# Sign Regulations in Addison, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Addison, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/addison
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-07
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://addisonwi.gov/zoningordinances#occdrw)

## At a glance

Addison, Wisconsin regulates 33 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground Sign - On-Premise (Primary)s in the A-1 Agricultural District; R-1 Agricultural-Rural Residential District zoning district are capped at 20 ft above ground surface tall and 100 sq ft per side; 200 sq ft total (all sides), with a Must meet district yard requirements (no specific distance provided in 6.07.B.1). setback (Sec. Section 6.07.B.1). Most commercial signs in Addison require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | — | 32 sq ft per side or 64 sq ft total (all sides) | — |
| R-2 Single-Family Residential District (Unsewered); R-3 Single-Family Residential District (Sewered); R-4 Two-Family Residential District (Sewered); R-5 Multi-Family Residential District (Sewered) | 2 | — | 32 sq ft per side; 64 sq ft total (all sides) | — |
| A-1 Agricultural District; R-1 Agricultural-Rural Residential District | 4 | 20 ft above ground surface | 200 sq ft total (aggregate for all wall signage) | — |
| B-1 Allenton Central Business District; B-2 General Business District; B-3 Mixed Use Business District; M-1 Manufacturing District | 13 | Up to 45 ft (combined height of sign face and supporting structure) | Up to 672 sq ft per face; max 4 faces per structure; max total 2,400 sq ft if stacked | — |
| P-1 Institutional District; P-2 Park District | 4 | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 80 sq ft per side; 160 sq ft total (all sides) | — |
| Q-1 Quarrying and Non-Metallic Mining District; L-1 Landfill District | 3 | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 80 sq ft per side; 160 sq ft total (all sides) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Ground or Wall Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 8 sq ft per side or 16 sq ft total (all sides) | — | Minimum 10 ft from side or rear lot line; not located in a street ROW. | — | On properties or buildings for sale, lease, or rent. | — | Section 6.05.B |
| Temporary Real Estate Ground or Wall Sign (Non-Residential Districts) | — | 32 sq ft per side or 64 sq ft total (all sides) | — | Minimum 10 ft from side or rear lot line; not located in a street ROW. | — | On properties or buildings for sale, lease, or rent. | — | Section 6.05.B |
| Wall Sign - Dwelling (Flush) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On a dwelling. | — | Section 6.05.C |
| Election Campaign Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 11 sq ft, unless affixed to a permanent structure, does not extend beyond the perimeter of the structure, and does not obstruct required openings | — | Not within street ROW; maintain safe pedestrian clearance. | — | On private property with owner/renter/lessee permission. | — | Section 6.05.D.1, 6.05.D.4, 6.05.D.5 |
| Election Campaign Sign (Non-Residential Property) | — | 16 sq ft total (all sides) per sign; total area of all election signs on one non-residential parcel limited to 80 sq ft | — | Not within street ROW; maintain safe pedestrian clearance. | Parcel total election sign area capped at 80 sq ft (non-residential). | On non-residential property with permission. | — | Section 6.05.D.2, 6.05.D.3, 6.05.D.4, 6.05.D.5 |
| Temporary Ground Sign (General) | — | 8 sq ft per side or 16 sq ft total (all sides) | — | Not within public ROW. | Max 1 per 100 ft of road frontage; limited display 3 days per calendar month. | On private property (any district). | — | Section 6.05.E |
| Searchlight (Temporary Advertising Use) | — | — | — | Not in public ROW; minimum 10 ft from adjacent property line. | — | Any district; must not be located in public right-of-way; must not be closer than 10 ft to an adjacent property. | — | Section 6.13 |
| Portable Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | Not in public ROW; minimum 10 ft from adjacent property. | — | Any district, as permitted by Zoning Administrator. | — | Section 6.14.B, 6.14.C |

### A-1 Agricultural District; R-1 Agricultural-Rural Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Farm Buildings) | — | 200 sq ft total (aggregate for all wall signage) | — | — | Total wall sign area limited to 200 sq ft for the farm. | On farm buildings. | — | Section 6.07.A |
| Ground Sign - On-Premise (Primary) | 20 ft above ground surface | 100 sq ft per side; 200 sq ft total (all sides) | — | Must meet district yard requirements (no specific distance provided in 6.07.B.1). | One per road frontage. | On the farm; one such sign allowed along each road on which the farm has frontage. | — | Section 6.07.B.1 |
| Ground Sign - On-Premise (Additional) | — | 16 sq ft per side; 32 sq ft total (all sides) | — | — | One additional on-premise ground sign. | On the farm (on-premise). | — | Section 6.07.B.2 |
| Ground Sign - Off-Premise | — | 12 sq ft | — | Not within street ROW; outside vision clearance triangles (see Section 4.01). | One off-premise ground sign permitted. | Off-premise, near intersecting roads. | — | Section 6.07.C |

