 sq ft (B/I/Public) | — | — | 1 per premises, max 3 per event in city | — | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 3.I |
| Garage Sale Sign (Temporary) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Not in public right-of-way/easement | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 3.G |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 900.10, Subd. 3.H |

## Prohibited signs in Waconia

- Signs in, upon or projecting into any public right-of-way or easement, excepting government signs typically found in a public right-of-way or easement (e.g. traffic control and street signs).
- Off-premises commercial signs (including billboards and other outdoor advertising).
- Banners, except as expressly allowed by these regulations.
- Signs painted, attached, or in any manner affixed to trees, rocks or similar natural surfaces.
- Signs painted directly on the wall or roof of a building or other structure.
- Signs that obstruct any window, door, fire escape or opening intended to provide ingress or egress to any building or other structure.
- Pylon signs.
- Signs that fly or float, such as blimps or kites, whether attached or unattached to the ground or an object thereon.
- Signs on a vehicle or trailer where the primary purpose of the vehicle or trailer in that location is its use as a sign.
- Portable signs, except for freestanding temporary signs as expressly allowed by these regulations.
- Signs that interfere with the ability of vehicle operators or pedestrians to see traffic signs or signals or signs that interfere with the ability of vehicle operators or pedestrians to see other traffic.
- Abandoned signs.
- Roof signs.
- Signs mounted on a dock or flotation device attached to a dock.
- Dynamic signs that are not permitted dynamic signs.
- Signs that contain or are an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal.
- Any sign not expressly permitted by the provisions of these sign regulations, other than a nonconforming existing sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Waconia

- Directional signs, address signs, and traffic control signs and street signs placed by a governmental entity in a public right-of-way are exempt from both permit and fee requirements, but subject to all other provisions of these sign regulations.
- Special event signs and banners are exempt from fees, but subject to all other provisions of these sign regulations.
- Noncommercial signs posted on private property during a political campaign in compliance with Minn. Stat. § 211B.045 are exempt from the permit, fee, and other requirements to the extent preempted by state law; these sign regulations apply to such signs in all other circumstances.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The city council may recognize separate sign plans for planned unit developments (PUD) and large developments that will supersede these regulations. To qualify as a large development, the development must include a commercial use of three or more principal structures with common characteristics, as determined by the city, or a platted residential use of twenty or more lots with common characteristics, as determined by the city.
- Any such sign plan approved by the city council will have the effect of a sign ordinance for the applicable premises of record. Such an individual sign plan will only be considered if: (i) the development includes a substantial site area and/or the sign plan is necessary to address the unique visibility needs of the development; and (ii) the city council finds that the sign plan meets the purpose and intent of these regulations.
- In PUD (Planned Unit Development), signage variances may be approved provided a sign plan is approved with the development plan. Generally, section 900.10, Sign Regulations, will be used as a guide in evaluating the signage plan.

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

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