# Sign Regulations in Watertown, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Watertown, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/watertown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MN/Watertown/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_CH48SI)

## At a glance

Watertown, Minnesota regulates 19 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the R-1, R-2 zoning districts (low and medium density residential, and including all other residential districts), Residential zoning district zoning district are capped at 4 sq. ft., with a 10' setback (Sec. Sec. 48-15, Table 1). Most commercial signs in Watertown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2 zoning districts (low and medium density residential, and including all other residential districts), Residential zoning district | 8 | 24 inches for individually mounted letters | 50 sq. ft. or 10% of bldg area (whichever is less) | — |
| R-3, R-4 zoning districts (high density residential and manufactured housing) | 6 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| A-1 zoning districts (agriculture) | 7 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| P-1, P-2 zoning districts (parks/open space, public building or facility) | 1 | As approved by zoning administrator | As approved by zoning administrator | — |
| C-1, C-2, I-1 zoning districts (limited commerce, general commerce, light industrial) | 9 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| C-3 CBD zoning district (central business district), Central business district | 12 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 5 ft.; height may increase 1 ft. per 2 ft. setback beyond minimum, max 12 ft.; vertical distance between sign face and base cannot exceed 12 inches | 100 SF per face (200 SF total) | — |

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

### R-1, R-2 zoning districts (low and medium density residential, and including all other residential districts), Residential zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fascia Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | Front: 10'; Side: 5'; Rear: 10' | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Lawn Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | Front: 10'; Side: 5'; Rear: 10' | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Window Sign | — | 1/3 of window area | — | — | 1 per window | Window | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1; Sec. 48-14(6) |
| Temporary Banner | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | Front: 10'; Side: 5'; Rear: 10' | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1; Sec. 48-31 |
| Residential Monument Sign (for unified residential areas with 6 or more units) | 8 ft. | Copy and Graphic: 32 sq. ft.; Monument: 75 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per primary entrance; max 2 if multiple entrances | At primary entrances to subdivision; must be on dedicated permanent sign easement, not in public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 48-19(1)(b) |
| Monument Sign (Institutional Uses – Conditional) | 8 ft. | Copy and Graphic: 32 sq. ft.; Monument: 75 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 48-19(1)(c)(1)(i) |
| Building Sign (Institutional Uses – Conditional) | 24 inches for individually mounted letters | 50 sq. ft. or 10% of bldg area (whichever is less) | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 48-19(1)(c)(1)(ii) |

### C-1, C-2, I-1 zoning districts (limited commerce, general commerce, light industrial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fascia Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Awning Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per awning | Awning | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Painted Wall Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Wall Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | Front: 10'; Side: 5'; Rear: 10' | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Lawn Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | Front: 10'; Side: 5'; Rear: 10' | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Temporary Banner | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | Front: 10'; Side: 5'; Rear: 10' | 1 per building | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1; Sec. 48-31 |
| Window Sign | — | 1/3 of window area | — | — | 1 per window | Window | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1; Sec. 48-14(6) |

### C-3 CBD zoning district (central business district), Central business district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fascia Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per unit | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1; Sec. 48-19(2)g |
| Awning Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per awning | Awning | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | Front: 0'; Side: 5'; Rear: 10' | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Lawn Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | Front: 0'; Side: 5'; Rear: 10' | 1 per parcel | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1 |
| Window Sign | — | 1/3 of window area | — | — | 1 per window | Window | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1; Sec. 48-14(6) |
| Temporary Banner | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | Front: 0'; Side: 5'; Rear: 10' | 1 per building | — | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1; Sec. 48-31 |
| Portable Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business | Building shy zone per downtown design standards | — | Sec. 48-15, Table 1; Sec. 48-4(2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | Regulation does not count projecting signage in total for the building; must meet other size/extension requirements. | — | Must be setback 2 ft from face of curb or street surface. | 1 per storefront | Right angle from building face. | — | Sec. 48-19(2)a,b; Sec. 48-23 |

## Prohibited signs in Watertown

- Signs that obstruct the vision of drivers or pedestrians or detract from the visibility of official traffic-control devices, including indoor signs visible from public streets.
- Permanent balloon signs.
- Portable signs, except as allowed for temporary signs (as defined in section 48-12).
- Unofficial traffic signs or signals, or signs that imitate, resemble, or interfere with official traffic lights, signs, or signals.
- Signs with moving parts, moving lighting or animation, including illuminated signs with flashing or intermittent lights, changing light intensity, spotlights with intermittent or rotating beams, revolving beacons, beamed lights, or animated signs. (Exceptions: allowable changeable copy signs; barbershop poles; static time, temperature, and price information changing as needed.)
- Signs erected, constructed or structurally altered without a permit.
- Roof signs.
- Hazardous signs (structurally unsafe, not in good repair, or capable of causing electrical shock).
- Billboards.
- Signs with obscene, indecent, or immoral matter that is prurient in content or nature or exhibition.
- Painted wall signs, including signs painted on the face of a structure. (Works of art which are not commercial messages are exempt.)
- Signs that make noise.
- Signs mounted or painted on vehicles when the vehicle is parked or stored on property or adjacent rights-of-way in a manner to identify a business or advertise a product.
- Off-premises signs.
- No sign shall emit audible sound, noticeable odor, or smoke or other visible matter.
- No sign shall be permitted to obstruct or interfere with the free use of any door, window, fire escape, or impair operation of any opening required for light or ventilation.
- No sign may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be designed to be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device. Signs may not imitate official traffic signs or use words, phrases, symbols, or characters that mislead or confuse those in transit.
- Signs or supporting structures not used for 180 consecutive days must be removed as abandoned signs.
- Proposals for signs where the code is silent, or where the rules of this chapter do not provide a basis for concluding the sign is allowed, are prohibited.
- Affixing or placing any picture, sign, signboard, or poster on any city-owned property, easement, or public right-of-way or on structures such as posts, utility poles, fire escapes, hydrants, curbs, sidewalks, trees, lamp posts, or similar structures on or over public property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Watertown

- Signs that are in existence and are being re-erected following sign repair and sign maintenance.
- Signs indicating building addresses, per requirements of state fire code.
- Non-commercial speech signs consistent with table 1 and in accordance with M.S.A. § 211B.045.
- Signs located within the confines of a building that are not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, civic or service organizations, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger or emergency signs, safety and general welfare signs, and other signs as approved by the zoning administrator.
- Window signage that does not cover more than one-third of the total area of the window in which the sign is displayed.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A building sign plan is required for buildings with more than one use or business, showing all signs, and must be approved by the zoning administrator (Sec. 48-13(2)(d)1.vi).
- A freestanding sign plan is required for a building with more than one use or business, showing all signs on a given property (Sec. 48-13(2)(d)2.iv).
- If more than one use or business is on the property, a sign plan must be submitted showing all signs on the property (Sec. 48-13(2)(g)).
- All signage within multi-tenant buildings shall be consistent in design and construction (Sec. 48-20(b)).
- Changeable copy signs require approval by City Council following a public hearing held by the planning commission (Sec. 48-24).
- Appeals of sign permit denials are considered by the planning commission following a public hearing, with recommendation to city council for final determination (Sec. 48-32).

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

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