# Sign Regulations in Elm Grove, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Elm Grove, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/elm-grove
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8136345#8136345)

## At a glance

Elm Grove, Wisconsin regulates 16 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Sale, Lease or Rent Signs in the Nonresidential District zoning district are capped at 5 feet tall and 12 square feet (Sec. § 335-48A(1)). Most commercial signs in Elm Grove require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 8 | — | 6 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential District | 6 | 5 feet | 50% of window area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per fronting public street | On real estate offered for lease or sale | — | § 335-46A(1) |
| Open House Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Off-premises | — | § 335-46A(2) |
| No Trespass Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On real estate | — | § 335-46A(3) |
| Identification and Address Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 335-46A(4) |
| Rummage Sale Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | Two | On-premises | — | § 335-46A(5) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One | On any single lot | — | § 335-46A(6) |
| Political Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | On residential properties | — | § 335-46A(7) |
| Home Security System Sign | — | 1.5 square feet | — | — | Two | On property | — | § 335-46A(8) |

### Nonresidential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sale, Lease or Rent Sign | 5 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | One | On real estate offered for sale or lease | — | § 335-48A(1) |
| No Trespass Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On real estate | — | § 335-48A(2) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 50% of window area | — | — | — | Interior side of a window | — | § 335-48A(3) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 50% of window area | — | — | — | Interior side of a window | — | § 335-48A(3)(a) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 feet | 8 square feet per side | — | — | One | Within 20 feet of a doorway | — | § 335-48A(4) |
| Political Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | No closer than 7 feet from the edge of the street pavement | — | On nonresidential properties | — | § 335-48A(6) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Message Board (EMB) | — | 30% of total sign area | — | Greater than 220 feet east from the center line of Elm Grove Road | — | Business or institutional zoned frontage on specified roads | — | § 335-41D(3) |
| Development Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | One per street | On property being developed | — | § 335-42A(1) |
| Contractor Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | One | On site where construction or landscaping is occurring | — | § 335-42A(3) |
| Code of Conduct Sign | — | — | — | 7 to 15 feet from roadway pavement edge | — | No closer than 7 feet and no farther than 15 feet from the roadway pavement edge | — | § 335-42B(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Elm Grove

- All moving, rotating, flashing or pulsating signs are prohibited, except for electronic message boards as provided for and those signs which only give information of time and temperature and which are not closer than 750 feet to another time and/or temperature sign.
- All portable signs are prohibited within the Village of Elm Grove.

## Signs exempt from permit in Elm Grove

- Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the erection, construction, alteration, placement, maintenance or location of nondiscretionary signs, devices and markings of the state, Village or other governmental authority or the posting of notices required by law.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Project developers, such as shopping centers or structures with more than one tenant, shall submit a comprehensive description of a uniform signage system so that individual business or tenant signs will be harmonious and compatible with the overall design of the structure and site.
- Business Centers of four or more tenants shall have a uniform sign format to be approved by the Building Board, concurrent with the site plan.
- Business Centers with less than four tenants may submit for approval of a uniform sign format.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Elm Grove, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Elm+Grove+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-elm-grove

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