# Sign Regulations in Fox Lake, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fox Lake, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/fox-lake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-01
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27965679#27965679)

## At a glance

Fox Lake, Wisconsin regulates 12 sign types across 5 zoning districts. For Sale Signs in the Residential District, Planned Unit Development (Residential) zoning district are capped at One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower tall and 8 square feet, with a No closer than eight feet to any other zoning lot setback (Sec. § 520-51B). Most commercial signs in Fox Lake require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial District, Industrial District, Planned Unit Development (Commercial/Industrial) | 5 | 20 feet above street grade | 500 square feet | — |
| Residential District, Planned Unit Development (Residential) | 3 | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 24 square feet | — |
| Agricultural District | 2 | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 12 square feet | — |
| Conservancy District | 1 | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 9 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 25 square feet on each face, back to back | — |

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

### Commercial District, Industrial District, Planned Unit Development (Commercial/Industrial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 feet above street grade | 500 square feet | — | — | — | Exterior walls of buildings | — | § 520-50A(1) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet above street grade | — | — | Not less than 10 feet from all side lot lines | — | Fastened to, suspended from or supported by structures | — | § 520-50A(2) |
| Ground Sign | 20 feet above street grade | — | — | Meet all yard requirements for the district | One per street frontage | Ground | — | § 520-50A(3) |
| Roof Sign | 10 feet above the roof | 300 square feet | — | Meet all yard requirements for the district | — | Roof | — | § 520-50A(4) |
| Canopy Sign | 10 feet above ground level | 5 square feet | — | — | One per business | Hanging from canopies or covered walks | — | § 520-50F |

### Residential District, Planned Unit Development (Residential)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 2 square feet | — | — | One per dwelling unit | Affixed flat against the wall of the building | — | § 520-51A(1)(a) |
| For Sale Sign | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 8 square feet | — | No closer than eight feet to any other zoning lot | One per zoning lot | Attached to a building or freestanding | — | § 520-51B |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 6 feet above curb level | 24 square feet | — | — | One per entrance to a subdivision | Located at each entrance to a subdivision | — | § 520-51F |

### Agricultural District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 9 square feet | — | — | One per building | Affixed flat against the wall of the building | — | § 520-51A(1)(b) |
| Roadside Stand Sign | 15 feet above curb level | 12 square feet | — | No projection beyond the property line into the public way | Two per lot | Same zoning lot as the roadside stand | — | § 520-51D |

## Prohibited signs in Fox Lake

- 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 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 in this chapter, or be located within five feet of a property line.
- The distance between freestanding signs shall be a minimum of 75 feet between freestanding signs throughout the street frontage in order to prevent congestion and maintain traffic visibility.
- 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 Fox Lake

- 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 35 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 Zoning Board of Appeals, following a recommendation from the Planning Commission.

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

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