# Sign Regulations in Edgar, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Edgar, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/edgar
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/edgarwi/latest/edgar_wi/0-0-0-11737)

## At a glance

Edgar, Wisconsin regulates 23 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the B-1 Central Business District, AEO District zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 40 sq ft per face (2 faces allowed), with a Min 10 ft from side lot line setback (Sec. Sec. 13-1-145(d)(3)). Most commercial signs in Edgar require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 15 ft above curb level | 12 sq ft per sign | — |
| Residential Districts, Planned Unit Developments (Residential) | 5 | 15 ft or 1 story (whichever is lower) | 50 sq ft per sign | — |
| B-1 Central Business District, AEO District | 9 | 32 ft (top); 10 ft min bottom above sidewalk, 16 ft max bottom above driveway/alley | 100 sq ft | — |
| B-2 Highway Commercial District, B-3 Extensive Commercial District, B-4 Business Park District | 9 | 32 ft (top); 10 ft min bottom above sidewalk, 16 ft max bottom above driveway/alley | 200 sq ft | — |
| I-1 Industrial District | 9 | 32 ft (top); 10 ft min bottom above sidewalk, 16 ft max bottom above driveway/alley | 400 sq ft | — |
| A-1 Agricultural District, A-2 Agricultural District, A-3 Agricultural District | 7 | 20 ft | Up to 50% of gross area of all windows on same side | — |
| C-1 Conservation District | 3 | 20 ft | Up to 50% of gross area of all windows on same side | — |
| P-1 Public Lands District | 8 | 20 ft | Up to 50% of gross area of all windows on same side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### B-1 Central Business District, AEO District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directory Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per use per direction | May be placed at right-of-way line of highway/street | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(1) |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On and parallel to exterior wall | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(2)a |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft | 40 sq ft per face (2 faces allowed) | — | Min 10 ft from side lot line | Per business, see general number rules | Fastened to, suspended from, or supported by building/structure | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(3) |
| Ground (Freestanding) Sign | 20 ft | 80 sq ft per side | — | Comply with all yard requirements of the district | 2 per business (general rule) | Comply with district yard requirements | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 50% of gross area of all windows on same side | — | — | — | In windows of business establishments | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(6) |
| Recreational Directory Sign | — | 12 sq ft (individual); 32 sq ft (composite at posting standard) | — | — | — | At right-of-way line of highway/street | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(7) |
| Community/Directory Pylon or Ground Sign (Off-Premises) | — | Max 50% of primary sign's maximum allowable dimensions | — | — | Max 1 per business | — | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(8) |
| Shopping Center/Industrial Park Directory Sign | 32 ft (top); 10 ft min bottom above sidewalk, 16 ft max bottom above driveway/alley | 100 sq ft (center name, one side); 16 sq ft (tenants, one side) | — | Meets all yard requirements | 1 per street frontage | Free-standing; meets all yard requirements | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(9) |

### B-2 Highway Commercial District, B-3 Extensive Commercial District, B-4 Business Park District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directory Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per use per direction | May be placed at right-of-way line | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(1) |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On and parallel to exterior wall | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(2)b |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft | 60 sq ft per face (2 faces allowed) | — | Min 10 ft from side lot line | Per business, see general number rules | Fastened to, suspended from, or supported by building/structure | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(3) |
| Ground (Freestanding) Sign | 20 ft | 120 sq ft per side | — | Comply with all yard requirements of the district | 2 per business (general rule) | Comply with district yard requirements | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 50% of gross area of all windows on same side | — | — | — | In windows of business establishments | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(6) |
| Recreational Directory Sign | — | 12 sq ft (individual); 32 sq ft (composite at posting standard) | — | — | — | At right-of-way line of highway/street | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(7) |
| Community/Directory Pylon or Ground Sign (Off-Premises) | — | Max 50% of primary sign's maximum allowable dimensions | — | — | Max 1 per business | — | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(8) |
| Shopping Center/Industrial Park Directory Sign | 32 ft (top); 10 ft min bottom above sidewalk, 16 ft max bottom above driveway/alley | 100 sq ft (center name, one side); 16 sq ft (tenants, one side) | — | Meets all yard requirements | 1 per street frontage | Free-standing; meets all yard requirements | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(9) |

### I-1 Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directory Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per use per direction | May be placed at right-of-way line | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(1) |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft | 400 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On and parallel to exterior wall | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(2)c |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft | 80 sq ft per face (2 faces allowed) | — | Min 10 ft from side lot line | Per business, see general number rules | Fastened to, suspended from, or supported by building/structure | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(3) |
| Ground (Freestanding) Sign | 20 ft | 160 sq ft per side | — | Comply with all yard requirements of the district | 2 per business (general rule) | Comply with district yard requirements | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 50% of gross area of all windows on same side | — | — | — | In windows of business establishments | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(6) |
| Recreational Directory Sign | — | 12 sq ft (individual); 32 sq ft (composite at posting standard) | — | — | — | At right-of-way line of highway/street | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(7) |
| Community/Directory Pylon or Ground Sign (Off-Premises) | — | Max 50% of primary sign's maximum allowable dimensions | — | — | Max 1 per business | — | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(8) |
| Shopping Center/Industrial Park Directory Sign | 32 ft (top); 10 ft min bottom above sidewalk, 16 ft max bottom above driveway/alley | 100 sq ft (park name, one side); 16 sq ft (tenants, one side) | — | Meets all yard requirements | 1 per street frontage | Free-standing; meets all yard requirements | — | Sec. 13-1-145(d)(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Edgar

