# Sign Regulations in Butler, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Butler, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/butler
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Butler/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIZOCOOTLADE_CH54ZO_ARTVIIISI)

## At a glance

Butler, Wisconsin regulates 27 sign types across 6 zoning districts. "For Sale" and "To Rent" Signs in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District, R-2 Two-Family Residential District, R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District, PUD Planned Unit Development Overlay District zoning district are capped at 1 story or 15 feet above curb (whichever is lower) when attached to a building; not more than 4 feet in height for detached or freestanding sign tall and 8 square feet per sign, with a Not closer than 10 feet to any other zoning lot; not located in public right-of-way; detached signs not more than 4 feet above grade. setback (Sec. Sec. 54-442(2); Sec. 54-440(9)). Most commercial signs in Butler require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Single-Family Residential District, R-2 Two-Family Residential District, R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District, PUD Planned Unit Development Overlay District | 6 | 7 feet above curb level | 48 square feet | — |
| B-1 Community Business District, M-1 Industrial District, M-2 Light Industrial and Warehousing District, M-2A Light Industrial and Warehousing District, M-3 Heavy Industrial District, PUD Planned Unit Development Overlay District | 8 | 20 feet above mean centerline street grade | 300 square feet or 30% of signable building area, whichever is less | — |
| I-1 Institutional and Governmental District | 3 | 10 feet including height of mounting | 36 square feet per face | — |
| C-1 Conservancy District | 1 | — | 2 square feet | — |
| FWO Floodway Overlay District, FFO Floodplain Fringe Overlay District | 1 | — | 2 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 50 square feet | — |

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

### R-1 Single-Family Residential District, R-2 Two-Family Residential District, R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District, PUD Planned Unit Development Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate and Identification Sign | Not more than 1 story or 15 feet above curb level (whichever is lower) | 2 square feet per dwelling unit | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit; 2 on corner lot | Affixed flat against the wall of the building, not projecting higher than 1 story or 15 feet. | — | Sec. 54-442(1) |
| "For Sale" and "To Rent" Sign | 1 story or 15 feet above curb (whichever is lower) when attached to a building; not more than 4 feet in height for detached or freestanding sign | 8 square feet per sign | — | Not closer than 10 feet to any other zoning lot; not located in public right-of-way; detached signs not more than 4 feet above grade. | 1 per lot; 2 on corner lot | On the property offered for rent or sale (unless permission from property owner); not in public right-of-way | — | Sec. 54-442(2); Sec. 54-440(9) |
| Parking Area Signs | 7 feet above curb level | 2 square feet per entrance/exit sign; 9 square feet for conditions of use/identity sign | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit; 1 identity sign per parking area | Designating parking area entrances/exits or conditions of use; not projecting beyond the property line into the public way. | — | Sec. 54-442(3) |
| Permanent Real Estate Development Sign (Subdivision/Development Entrance) | — | Plan commission determines appropriate size | — | Not closer than 10 feet from street right-of-way, side or rear lot line | — | At the entrance to a subdivision or development; not closer than 10 feet from street right-of-way, side or rear lot line. | — | Sec. 54-442(4) |
| Temporary Development Sign | — | 48 square feet | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way or side/rear lot line | — | For new building/development or subdivision promotion, not closer than 10 feet from a street right-of-way or lot line | — | Sec. 54-442(5) |
| Nonflashing, Illuminated Church Bulletin | 1 story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 16 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per lot; 2 on corner lot | On church lot; not projecting beyond property line into public way | — | Sec. 54-442(6) |

