# Sign Regulations in West Saint Paul, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Saint Paul, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/west-saint-paul
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

West Saint Paul, Minnesota regulates 34 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Real Estate/Leasing Sign (Existing Bldg, Business/Industrial) - Freestanding (Option 1, 2, or 3)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall, 12-18 sq ft (as above); width max 6 ft; height max 8 ft. Optionally, up to 32 sq ft in some cases., and 6 ft wide, with a 10 ft from all lot lines setback (Sec. § 150.110(D)(2)(a)-(3)). Most commercial signs in West Saint Paul require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R Districts | 7 | 36 inches (if ground mounted) | 32 sq ft | — |
| B-1 Districts | 6 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft (per sign); wall coverage max 10% of tenant wall | — |
| B-2 Districts | 2 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| B-3, B-5, B-6 Districts | 3 | 10 ft | 70 sq ft (if co-located with property signage); otherwise 50 sq ft | — |
| B-4 Districts | 3 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft (aggregate for all monument signs in one B-4 district); Individual signs not to exceed 200 sq ft | — |
| I-1 District | 2 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| I-2 Districts | 7 | 80 ft | 700 sq ft | — |
| C District | 3 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — |

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

### R Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 36 inches (if ground mounted) | 10 sq ft (total cumulative gross area per lot) | — | — | 1 or multiple if total area ≤10 sq ft | On-premises; fences facing public r-o-w (not facing adjacent residential structure) | — | § 150.107(D), § 150.110(B)(1)(a)-(b), § 153.433(D), § 153.436(A), table in § 153.436(A) |
| Freestanding Sign (Property ≥1 acre) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all lot lines | 1 per lot ≥1 acre | At least 10 ft from all lot lines; must be anchored into ground and constructed of maintenance free materials | — | § 153.436(A)(3)(b)-(c) |
| Monument Sign (Property ≥1 acre) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all lot lines | 1 per lot ≥1 acre (as option) | At least 10 ft from all lot lines on property ≥1 acre | — | § 153.436(A)(3)(d) Option 1 |
| Non-electronic Changeable Copy Sign (Property ≥1 acre) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all lot lines | 1 per lot ≥1 acre (as option) | At least 10 ft from all lot lines on property ≥1 acre | — | § 153.436(A)(3)(d) Option 2 |
| Non-illuminated Awning/Canopy Sign (Property ≥1 acre) | 5 ft (awning/canopy height); min. clearance 8 ft (14 ft over sidewalk) | — | — | Not closer than 2 ft from street or highway right-of-way | 1 per lot ≥1 acre (as option) | First story of building only; not closer than 2 ft from street or highway right-of-way; not to extend above building wall | — | § 153.436(A)(3)(d) Option 3 |
| Wall Sign (Property ≥1 acre) | — | — | — | — | 1 per lot ≥1 acre (as option) | Attached to wall of building only | — | § 153.436(A)(3)(d) Option 4 |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign (Property ≥1 acre, Conditional Use) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all lot lines | 1 per lot ≥1 acre (as CUP) | At least 10 ft from all lot lines | — | § 153.436(A)(3)(e), § 153.435(H) |

### I-2 Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot lines | 1 per lot | Ground mounted | — | § 153.436(G)(1), Table |
| All I-1 District Permitted Signs | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | See I-1 | See I-1 | As I-1 | — | § 153.436(G)(2), Table |
| Electronic Graphic Display Sign (Conditional Use) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot lines | 1 per lot (subject to CUP) | As permitted, must meet general electronic sign rules | — | § 153.436(G)(3)(a) |
| Dynamic Display Sign (Conditional Use) | — | — | — | 10 ft from lot lines | — | As permitted, must meet general electronic sign rules | — | § 153.436(G)(3)(b) |
| Pylon Sign (Conditional Use) | 80 ft | 700 sq ft | — | 10 ft from lot lines | Multiple only by CUP | As permitted | — | § 153.436(G)(3)(c) |
| Off-Premises Sign (Conditional Use) | — | — | — | — | — | As permitted | — | § 153.436(G)(3)(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (More than one per lot, Conditional Use) | — | — | — | 10 ft from lot lines | More than 1 per lot by CUP | As permitted | — | § 153.436(G)(3)(e) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (Exempt) | 6 ft (per § 150.107(E)), 8 ft (per § 153.433(E)) | 6 sq ft | — | — | Not specified | On-premises | — | § 150.107(E), § 153.433(E) |
| Temporary Signs (Business/Industrial Districts - Existing Business/New Business/Temporary Commercial) | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all property lines for freestanding new construction; wall signs directly anchored to wall | 2 per lot per purpose for temporary events; 1 per street frontage for RE signs | On permittee’s property; must refer to on-premises business/activity | — | § 150.110(C)-(D) |
| Real Estate/Leasing Sign (Existing Bldg, Business/Industrial) - Freestanding (Option 1, 2, or 3) | 8 ft | 12-18 sq ft (as above); width max 6 ft; height max 8 ft. Optionally, up to 32 sq ft in some cases. | 6 ft | 10 ft from all lot lines | 1 per street frontage | Freestanding; 10 ft min from all property lines; one per street frontage | — | § 150.110(D)(2)(a)-(3) |
| Real Estate/Leasing Sign (Existing Bldg, Business/Industrial) - Wall Mounted (Option 1, 2, or 3) | — | 12-18 sq ft (wall sign) | — | — | 1 per property | Directly anchored to building wall; for 1-2 story bldgs | — | § 150.110(D)(2)(b)-(3) |
| Signs on Bus Shelters (Exempt) | — | — | — | — | — | On bus shelter | — | § 150.107(F), § 153.433(F) |
| Building Marker (Exempt) | — | — | — | — | — | On building, as described | — | § 150.107(A), § 153.433(A) |
| Noncommercial Flag (Exempt) | — | — | — | — | — | On property | — | § 150.107(B), § 153.433(B) |
| Official or Public Notices (Exempt) | — | — | — | — | — | As authorized by government | — | § 150.107(C), § 153.433(C) |

