# Sign Regulations in Darien, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Darien, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/darien
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28564058#28564058)

## At a glance

Darien, Wisconsin regulates 22 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (A-1, NC, SC, SI)s in the Nonresidential Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 8 feet, up to 50 feet as conditional use tall and 200 square feet (one side), 400 square feet (two-sided), with a 10 feet or equal to sign height setback (Sec. § 17.62.060.C.1.b.ii.). Most commercial signs in Darien require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 4 square feet | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 6 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential Zoning Districts | 4 | 8 feet, up to 50 feet as conditional use | 250 square feet | — |
| CC Zoning District | 1 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| A-1 Zoning District, NC Zoning District, SC Zoning District, SI Zoning District | 2 | 8 feet, up to 50 feet as conditional use | 200 square feet | — |
| UI Zoning District | 2 | 8 feet, up to 20 feet as conditional use | 250 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Numerals and Identification Signs | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 17.62.020.A.1. |
| Legal Notices | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 17.62.020.A.2. |
| Governmental Agency Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 17.62.020.A.3. |
| Memorial Signs and Tablets | — | — | — | — | — | Cemeteries | — | § 17.62.020.A.4. |
| On-Premise Directional Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 17.62.020.A.5. |
| Temporary Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 17.62.020.A.6. |
| Auxiliary Signs | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 17.62.020.A.8. |
| Community Information Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Private or public property | — | § 17.62.020.B. |

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (One-Family to Four-Family Dwelling) | — | 2 square feet | — | 12 feet | 1 | — | — | § 17.62.050.B.1.a. |
| Wall Sign, Canopy Sign, or Monument Sign (Multifamily or Institutional Use) | — | 24 square feet | — | 12 feet | 1 monument, plus 1 wall or canopy | — | — | § 17.62.050.B.1.b. |
| Wall Sign, Canopy Sign, or Monument Sign (Group Development or Subdivision) | — | 32 square feet | — | 12 feet | Per plat or conditional use | — | — | § 17.62.050.B.1.c. |
| Auxiliary Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 2 | — | — | § 17.62.050.B.2. |
| On-Premise Directional Sign | — | 9 square feet | — | — | 1 per vehicular entrance, exit, and parking area | Each vehicular entrance, exit, and parking area | — | § 17.62.050.B.3. |
| On-Premise Business Sign (Legal, Nonconforming Business Only) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 wall and 1 freestanding | — | — | § 17.62.050.B.5. |

### Nonresidential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign or Awning Sign (A-1, NC, SC, SI) | — | 200 square feet | — | — | 2 per business fronting on that wall | Each exposed side not adjacent to residential | — | § 17.62.060.C.1.b.i. |
| Freestanding Sign (A-1, NC, SC, SI) | 8 feet, up to 50 feet as conditional use | 200 square feet (one side), 400 square feet (two-sided) | — | 10 feet or equal to sign height | 1 per lot | Lots with more than four public parking spaces | — | § 17.62.060.C.1.b.ii. |
| Wall Sign or Awning Sign (UI) | — | 250 square feet | — | — | 2 per business fronting on that wall | Each exposed side not adjacent to residential | — | § 17.62.060.C.1.c.i. |
| Freestanding Sign (UI) | 8 feet, up to 20 feet as conditional use | 100 square feet per sign face | — | 10 feet or equal to sign height | 1 per lot | Lots with more than four public parking spaces | — | § 17.62.060.C.1.c.ii. |

## Prohibited signs in Darien

- No sign shall use any word, phrase, symbol, shape, form, or character in such manner as to interfere with moving traffic, including signs which incorporate typical street-type and/or traffic control signage designs and colors.
- Fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs or other decorations shall be permitted only as temporary signs.
- Illuminated flashing signs or chasing lights shall be permitted only as temporary signs.
- Illuminated signs shall be permitted only if the illumination is so designed that the lighting element is not visible from any residentially zoned property.
- Mobile or portable signs shall be permitted only as temporary signs and may be illuminated.
- No sign shall be placed so as to interfere with traffic visibility.
- Window obstruction by interior signs shall not exceed more than 20% for any one window, nor more than 10% of all combined window areas on the same façade of a structure.

## Signs exempt from permit in Darien

- Address numerals and identification signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Legal notices.
- Signs established by, or by order of, any governmental agency.
- Memorial signs and tablets displayed in cemeteries.
- On-premise directional signs which bear no advertising including logos.
- Temporary signs which conform to the requirements of Section 17.62.070.
- Political signs and flags of government, religion, fraternal, or civic organizations.
- Auxiliary signs per 17.62.030(A)(1), if under four square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect, alter, or relocate within the Village any sign without first obtaining a sign permit, except for the exceptions in Subsections A and B of this section.
- Community information signs shall be permitted only as a conditional use within all zoning districts and upon any property within the jurisdiction of this title.
- All applications for sign permits shall be made in writing on a form supplied by the Village Zoning Administrator.

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

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