# Sign Regulations in Abbotsford, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Abbotsford, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/abbotsford
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-06
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.cityofabbotsfordwi.gov/ordinances#page=93)

## At a glance

Abbotsford, Wisconsin regulates 40 sign types across 8 zoning districts. For Sale/Rent Signs in the Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5) zoning district are capped at 15 feet attached to building or 7 feet freestanding tall and 8 square feet, with a 8 feet from other zoning lots setback (Sec. Sec. 13-1-145(b)). Most commercial signs in Abbotsford require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5) | 17 | 15 feet or 1 story above curb level | 32 square feet | — |
| Planned Unit Development (Residential) | 17 | 15 feet or 1 story above curb level | 32 square feet | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3) | 20 | 4 feet above roof line or district maximum height | 150 square feet | — |
| Industrial District (I-1) | 20 | 4 feet above roof line or district maximum height | 150 square feet | — |
| Planned Unit Development (Commercial/Industrial) | 20 | 4 feet above roof line or district maximum height | 150 square feet | — |
| Agricultural District (A-1) | 20 | 15 feet or 1 story above curb level | 32 square feet | — |
| Conservancy District (C-1) | 18 | 15 feet or 1 story above curb level | 32 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | Minimum 10 feet above ground | 25 square feet per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign - Residential | 15 feet or 1 story above curb level | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit (2 on corner) | Affixed flat against the wall of the building | — | Sec. 13-1-145(a) |
| For Sale/Rent Sign | 15 feet attached to building or 7 feet freestanding | 8 square feet | — | 8 feet from other zoning lots | 1 per lot (2 on corner) | On the premises advertised | — | Sec. 13-1-145(b) |
| Parking Area Sign - Entrance/Exit | 7 feet above curb level | 2 square feet | — | Not beyond property line | 1 per entrance/exit | Designating entrances or exits | — | Sec. 13-1-145(c)(1) |
| Parking Area Sign - Conditions of Use | 7 feet above curb level | 9 square feet | — | Not beyond property line | 1 per parking area (2 on corner) | On parking area | — | Sec. 13-1-145(c)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Subdivision Development | 5 feet above curb level | 32 square feet | — | 50 feet from all other site boundaries | 2 per subdivision | Observing front yard requirement | — | Sec. 13-1-145(e) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 6 feet above curb level | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 13-1-145(f) |
| Church Bulletin Sign | 15 feet or 1 story above curb level | 16 square feet | — | 8 feet from other zoning lots | 1 per lot (2 on corner) | On premises | — | Sec. 13-1-145(g) |
| On-Premise Sign - Public or Semipublic Use | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises | — | Sec. 13-1-144(b)(6) |

### Agricultural District (A-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directory Sign - Type 1 | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 2 per use per approaching street direction | At right-of-way line of the street | — | Sec. 13-1-144(b)(1) |
| Nameplate Sign - Nonresidential | 15 feet or 1 story above curb level | 9 square feet | — | — | 1 per building (2 on corner) | Affixed flat against the wall of the building | — | Sec. 13-1-145(a)(2) |
| For Sale/Rent Sign | 15 feet attached to building or 7 feet freestanding | 8 square feet | — | 8 feet from other zoning lots | 1 per lot (2 on corner) | On the premises advertised | — | Sec. 13-1-145(b) |
| Parking Area Sign - Entrance/Exit | 7 feet above curb level | 2 square feet | — | Not beyond property line | 1 per entrance/exit | Designating entrances or exits | — | Sec. 13-1-145(c)(1) |
| Parking Area Sign - Conditions of Use | 7 feet above curb level | 9 square feet | — | Not beyond property line | 1 per parking area (2 on corner) | On parking area | — | Sec. 13-1-145(c)(1) |
| Roadside Stand Sign | 15 feet above curb level | 12 square feet | — | 50 feet from any other zoning lot | 2 per lot | On same zoning lot as stand | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d) |
| Temporary Sign - Subdivision Development or Improvements | 5 feet above curb level | 32 square feet | — | 50 feet from all other site boundaries | 2 per development | Observing front yard requirement | — | Sec. 13-1-145(e) |
| Church Bulletin Sign | 15 feet or 1 story above curb level | 16 square feet | — | 8 feet from other zoning lots | 1 per lot (2 on corner) | On premises | — | Sec. 13-1-145(g) |

