# Sign Regulations in Almena, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Almena, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/almena
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35006308#35006308)

## At a glance

Almena, Wisconsin regulates 7 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Off-Premises Signs in the General Commercial District (C-2) zoning district are capped at 25 feet tall, 200 square feet, and 25 feet wide, with a No closer than building setback lines setback (Sec. § 315-51C(4)). Most commercial signs in Almena require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2) | 1 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Central Business District (C-1) | 4 | 25 feet | 75 square feet | — |
| General Commercial District (C-2) | 5 | 25 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-1), Heavy Industrial District (I-2) | 5 | 25 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 25 feet | 200 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Commercial District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 315-51C(2) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 315-51C(2) |
| Ground Sign | 25 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 315-51C(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 315-51C(1) |
| Off-Premises Sign | 25 feet | 200 square feet | 25 feet | No closer than building setback lines | One | In conformance with § 315-50E | — | § 315-51C(4) |

### Light Industrial District (I-1), Heavy Industrial District (I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 315-51D(2) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 315-51D(2) |
| Ground Sign | 25 feet | 200 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 315-51D(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 315-51D(1) |
| Off-Premises Sign | 25 feet | 200 square feet | 25 feet | No closer than building setback lines | One | In conformance with § 315-50E | — | § 315-51D(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portable Sign | 7 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum setback of 10 feet from front property line | — | Minimum setback of 10 feet from front property line | — | § 315-50D(1)-(3) |
| Off-Premises Sign | 25 feet | 200 square feet | 25 feet | No closer than building setback lines | — | C-2, I-1, I-2 Districts | — | § 315-50E(1)-(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Almena

- Abandoned signs.
- Flashing or moving signs, except changeable message signs and movie theater marquees.
- Swinging signs.
- Signs which are not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled ways of a public-right-of-way and which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle or which otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
- Signs which are not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any residential property and which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause a public nuisance.
- No sign shall be so floodlighted or illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
- Signs bearing or containing statements, words or pictures of obscene, pornographic or immoral subjects.
- Signs which are an imitation of, or resemble in shape, size, copy or color an official traffic sign or signal.

## Signs exempt from permit in Almena

- Construction signs not exceeding 100 square feet in area each, confined to the site of construction, and removed 30 days after completion of construction or prior to occupancy.
- Directional and instructional nonelectric signs not exceeding eight square feet each in area and not advertising a business.
- Nonilluminated emblems or insignia of any nation or political subdivision, profit or nonprofit organization.
- Government signs for control of traffic and other regulatory purposes, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public utilities indicating danger, and aids to service safety erected by or on the order of a public officer.
- Home occupation signs that are nonilluminated and do not exceed two square feet in area.
- House numbers and name plates not exceeding one square foot in area for each residential building.
- Interior signs not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection, cut into masonry surface or inlaid as part of a building or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material not more than four square feet in area.
- No trespassing and no dumping signs not to exceed 1 1/2 square feet in area per sign.
- Official notices posted by public officers or employers in the performance of their duties.
- Signs required as specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute, ordinance.
- Political and campaign signs subject to specific regulations.
- One real estate sales sign on any lot per parcel, not directly illuminated, and subject to size and removal regulations.
- Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historic agencies, or identification emblems of religious orders or historic agencies.
- Temporary signs not exceeding four square feet in area pertaining to drives or events of civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organizations, posted not more than 30 days before and removed within 15 days after the event.
- Truck, bus, trailer or other vehicles, while operating in the normal course of business, which is not primarily the display of signs.
- Permanent signs located within the interior of any building or structure visible from the public right-of-way, provided the gross area does not exceed four square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A variance from requirements may be applied for to the Board of Appeals if any of the requirements cause undue or unnecessary hardship.
- The Zoning Administrator may issue a special permit for a temporary sign in any zone in connection with the marketing of lots or structures in a subdivision.
- The Zoning Administrator may issue a special permit for a permanent identification sign for a real estate development or apartment identification.

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

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