# Sign Regulations in Brillion, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brillion, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/brillion
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Brillion/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_CH106ZO_ARTVIIISI)

## At a glance

Brillion, Wisconsin regulates 23 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the Commercial District, C-2, Business District zoning district are capped at 20 ft above mean centerline street grade tall and 100 sq. ft., with a 10 ft from all side lot lines setback (Sec. Sec. 106-193(2)). Most commercial signs in Brillion require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential District | 2 | — | Determined by plan commission | — |
| Commercial District, C-2, Business District | 8 | 45 ft | 500 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial District, I-1, I-2, ID | 8 | 45 ft | 500 sq. ft. | — |
| C-1 downtown commercial district (C-1) | 6 | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 500 sq. ft. | — |
| Institutional District | 2 | — | Determined by plan commission | — |
| Park District | 2 | — | Determined by city park and recreation commission | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from side or rear lot line; not in street right-of-way | — | On premises; not in street right-of-way | — | Sec. 106-191(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Non-Residential) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from side or rear lot line; not in street right-of-way | — | On premises; not in street right-of-way | — | Sec. 106-191(1) |
| Personal Name and Warning Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way or side/rear lot line | — | On premises | — | Sec. 106-191(2) |
| Home Occupation and Professional Home Office Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Mounted flush against dwelling | — | Sec. 106-191(3) |
| Election Campaign Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not in street right-of-way; on premises with permission | — | Sec. 106-191(4) |
| Rummage Sale and Garage Sale Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not within public right-of-way | — | Sec. 106-191(5) |
| Bulletin Board (Public, Charitable, Religious Institutions) | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way or side/rear lot line | — | On premises | — | Sec. 106-191(6) |
| Memorial Sign, Tablet, Name or Date affixed to Building | — | — | — | — | — | Cut into masonry surface or affixed flat against structure | — | Sec. 106-191(7) |

### Commercial District, C-2, Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 500 sq. ft. | — | — | See Table in Sec. 106-193(8)(c) | Attached to exterior walls; projects not more than 12 inches from wall | — | Sec. 106-193(1), Sec. 106-197 |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 100 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from all side lot lines | See Table in Sec. 106-193(8)(c) | Fastened to, suspended from, or supported by structure; extends max 6 ft into any required yard, 3 ft into ROW, and at least 10 ft from all side lot lines | — | Sec. 106-193(2) |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft above mean centerline street grade | 100 sq. ft. per face; 200 sq. ft. total | — | 20 ft from street ROW; 10 ft from side/rear lot line | See Table in Sec. 106-193(8)(c); Shopping centers: 1 per 300 ft of street frontage | Freestanding; business/industrial districts (except C-1, see below) not less than 20 ft from street ROW, 10 ft from side/rear lot line | — | Sec. 106-193(3) |
| Pole Sign | District max height (typically 20 ft); exceptions for Hwy 10 (see below) | 100 sq. ft. per face; 200 sq. ft. total | — | 20 ft from street ROW; 10 ft from side/rear lot line | 1 per property | Freestanding; at least 10 ft above lot grade or sidewalk, 15 ft above areas used by vehicles; not less than 20 ft from street ROW, 10 ft from side/rear lot line (except C-1) | — | Sec. 106-193(4) |
| Pole Sign (Fronting Hwy 10) | 45 ft | 250 sq. ft. per face; 500 sq. ft. total | — | 20-150 ft from highway/street ROW; 10 ft from side/rear lot line | 1 per property | Fronting on Hwy 10; at least 10 ft above lot grade; not less than 20 ft nor more than 150 ft from highway ROW or other street ROW; not less than 10 ft from side/rear lot line; on properties with minimum frontage of 250 ft on Hwy 10 | — | Sec. 106-193(4) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | No number limitation | Placed inside or on window and visible from exterior | — | Sec. 106-193(6) |
| Billboard (Existing Only) | — | 400 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Adjacent to freeway; not more than 5,000 ft from business | — | Sec. 106-193(7) |
| Animated Sign (Movable or Fixed) | — | Movable: 30 sq. ft. per face, 60 sq. ft. structure | — | — | Not subject to number limitation | On premises of business only; fixed animated signs only allowed in C-2; see general animated sign standards | — | Sec. 106-203 |

