# Sign Regulations in Germantown, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Germantown, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/germantown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Germantown/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH9PUPEGOOR_9.19ELCASIREREREOR26-86AMOR05-09)

## At a glance

Germantown, Wisconsin regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Ground Sign (Single & Multi-Tenant, <3 tenants & <25,000 SF)s in the B-1 Neighborhood Business District, B-2 Community Business District, B-3 General Business District, B-4 Professional Office District, B-5 Highway Business District, M-1 Limited Industrial District, M-2 General Industrial District, M-3 Special Use Industrial District, M-4 Mineral Extraction District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 80 sq. ft. per side, 160 sq. ft. total, with a 5 ft min from property line setback (Sec. 17.46(7)(c) and Table 1: Ground Sign Requirements). Most commercial signs in Germantown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-1 Agricultural District, A-2 Agricultural District | 3 | — | 150 sq. ft. (floor area of stand) | — |
| Rs-1 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-2 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-3 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-4 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-5 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-6 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-7 Single-Family Residential District, Rd-2 One-Family and 2-family Residential District, Rm-1 Multiple-Family Residential District, Rm-2 Multiple-Family Residential District, Rm-3 Multiple-Family Residential District, EH Elderly Housing District, MHP Mobile Home Park Residential District | 7 | — | 32 sq. ft. (may be increased by Plan Commission) | — |
| I Institutional District | 2 | Wall: Not above ceiling/top floor. Ground: See table for maximum height. Projecting/Awning/Canopy/Marquee: Max 20 ft above street centerline, min 10 ft over sidewalk, 15 ft over driveway/alley. Roof: Max 10 ft above roof. | 8 sq. ft. | — |
| B-1 Neighborhood Business District, B-2 Community Business District, B-3 General Business District, B-4 Professional Office District, B-5 Highway Business District, M-1 Limited Industrial District, M-2 General Industrial District, M-3 Special Use Industrial District, M-4 Mineral Extraction District | 8 | 20 ft (or as approved by Plan Commission) | 300 sq. ft. per use | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 4 sq. ft. | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### A-1 Agricultural District, A-2 Agricultural District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Advertising products produced on the farm) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 | On property, in conjunction with farm product advertising. | — | 17.12(1)(o) & 17.13(1), 17.46(3)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Roadside stand) | — | 150 sq. ft. (floor area of stand) | — | — | 1 | Location must be approved by Zoning Administrator | — | 17.12(1)(p) |
| Freestanding Sign (with permit—advertising farm products or equipment) | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On property advertising farm products produced on premises or sale of farm equipment, stock, or personal goods | — | 17.46(5) |

### Rs-1 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-2 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-3 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-4 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-5 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-6 Single-Family Residential District, Rs-7 Single-Family Residential District, Rd-2 One-Family and 2-family Residential District, Rm-1 Multiple-Family Residential District, Rm-2 Multiple-Family Residential District, Rm-3 Multiple-Family Residential District, EH Elderly Housing District, MHP Mobile Home Park Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation/Professional Home Office) | — | 3 sq. ft. (may go to 6 sq. ft. or 2 sq. ft. at driveway if obscured) | — | — | 1 | Mounted to residential dwelling (or at driveway if set back over 100 ft) | — | 17.46(3)(b), 17.61(4)(k) |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent real estate development sign) | — | — | — | At least 5 ft from outer edge of street right-of-way | — | On private property or public right-of-way at development entrance/along streets | — | 17.46(6)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary real estate development sign) | — | 32 sq. ft. (may be increased by Plan Commission) | — | At least 5 ft from street right-of-way | — | At least 5 ft from outer edge of street right-of-way | — | 17.46(6)(b) |
| Wall Sign / Bulletin Board (Charitable, religious, or public institutions) | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On institution property | — | 17.46(4)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Real estate sign – temporary advertising sale/rental/lease) | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On property being sold/rented/leased; must be on private property | — | 17.46(3)(d) |
| Wall Sign (Name sign, home occupation, professional home office, on-site traffic control, directional, warning) | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On property | — | 17.46(3)(b) |
| Temporary Sign (Employment opportunities) | — | — | — | — | — | On property (not permitted in residential districts not allowing home occupations) | — | 17.46(3)(f) |

