# Sign Regulations in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/chippewa-falls
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Chippewa_Falls/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH19SIRE)

## At a glance

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin regulates 19 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Off-Premises Signs in the C-2 General Commercial District zoning district are capped at 30 ft (no greater than 30 ft above grade at sign base) tall, 300 sq ft, and 30 ft (max length) wide, with a At least 15 ft from road right-of-way setback (Sec. 19.13(4)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |
| Agricultural District | 2 | — | 20 sq ft (for all produce signs combined in the display frame) | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-2, R-3-4, R-3-8, R-3M, R-3A, R-3B) | 2 | 10 ft | 18 sq ft per street frontage | — |
| O-1 Office District | 8 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| O-2 Office and Institutional District | 7 | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District | 6 | — | Gross area of all signs (excluding directional signs) ≤ 100 sq ft | — |
| C-2 General Commercial District | 8 | 30 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| C-3 Central Business District | 7 | 30 ft | 75 sq ft | — |
| C-4 Highway Commercial District | 8 | 30 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-3) | 8 | 30 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| P-1 Public and Institutional District | 7 | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| CN Conservancy District | 7 | 20 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| Traditional Neighborhood Development District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### C-2 General Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | 19.18(2) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In window | — | 19.18(2) |
| Ground Sign | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | Max 4 per lot or zoning lot | On premises, per 100 ft frontage | — | 19.18(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | 19.18(1) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | 19.18(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | 19.18(1) |
| Marquee/Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On marquee, canopy, or awning | — | 19.18(1) |
| Off-Premises Sign | 30 ft (no greater than 30 ft above grade at sign base) | 300 sq ft | 30 ft (max length) | At least 15 ft from road right-of-way | — | On premises (see setback), C-2 zone | — | 19.13(4) |

### C-4 Highway Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | 19.20(2) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In window | — | 19.20(2) |
| Ground Sign | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | Max 4 per lot/zoning lot | On premises, per 100 ft frontage | — | 19.20(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | 19.20(1) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | 19.20(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | 19.20(1) |
| Marquee/Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On marquee, canopy or awning | — | 19.20(1) |
| Off-Premises Sign | 30 ft (no greater than 30 ft above grade at sign base) | 300 sq ft | 30 ft (max length) | At least 15 ft from road right-of-way | — | On premises (see setback), C-4 zone | — | 19.13(4) |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | 19.21(2) |
| Ground Sign | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises, per street frontage | — | 19.21(3) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In window | — | 19.21(2) |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | 19.21(1) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | 19.21(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | 19.21(1) |
| Marquee/Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On marquee, canopy or awning | — | 19.21(1) |
| Off-Premises Sign (I-3 only) | 30 ft (no greater than 30 ft above grade at sign base) | 300 sq ft | 30 ft (max length) | At least 15 ft from road right-of-way | — | On premises (see setback), I-3 only | — | 19.13(4), 19.21(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Chippewa Falls

- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited. Changeable message signs are exempt from this restriction.
- Signs with physically moving components visible from the public right-of-way are prohibited except for those which revolve around a vertical axis at speeds less than 7 revolutions per minute.
- Swinging signs are prohibited.
- Floodlighted or illuminated signs are prohibited if illumination is not limited to the immediate area of the sign, or if light radiates onto adjacent public or private property and interferes with the comfort and repose of nearby dwellings.
- Signs are prohibited if not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at traveled ways of a public right-of-way with such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair driver vision or interfere with the operation of a motor vehicle.
- Signs are prohibited if not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at residential property with 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.
- Signs bearing or containing statements, words, or pictures of obscene, pornographic, or immoral subjects are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate or resemble, in shape, size, copy, or color, an official traffic sign or signal are prohibited.
- No sign shall extend beyond the right-of-way line.
- No sign shall be suspended by chains or other devices that will allow the sign to swing due to wind action.
- All signs must be anchored to prevent any lateral movement that could cause wear on supporting members or connections.
- Supports and braces for signs must be hidden from public view to the extent technically feasible.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chippewa Falls

- Construction signs (max two per site, not exceeding 100 sq. ft. each, confined to the site, removed 30 days after completion or occupancy).
- Directional and instructional nonelectric signs (max 8 sq. ft. each, located entirely on property, do not advertise a business).
- Nonilluminated emblems or insignia of any nation or political subdivision, profit or nonprofit organization.
- Government signs erected by public officers in the performance of public duty (traffic control, regulatory, danger, railroad crossing, public utility safety aids).
- Home occupation signs (nonilluminated wall signs not exceeding 1 sq. ft.).
- House numbers and name plates (name plates max 1 sq. ft.; house numbers not exceeding 1 foot in height; letters for multiple-family dwelling unit identification not exceeding 1 foot in height).
- Interior signs not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Memorial signs and plaques (cut into masonry or inlaid, or constructed of bronze/noncombustible material not more than 4 sq. ft.).
- No trespassing or no dumping signs (not to exceed 1.5 sq. ft. per sign).
- Official public notices posted by public officers or employers in the performance of duties.
- Public signs required or specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute, or ordinance.
- Political and campaign signs (subject to time, place, and size restrictions as specified).
- Real estate signs (one per lot, on property, not directly illuminated; with area and removal time restrictions by district).
- On-premises symbols or insignia (religious or historic emblems).
- On-premises temporary signs (not exceeding 4 sq. ft., for drives/events of civic, educational, religious organizations; posted max 30 days before, removed within 15 days after event).
- Vehicular signs (on trucks, buses, trailers, or vehicles while operating in the normal course of business and not primarily for display of signs).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site plan must be submitted with all sign permit applications, showing buildings and existing/proposed sign locations (per 19.04(2)(b)).
- Variance requests due to hardship require City Council review, following referral to committee #3 for recommendation (per 19.04(5)(a)).
- Integrated shopping centers with several businesses must comply with the special sign provisions of Section 19.13(5), which may entail coordinated sign planning.
- Planned Unit Developments are subject to sign control procedures as provided in §17.26 of the Chippewa Falls Zoning Code (per 19.13(6)); a sign plan may be required.
- Traditional Neighborhood Development Districts require development of comprehensive sign standards as part of the development and approval process (per 19.24; see §17.26.5 of the Zoning Code).
- Signs for conditional uses in various zoning districts require public review and Plan Commission approval as set forth in §17.47 of the Chippewa Falls Zoning Code.
- When applying for a permit for banners and pennants, adherence to the plan review process in §19.04 is required; perpetual permits are zoning lot- and owner-specific.

## 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 13 zoning districts in Chippewa Falls — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Chippewa+Falls+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-chippewa-falls

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