# Sign Regulations in Brookfield, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brookfield, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/brookfield
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/WI/Brookfield/#!/Brookfield15/Brookfield1516.html)

## At a glance

Brookfield, Wisconsin regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Village Area Business District (VAB), Planned Development District No. 2 (PDD), Special Neighborhood Districts zoning district are capped at 10 ft if 5 ft from base setback; up to 16 ft, per geometric figure method; never over 16 ft unless otherwise provided tall and 150 sq. ft. (retail); 100 sq. ft. (other), with a 5 ft from right-of-way; 150 ft from other freestanding signs setback (Sec. 15.16.080(H), 15.16.100).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Village Area Business District (VAB), Planned Development District No. 2 (PDD), Special Neighborhood Districts | 5 | Retail: 20 ft; Other: 16 ft; Subdivisions/a/condos/apts: 10 ft | MTCB/C ≤100,000 sq. ft.: 150 sq. ft.; 100,000<sf<500,000: 1 sign per street ≤150 sq. ft. or 1 sign per MTCB/C up to 225 sq. ft.; >500,000 sq. ft.: 1 sign per street, each ≤225 sq. ft.; Subdivisions, condos, apts: 75 sq. ft./entrance (1 face/entrance), institutional per B(1-4) | — |
| Commercial, Business or Mixed-Use Zoned District, Commercial Zoning Districts, Business Zoned or Used Properties - B-1, B-1R, B-2, B-3, B-5 | 6 | 35 ft | 150 sq. ft. (retail) / 100 sq. ft. (other); 1.5 sq. ft. per business front foot for MTCB/C master sign program; 30–150 sq. ft. for master sign program not at MTCB/C | — |
| Office and Limited Residential/Commercial District No. 2 - O-LR, C, LI | 1 | No higher than allowed per 15.16.110(B) | 150 sq. ft. (retail) / 100 sq. ft. (other); see general | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts - R-2, R-3, R-4, M-1, M-2, M-3 | 3 | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. total, max one sign 6 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 10 ft if 5 ft from set line, up to 16 ft per geometric formula | 150 sq. ft. (retail); 100 sq. ft. (other) | — |

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

### Village Area Business District (VAB), Planned Development District No. 2 (PDD), Special Neighborhood Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not project more than 4 ft above plate line or roofline, except when on parapet wall/fascia on at least 3 sides | 150 sq. ft. (retail) / 100 sq. ft. (other); 1.5 sq. ft. per business front foot for MTCB/C master sign program; 30–150 sq. ft. for master sign program not at MTCB/C | — | — | Two if total area is divided between wall and freestanding signs; otherwise, one wall sign unless under master sign program | Parallel to face of exterior wall | — | 15.16.110 |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft if 5 ft from base setback; up to 16 ft, per geometric figure method; never over 16 ft unless otherwise provided | 150 sq. ft. (retail); 100 sq. ft. (other) | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; 150 ft from other freestanding signs | One per parcel unless otherwise permitted | 5 ft from base setback; at least 150 ft from freestanding signs on abutting properties unless not possible | — | 15.16.080(H), 15.16.100 |
| Master/Main Sign - Multi-Tenant/Development | Retail: 20 ft; Other: 16 ft; Subdivisions/a/condos/apts: 10 ft | MTCB/C ≤100,000 sq. ft.: 150 sq. ft.; 100,000<sf<500,000: 1 sign per street ≤150 sq. ft. or 1 sign per MTCB/C up to 225 sq. ft.; >500,000 sq. ft.: 1 sign per street, each ≤225 sq. ft.; Subdivisions, condos, apts: 75 sq. ft./entrance (1 face/entrance), institutional per B(1-4) | — | — | See formula above (depends on building area and street frontage) | At parcel entrance or on property | — | 15.16.100 |
| Sandwich Board/Sidewalk Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per parcel | Directly in front of property related to sign, must not interfere with pedestrian traffic or cause tripping hazard | — | 15.16.170(H) |
| Shingle Sign | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per entity | Over walkway or porch, adjacent to business | — | 15.16.150 |

### Commercial, Business or Mixed-Use Zoned District, Commercial Zoning Districts, Business Zoned or Used Properties - B-1, B-1R, B-2, B-3, B-5

