# Sign Regulations in Hartford, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hartford, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/hartford
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-03
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://ci.hartford.wi.us/DocumentCenter/View/9148/Chapter-54-Signs?bidId=)

## At a glance

Hartford, Wisconsin regulates 31 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Sidewalk Signs in the Community Business (B-2), General Business (B-3) zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 6 sq ft, and 30 inches wide, with a Per § 54.54 when in ROW setback (Sec. Appendix A (B-2/B-3); § 54.54). Most commercial signs in Hartford require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | — | — |
| Neighborhood Business (B-1) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 50% of ground-floor glass area; maximum 16 sq ft; window signs above first floor not allowed | — |
| Community Business (B-2), General Business (B-3) | 10 | 16 ft | Up to 100% of marquee face, but not more than 200 sq ft | — |
| Planned Business Center (B-7), Planned Business Center - Satellite Lot (B-8) | 9 | 24 ft | Up to 100% of marquee face, but not more than 200 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Core (CC-3) | 7 | 4 ft | Up to 50% of ground-floor glass area; maximum 16 sq ft; window signs above first floor not allowed | — |
| Aviation Enterprise (AE), Light Industrial (M-1), General Industrial (M-2) | 4 | Up to 35 ft (see formula) | Up to 125 sq ft (see formula) | — |
| Single-Family Residential (R-1) (Single-Family), Low Density Mixed Residential (R-2) (Single-Family), Medium Density Mixed Residential (R-3) (Single-Family), High Density Mixed Residential (R-4) (Single-Family), Planned Mixed Residential (R-8) (Single-Family), Mixed-Residential - Historic Lot (CC-1) (Single-Family) | 1 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| Low Density Mixed Residential (R-2) (Multi-Family), Medium Density Mixed Residential (R-3) (Multi-Family), High Density Mixed Residential (R-4) (Multi-Family), Planned Mixed Residential (R-8) (Multi-Family), Mixed-Residential - Historic Lot (CC-1) (Multi-Family) | 3 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residential (R-1) (Multi-Family) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Mobile Home Park (R-7) | 2 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Institutional (I-1) | 4 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Park and Recreation (P-1) | 3 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones (Additional Signage by Use – applies citywide) | 8 | 6 ft | Up to 32 sq ft total for each drive-through lane (two boards allowed per lane) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### Community Business (B-2), General Business (B-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Marquee Sign - Option 1 | — | Up to 100% of marquee face, but not more than 200 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 | On vertical surface of marquee above primary public access | — | Appendix A (B-2/B-3); § 54.51 |
| Monument Sign - Option 1 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from lot lines | Max 1 per street frontage exceeding 150 ft | At least 5 ft from all lot lines; not within vision corner triangle | — | Appendix A (B-2/B-3); § 54.52; § 54.33 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | ≥3 ft from curb/internal drives | Max 1 per business | Mounted per § 54.53; bottom ≥10 ft above grade; top not above wall face | — | Appendix A (B-2/B-3); § 54.53 |
| Pylon Sign - Option 2 | 16 ft | 1 sq ft per foot of street frontage, not more than 100 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from lot lines if ≤12 ft tall; ≥12 ft if >12 ft tall | Max 1 per street frontage exceeding 100 ft | At least 5 ft from all lot lines for signs ≤12 ft; at least 12 ft from lot lines for signs >12 ft; not within a vision corner triangle | — | Appendix A (B-2/B-3) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | 30 inches | Per § 54.54 when in ROW | Max 1 per street frontage with primary customer entry door | 1 per street frontage with a primary customer entry door; within 10 ft of primary access; ROW placement subject to clearance rules | — | Appendix A (B-2/B-3); § 54.54 |
| Suspended Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per primary customer entry door | 1 per primary customer entry door | — | Appendix A (B-2/B-3); § 54.55 |
| Wall Sign - Option 2 | — | 1 sq ft per lineal foot of building facade facing public street; not more than 200 sq ft and not less than 50 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 for each street frontage (per business) | On exterior wall facing public street | — | Appendix A (B-2/B-3); § 54.56 |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 50% of ground-floor glass area; maximum 16 sq ft; window signs above first floor not allowed | — | — | No limitation except by area | On/within 16 inches of exterior window; not on doors/windows so as to create hazards | — | Appendix A (B-2/B-3); § 54.57 |

