# Sign Regulations in Chetek, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chetek, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/chetek
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Chetek/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH82SI)

## At a glance

Chetek, Wisconsin regulates 23 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Off-premises Signs in the General Commercial District (C-1) zoning district are capped at 35 ft tall and 80 sq ft, with a Minimum 1 foot from right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 82-12(2)e; Sec. 82-11(d)). Most commercial signs in Chetek 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 | 14 | — | 100 sq ft each | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3), Agricultural District (A-1), Conservancy District (W-1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Commercial District (C-1) | 8 | 35 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Highway Commercial District (C-2) | 8 | 35 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Resort Commercial District (C-3) | 7 | 30 ft above grade | 80 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 7 | 30 ft above grade | 50 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-1), General Industrial District (I-2) | 8 | 35 ft above grade | 80 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 100 sq ft each | — | — | 2 per construction site | Confined to the construction site | — | Sec. 82-5(a) |
| Directional or Instructional Sign | — | 8 sq ft each | — | — | — | Entirely on property to which they pertain | — | Sec. 82-5(b) |
| Political and National Sign (Nonresidential Zoning Districts) | — | 16 sq ft | — | Minimum 15 feet from right-of-way at street intersection | — | — | — | Sec. 82-5(l)(1)-(2), (c) |
| Political and National Sign (Residential Zoning Districts) | — | 8 sq ft | — | Minimum 15 feet from right-of-way at street intersection | — | — | — | Sec. 82-5(l)(1)-(2), (c) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 82-5(e) |
| Memorial Sign or Plaque | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Cut into masonry, inlaid, or constructed of noncombustible material | — | Sec. 82-5(h) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential and CBD) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel | Entirely within the property it applies | — | Sec. 82-5(m)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Other Districts) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel | Entirely within the property it applies | — | Sec. 82-5(m)(2) |

### General Commercial District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attaches to building wall in parallel | — | Sec. 82-12(2)a, b |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or within a window | — | Sec. 82-12(2)a |
| Marquee/Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building marquee/canopy/awning | — | Sec. 82-12(2)a |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft above grade | 80 sq ft | — | — | — | Projects from building | — | Sec. 82-12(2)a,d |
| Ground Sign | 30 ft above grade | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On zoning lot | — | Sec. 82-12(2)c |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 82-12(2)a |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | Sec. 82-12(2)a |
| Off-premises Sign | 35 ft | 80 sq ft | — | Minimum 1 foot from right-of-way | — | C-1 Zoning District | — | Sec. 82-12(2)e; Sec. 82-11(d) |

### Highway Commercial District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attaches to building wall in parallel | — | Sec. 82-12(3)a, b |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or within a window | — | Sec. 82-12(3)a |
| Marquee/Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building marquee/canopy/awning | — | Sec. 82-12(3)a |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft above grade | 80 sq ft | — | — | — | Projects from building | — | Sec. 82-12(3)a,d |
| Ground Sign | 30 ft above grade | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On zoning lot | — | Sec. 82-12(3)c |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 82-12(3)a |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | Sec. 82-12(3)a |
| Off-premises Sign | 35 ft | 80 sq ft | — | Minimum 1 foot from right-of-way | — | C-2 Zoning District | — | Sec. 82-12(3)e; Sec. 82-11(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Chetek

- It is unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge or structurally modify a sign or cause the same to be done in the City without first obtaining a sign permit for each such sign from the Building Inspector.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited. (Changeable message signs are not subject to this restriction.)
- Signs with physically moving components visible from the public right-of-way are not permitted except for those which do not revolve.
- Swinging signs are prohibited.
- Signs may not be floodlighted or illuminated if they are not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled ways of the public right-of-way, if of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair the vision of drivers, or which otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
- Signs may not be floodlighted or illuminated if they are not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any residential property and 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.
- Prohibited signs include those bearing or containing statements, words, or pictures of obscene, pornographic, or immoral subjects.
- Prohibited signs include those which are an imitation of, or resemble in shape, size, copy, or color, an official traffic sign or signal.
- No sign shall be suspended by chains or other devices that will allow the sign to swing due to wind action.
- All signs, including those for which permits are not required, shall be maintained in a safe, presentable, and good structural condition at all times.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chetek

- Permits are not required for a change of copy of any sign.
- Permits are not required for the repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance and repair of the sign and sign structure.
- Construction signs (2 per construction site, not exceeding 100 square feet each, confined to the site).
- Directional and instructional nonelectric signs, which do not exceed eight square feet each in area and do not advertise 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 erected by or on the order of a public officer.
- Signs associated with a home occupation, provided such signs are nonilluminated wall signs that do not exceed one square foot in area.
- House numbers and name plates not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Interior signs not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Memorial signs or plaques, names of buildings, and date of erection if cut into masonry or inlaid as part of the building or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material not more than four square feet in area.
- No trespassing or no dumping signs not to exceed 1½ square feet in area.
- Official notices posted by public officers or employers in the performance of their duties.
- Public signs required for public purpose specifically authorized by law, statute, or ordinance.
- Political and campaign signs on behalf of candidates or measures, subject to size and placement limitations.
- Real estate sales signs (1 per lot or parcel, subject to size limits and location constraints).
- On-premises religious symbols, commemorative plaques, or identification emblems of religious orders or historic agencies.
- On-premises temporary signs (not exceeding four square feet) pertaining to civic, philanthropic, education, or religious organizations' drives or events.
- Vehicular signs while operating in the normal course of business and not primarily the display of signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications submitted to the Building Inspector must include a site plan showing the buildings on the premises, locations, setbacks, size, and types of existing and proposed signs.
- Variances from requirements may be applied for to the Board of Appeals if the requirements cause undue or unnecessary hardship.
- If the Building Inspector fails to formally grant or deny a sign permit within 15 days of the date an application is filed, it is grounds for an appeal to the Board of Appeals.
- Plans for special permits (e.g., subdivision development, banners and pennants, portable signs, etc.) must be submitted and are subject to Building Inspector and/or Common Council approval as appropriate.
- A permit and accompanying plan showing compliance are generally required for all non-exempt signs.

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

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