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not project more than 4 ft above plate line or above roofline, except on parapet at 3 sides | 150 sq. ft. (retail) / 100 sq. ft. (other); 1.5 sq. ft. per business front foot for MTCB/C master sign program; 30–150 sq. ft. for master sign program not at MTCB/C | — | — | 2 if split with freestanding; otherwise, 1 wall sign unless under master sign program | Parallel to exterior wall | — | 15.16.110 |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft if 5 ft from base setback, up to 16 ft deriving from geometric method | 150 sq. ft. (retail); 100 sq. ft. (other) | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; 150 ft from other freestanding signs | 1 per parcel unless otherwise permitted | 5 ft from right-of-way, 150 ft from other freestanding signs | — | 15.16.080(H) |
| Master/Main Sign - Multi-Tenant/Development | Retail: 20 ft; Other: 16 ft | ≤100k sq. ft.: 150 sq. ft.; 100k–500k sq. ft.: 1 per street ≤150 sq. ft. or 1 per center up to 225 sq. ft.; >500k sq. ft.: 1 per street up to 225 sq. ft. | — | — | See formula above | Parcel entrance or property, 1 face per entrance (residential complexes: 75 sq. ft.) | — | 15.16.100 |
| Sandwich Board/Sidewalk Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per parcel | In front of property | — | 15.16.170(H) |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 25% of first floor street-facing windows covered | — | — | — | First floor street-facing windows | — | 15.16.130 |
| Flag | 35 ft | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to 3 flags | Freestanding flagpoles in meaningful open space or with freestanding sign | — | 15.16.180 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 10 ft if 5 ft from set line, up to 16 ft per geometric formula | 150 sq. ft. (retail); 100 sq. ft. (other) | — | 5 ft from ultimate right-of-way | One per parcel unless specifically permitted otherwise | 5 ft from ultimate right-of-way. 150 ft from other freestanding signs unless infeasible, then centered as possible. | — | 15.16.080(H) |
| Changeable Copy (as part of freestanding sign) | — | Up to 50% of sign area; included in overall sign area | — | — | 1 per freestanding sign, per parcel | Lower half of freestanding sign face | — | 15.16.080(I) |
| Window Sign (General) | — | See specific districts for percentage of window coverage | — | — | — | First floor street facing; restrictions for upper/back/transom windows | — | 15.16.130 |
| Driveway Entrance/Parking Lot Signs | 5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per side; if shared driveway, 8 sq. ft. sign | — | Not in public right-of-way | One per entrance | At driveway entrances with permit; internal signage allowed w/o permit if not visible from ROW | — | 15.16.140 |
| Temporary Sign (Other, General) | 8 ft. (some banners 12 ft. vert.), sidewalk sandwich 8 ft. | Non-residential: 32 sq. ft. per sign, 8 ft. height (development/construction); sale/lease/rent: 16 sq. ft. and 8 ft. height; Banners: 30 sq. ft.; Sandwich board: 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On private property, not public right-of-way, as described in each case | — | 15.16.050(B); 15.16.170 |

## Prohibited signs in Brookfield

- No sign shall be erected, constructed, repaired, altered, located, or maintained in the city, except as provided in this chapter.
- Bare light bulbs, flashing, blinking, or rotating lights, exposed neon, and continuous bands of light are prohibited.
- Sign illumination must not create glare or reflection onto adjacent property or onto a street/alley to create a traffic hazard.
- Lighted signs located in residential corridors must be turned off at 10 p.m. or when the building is closed for business, whichever occurs later.
- No sign may move by mechanical means (does not apply to message display).
- No sign may have an audio component except menu boards.
- Polycarbonate backgrounds are prohibited unless required for changeable copy.
- No sign may have more than four faces.
- Unapproved, temporary, or stand-alone changeable copy boards are prohibited.
- Portable signs on trailers and vehicles are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited, except as specifically allowed.
- Roof signs, which means signs extending above the roofline, are prohibited.
- Pennants or streamers are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs, including permanent signs without copy for 60 days after vacancy or expired-date temporary signs, are prohibited.
- Inflatable shapes and structures are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, placed, located, or maintained within the right-of-way limits of any street or highway, except official governmental signs.
- No sign shall be erected, placed, located, or maintained at or near intersections so as to obstruct vision, or at a location, by reason of position, shape, and color, that may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with an authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign may use such words as 'stop', 'look', 'danger', or similar content in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic.
- Freestanding signs must be set back five feet from the ultimate right-of-way setback.
- Signs must be located at least 150 feet from freestanding signs on abutting properties, unless otherwise permitted.
- No sign shall be constructed over a public sidewalk, ROW, or public place at a height less than eight feet nor without proof of insurance and indemnification agreement (may only be allowed in designated zoning districts).

## Signs exempt from permit in Brookfield

- Signs, signals, devices, and markings by state, county, city, or other public authorities, or posting of notices required/authorized by law are exempt.
- Signs, signals, devices, or markings on land owned by a political subdivision and erected, constructed, altered, placed, or maintained by a political subdivision are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
- No permit is required for: one permanent wall sign (3 sq. ft. or less) for a single-family residence.
- No permit is required for: a permanent wall sign or freestanding sign (4 sq. ft. or less, letters max 3 inches) within 10 feet of entrance to a nonresidential structure.
- No permit is required for: repainting signs without changing wording, composition, or colors and minor nonstructural repairs of signs (except electrical repairs require electrical permit).
- No permit is required for: relocation of signs if required by the city.
- No permit is required for: window signs.
- No permit is required for: one residential for sale or lease sign (6 sq. ft. or less, up to 6 ft. in height).
- No permit is required for: open and closed signs (less than 4 sq. ft.).
- No permit is required for: signs on private property authorized by state or federal law.
- No permit is required for: driveway and parking lot signs (as specified in 15.16.140) located away from driveway entrances and not visible from ROW.
- No permit is required for: garage sale signs.
- No permit is required for: shingle signs as provided in 15.16.150.
- No permit is required for: other temporary signs as provided in 15.16.170(I).
- No permit is required for: development and construction of single-lot residential sites under 15.16.170(B)(2).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program is required if more than one sign will be erected at a development which has a campus, such as MTCB/C (multiple-tenant commercial building/center), planned development, office park, industrial park, office center, retail center, office, religious organization, or school. (Except MTCB/Cs with over 500,000 sq. ft. of building space are exempt.)
- A master sign program must be approved by the zoning and building administrator.
- Approval of a master sign program is not permission to construct any particular sign; each individual sign still requires separate permit application and approval.
- A master sign program must establish a consistent theme of color, size, and style for all signs proposed in the development, with specified locations and sizes.
- Applications for sign permits must include plans/specifications/color renderings for each sign in excess of four square feet in area.
- Variances from any provision or requirement of the sign code must be requested from the plan commission, which will hold a public hearing for such requests.
- Shingle signs are allowed only as part of a master sign program or in the village area business district.

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

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