### Planned Business Center (B-7), Planned Business Center - Satellite Lot (B-8)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 8 inches in height and 60% of valance length | — | — | — | Above primary entrance or windows facing street/parking | — | Appendix A (B-7/B-8); § 54.50 |
| Marquee Sign - Option 1 | — | Up to 100% of marquee face, but not more than 200 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 | On vertical surface of marquee above primary public access | — | Appendix A (B-7/B-8); § 54.51 |
| Monument Sign - Option 1 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from lot lines | Max 1 per street frontage exceeding 150 ft | At least 5 ft from lot lines; not within vision corner triangle | — | Appendix A (B-7/B-8); § 54.52; § 54.33 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | ≥3 ft from curb/internal drives | Max 1 per business | Per § 54.53 (bottom ≥10 ft above grade; top not above wall face) | — | Appendix A (B-7/B-8); § 54.53 |
| Pylon Sign - Option 2 | 24 ft | 1 sq ft per foot of street frontage, up to 100 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft if ≤12 ft tall; ≥12 ft if >12 ft tall | Max 1 per street frontage exceeding 100 ft | At least 5 ft from lot lines for signs ≤12 ft; at least 12 ft from lot lines for signs >12 ft; not within vision corner triangle | — | Appendix A (B-7/B-8) |
| Suspended Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per primary customer entry door | 1 per primary customer entry door | — | Appendix A (B-7/B-8); § 54.55 |
| Wall Sign - Option 2 | — | 1 sq ft per lineal foot of building facade facing public street; not more than 200 sq ft and not less than 75 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 for each street frontage (per business) | On exterior wall facing public street | — | Appendix A (B-7/B-8); § 54.56 |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 50% of ground-floor glass area; maximum 16 sq ft; window signs above first floor not allowed | — | — | No limitation except by area | On/within 16 inches of exterior window; not on doors/windows so as to create hazards | — | Appendix A (B-7/B-8); § 54.57 |

### General Regulations For All Zones (Additional Signage by Use – applies citywide)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Menu Board (Drive-Through Restaurant) | — | Up to 32 sq ft total for each drive-through lane (two boards allowed per lane) | — | — | Max 2 per drive-through lane | Within 6 ft of drive-through lane | — | § 54.81(B) |
| Menu Board (Drive-In Service Restaurant) | — | 3 sq ft per space | — | — | — | Next to parking space | — | § 54.81(C) |
| Fuel Canopy Sign | — | Sign copy ≤25% of canopy face | — | — | — | On vertical face of fuel canopy facing a public road | — | § 54.81(D) |
| Multi-Tenant Directory (Single Entrance Building) | — | 7 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall near single building entrance serving multiple businesses | — | § 54.81(E) |
| Movie Theater Placards (Additional Wall Signs) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Per screen count as specified | On front face of building | — | § 54.81(F) |
| Business Park Identification Monument Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business park entrance | At business park entrance: within ROW (with jurisdiction approval), or in an outlot owned by City or all lot owners, or within an easement approved by City with all property owners having a real estate interest | — | § 54.81(G) |
| Subdivision Identification Monument Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision entrance | At subdivision entrance: within ROW (with jurisdiction approval), or in an outlot owned by City or all lot owners, or within an easement approved by City with all property owners having a real estate interest | — | § 54.81(H) |
| Subdivision Lot Sales Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | At subdivision entrance or along street frontage | — | § 54.81(I) |

## Prohibited signs in Hartford

- A sign not specifically allowed in this chapter is prohibited.
- Signs on public property, including within public rights-of-way, are prohibited unless specifically approved by the jurisdiction having authority.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited unless the vehicle is operable and used in the normal day-to-day operation of the business.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Projected (e.g., holographic) signs are prohibited.
- Pylon signs are prohibited.
- Any sign that does not comply with state law, including § 944.21, Wis. Stats., is prohibited.
- A sign may not resemble, imitate, or approximate traffic or railroad signs, signals, or devices.
- A sign may not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- A sign may not cause glare, mislead or confuse traffic, or impair driver visibility on public ways, private roadways, or adjoining properties.
- A sign may not be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, stairway, fire escape, or driveway.
- A sign may not be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- A sign may not be attached to a tree or painted on rocks.
- Balloons, ribbons, or any other attention-getting devices may not be attached to a sign, including any supports.
- A sign may not flash, blink, strobe, or be animated, except as specifically allowed in this chapter.
- A sign may not oscillate or rotate, or move in any other manner.
- A sign may not emit any sound, odor, or visible matter (e.g., bubbles, steam).
- A sign may not be placed on a telecommunication tower, except as required or permitted under the City’s zoning code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hartford

- Traffic control and similar regulatory signage on public property placed by or authorized by the federal government, the State of Wisconsin, Washington County, or the City.
- Directional signage related to onsite parking provided there is no logo or company branding, each sign does not exceed 3 square feet, and the cumulative total does not exceed 12 square feet.
- A sign inside of a building that does not meet the definition of a window sign.
- A legal notice posted on private property as required or authorized by municipal, state, or federal law.
- A scoreboard associated with an outdoor athletic field (reviewed as part of a site plan review).
- A sports league sponsor sign (banner or rigid) temporarily affixed to a fence on an outdoor athletic field, subject to other regulations adopted by the Common Council.
- A historical marker recognized by local, state, or federal authorities.
- Murals.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or coordinated sign plan requirement is identified in Chapter 54.
- Scoreboards associated with outdoor athletic fields are reviewed as part of a site plan review (§ 54.03(5)).
- A sign permit is required to alter, erect, construct, relocate, enlarge, change copy, or structurally modify any sign (§ 54.100).
- Administrative appeals of sign decisions may be filed with the Zoning Board of Appeals within 30 days (§ 54.105); the code references applications for exceptions or appeals (§ 54.102) but does not establish a master sign plan or variance requirement specific to signs.

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

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