# Sign Regulations in Brodhead, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brodhead, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/brodhead
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-01
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27679028#27679028)

## At a glance

Brodhead, Wisconsin regulates 28 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the Business District, Manufacturing District zoning district are capped at 20 feet above mean center-line street grade tall and 400 square feet (Sec. § 480-56A). Most commercial signs in Brodhead require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial District, Industrial District, Planned Unit Development (Commercial/Industrial) | 13 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| Residential District, Conservancy District, Agricultural District, Planned Unit Development (Residential) | 11 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| Municipal Property | 1 | — | — | — |
| Business District, Manufacturing District | 7 | 20 feet above mean center-line street grade | 400 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 25 square feet on each face | — |

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

### Commercial District, Industrial District, Planned Unit Development (Commercial/Industrial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises being advertised | — | § 480-55A(1) |
| Name, Occupation, and Warning Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-55A(2) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises of public, charitable, or religious institutions | — | § 480-55A(3) |
| Memorial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the structure | — | § 480-55A(4) |
| Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As required for traffic control, parking, information, and notices | — | § 480-55A(5) |
| Rummage or Garage Sale Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 480-55A(6) |
| Functional Operation Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-55A(7) |
| Property Number or Name Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-55A(8) |

### Residential District, Conservancy District, Agricultural District, Planned Unit Development (Residential)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonconforming Business Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Over show windows or doors | — | § 480-55B(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises being advertised | — | § 480-55B(2) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-55B(3) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises of public, charitable, or religious institutions | — | § 480-55B(4) |
| Memorial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the structure | — | § 480-55B(5) |
| Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As required for traffic control, parking, information, and notices | — | § 480-55B(6) |
| Awning or Canopy | — | — | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-55B(7) |
| Approved Professional Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-55B(9) |

### Business District, Manufacturing District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 feet above mean center-line street grade | 400 square feet | — | — | — | Exterior walls of buildings | — | § 480-56A |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet above sidewalk or 15 feet above driveway/alley | 100 square feet | — | — | — | Fastened to, suspended from, or supported by structures | — | § 480-56B |
| Ground Sign | 20 feet above mean center-line street grade | 100 square feet | — | — | — | On the ground | — | § 480-56C |
| Roof Sign | 10 feet above the roof | 300 square feet | — | — | — | On the roof | — | § 480-56D |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of the glass area of the pane | — | — | — | Inside commercial buildings | — | § 480-56E |
| Combination Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 480-56F |
| Directory Sign | 20 feet above mean center-line street grade | 90 square feet for shopping center/industrial park name, 15 square feet for individual store/business name | — | — | — | Shopping centers or industrial parks | — | § 480-56G |

## Prohibited signs in Brodhead

- 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.
- Signs shall not be permitted on public rights-of-way, except for municipal traffic control, parking and directional signs and as otherwise specified in this chapter, or be located within five feet of a property line.
- 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 Brodhead

- Real estate signs not to exceed eight square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily located.
- Name, occupation and warning signs not to exceed two square feet located on the premises.
- Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions not to exceed eight square feet in area located on the premises.
- 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.
- Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restriction, information and notices.
- Rummage or garage sale signs not to exceed eight square feet in area, but use of this type of sign shall be limited to 72 hours per sale.
- Signs designating entrances, exits, service areas, parking areas, restrooms and other such signs relating to functional operation of the building or premises shall be permitted without limitation other than reasonable size and necessity.
- Signs not exceeding two square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers or names of occupants of premises.
- 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.
- Political signs may be posted 60 days before an election and must be removed within 10 days after said election.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals, following a recommendation from the Plan Commission.
- Drawings showing the specific design, appearance and location of the sign shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for approval.

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

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