# Sign Regulations in Clinton, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clinton, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/clinton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Clinton/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH32MOVETR_S32-8STSILO)

## At a glance

Clinton, Wisconsin regulates 27 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Identification Sign (3+ Units)s in the Residential zoning districts zoning district are capped at 5 ft (3-8 units); 8 ft (9+ units) tall and 8 sq ft (3-4 units); 16 sq ft (5-8 units); 24 sq ft (9+ units), with a Must not encroach on or overhang public right-of-way or pedestrian/vehicular areas setback (Sec. Sec. 50-976(a)(2)). Most commercial signs in Clinton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | See detailed provisions in Sec. 50-978 | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 8 | 8 ft | As specified in Sec. 50-978 (e.g., for sale sign 12 sq ft, construction sign 32 sq ft) | — |
| C-1, C-2, C-4 | 9 | 8 ft if freestanding | 50 sq ft per building frontage; 32 sq ft per building rear with public entrance | — |
| C-3, PO, I-1, I-2, I-3 | 9 | Monument: 8 ft; Other Freestanding: 32 ft | 150 sq ft per building frontage; 50 sq ft per building rear (public entrance) | — |
| Central Commercial District (C-1) | 1 | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Identification Sign (1-2 Dwelling Units) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Per dwelling unit | — | Sec. 50-976(a)(1) |
| Wall Identification Sign (3+ Units) | — | 8 sq ft (3-4 units); 16 sq ft (5-8 units); 24 sq ft (9+ units) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 50-976(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (3+ Units) | 5 ft (3-8 units); 8 ft (9+ units) | 8 sq ft (3-4 units); 16 sq ft (5-8 units); 24 sq ft (9+ units) | — | Must not encroach on or overhang public right-of-way or pedestrian/vehicular areas | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 50-976(a)(2) |
| Monument Identification Sign (Subdivision) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance, maximum 2 entrances | One per subdivision entrance (max 2 entrances) | — | Sec. 50-976(a)(3) |
| Wall Identification Sign (Other Principal Uses) | — | 40 sq ft; up to 60 sq ft by frontage formula | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 50-976(a)(4) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Other Principal Uses) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft; up to 60 sq ft by frontage formula | — | Must not encroach on or overhang public right-of-way or pedestrian/vehicular areas | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 50-976(a)(4) |
| Directional Sign (Wall or Freestanding) | Same as freestanding identification sign for premises | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit & 1 per parking area | One per entrance/exit and one per parking area | — | Sec. 50-976(a)(6) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | — | As specified in Sec. 50-978 (e.g., for sale sign 12 sq ft, construction sign 32 sq ft) | — | — | Subject to Sec. 50-978 | — | — | Sec. 50-976(a)(7); Sec. 50-978 |

### C-1, C-2, C-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than the nearest portion of the building it is mounted on | 50 sq ft per building frontage; 32 sq ft per building rear with public entrance | — | — | One per business per street frontage/building rear | Building wall, per frontage | — | Sec. 50-977(a)(1); Table 50-10 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per business or one set per multi-tenant building | Attached to building face | — | Sec. 50-977(a)(1); Table 50-10 |
| Canopy/Marquee/Awning Sign | — | Counted toward projecting sign area (24 sq ft) | — | — | One per business | On canopy/marquee/awning | — | Sec. 50-977(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | Monument signs: 5 ft; Other freestanding: 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Must not violate lot line or visibility triangle | One | On lot; not extending past lot line/visibility triangle | — | Sec. 50-977(b)(1); Table 50-11 |
| Movable Signage Board | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | Max width 30% of sidewalk width (C-1 only) | — | One per business | C-1: On sidewalk <10 ft from entrance with min 6 ft sidewalk passage. C-2, C-4: On same lot, outside right-of-way, not in access/parking. | — | Sec. 50-977(d) |
| Incidental Sign | — | Not to exceed 25% of maximum permitted area; calculated independently | — | — | — | Affixed to building wall or freestanding sign | — | Sec. 50-977(c)(1) |
| Directional Sign (Entrance/Exit) | 8 ft if freestanding | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance/exit | One per entrance/exit | — | Sec. 50-977(c)(2) |
| Directional Sign (Parking/Loading/Receiving) | 8 ft if freestanding | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per area | One per parking/loading/receiving area | — | Sec. 50-977(c)(2) |