## Prohibited signs in West Saint Paul

- No person shall erect, alter, reconstruct or move any sign within the city without first obtaining a permit issued by the Building Official, unless otherwise exempted.
- No sign shall be erected, altered, reconstructed or moved in the city without first securing a permit from the city, unless exempted by ordinance.
- No sign shall be erected, altered, reconstructed, maintained or moved in such a manner as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any street or right-of-way or within 20 feet of an intersection that obstructs free and clear vision of any pedestrian or motorist, or at any location where its position, shape or color may interfere with, obstruct the view of, mislead or confuse pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- All signs constructed adjacent to or within ten feet of a street must have a smooth surface with no nails, tacks, or wires protruding, except for electrical reflectors and devices extending over the top and in front.
- No sign illuminated by floodlights or spotlights may extend over public property. Spotlights or floodlights directed away from the sign face are prohibited.
- No obscene material may be displayed upon any sign or sign structure.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Balloon signs are prohibited.
- Flags other than noncommercial flags are prohibited.
- Illegal signs are prohibited.
- Permanent banners or pennants are prohibited, except those allowed by specific Minnesota statute.
- Portable (trailer) signs are prohibited.
- Projecting signs other than awning or canopy signs that extend or project over the sidewalk, street right-of-way, or highway right-of-way are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Rotating signs are prohibited.
- Search lights or strobe lights on signs are prohibited.
- Signs containing audio speakers, except restaurant menu boards, or any form of pyrotechnics are prohibited.
- Signs painted, attached, or affixed to fences, roofs (other than integral roof signs), trees, rocks, posts or poles in the right-of-way, bridges, towers, or similar public structures are prohibited, except as otherwise specifically allowed.
- Signs that resemble traffic signs or signals in color or design, or use words, symbols, or characters in a manner that may mislead or confuse pedestrian or vehicular traffic, are prohibited.
- Signs affixed to inoperable vehicles or trailers, or to vehicles parked on a property and not intended to be moved for 48 hours or more, are prohibited. Vehicles with advertising/signs shall not be parked along the property frontage or Robert Street.
- Temporary signs are prohibited except by permit or by exemption for R Districts as outlined in the ordinance.
- Unsafe or inoperable signs are prohibited.
- Video display signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Saint Paul

- Building markers are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Noncommercial flags are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Official or public notices issued by a court or governmental agency are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Temporary signs six square feet or less in gross area located on property used as a residential use and located in an R District, and one temporary sign not exceeding ten square feet in an R District, provided cumulative area of all such signs does not exceed ten square feet, and none are taller than 36 inches above grade, are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Directional signs with a maximum height of six feet, using majority of sign area for the directional message, and no larger than six square feet, are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Signs on bus shelters are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Signs on a fence that face the public right-of-way, do not face an adjacent residential structure, do not cumulatively exceed ten square feet, and do not project above the top of the fence, are exempt from permitting requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no explicit requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan cited in the extracted text.
- Questions of term interpretation or conflicting provisions between the sign ordinance and zoning code are resolved by the Planning Commission acting as the Committee of Adjustments.
- Certain types of signs or sign locations (such as specific conditional use permits for electronic, off-premises, pylon, or dynamic display signs in various districts) may require a conditional use permit or variance process as described in corresponding district-specific regulations.

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

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