# Sign Regulations in Colby, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Colby, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/colby
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-01
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/36512017#36512017)

## At a glance

Colby, Wisconsin regulates 31 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Multifamily Dwelling Identification Signs in the Residential Districts and Conservancy Districts zoning district are capped at 32 square feet, with a Not closer than eight feet to any other zoning lot setback (Sec. § 480-62A(1)(b)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial, Industrial and Planned Unit Development (commercial/industrial) Districts | 13 | — | 64 square feet | — |
| Residential, Conservancy and Agricultural Districts | 11 | — | 64 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts and Conservancy Districts | 5 | — | 64 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts | 2 | 35 feet | — | — |
| General Commercial District (CG) | 2 | 35 feet | — | — |
| Industrial Districts | 2 | 35 feet | — | — |
| IL and IGL Districts | 2 | 35 feet | — | — |
| IG District | 2 | 40 feet | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 24 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Commercial, Industrial and Planned Unit Development (commercial/industrial) Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-61A(1) |
| Name, Occupation and Warning Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-61A(2) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 64 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-61A(3) |
| Memorial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed flat against the structure | — | § 480-61A(4) |
| Rummage or Garage Sale Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 480-61A(6) |
| Functional Operation Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-61A(7) |
| Property Number Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 480-61A(8) |
| Decorative or Architectural Feature | — | — | — | — | — | Integral to buildings | — | § 480-61A(11) |

### Residential, Conservancy and Agricultural Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonconforming Business Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Over show windows or doors | — | § 480-61B(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-61B(2) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-61B(3) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 64 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-61B(4) |
| Memorial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed flat against the structure | — | § 480-61B(5) |
| Awning or Canopy | — | — | — | — | — | Servicing only a particular single-family dwelling unit | — | § 480-61B(7) |
| House Number or Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 480-61B(8) |
| Approved Professional Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per premises | On the premises | — | § 480-61B(9) |

### Residential Districts and Conservancy Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate and Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per dwelling unit | On the premises | — | § 480-62A(1)(a) |
| Multifamily Dwelling Identification Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | Not closer than eight feet to any other zoning lot | One per street side on corner lot | On the premises | — | § 480-62A(1)(b) |
| Church Bulletin, Cemetery, Educational Institution, Recreation and Social Facility Identification Sign | — | 64 square feet | — | Not closer than eight feet to any other zoning lot | — | On the premises | — | § 480-62A(2)(a) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | Not closer than eight feet to any other zoning lot | One per zoning lot | On the premises | — | § 480-62A(3) |
| Advertising Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 480-62A(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Colby

- Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs or devices.
- Signs, canopies and awnings shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices or the safe flow of traffic.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign, awning or canopy shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
- 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 such as time, date, temperature, weather or similar information or where allowed by conditional use permit.
- No signs, billboards or other advertising media which creates a hazard or dangerous distraction to vehicular traffic or a nuisance to adjoining residential property shall be permitted in any district.
- Signs shall not be permitted on public rights-of-way, except for municipal traffic control, parking and directional signs and as otherwise specified in this chapter, or be located within five feet of a property line.
- No sign shall be painted, pasted or similarly posted directly on the surface of any wall, nor shall any sign be permitted to be placed on any wall, fence or standard facing the side of any adjoining lot located in any Residential District.
- 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.
- Blanketing of signs shall not be allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Colby

- Real estate signs not to exceed eight square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily located.
- Name, occupation and warning signs not to exceed four square feet located on the premises.
- Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions not to exceed 64 square feet in area located on the premises.
- 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 the structure.
- Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restriction, information and notices.
- Rummage or garage sale signs not to exceed eight square feet in area, but use of this type of sign shall be limited to 72 hours per sale.
- Signs designating entrances, exits, service areas, parking areas, rest rooms and other such signs relating to functional operation of the building or premises shall be permitted without limitation other than reasonable size and necessity.
- Signs not exceeding two square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers or names of occupants of premises.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notices, identification information or directional signs erected by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.
- Political signs may be posted 60 days before an election and must be removed within 10 days after said election. Said sign shall be a maximum of eight square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations may be granted by the Board of Appeals, following a recommendation from the Planning Committee.
- Drawings showing the specific design, appearance and location of the sign shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for approval.

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

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