### C-3, PO, I-1, I-2, I-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than the nearest portion of building it is mounted on | 150 sq ft per building frontage; 50 sq ft per building rear (public entrance) | — | — | One per business per street frontage/building rear | Building wall, per frontage | — | Sec. 50-977(a)(1); Table 50-10 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | One per business or one set per multi-tenant building | Attached to building face | — | Sec. 50-977(a)(1); Table 50-10 |
| Canopy/Marquee/Awning Sign | — | Counted toward projecting sign area (48 sq ft) | — | — | One per business | On canopy/marquee/awning | — | Sec. 50-977(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | Monument: 8 ft; Other Freestanding: 32 ft | 150 sq ft | — | Must not violate lot line or visibility triangle | One per street frontage; one additional for every 300 ft beyond initial 300 ft | On lot; not extending past lot line/visibility triangle | — | Sec. 50-977(b)(1); Table 50-11 |
| Movable Signage Board | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | One per business | On same lot, outside right-of-way, not in access/parking | — | Sec. 50-977(d)(1)b and (2)-(3) |
| Incidental Sign | — | Not to exceed 25% of maximum permitted area; calculated independently | — | — | — | Affixed to building wall or freestanding sign | — | Sec. 50-977(c)(1) |
| Directional Sign (Entrance/Exit) | 8 ft if freestanding | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance/exit | One per entrance/exit | — | Sec. 50-977(c)(2) |
| Directional Sign (Parking/Loading/Receiving) | 8 ft if freestanding | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per area | One per parking/loading/receiving area | — | Sec. 50-977(c)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Clinton

- No sign shall use any word, phrase, symbol, shape, form or character in such a manner as to interfere with moving traffic, nor shall any sign incorporate any signage, designs, colors or patterns characteristic of street or traffic control signs or signals.
- No fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating or otherwise moving signs, pennants or other commercial decorations shall be permitted except for time and/or temperature signs, and except for on-premise scrolling messages, traveling at a rate of at least 16 light columns per second and no faster than 32 columns per second.
- Except for time and/or temperature signs, no illuminated flashing or changeable message signs shall be permitted, unless each message remains in a fixed position for at least six seconds, and the change in message is accomplished in one second or less.
- All illuminated signs shall comply with the state electrical code.
- No mobile or portable signs shall be permitted.
- Except as authorized by this article, off-premises directional signs shall be permitted within public rights-of-way only if designed to convey information relating to the general interest to the residents of the village regarding public institutions and/or scheduled public events or activities for governmentally owned public institutions, schools, and churches.
- No billboards or other off-premise advertising signs shall be permitted within the village limits, except as authorized by the statutes of the state.
- No inflatable signs shall be permitted.
- No commercial advertising message shall be placed on any fence owned by the village.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, wording, illumination, size, shape or color it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of or be confused with, any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device, or be erected contrary to any provision of this Code.
- No sign shall be located within a required buffer yard or within a permanently protected green space area, according to the definitions of these terms in Section 50-11.
- No sign shall be mounted on a building roof or extend above the roof, if attached to a building.
- No sign, temporary or otherwise, shall be affixed to a tree or utility pole or situated within a public right-of-way, except as authorized by this article or as authorized by the village public works director.

## Signs exempt from permit in Clinton

- Address numerals and nameplates, altogether not exceeding two square feet in area, for each residential, commercial or industrial building.
- Legal notices.
- Signs established by, or by order of, any governmental agency, such as traffic control, parking restrictions, information and notices, except as regulated under section 50-977 (c), 'Incidental and Directional Signs.'
- 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 a structure.
- On-premises directional signs that include no advertising, according to the definition and use regulations contained in this article.
- Window signs placed inside commercial buildings and not covering more than 25 percent of the interior window area. No equipment, furniture or other items, including signage, shall cause more than 25 percent of any window area to be visually obstructed.
- Temporary signs, including community information signs, which conform to the requirements of this article.
- Temporary signs or banners when authorized by the village board and/or plan commission.
- Political and campaign signs, provided that such signs, along with permitted temporary signs under section 50-978 not exceed a total area of 32 square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect, alter or relocate within the village any sign without first obtaining a sign permit, unless specifically exempted by this chapter.
- A completed sign permit application shall include plans and specifications showing sign placement, dimensions, materials and required details of construction, including weight and anchorage.
- When signage is reviewed as part of a site plan review process under Article IV of this chapter, then a sign permit application and fee shall be filed.
- A sign plan may be submitted for a nonresidential property having more than one tenant, as long as the maximum areas and maximum number of signs for each sign type are not exceeded.

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

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