### B-1 Neighborhood Business District, B-2 Community Business District, B-3 General Business District, B-4 Professional Office District, B-5 Highway Business District, M-1 Limited Industrial District, M-2 General Industrial District, M-3 Special Use Industrial District, M-4 Mineral Extraction District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not above ceiling/top floor of building | 300 sq. ft. per use | — | — | — | Building frontage; by approval, may be on other façade/directional | — | 17.46(7)(a) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (Single & Multi-Tenant, <3 tenants & <25,000 SF) | 10 ft | 80 sq. ft. per side, 160 sq. ft. total | — | 5 ft min from property line | 1 per qualifying frontage | Along each road with ≥ 50 ft. frontage | — | 17.46(7)(c) and Table 1: Ground Sign Requirements |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (Multi-Tenant, 4-9 tenants & 25,000-50,000 SF) | 15 ft | 120 sq. ft. per side, 240 sq. ft. total | — | 5 ft or ½ sign height from property line, whichever is greater | See above | Along road frontage as eligible | — | 17.46(7)(c) and Table 1: Ground Sign Requirements |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (Multi-Tenant, 10+ tenants & >50,000 SF) | 20 ft (or as approved by Plan Commission) | 160 sq. ft. per side, 320 sq. ft. total (or as approved by Plan Commission) | — | 5 ft or ½ total sign height from property line, whichever is greater (or as approved) | See above | Along qualifying frontage | — | 17.46(7)(c) and Table 1: Ground Sign Requirements |
| Projecting, Awning, Canopy, and Marquee Signs | 20 ft above street centerline; min 10 ft above sidewalk, 15 ft above drive/alley | 100 sq. ft. per premises | — | — | Per premises | Not over public right-of-way. Min 10 ft from all side lot lines | — | 17.46(7)(b) |
| Roof Sign | Max 10 ft above roof; also must meet zone height limits | 300 sq. ft. on all sides per premises | — | — | — | On or over roof | — | 17.46(7)(d) |
| Temporary Sign (including banner, sandwich board, and real estate) | — | 32 sq. ft. total (all sides); Sandwich board: 2 ft width, 4 ft height max | — | 5 ft (temporary); sandwich boards: must not block sidewalk/right-of-way | 1 sandwich board per business | At least 5 ft from all property lines and street right-of-way; sandwich boards must be within 15 ft and in front of business | — | 17.46(7)(e), 17.46(7)(e)10 |
| Directional/Traffic Control Sign (On-site) | 4 ft (freestanding only) | 6 sq. ft. per side | — | — | As needed | Adjacent to driveways, on property (not in right-of-way/vision corner) | — | 17.46(7)(f), 17.46(3)(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Germantown

- No sign shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, structurally altered, nor shall the face of a sign be changed without a sign permit, except those signs exempted by ordinance.
- No flashing or blinking signs other than traffic signs placed by a public agency shall be placed or erected within the Village.
- Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices.
- Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices.
- Signs shall not be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility, nor be lighted in such a way as to cause glare or impair driver visibility upon public ways.
- Signs, except for electronic message boards as otherwise specified, may be illuminated but nonflashing. The background panel and/or other non-message components of internally-illuminated signs shall be opaque or a dark color to prevent glare.
- No sign or any part thereof or sign anchors, braces or guide rods shall be attached, fastened or anchored to any fire escape, fire ladder or standpipe, or erected/maintained so as to hinder or prevent free ingress or egress through a door, doorway or window or hinder fire department operations.
- Signs for existing businesses or nonresidential operations shall be removed and/or the sign faces replaced, removed or modified within 60 days after said business or operation ceases operation.
- All off-premises advertising signs, including temporary signs and billboards, are prohibited within the Village of Germantown except as specifically allowed (official signs, election, rummage, certain temporary, and directional per specified locations).
- Temporary signs shall not include any internal artificial lighting.
- Temporary signs shall not include changeable text or reader boards.
- Signs shall not be attached to a utility pole, traffic sign, living vegetation, motor vehicle, trailer, or other moveable structure or object.
- Signs shall not be displayed above the roof line of a building.
- No sign which is within 100 feet of a residential district shall be permitted to face the residential district unless it is a permitted exception or allowed by the Plan Commission.
- Advertising and similar signs on wireless communication towers, antenna support structures or antennas are prohibited.
- Placement of flags, decorative signs, streamers, pennants, ribbon, spinner or other moving object on a tower or antenna is prohibited, unless part of a camouflaging design.

## Signs exempt from permit in Germantown

- Memorial signs, tables, name of building and date of building erection signs in all zoning districts when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and affixed flat against a structure, and not illuminated.
- Name, home occupation, professional home office, on-site traffic control and directional signs, and warning signs in all zoning districts, provided that such signs shall not exceed 3 square feet in area.
- Official ground signs such as parking restriction signs, information signs and notices in all zoning districts.
- Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of a lot, parcel of land, building, or part thereof on which the sign is located in all residential zoning districts (maximum 4 sq ft), and in agricultural, business and industrial districts (maximum 32 sq ft).
- Rummage sale signs, complying with the requirements for election campaign signs in sections 9.19 and 17.70(4).
- Temporary signs advertising the need for or availability of employment opportunities, except in residential districts that do not allow major home occupations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, unless otherwise specified, shall be approved by the Plan Commission (this includes review of the sign application for purpose, appearance, location, lighting, height, size, safety, property value impact, and scenic impacts).
- Drawings showing the size, location and design of permanent real estate development signs located within the public right-of-way must be submitted to the Plan Commission for review and approval prior to the issuance of a sign permit.
- All single-tenant ground signs shall be mounted on a decorative base constructed of the same or similar materials as the principal building, and all ground signs shall include landscaping per Plan Commission approval.
- In business, industrial and institutional districts, the Plan Commission may approve wall signage on any facade of a building, or permit additional directional wall signage on other facades.
- Ground signs serving multiple businesses (off-premises directional signs or multi-tenant) require approval by the Plan Commission and may lead to a reduction in onsite sign area/number.
- Electronic message boards are subject to specific design, operational, and location requirements and require Plan Commission approval.
- Whenever the Plan Commission reviews a permit for a ground sign, landscaping shall be required according to the specified landscape provisions.
- Requests for modification of sign height and/or area in the B-5 District corridor (Highway Business) may be approved by the Plan Commission when specific criteria are met and upon a regularly scheduled meeting.
- Sign applications (permits) must include scale drawings, details on illumination, construction, site location, color rendering, and any other details required by the Plan Commission.
- The Plan Commission may waive or modify sign landscaping requirements based on site conditions.
- All signage proposals are subject to further requirements related to site plan approval, architectural control, or conditional use permits, which may impose additional conditions on signage.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/germantown