# Sign Regulations in Howards Grove, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Howards Grove, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/howards-grove
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30991868#30991868)

## At a glance

Howards Grove, Wisconsin regulates 19 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Business Identification Signs in the Residential District, Multifamily District, Parks and Recreation District zoning district are capped at 2 ft tall, 20 sq ft, and 10 ft wide, with a Outside of the public right-of-way setback (Sec. § 415-57A(1)). Most commercial signs in Howards Grove require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District, Multifamily District, Parks and Recreation District | 9 | 8 ft | 60 sq ft per side | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District | 8 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 32 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District, Multifamily District, Parks and Recreation District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign | 2 ft | 20 sq ft | 10 ft | Outside of the public right-of-way | — | Over show windows or doors of a nonconforming business establishment | — | § 415-57A(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | Outside of the public right-of-way | — | On the premises being advertised | — | § 415-57A(2) |
| Name, Occupation, and Warning Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | Outside of the public right-of-way | — | On the premises | — | § 415-57A(3) |
| Bulletin Board and Sign for Public, Charitable, or Religious Institutions | — | 60 sq ft per side | — | Outside of the public right-of-way | — | On the premises | — | § 415-57A(4) |
| Memorial Sign | — | — | — | Outside of the public right-of-way | — | Affixed flat against a structure | — | § 415-57A(5) |
| Temporary Banner | — | — | — | Outside of the public right-of-way | — | In accordance with § 415-63 | — | § 415-57A(6) |
| Temporary Portable Nonflashing Sign | — | — | — | Outside of the public right-of-way | — | In accordance with § 415-63 | — | § 415-57A(7) |
| Subdivision Entrance and Development Sign | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — | Exempt from setback requirements upon approval | One per street | At each street the development abuts | — | § 415-57A(8) |

### Commercial District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | Exempt from setback requirements | — | Against exterior walls of buildings | — | § 415-57B(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 40 sq ft per side | — | Not less than 10 ft from all side lot lines | One per lot | Fastened to, suspended from, or supported by attached structures | — | § 415-57B(2) |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 100 sq ft per side, 200 sq ft total | — | Exempt from setback requirements | One per lot | On the premises | — | § 415-57B(3) |
| Pole Sign | 25 ft | 150 sq ft per side, 300 sq ft total | — | Exempt from setback requirements | One per street frontage | On the premises | — | § 415-57B(4) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | — | — | Exempt from setback requirements | — | Inside commercial buildings | — | § 415-57B(5) |
| Temporary Sign for New Building or Development | — | — | — | Exempt from setback requirements | — | On the premises | — | § 415-57B(6) |
| Roof Sign | 10 ft above the roof | 100 sq ft total | — | Exempt from setback requirements | One per frontage | On the roof | — | § 415-57B(7) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | — | — | Exempt from setback requirements | — | Inside commercial buildings | — | § 415-57B(8) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not on a right-of-way terrace | — | § 415-63A(2) |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 415-63B(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Howards Grove

- No sign will be permitted that resembles the size, shape, form or color of official traffic control signs, signals or devices.
- Advertising on vehicles parked on a public right-of-way or public property or on private property so as to be seen from a public right-of-way.
- No sign in a conspicuous state of disrepair shall be permitted to exist.
- No billboard signs shall be permitted.
- No sign shall be erected which has any flashing, brilliant intermittent parts or lights, or bare reflecting-type bulbs, except those giving public service information.
- No sign shall be erected so that any portion of the sign or its supports is attached to or interferes with the free use of any fire escape, exit, any required stairway, door, ventilator or window.
- No sign shall be erected that will interfere with, obstruct, confuse or mislead traffic.
- At no time shall signs be permitted within a vision clearance triangle in such a manner as to restrict vision or impair safety.
- No sign located within 150 feet of a highway or street right-of-way shall contain, include or be illuminated by a rotating beam of light.
- Signs shall not be permitted on public rights-of-way except for traffic control, parking and directional signs and as otherwise specified in this chapter.
- Animated signs with any moving parts, beacon lights or moving lights shall not be permitted, except revolving-type signs are permitted.
- Bare reflecting type bulbs of any kind are not allowed for nonflashing signs unless they are properly shaded so as not to interfere with surrounding properties.
- Blanketing of signs shall not be allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Howards Grove

- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers or names of occupants or premises.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notices, identification information or directional signs erected by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter, and not exceeding eight square feet in size.
- Signs erected by national, state, county or municipal governmental agencies, including traffic and informational signs.
- Real estate signs not to exceed eight square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which signs are temporarily located.
- Temporary banners.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect, enlarge, locate, move, reconstruct, extend, convert or structurally alter any sign in the Village of Howards Grove without first securing a sign permit from the Building Inspector.
- Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals and decisions by the Village Board may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Howards Grove, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Howards+Grove+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-howards-grove

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