### B-1 Allenton Central Business District; B-2 General Business District; B-3 Mixed Use Business District; M-1 Manufacturing District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 100 sq ft per side; 200 sq ft total (all sides) | — | Min 10 ft from side lot lines; up to 6 ft encroachment into yards; up to 3 ft into public ROW. | — | Projecting from building; may extend into required yard or public ROW within specified limits. | — | Section 6.08.B |
| Ground Sign (On-Premise) | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 80 sq ft per side; 160 sq ft total (all sides) | — | Minimum 10 ft from street ROW or side/rear lot lines; minimum spacing 80 ft from other ground/projecting/awning/canopy/marquee signs. | — | On-premise. | — | Section 6.08.C |
| Pole Sign | 35 ft above mean centerline street grade | 100 sq ft per side; 200 sq ft total (all sides) | — | Min 10 ft from side lot lines; may extend up to 3 ft into public ROW. | — | On-premise; may project partially over ROW within limits. | — | Section 6.08.D |
| Driveway Ingress/Egress and Directional Signs | Not more than 2 ft in height | Sign face length not to exceed 18 inches | — | Not within street right-of-way. | — | Adjacent to driveways. | — | Section 6.08.E |
| Roof Sign | Not more than 10 ft above the roof | 200 sq ft total (all sides) | — | Must meet district yard and height requirements. | — | On building roof. | — | Section 6.08.G |
| Combinations of Signs - Shopping Centers | — | — | — | As applicable to ground/pole/canopy/wall signs. | 1 ground or pole per 500 ft of abutting street; plus 1 wall and/or 1 canopy sign per business. | Shopping center sites within B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1. | — | Section 6.08.I.1 |
| Combinations of Signs - Gasoline/Service Stations (Option 1) | — | — | — | As applicable to ground and wall signs. | Up to 3 ground signs and 1 wall sign (Option 1). | Gasoline/service stations within B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1. | — | Section 6.08.I.2 |
| Billboard (Off-Premise) - Conditional Use Permit | Up to 45 ft (combined height of sign face and supporting structure) | Up to 672 sq ft per face; max 4 faces per structure; max total 2,400 sq ft if stacked | — | Minimum 10 ft from any structure, street ROW, side or rear lot line; not into public ROW. | Max 2 billboards per parcel; minimum 500 ft separation. | Exclusively along Interstate 41; all billboards must be located within 100 ft from the right-of-way line of Interstate 41. | — | Section 6.11.A.1–11 |

## Prohibited signs in Addison

- Abandoned signs are prohibited in any district.
- Advertising vehicles or trailers used to display signs for advertising or direction are prohibited; parking such vehicles on a public right-of-way, on public property, or on private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way is prohibited.
- No sign (except those permitted in Sections 6.05 and 6.06) may face a residential district within 100 feet of the district boundary.
- Signs shall not resemble or imitate railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices, and shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- Signs shall not be located, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape; and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs shall not be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility, nor be lighted in such a way as to cause glare or impair driver visibility upon public ways.
- Illuminated signs are not allowed in R-2, R-3, R-4, or R-5 residential districts.
- Flashing, blinking, moving, rotating, or pulsating elements are prohibited unless the sign is in B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1, or P-1 and has a Plan Commission–approved conditional use permit.
- No sign or any part thereof (including anchors, braces, or guide rods) shall be attached to any fire escape, fire ladder, or standpipe, nor erected or maintained so as to hinder or prevent ingress or egress through doors or windows or hinder Fire Department ladder placement.

## Signs exempt from permit in Addison

- Signs posted by the Town; a County, State, or Federal agency; or a special-purpose unit of government (including a public school district or sanitary district) are exempt from this Ordinance.
- Signs integrated into or on coin-operated machines, vending machines, or gasoline pumps are exempt from this Ordinance.
- Signs carried by a person are exempt from this Ordinance.
- Signs not visible from any public street, highway, sidewalk, or bicycle path are exempt from this Ordinance.
- Signs carved into or affixed flat to a building (non-illuminated, non-reflective, not sharply contrasting, and no more than 2 inches thick) are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Temporary ground or wall signs for properties or buildings for sale, lease, or rent (subject to size limits, setbacks, not located in a street right-of-way, and removal within 10 days after transaction) are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- A wall sign not exceeding 2 square feet mounted flush against a dwelling is permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Election campaign signs (with property owner/tenant permission, timing and size limits, not in right-of-way, and removal within 10 days after the election) are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Temporary ground signs not exceeding 8 square feet on one side or 16 square feet on all sides (limited frequency and spacing; not in public right-of-way) are permitted in all districts without a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan requirement is stated in the provided text; individual sign permits are required unless exempt (Section 6.20).
- A sign permit is required for most signs; applications may be referred to the Building Inspector and/or Plan Commission; decision within 45 days unless extended by agreement (Section 6.20).
- Conditional use permit required for billboards in B-1, B-2, B-3, and M-1; limited to Interstate 41; subject to additional Plan Commission standards (Section 6.11).
- Conditional use permit required for flashing, blinking, moving, rotating, or pulsating signs; allowed only in B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1, or P-1 (Section 6.17.D).
- Temporary flag signs and banners in any district require Town Plan Commission approval after Building Inspector review/recommendation; temporary sign permit required (Section 6.14.A, C).
- Temporary portable signs may be permitted by the Zoning Administrator; temporary sign permit required (Section 6.14.B, C).
- Temporary searchlights for advertising require Plan Commission approval and a permit; limited to 5 days in any 6-month period (Section 6.13).
- Decorative or wall art is allowed only after a public hearing and Plan Commission approval (Section 6.16.D).
- Appeals or variances for sign decisions go to the Zoning Board of Appeals (Section 6.22).
- For subdivision entrance signs in residential districts, the Plan Commission may allow reduced setback to the right-of-way and determines appropriate sign size (Section 6.06.A).
- For temporary subdivision/development signs, removal timing is as determined by the Town Plan Commission (Section 6.06.B).

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

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