- 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, bare reflecting-type bulbs, or utilizes a spot or beacon light to illuminate a sign, except those giving public service information such as time, date, temperature, weather or similar information.
- No signs, billboards, or other advertising media which create 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.
- No new billboards shall be permitted in the Village of Edgar.
- Painted wall signs (signs painted directly onto building surfaces) are prohibited.
- No person shall paste or otherwise fasten any paper or other material, paint, stencil or write any number, sign, name or any disfiguring mark within any street right-of-way, on any sidewalk, curb, gutter, street, post, fire hydrant, pole, tree, any other sign, building, fence or other structure; nor shall any of these objects be defaced.
- No signage shall be used except those types specifically permitted by this Article.
- Signs bearing or containing statements, words, pictures, or symbols of obscene, pornographic, or immoral subjects are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited in the Village of Edgar.
- Swinging signs are prohibited.
- Third-party signs and billboards are prohibited, except as provided in Section 13-1-145(d)(6).
- No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way or on private properties so as to be seen from a public right-of-way, which has attached or located thereon any sign or advertising device for the purpose of providing advertisement or directing people to a business activity (with exceptions for business vehicles used daily).
- Signs which are not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled way of a public right-of-way and which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of drivers are prohibited.
- Signs which are not effectively shielded as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any residential property, and which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause a public nuisance, are prohibited.
- No sign shall be so floodlighted or illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness or obscures an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
- Spotlights and beacons are restricted as provided in the flashing/sign illumination prohibition.
- No signs shall be painted on, attached to, or affixed to any trees, rocks, or other natural matter, including utility poles or apparatus.

## Signs exempt from permit in Edgar

- Bulletin boards (up to 35 square feet per premises per street frontage) for public, charitable, or religious institutions located on site.
- Government signs for control of traffic, parking and other regulatory purposes, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public utilities indicating danger, and aids to service or safety which are erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of his/her public duty, including legal notices and identification or directional signs erected by governmental bodies.
- Interior signs not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into masonry surface or inlaid as part of building.
- Occupant signs limited to name of occupant and address of premises (one per street front, no more than 4 square feet in area).
- Official governmental notices, notices posted by governmental officers, informational notices, or for other regulatory/informational purposes, to identify streets or warn of danger.
- Temporary or permanent construction safety signs erected by public utility companies or construction companies to warn of dangerous or hazardous conditions.
- Privately-owned traffic and parking signs/devices on private premises that direct/control traffic and meet size and height limits; signs for entrances, exits, service areas, parking areas, restrooms, and other functional operation signs.
- Signs required by law, statute, or ordinance, constructed and maintained according to law.
- For Sale/For Rent real estate signs (one per street frontage, up to 10 sq. ft. for residential, 32 sq. ft. for nonresidential), only for the property offered, with specified placement and removal requirements.
- Signs in the display window of a business that relate to services/products offered therein, subject to placement, zoning, and glass area limitations.
- On-premises symbols or insignia: religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historic agencies, or identification emblems of religious orders or historical agencies.
- On-premises temporary and portable signs in residential districts (under 20 sq. ft.) for open house, demonstration, or special events (restricted in time and frequency).
- Civic event temporary signs (not exceeding 4 sq. ft. in residential/public, 32 sq. ft. in business/industrial) promoting civic, philanthropic, educational, religious, or nonprofit events, posted max 30 days before and removed within 7 days after event.
- Political signs (up to 32 sq. ft.) during campaign period as allowed by state law, with posting/removal timeline.
- Rummage/garage sale signs (max 8 sq. ft.), restricted to 72 hours per sale, with location and hazard requirements.
- Illuminated and non-illuminated open/close signs (not exceeding 10 sq. ft).
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except when including letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except those signs specified as exempt, no sign, billboard, awning, or canopy shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without a sign permit and without conformity with the ordinance.
- A sign permit is not required for a change of sign copy when no change in business name is involved.
- Permit required for most signs, with application materials including scaled drawings, placement information, materials, and other data specified by the Zoning Administrator.
- Permit applications are reviewed by the Zoning Administrator for compliance with design criteria and underlying codes. Application may be referred to the Village Board or result in a variance hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals for appeals or exceptions.
- Village Board reviews sign permit applications in accordance with Sign Design Review Guidelines and for variance requests (Zoning Board of Appeals).
- Variances or exceptions may be granted by Zoning Board of Appeals following recommendation from Zoning Administrator, per variance procedure in the Zoning Code.
- Certain special signs, such as electronic message units, portable/message boards, search lights, sandwich signs, banner signs (unless over-the-street for civic activity), neon signs, and roadside stand signs require permits.
- A Master Sign Plan or coordinated review is not referenced explicitly; however, for signage in special planning areas such as downtown or historic preservation areas, conformance to a planned dominant architectural theme may be required.
- Shopping centers or business parks may be permitted a single detached directory sign plus wall signs for each business location, as an alternative, subject to permit.
- The Zoning Administrator or Village Board may require additional information or review for signage affecting structural strength, electrical work, or safety.

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

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