# Sign Regulations in Green Bay, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Green Bay, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/green-bay
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Green_Bay/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH30SI)

## At a glance

Green Bay, Wisconsin regulates 26 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Signs in the Office Residential (OR), Neighborhood Center (NC), Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 50 sq. ft., with a Minimum 0 ft. setback (Sec. Sec. 30-34 (Table 30-1)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential 1 (R-1), Residential 2 (R-2), Residential 3 (R-3), Rural Residential (RR) | 9 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Office Residential (OR), Neighborhood Center (NC), Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) | 6 | 20 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Downtown 1 (D1), Downtown 2 (D2) | 6 | 30 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per sign; department store: 1,000 sq. ft. | — |
| General Commercial (C1) | 6 | 30 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per sign; department store: 1,000 sq. ft. | — |
| Highway Commercial (C2) | 6 | 30 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Community Center Commercial (C3) | 9 | 50 ft. | 320 sq. ft. | — |
| Light Industrial (LI), General Industrial (GI) | 5 | 30 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Business Park (BP) | 2 | 50 ft. | 320 sq. ft. | — |
| I-43 Business Park | 1 | — | — | — |
| Public Institutional District (PI) | 6 | 30 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Conservancy District (CON) | 3 | — | Not exceeding 50% of window area | — |
| Public Institutional and Conservancy Districts | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Residential 1 (R-1), Residential 2 (R-2), Residential 3 (R-3), Rural Residential (RR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Multifamily Building Identity) | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | One per building; may be illuminated | — | Sec. 30-33 (1)a |
| Freestanding Sign (Multifamily Building Identity) | 10 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building complex | One per building complex; may be illuminated | — | Sec. 30-33 (1)b |
| Wall Sign (Institutional Identity) | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building (2 per building if on corner lot, provided facing both streets) | One per building; two permitted per building if on corner lot and must face both streets | — | Sec. 30-33 (3)a |
| Freestanding Sign (Institutional Identity) | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | One per building; may be illuminated | — | Sec. 30-33 (3)b |
| Wall Sign (Commercial/Production Use) | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building (2 per building if on corner lot, provided facing both streets) | One per building; two permitted per building if on corner lot and must face both streets | — | Sec. 30-33 (4)a |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial/Production Use) | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | One per building; may be illuminated | — | Sec. 30-33 (4)b |
| Real Estate Sign - Single Family Residential | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | At least 10 ft from curb or edge of pavement | 1 per parcel (2 per parcel on corner lot if facing both streets) | One per parcel; non-illuminated; set back at least 10 ft from curb or pavement | — | Sec. 30-33 (5) |
| Real Estate Sign - Multifamily/Nonresidential | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | At least 10 ft from curb or edge of pavement | 1 per parcel (2 per parcel on corner lot if facing both streets) | One per parcel; non-illuminated; set back at least 10 ft from curb or pavement | — | Sec. 30-33 (5) |

### Office Residential (OR), Neighborhood Center (NC), Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Sign support structure shall not extend more than 18 inches above roof/cornice | 50 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | See additional requirements | Front, side, or rear walls facing street | — | Sec. 30-34 (Table 30-1), (5) |
| Awning, Canopy or Marquee Sign | — | Up to 50% of the area of the awning/canopy | — | — | See additional requirements | On building awning/canopy/marquee | — | Sec. 30-34 (Table 30-1) |
| Window Sign | — | Not exceeding 50% of window area | — | — | 1 per window | Within window glass | — | Sec. 30-34 (Table 30-1), Sec. 30-35 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 25 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 30-34 (Table 30-1) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 0 ft. | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 30-34 (Table 30-1) |
| Freestanding Pole/Pylon Sign | 20 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 0 ft. | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 30-34 (Table 30-1) |

### Community Center Commercial (C3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Small Shopping Center | — | 4 sq. ft. per 1 ft. building frontage | — | — | See additional requirements | Front, side, or rear walls facing street | — | Sec. 30-36 (Table 30-2), note b |
| Wall Sign - Large Shopping Center | — | 4 sq. ft. per 1 ft. building frontage | — | — | See additional requirements | Front, side, or rear walls facing street | — | Sec. 30-36 (Table 30-2), note b |
| Awning, Canopy, or Marquee Sign | — | Up to 50% of the area of the awning/canopy | — | — | See wall sign limits | On building awning/canopy/marquee | — | Sec. 30-36 (Table 30-2) |
| Window Sign | — | Not exceeding 50% of window area | — | — | 1 per window | Within window glass | — | Sec. 30-36 (Table 30-2) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign - Small Shopping Center | 6 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 0 ft. | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage at entrance to park from arterial/expressway/freeway | — | Sec. 30-36 (Table 30-2), note b |
| Freestanding Monument Sign - Large Shopping Center | 6 ft. | 320 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 0 ft. | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage at entrance to park from arterial/expressway/freeway | — | Sec. 30-36 (Table 30-2), note b |
| Pole/Pylon Sign - Small Shopping Center | 40 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 0 ft. | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage at entrance to park from arterial/expressway/freeway | — | Sec. 30-36 (Table 30-2), note b |
| Pole/Pylon Sign - Large Shopping Center | 50 ft. | 320 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 0 ft. | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage at entrance to park from arterial/expressway/freeway | — | Sec. 30-36 (Table 30-2), note b |

## Prohibited signs in Green Bay

- Flashing illumination and rotation of signs are not permitted.
- No signs are permitted over public rights-of-way except for those with special restrictions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Green Bay

- All exempt signs as listed in Section 30-6 are permitted in all zoning districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign authorization is required for all signs except those listed as exempt in Section 30-6.
- Hospital signage greater than what's allowed in Table 30-4 shall be established through the development of its master plan.
- College, university signage greater than what's allowed in Table 30-4 shall be established through the development of their master plan.
- Signage for sports stadiums with seating capacity over 10,000 other than as provided for in Table 30-4 shall be established through the development of a site plan subject to review by the Plan Commission and approval by the Common Council.

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

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