# Sign Regulations in Worthington, Minnesota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Worthington, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/worthington
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Worthington, Minnesota regulates 20 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Scoreboard (over 32 ft/500 sq ft or video display)s in the Residential Districts, Special Districts zoning district are capped at 45 ft tall and 1,000 sq ft (or up to 2,000 sq ft per § 153.21(E)), with a At least 50 ft from adjacent property lines setback (Sec. § 153.21(C)-(E)). Most commercial signs in Worthington require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts, Special Districts | 6 | 45 ft | 1,000 sq ft (or up to 2,000 sq ft per § 153.21(E)) | — |
| Commercial Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4) | 6 | Up to allowed district maximum (40 ft in B-3/B-4), one sign per lot or group under common ownership unless 500 ft separation. | 500 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts | 4 | Up to 45 ft (CUP required above 32 ft) | Up to 1,000 sq ft (CUP required above 500 sq ft) | — |
| Institutional Districts | 3 | Up to 45 ft (CUP for over 32 ft) | Up to 1,000 sq ft (CUP required for over 500 sq ft/32 ft high or with video display) | — |
| Transition Zone District | 2 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft; 400 sq ft for I-90 | — |
| Natural Features Districts | 3 | 45 ft | 1000 sq ft (or up to 2000 sq ft per §153.21(E)) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 32 sq ft (residential); 64 sq ft (all other districts), total per frontage | — |

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

### Residential Districts, Special Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (outside required front yard setback) | 8.5 ft | 50 sq ft (total per frontage) | — | — | No more than two per frontage | Outside of required front yard setback area, one per frontage | — | § 153.20(A), § 153.17 |
| Freestanding Sign (in required front yard setback) | 5 ft | 50 sq ft (total per frontage) | — | — | No more than two per frontage | Within required front yard setback, one per frontage | — | § 153.20(A), § 153.17 |
| Wall Sign | — | Included in 50 sq ft total | — | — | No more than two per frontage (combined total with other types) | On building, per frontage | — | § 153.20(A), § 153.17, § 153.04(E), § 153.30 |
| Scoreboard (<16 ft high or <200 sq ft area) | 16 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | No explicit maximum, but one per athletic field for larger scoreboards. | Athletic fields | — | § 153.21(A), (D) |
| Scoreboard (<32 ft high or <500 sq ft area) | 32 ft | 500 sq ft | — | — | One per athletic field | Athletic fields | — | § 153.21(B), (D) |
| Scoreboard (over 32 ft/500 sq ft or video display) | 45 ft | 1,000 sq ft (or up to 2,000 sq ft per § 153.21(E)) | — | At least 50 ft from adjacent property lines | Maximums as stated | Athletic fields, at least 50 ft from adjacent property lines | — | § 153.21(C)-(E) |

### Commercial Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Standard) | 12 ft (B-1), 30 ft (B-2), 40 ft (B-3, B-4) | 50 sq ft (B-1), 200 sq ft (B-2, B-3, B-4); name/logo signs exempt | — | — | — | On building, facing permitted frontage | — | § 153.20(B),(C), § 153.17(A) |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft (B-1), 30 ft (B-2), 40 ft (B-3, B-4) | 50 sq ft (B-1), 200 sq ft (B-2, B-3, B-4) | — | Sign height shall not exceed sign setback from abutting residential properties. | No explicit per-type maximum, but total lot area controls. | On lot | — | § 153.20(B), Table: Maximum Sign Area/Height |
| Off-premises Sign (On-premises: Standard, Off-premises: Option, B-3 and B-4 only) | Up to allowed district maximum (40 ft in B-3/B-4), one sign per lot or group under common ownership unless 500 ft separation. | 200 sq ft, except along I-90 allowed 400 sq ft | — | — | One per lot/group under common ownership unless 500 ft separation | Commercial/Industrial zoning or Transition Zone (area designated for future development) | — | § 153.20(D) |
| Projecting Sign/Awning/Marquee (B-2 District Only) | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Over sidewalk in B-2 only | — | § 153.20(C) |
| Scoreboard (<16 ft high or <200 sq ft area) | 16 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Athletic fields | — | § 153.21(A)-(D) |
| Scoreboard (<32 ft high or <500 sq ft area) | 32 ft | 500 sq ft | — | — | One per athletic field | Athletic fields | — | § 153.21(B)-(D) |

### Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Standard) | 40 ft | 400 sq ft; if name/logo only, no maximum | — | Sign height no greater than setback from residential property lines. | — | On building | — | § 153.20(B), (Table) |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — | Sign height no greater than setback from residential property lines. | — | On lot | — | § 153.20(B), (Table) |
| Off-Premises Sign | Up to 40 ft | 400 sq ft (along I-90) | — | — | One per lot/group unless 500 ft apart | On-site or off-premises within Industrial District | — | § 153.20(D) |
| Scoreboard (All types) | Up to 45 ft (CUP required above 32 ft) | Up to 1,000 sq ft (CUP required above 500 sq ft) | — | 50 ft from adjacent property lines (large/video display type); General: see § 153.21(D) | See scoreboard restrictions | Athletic fields. Must face field of play. | — | § 153.21(A)-(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Worthington

- No sign shall be attached to trees or utility poles.
- No sign shall be placed in a public right-of-way, and no sign shall overhang the public right-of-way except in the B-2 Zoning District in conformance with § 153.20(C).
- No sign shall be installed which by reason of position, movement, shape, illumination or color would constitute a traffic hazard by obstructing a driver's vision or by interfering, confusing or misleading traffic.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Painted wall signs are prohibited.
- All other signs not expressly permitted by this chapter are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Worthington

- Public signs, street signs, warning signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public service companies for the purpose of safety.
- Private traffic directional signs of not over eight square feet; such signs shall not be placed in the public right-of-way.
- Decorative banners attached to light poles, provided such decorative banners are part of a community promotion program approved by the right-of-way authority.
- Signs containing the name and logo of a business located on public right-of-way, when part of a logo signing program conducted by the right-of-way authority.
- Temporary portable special events signs in residential districts, when such signs are used to announce weddings, anniversaries, graduation parties, real estate open houses or similar special events, do not exceed 32 square feet in area, are not displayed for more than 72 hours in any 30-day period, and are not located in the public right-of-way.
- Temporary political campaign signs.
- Temporary real estate signs pertaining only to the sale, rental or development of the premises upon which displayed.
- Construction signs designating the architects, lending institutions, engineers or contractors, when placed on a site where construction is to begin within 90 days.
- Temporary window signs in a commercial or industrial district.
- Other exterior temporary signs of under 20 square feet.
- Signs approved on a site plan submitted for review under §§ 155.160 through 155.171 of this title.
- Informational signs not exceeding two square feet in area displayed strictly for the convenience of the public, including signs which identify rest rooms, waste receptacles, addresses, doorbells, mailboxes or building entrances; such signs shall not be placed in public right-of-way.
- Memorial plaques, cornerstones and historical tablets.
- Wall, marquee, awning or canopy signs giving the name, logo or profession of a business, provided the sign does not exceed four square feet in area.
- Sponsorship signs within parks or adjacent to recreational trails, provided such sign does not exceed four square feet in area, any commercial message is limited to the name or logo of a business sponsoring said park or recreational trail, the message on such sign is not legible from property used for residential purposes, and the sign is not placed in public right-of-way.
- Signs advertising a short-term sale accessory to a residence, such as a rummage or garage sale, provided such signs are not in place for more than 72 hours, there are no more than two signs per street frontage on a lot, no sign is greater than four square feet in area, and no sign is placed in a public right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter, replace or relocate any sign or other advertising structure without first obtaining a permit and paying the required fees, except as herein otherwise provided.
- Signs approved on a site plan submitted for review under §§ 155.160 through 155.171 of this title are exempt from permit and permit fee requirements, but must comply with the other requirements of this chapter.
- An application for a sign permit shall include a drawing of the plans, specifications and method of construction or attachment.
- Any replacement of a static commercial sign or expansion of a scoreboard shall require a new sign permit.
- Permit requirements may be waived by the Zoning Administrator where not applicable.

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

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