# Sign Regulations in Howard, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Howard, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/howard
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Howard/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH50ZO_ARTVIRESI)

## At a glance

Howard, Wisconsin regulates 22 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Products and Services Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Top of sign no higher than 8 feet tall and 8 square feet, with a At least 40 feet from public street or not easily seen setback (Sec. Sec. 50-1269). Most commercial signs in Howard 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 | If closer than 15 ft to front or corner side lot line: not more than 3 ft OR 10 ft of underclearance | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential zoning district | 1 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts | 2 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 zoning districts | 3 | — | 100 square feet per lot or site (total area for all) | — |
| R-5 zoning district, A-1 zoning district | 4 | — | 100 square feet per lot or site (total area for all) | — |
| B-2 zoning district | 4 | 50 feet | Total area of all signs on a lot shall not exceed 400 square feet | — |
| I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4 and I-6 zoning districts | 3 | 50 feet | Total area of all signs on a lot shall not exceed 400 square feet | — |
| B-1 zoning district | 1 | — | — | — |
| B-3 zoning district | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial zoning district | 1 | Not to exceed the highest point of the building | — | — |
| Business zoning district | 1 | Not to exceed the highest point of the building | — | — |
| Industrial zoning district | 1 | Not to exceed the highest point of the building | — | — |

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

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | If closer than 15 ft to front or corner side lot line: not more than 3 ft OR 10 ft of underclearance | — | — | At least distance equal to or greater than height of sign from street curbline or road surface. | — | Within property lines | — | Sec. 50-1252, 50-1255, 50-1265 |
| Marquee Sign | — | Size of marquee | — | — | — | On, attached to, or constructed in a marquee | — | Sec. 50-1253, 50-1266 |
| Wall Sign | No more than 6 ft above the parapet, eaves, or building facade | 40% of the wall area or 4 square feet per lineal foot of wall, whichever is greater | — | — | — | Affixed to or painted on exterior wall; projects not more than 12 inches from the wall | — | Sec. 50-1220 (definition), 50-1267 |
| Roof Sign | Shall not exceed the highest point of the building upon which it is located | — | — | — | — | Erected upon or above a roof or parapet wall | — | Sec. 50-1262 |
| Neighborhood Identification Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Permitted in any residential zoning district | — | Sec. 50-1258 |
| Temporary Promotional Sign | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Located entirely on the property to which they pertain. | — | Sec. 50-1260 |
| Products and Services Sign | Top of sign no higher than 8 feet | 8 square feet | — | At least 40 feet from public street or not easily seen | — | Within 10 feet of entrance, ordering area, or drive-through. At least 40 feet from public street or not easily seen by passersby | — | Sec. 50-1269 |
| Directional Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | Entirely on the property to which they pertain | — | Sec. 50-1327 |

### R-5 zoning district, A-1 zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Farm Operation Identification Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per road frontage | One sign per road frontage | — | Sec. 50-1368 |
| Portable Sign - Nonprofit Organizations | — | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per business (up to 8 weeks/yr) | Used by churches, schools and similar nonprofits | — | Sec. 50-1368, 50-1260 |
| Identification Sign - Churches, Schools, Nonprofit | — | 100 square feet per lot or site (total area for all) | — | — | — | On church or school premises | — | Sec. 50-1368 |
| Changeable Message Sign - Churches, Schools, Nonprofit | — | 100 square feet per lot or site (total area for all) | — | — | — | On church or school premises | — | Sec. 50-1368 |

### B-2 zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-premises Sign | — | Total area of all signs on a lot shall not exceed 400 square feet | — | — | — | On-premises | — | Sec. 50-1370 |
| Freestanding Sign (Standard) | 30 feet | — | — | — | 1 per lot frontage | One per lot frontage | — | Sec. 50-1370 |
| Freestanding Sign (US Highway 41 Frontage) | 50 feet | — | — | — | 1 per lot frontage | One per lot frontage on US Highway 41 | — | Sec. 50-1370 |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center Additional) | — | 300 square feet | — | — | 1 additional per lot frontage (shopping centers) | One additional per lot frontage for shopping centers | — | Sec. 50-1370 |

## Prohibited signs in Howard

- All off-premises billboard signs are prohibited in the village.
- No animated signs shall be erected or maintained on any land in or within 200 feet of a residential zoning district where dwellings exist.
- No sign, in direct line of vision of any traffic signal from any point in a traffic lane, shall have red, green or amber illumination, nor shall such sign be distracting or illustrated in a manner which interferes with clear vision of such signal.
- No sign facing a residential zoning district shall be erected or installed closer than 25 feet to such zoning district boundary line.
- Roof-mounted signs are permitted only in business, commercial and industrial zoning districts.
- No sign shall be suspended by chains or other devices which allow the sign to swing due to wind action.
- Portable electronic signs are prohibited.
- No electronic sign shall be permitted within 200 feet of any railroad crossing.

## Signs exempt from permit in Howard

- Awning signs consisting of one line of copy upon the border of the awning.
- Building numbers and nameplates identifying street numbers and/or names of property owners, not exceeding two square feet per building.
- Construction signs identifying a construction project and/or contractor, within limitations on size, number, illumination (in residential), and removal timing.
- Directional and instructional signs providing instructions or directions and meeting area, illumination, and location limitations.
- Symbols, commemorative plaques, insignias and identification emblems of any nation, political organization, association, religious order or recognized historic agency, provided they are located on the property and not illuminated.
- Government signs erected by or on the order of a public official in the performance of public duties.
- Interior signs not visible from a public right-of-way (but must comply with structural, electrical and material specifications).
- Memorial signs and plaques limited to four square feet (unless part of masonry/inlaid), not illuminated in residential districts.
- No trespassing and no dumping signs not exceeding 1.5 square feet per sign.
- Public notices posted by a public official in the performance of duties.
- Public signs specifically authorized or required for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance.
- Political and campaign signs erected for candidates or ballot measures, within area, location, timing, and illumination restrictions.
- Real estate signs advertising property for sale, rental or lease, with area, number, illumination and removal constraints.
- Temporary signs for civic, philanthropic, educational or religious drives/events, limited to size, duration, property location, and not illuminated.
- Vehicular signs on vehicles operating during normal business (excluding those primarily for display of signs).
- Window signs on the inside surface of ground floor windows in nonresidential districts, up to 50% of total window area and not on required-clear-vision glass.
- Corporate flags with size, zoning, height, and underclearance restrictions, limited to one per lot.
- Rummage, garage and yard sale signs with area, number, duration, frequency, location, and illumination restrictions.
- Products and services signs (such as drive-through menu boards) located near business entrances/ordering areas, limited in size, height, lettering, and not requiring permits.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications for farm operation identification signs in R-5 and A-1 zoning districts shall be reviewed and approved by the village plan commission prior to issuance.
- Neighborhood identification signs in residential zoning districts may not be illuminated unless specifically approved by the village plan commission.
- Except as specifically exempted in Division 4 (Exempt Signs), no person shall erect, construct, enlarge or structurally alter a freestanding sign without first obtaining a permit from the village department of code administration.
- Permits are not required for a change of copy on any sign, or for routine painting, cleaning, maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure.
- Permits are not required for products and services 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 Howard — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Howard+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-howard

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