### B-1 Community Business District, M-1 Industrial District, M-2 Light Industrial and Warehousing District, M-2A Light Industrial and Warehousing District, M-3 Heavy Industrial District, PUD Planned Unit Development Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Cannot extend above the ceiling level of the top floor | 300 square feet or 30% of signable building area, whichever is less | — | — | — | Exterior wall of building (not projecting more than 12 inches) | — | Sec. 54-441(a)(1); 54-441(c) |
| Projecting, Awning, Canopy, or Marquee Sign | 20 feet above mean centerline street grade | 100 square feet per premises | — | Not less than 10 feet from side/rear lot lines; not into public right-of-way closer than 1 foot to curbline vertical plane. | — | Fastened to, suspended from, or supported by structures; not extending more than 6 feet into any required yard; not extending into street/right-of-way closer than 1 ft from curbline vertical plane; not less than 10 ft from side/rear lot lines. | — | Sec. 54-441(a)(2)-(4) |
| Ground Sign (Freestanding Sign) | 20 feet above mean centerline street grade | 80 square feet per side; 160 square feet total for all sides | — | Not less than 10 feet from street right-of-way, or side/rear lot line; not closer than 80 feet to another ground or projecting sign. | — | Not less than 10 feet from any street right-of-way, or any side or rear lot line | — | Sec. 54-441(a)(3) |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) | — | 60 square feet per side; not to exceed 30% of signable area of building or 60 sq ft (whichever is smaller) | — | — | One per building | Must be part of a permanent sign in M-1 or B-1 District | — | Sec. 54-441(a)(5)-(7) |
| Window Sign | — | Not more than 50% of glass area of pane | — | — | — | Interior window | — | Sec. 54-441(a)(8) |
| Roof Sign | 10 feet in height above the roof | 300 square feet on all sides per premises | — | Must meet all yard and height requirements for district. | — | Erected upon or over the roof or parapet of building | — | Sec. 54-441(a)(9) |
| Message Board (Non-Electronic) / Changeable Copy | — | 60 square feet per side, up to 30% of signable building area or 60 sq ft (whichever is less) | — | — | One per building | Permitted only in M-1 or B-1; must be part of permanent sign | — | Sec. 54-441(a)(5) |
| Temporary Development / Special Event Sign | 10 feet (for development sign, including mounting) | 36 square feet per face (development sign); special event signs as approved by village | — | Development sign: minimum 7 feet from any street or highway right-of-way line | One per street or highway frontage (development sign) | On property to which it relates | — | Sec. 54-441(a)(10)-(11) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Warning Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 54-440(1) |
| Memorial Sign/Tablet/Name of Building/Date | — | — | — | — | — | Building | — | Sec. 54-440(2) |
| Official Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As needed for official business | — | Sec. 54-440(3) |
| Directional/Traffic/Parking/Functional Operation Sign | — | Reasonable size as determined by necessity | — | — | — | On premises, functional | — | Sec. 54-440(4),(8) |
| Flag/Insignia of Government | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 54-440(5) |
| Rummage Sale/Garage Sale Sign | — | 8 square feet per side, 16 square feet total | — | — | — | No sign in public right-of-way; posted up to 24 hours before, removed within 24 hours after sale | — | Sec. 54-440(13) |
| Election Campaign Sign | — | 16 square feet in nonresidential; no total area exceeding 80 sq ft per nonresidence; no max in residential (state law) | — | — | — | Not in street right-of-way or so as to hinder pedestrian right-of-way | — | Sec. 54-440(12) |
| Bulletin Board (Public/Charitable/Religious) | — | 50 square feet | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way or side/rear lot line | — | On premises | — | Sec. 54-440(14) |