### Industrial District, I-1, I-2, ID

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 500 sq. ft. | — | — | See Table in Sec. 106-193(8)(c) | Attached to exterior walls; projects not more than 12 inches from wall | — | Sec. 106-193(1), Sec. 106-197 |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 100 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from all side lot lines | See Table in Sec. 106-193(8)(c) | Fastened to, suspended from, or supported by structure; extends max 6 ft into any required yard, 3 ft into ROW and at least 10 ft from all side lot lines | — | Sec. 106-193(2) |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft above mean centerline street grade | 100 sq. ft. per face; 200 sq. ft. total | — | 20 ft from street ROW; 10 ft from side/rear lot line | See Table in Sec. 106-193(8)(c) | Freestanding; not less than 20 ft from street ROW, 10 ft from side/rear lot line | — | Sec. 106-193(3) |
| Pole Sign | District max height (typically 20 ft); exceptions for Hwy 10 (see below) | 100 sq. ft. per face; 200 sq. ft. total | — | 20 ft from street ROW; 10 ft from side/rear lot line | 1 per property | Freestanding; at least 10 ft above lot grade or sidewalk, 15 ft above areas used by vehicles; not less than 20 ft from street ROW, 10 ft from side/rear lot line | — | Sec. 106-193(4) |
| Pole Sign (Fronting Hwy 10) | 45 ft | 250 sq. ft. per face; 500 sq. ft. total | — | 20-150 ft from highway/street ROW; 10 ft from side/rear lot line | 1 per property | Fronting on Hwy 10; at least 10 ft above lot grade; not less than 20 ft nor more than 150 ft from highway ROW or other street ROW; not less than 10 ft from side/rear lot line; on properties with minimum frontage of 250 ft on Hwy 10 | — | Sec. 106-193(4) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | No number limitation | Placed inside or on window and visible from exterior | — | Sec. 106-193(6) |
| Billboard (Existing Only) | — | 400 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Adjacent to freeway; not more than 5,000 ft from business | — | Sec. 106-193(7) |
| Animated Sign (Movable or Fixed) | — | Movable: 30 sq. ft. per face, 60 sq. ft. structure | — | — | Not subject to number limitation | On premises of business only; fixed animated signs only allowed in I-1, I-2 & ID | — | Sec. 106-203 |

## Prohibited signs in Brillion

- No sign shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered without conforming to the provisions of this article.
- Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of traffic signs, signals or devices.
- Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of traffic signs, signals or devices.
- Signs shall not be erected, relocated or maintained to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility, nor be lighted in such a way as to cause glare or impair driver visibility upon public ways.
- Signs in residential districts shall not be illuminated.
- Roof signs shall not be permitted.
- Signs or any part thereof or sign anchors, braces or guide rods shall not be attached, fastened or anchored to any fire escape, fire ladder or standpipe.
- No sign or any part of any such sign or any anchor, brace or guide rod shall be erected, put up or maintained so as to hinder or prevent ingress or egress through such door, doorway or window, or so as to hinder or prevent the raising or placing of ladders against such building by the fire department.
- Signs displaying adult text or graphics are prohibited.
- Signs emanating audio onto a public right-of-way, unless only audible within property's frontage, are prohibited.
- Signs which expel steam or other visual or olfactory distractions are prohibited.
- Signs projecting a holographic or other image onto a freestanding surface are prohibited.
- Signs featuring messages for off-premises businesses are prohibited.
- Animated signs mounted as a projecting sign or rooftop sign are prohibited.
- Animated signs for individual stores/businesses in a multi-tenant building or shopping center managed as a unified development under common ownership are prohibited.
- Signs that by their position, working, brightness, illumination, size, shape or color obstruct, impair or interfere with traffic signal lights or other traffic control or emergency vehicle lights are prohibited.
- Signs that cause a nuisance and/or glare onto traffic or adjacent property are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Animated political signs are not allowed in any district.
- Undue brightness is prohibited (illumination levels for animated signs in excess of 5,000 nits during daylight or 500 nits dusk-to-dawn).

## Signs exempt from permit in Brillion

- Real estate signs under the specified size limits and placement restrictions, not in the right-of-way, are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit.
- Personal name and warning signs not exceeding 2 square feet, located on premises, and complying with placement and visibility requirements are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit.
- Home occupation and professional home office signs not exceeding 2 square feet and mounted flush against the dwelling are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit.
- Election campaign signs, with property owner's consent, placed within election period, not in right-of-way, and removed within two days after election, are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit.
- Rummage sale and garage sale signs, not in right-of-way and removed within 24 hours after sale, are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit.
- Bulletin boards for public, charitable, or religious institutions not exceeding 8 square feet, placed appropriately, are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit.
- Memorial signs, tablets, building name and date cut into masonry or constructed of metal and affixed flat against a structure are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit.
- Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restrictions, information, and notices, are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For permanent real estate development signs and temporary development signs in residential districts, the plan commission determines appropriate size, period of display, and compatibility with adjacent uses.
- No permit for a billboard shall be issued until the plan commission has reviewed and approved the sign construction and site plans.
- Private and public facility name signs in institutional districts require approval by the city plan commission.
- Private and public park name signs in park districts require approval by the city park and recreation commission/common council.
- For written ten-month extension for nonconforming on-premises signs, approval by plan commission is required after review by building inspector.
- Sign permit applications may require additional information as may be required by the building inspector or city plan commission.
- For animated signs exceeding brightness limits, applicant must provide written certification (usually to the city plan commission) that brightness/intensity is factory set and protected from end-user manipulation.

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

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