# Sign Regulations in Friesland, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Friesland, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/friesland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35223471#35223471)

## At a glance

Friesland, Wisconsin regulates 25 sign types across 4 zoning districts. For Sale and To Rent Signs in the Residential District, Planned Unit Development (Residential) District zoning district are capped at One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower, when attached to a building; detached or freestanding signs shall not be more than four feet in height tall and 8 square feet, with a No sign shall be closer than 12 feet to any other zoning lot setback (Sec. § 330-63B). Most commercial signs in Friesland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial District, Industrial District, Planned Unit Development (Commercial/Industrial) District | 5 | 20 feet above the mean center line street grade | 300 square feet | — |
| Residential District, Planned Unit Development (Residential) District | 8 | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 50 square feet | — |
| Conservancy District, Agricultural District | 7 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 25 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 feet above the mean center line street grade | 300 square feet | — | — | — | Exterior walls of buildings | — | § 330-62A(1) |
| Projecting Sign | Not less than 10 feet above the sidewalk nor 15 feet above a driveway or an alley | 100 square feet | — | — | — | Fastened to, suspended from, or supported by structures | — | § 330-62A(2) |
| Ground Sign | 20 feet above the mean center line street grade | 100 square feet | — | Must meet all yard requirements for the district | — | In or upon the ground | — | § 330-62A(3) |
| Roof Sign | 10 feet above the roof | 300 square feet | — | — | — | Erected upon or over the roof or parapet of any building | — | § 330-62A(4) |
| Canopy Sign | At least 10 feet above ground level | 5 square feet | — | — | One sign per business | Hanging from canopies or covered walks | — | § 330-62E |

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate and Identification Sign - Residential | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 1 square foot | — | — | One nameplate per dwelling unit | Affixed flat against the wall of the building | — | § 330-63A(1) |
| Nameplate and Identification Sign - Nonresidential | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 9 square feet | — | — | One identification sign per nonresidential building | Affixed flat against the wall of the building | — | § 330-63A(2) |
| For Sale and To Rent Sign | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower, when attached to a building; detached or freestanding signs shall not be more than four feet in height | 8 square feet | — | No sign shall be closer than 12 feet to any other zoning lot | One sign per zoning lot | Attached to a building or freestanding | — | § 330-63B |
| Signs Accessory to Parking Area | 7 feet above curb level | 2 square feet for entrance/exit signs; 9 square feet for conditions of use or identity signs | — | No sign shall project beyond the property line into the public way | One sign for each exit or entrance | Designating parking area entrances or exits | — | § 330-63C |
| Signs Accessory to Roadside Stands | 15 feet above curb level | 12 square feet | — | No sign shall be closer than 50 feet to any other zoning lot | Two signs per lot | On the same zoning lot as the roadside stand | — | § 330-63D |
| Temporary Signs Accessory to Subdivision Developments | 8 feet above curb level | 50 square feet | — | Must observe the front yard requirement of the principal use and be located at least 50 feet from all other boundaries of the site | Two signs per subdivision | Subdivision under construction | — | § 330-63E |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 12 feet above curb level | 32 square feet | — | — | Two signs at each entrance | At each entrance to a subdivision | — | § 330-63F |
| Nonflashing, Illuminated Church Bulletin | One story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 16 square feet | — | No sign shall be closer than eight feet to any other zoning lot | One sign per lot | Church premises | — | § 330-63G |

### Conservancy District, Agricultural District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs Over Shop Windows or Doors | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | Over shop windows or doors of a nonconforming business establishment | — | § 330-61B(1) |
| Memorial Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed flat against a structure | — | § 330-61B(2) |
| Official Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Traffic control, parking restrictions, information and notices | — | § 330-61B(3) |
| Awnings or Canopies | — | — | — | — | — | Servicing only a particular single-family dwelling unit | — | § 330-61B(4) |
| House Numbers or Signs Identifying Parks or Country Clubs | — | — | — | — | — | Identifying parks or country clubs or official bulletin boards | — | § 330-61B(5) |
| Political Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Posted 60 days before an election | — | § 330-61B(6) |
| Rummage or Garage Sale Signs | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 330-61B(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Friesland

- 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 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.
- 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 apparatuses.
- Blanketing of signs on buildings shall not be allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Friesland

- Temporary signs such as real estate signs do not require permits, provided they do not exceed 25 square feet of display surfaces.
- Window signs directing attention to a business or profession conducted on the premises or to a product, service or entertainment sold or offered on said premises are permitted without a permit.
- Warning signs not to exceed four square feet 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.
- Window signs are allowed with no permits.
- Bills, posters and banners shall be allowed with no permits.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations may be granted by the Village Board following a recommendation from the Zoning Administrator, pursuant to the standards of the Village Zoning Code.

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

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