## Prohibited signs in Butler

- No sign in the village shall be hereafter located, erected, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered without conforming to the provisions of this chapter. (Sec. 54-437(d))
- No sign, billboard, awning, banner, flag, or canopy shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally or otherwise altered without a complete sign permit unless specifically exempted. (Sec. 54-439(a))
- Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs or devices. (Sec. 54-444(a))
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape, or so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility. (Sec. 54-444(a) and (e))
- 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 or where allowed by conditional use permit. (Sec. 54-444(b))
- No sign shall be permitted on public rights-of-way, except for municipal traffic control, parking and directional signs and as otherwise specified in this article, or be located within five feet of a property line. (Sec. 54-444(c))
- No sign, awning or canopy is permitted that prevents or hinders pedestrian traffic on a sidewalk. (Sec. 54-444(d))
- No sign creating a public nuisance or a private nuisance to neighboring properties through statements, words or pictures that are obscene as determined by the Zoning Administrator. (Sec. 54-444(e)-(f))
- Any sign so erected, constructed or maintained as to obstruct or be attached to any fire escape, window, door or opening used as means of ingress or egress, or for firefighting purposes, or placed so as to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation is prohibited. (Sec. 54-441(d))
- No sign or advertising device shall be erected or maintained at the intersection of streets in such a manner as to obstruct clear vision of the intersection. (Sec. 54-441(e))
- Any sign that is unsafe, illegal, dilapidated, or insecure, or is a menace to the public, is prohibited and subject to removal. (Sec. 54-445(a)-(c), 54-451(b))
- Prohibited mounting: 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. (Sec. 54-447(b)(4))
- Blanketing of signs on buildings is not allowed. (Sec. 54-447(b)(5))
- Signs erected without a permit (when required) are subject to a penalty double the amount of the permit. (Sec. 54-451(a))
- No sign, including supports, shall interfere with surrounding properties or traffic. (Sec. 54-447(b)(3))
- Animated signs, or signs having moving parts, or signs which may be mistaken for traffic signal devices, or which diminish the visibility or effectiveness of the traffic signal devices are prohibited. (Sec. 54-441(c))

## Signs exempt from permit in Butler

- Warning signs not exceeding four square feet located on the premises. (Sec. 54-440(a)(1))
- Memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or constructed of metal and affixed flat against the structure. (Sec. 54-440(a)(2))
- Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restriction, information and notices. (Sec. 54-440(a)(3))
- Signs designating entrances, exits, service areas, parking areas, restrooms, and other signs relating to functional operation of the building or premises, provided they are of reasonable size and necessity. (Sec. 54-440(a)(4))
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion. (Sec. 54-440(a)(5))
- Legal notices, identification information or directional signs erected by governmental bodies. (Sec. 54-440(a)(6))
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights. (Sec. 54-440(a)(7))
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter. (Sec. 54-440(a)(8))
- Real estate ground or wall signs, not exceeding eight square feet on one side or 16 square feet on all sides, which advertise sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which the signs are temporarily located (with additional limitations for larger and longer-term real estate signs). (Sec. 54-440(a)(9))
- Ground signs identifying the name and address of the resident not exceeding two square feet located on the premises. (Sec. 54-440(a)(10))
- Home occupation and professional home office wall signs not exceeding two square feet in area and mounted flush against the dwelling. (Sec. 54-440(a)(11))
- Election campaign signs complying with village regulations and state law, including size, location, posting period, and construction material. (Sec. 54-440(a)(12))
- Rummage sale and garage sale signs not exceeding eight square feet in area on one side or 16 square feet in area on all sides, placed no more than 24 hours before the sale and removed within 24 hours after. (Sec. 54-440(a)(13))
- Bulletin boards on ground signs or wall signs for public, charitable, or religious institutions not exceeding 50 square feet in area located on the premises, not less than ten feet from any street right-of-way or any side or rear lot line. (Sec. 54-440(a)(14))
- Copy changes when no change in business name is involved. (Sec. 54-440(a)(15))

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign in the village shall be hereafter located, erected, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered without conforming to the provisions of this chapter and obtaining a sign permit unless exempt under Sec. 54-440. (Sec. 54-437(d), 54-439(a))
- Sign permit applications must include detailed illustrations or plans as deemed suitable by the Zoning Administrator. (Sec. 54-439(a))
- Multiple sign permit applications related to the same property may be filed as a package to demonstrate coordinated design and aesthetics. (Sec. 54-439(h))
- Any modification in the size, height, dimensions, location or mounting of a sign other than routine maintenance is considered 'altered' and requires a new permit. (Sec. 54-439(a))
- Applications for a sign permit must include information about the sign: dimensions, display surface, materials, illumination, wiring, height above grade, distance from lot lines, and the person erecting or altering the sign. (Sec. 54-439(b))
- Permit fees are required for each sign permit unless putting an existing sign in conformity or copy change with no change in business name. (Sec. 54-439(c))

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

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