# Sign Regulations in Hartland, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hartland, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/hartland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Hartland/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_CH46ZOOR_ARTVIISI)

## At a glance

Hartland, Wisconsin regulates 26 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Monument (Ground) Signs in the Business Districts, Manufacturing Districts, Quarrying/Extractive Districts, B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1 zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 35 sq ft, with a 15 ft minimum from lot lines (not required in B-3) setback (Sec. Sec. 46-980(4)). Most commercial signs in Hartland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 35 sq ft per campaign sign | — |
| Residential Districts | 4 | — | 35 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts, Manufacturing Districts, Quarrying/Extractive Districts, B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1 | 14 | 20 ft above grade or no higher than roofline/top of second floor window, whichever is lower | 100 sq ft | — |
| Institutional Districts (I-1), Park and Recreation Districts (P-1) | 4 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | 8 sq ft for residential, 35 sq ft for business/manufacturing/institutional | — | — | One per premises or street frontage, max two. | On premises being sold, rented or leased. | — | Sec. 46-978(1) |
| Personal Name and Warning Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 46-978(2) |
| Identification Sign (Building Name/Date) | — | — | — | — | — | Cut into masonry surface or metal affixed flat against structure | — | Sec. 46-978(3) |
| Official Governmental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 46-978(4) |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Private property | — | Sec. 46-978(5) |
| Election Campaign Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 16 sq ft unless affixed to permanent structure and does not extend beyond perimeter of the structure. | — | — | — | On premises with consent of owner/renter/lessee | — | Sec. 46-978(6)b |
| Election Campaign Sign (Nonresidential Districts) | — | 35 sq ft per campaign sign | — | — | — | On premises with consent of owner/renter/lessee | — | Sec. 46-978(6)a |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Special Real Estate Development Monument Sign (Permanent) | — | 35 sq ft | — | At least 15 feet from edge of street pavement | — | At entrances or along streets/highways of development | — | Sec. 46-979(a) |
| Special Real Estate Development Sign (Temporary) | — | 35 sq ft | — | At least 5 feet from outer edge of street right-of-way | — | Directs attention to opening/new subdivision or development | — | Sec. 46-979(b) |
| Home Occupation Sign/Professional Home Office Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per premises | On residence | — | Sec. 46-979(c) |
| Ingress/Egress and Direction Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | On premises; not in public street ROW unless approved by architectural board | — | Sec. 46-979(d) |

### Business Districts, Manufacturing Districts, Quarrying/Extractive Districts, B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft above grade or no higher than roofline/top of second floor window, whichever is lower | 12 sq ft per sign for premises with up to 2 establishments; for 3 or more, sign plan is required. | — | — | — | Attached to building; can extend over sidewalk or driveway/alley | — | Sec. 46-980(2) |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | No higher than first story or second floor window sill, whichever is higher | 35 sq ft | — | Up to 3 ft into public right-of-way. | — | Affixed flat to awning/canopy/marquee; no extension beyond edges. | — | Sec. 46-980(3) |
| Monument (Ground) Sign | 8 ft | 35 sq ft | — | 15 ft minimum from lot lines (not required in B-3) | One per premises unless architectural board approves more | — | — | Sec. 46-980(4) |
| Pole or Pylon Sign | 20 ft above base of sign location or mean centerline street grade (if sign is below street grade), whichever is higher | 35 sq ft | — | 15 ft minimum street yard (not required in B-3) | — | Allowed case-by-case in B-1, B-2, B-3 only | — | Sec. 46-980(5) |
| Ingress/Egress and Direction Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | On premises; not in public ROW unless approved by architectural board. | — | Sec. 46-980(6) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of glass area of pane | — | — | — | Only inside buildings, not on glass doors or windows that impact safety or police view. | — | Sec. 46-980(7) |
| Special Real Estate Development Monument Sign (Permanent) | — | 35 sq ft | — | 15 ft from highway or street right-of-way | — | At entrances/streets or highways of development | — | Sec. 46-980(8) |
| Special Real Estate Development Sign (Temporary) | — | 35 sq ft | — | 5 ft from outer edge of street right-of-way | — | Directing attention to opening/location of new building or business/manufacturing development. | — | Sec. 46-980(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Hartland

- No sign shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered without a sign permit except as described in the exemptions section.
- No sign shall be illuminated without a sign permit.
- Outdoor off-premises signs, including billboards, are prohibited with specific exceptions.
- Abandoned signs that advertise an activity, business, or service no longer conducted or available on the premises are prohibited.
- Advertising vehicles or trailers with attached signs for business advertising or direction that are parked so as to be visible from a public right-of-way are prohibited, except for incidental vehicular signs customarily attached to the vehicle.
- Signs advertising illegal activities are prohibited.
- Signs with statements, words or pictures of obscene or pornographic subjects are prohibited.
- Roof signs erected on or over the roofline of a building are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Pole and pylon signs are prohibited except as specifically allowed.
- Portable trailer signs are prohibited.
- Signs painted on, attached or affixed to trees or other living vegetation are prohibited.
- 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 erected, relocated or maintained to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, or attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs shall not cause glare or impair driver visibility upon public ways.
- Other than public traffic control signs, signs shall not have elements that are flashing, scintillating, blinking, moving, rotating, or pulsating (except for electronic message boards giving cyclical time/temperature info).
- Bare light bulbs are not permitted on signs.
- No sign shall be placed to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
- No signs or sign parts or anchors/braces/rods shall be attached to any fire escape, ladder, or standpipe, nor hinder ingress/egress or the raising of fire department ladders.
- Overhead electrical wiring for signs is prohibited except in the B-3 district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hartland

- Real estate sale or rental signs (temporary) meeting size and quantity limits are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Personal name and warning signs not exceeding two square feet and not illuminated are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Identification signs consisting of building names and date of erection cut into masonry or constructed of metal and affixed flat to a structure are allowed without a permit in all districts.
- Official governmental signs (e.g., traffic control, parking restriction, public information, and notices) are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Temporary signs on private property for periods not to exceed 30 days per special event or activity are allowed without a permit in all districts.
- Election campaign signs with property owner/tenant consent (subject to size/location restrictions) are allowed without a permit in all districts.
- Score boards without commercial logos or advertisements at schools and parks in I-1 and P-1 districts do not require a permit.
- No permit is required for the operation of a searchlight by any federal, state, or local government for official business.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A premise with three or more business or manufacturing establishments must submit a sign plan for architectural board review and approval for projecting signs.
- Separate individual projecting, wall, fascia, awning, or canopy signs for each tenant in a shopping center or business complex require the review and approval of an overall coordinated sign plan by the architectural board.
- All signs requiring a permit are subject to architectural board review and approval.
- Variance from the sign code (number, type, size, height, and location) for premises with multiple businesses may be determined by the architectural board.

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

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