### Conservancy District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directory Sign - Type 1 | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 2 per use per approaching street direction | At right-of-way line of the street | — | Sec. 13-1-144(b)(1) |
| On-Premise Sign - Public or Semipublic Use - Type 6 | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises | — | Sec. 13-1-144(b)(6) |
| Nameplate Sign - Nonresidential | 15 feet or 1 story above curb level | 9 square feet | — | — | 1 per building (2 on corner) | Affixed flat against the wall of the building | — | Sec. 13-1-145(a)(2) |
| For Sale/Rent Sign | 15 feet attached to building or 7 feet freestanding | 8 square feet | — | 8 feet from other zoning lots | 1 per lot (2 on corner) | On the premises advertised | — | Sec. 13-1-145(b) |
| Parking Area Sign - Entrance/Exit | 7 feet above curb level | 2 square feet | — | Not beyond property line | 1 per entrance/exit | Designating entrances or exits | — | Sec. 13-1-145(c)(1) |
| Parking Area Sign - Conditions of Use | 7 feet above curb level | 9 square feet | — | Not beyond property line | 1 per parking area (2 on corner) | On parking area | — | Sec. 13-1-145(c)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Subdivision Development or Improvements | 5 feet above curb level | 32 square feet | — | 50 feet from all other site boundaries | 2 per development | Observing front yard requirement | — | Sec. 13-1-145(e) |
| Church Bulletin Sign | 15 feet or 1 story above curb level | 16 square feet | — | 8 feet from other zoning lots | 1 per lot (2 on corner) | On premises | — | Sec. 13-1-145(g) |

## Prohibited signs in Abbotsford

- Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs or devices.
- Signs, canopies and awnings shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices or the safe flow of traffic.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign, awning or canopy shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
- No sign shall be erected which has any flashing, rotating or brilliant intermittent parts or lights or bare reflecting-type bulbs, except those giving public service information such as time, date, temperature, weather or similar information or where allowed by conditional use permit.
- No signs, billboards or other advertising media which creates a hazard or dangerous distraction to vehicular traffic or a nuisance to adjoining residential property shall be permitted in any district.
- No more than two (2) signs of any type shall be located on any premises, except that premises occupied by a shopping center may have one (1) detached sign plus one (1) flat sign for each place of business with aggregate total area not exceeding the total permitted for one detached and one flat sign.
- Businesses with streets fronting both sides shall be allowed two (2) types of signs for each street frontage; no street frontage buildings shall be allowed two (2) of the same type of sign for that particular business.
- Signs shall not be permitted on public rights-of-way, except for municipal traffic control, parking and directional signs and as otherwise specified, or be located within five (5) feet of a property line.
- The distance between freestanding signs shall be a minimum of seventy-five (75) feet between freestanding signs throughout the street frontage in order to prevent congestion and maintain traffic visibility.
- Animated signs, or signs having moving parts, or signs which may be mistaken for traffic signal devices, or which diminish the visibility or effectiveness of such traffic signal devices are prohibited.
- Any sign so erected, constructed or maintained as to obstruct or be attached to any fire escape, window, door or opening used as means of ingress or egress, or for firefighting purposes, or placed so as to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation is prohibited.
- No sign or advertising device shall be erected or maintained at the intersection of streets in such a manner as to obstruct clear vision of the intersection.
- No sign shall contain more than one hundred (100) square feet in gross area.
- No signs shall be painted on, attached to or affixed to any trees, rocks, or other similar organic or inorganic natural matter, including utility poles or apparatus.
- Blanketing of signs shall not be allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Abbotsford

- Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restriction, information and notices.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notices, identification information or directional signs erected by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.
- Memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and affixed flat against the structure.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All temporary signs must be approved by the Common Council.
- If all signs combined on premises exceed 150 square feet in gross area, prior approval from the Common Council is required.
- For roadside stands signs, a sign permit is required.
- For temporary signs accessory to subdivision developments or other permitted improvements in residential districts, a sign permit is required.
- For subdivision identification signs, a sign permit is required; drawings showing the specific design, appearance and location of the sign shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for approval.
- For nonflashing, illuminated church bulletins, a sign permit is required; drawings showing the specific design, appearance and location of the sign shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for approval.
- Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations may be granted by the Board of Appeals, following a recommendation from the Plan Commission.
- A larger number of Type 1 directory signs may be permitted by the Zoning Board of Appeals if necessary for directing the traveling public.
- Portable signs/message boards require approval by the Zoning Administrator and are limited in use to 30 days at a time, not more frequently than three times per year at any one location.

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

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