# Sign Regulations in Markesan, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Markesan, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/markesan
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-01
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27466570#27466570)

## At a glance

Markesan, Wisconsin regulates 6 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the Agricultural District (A) zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 200 square feet (Sec. § 400-115B(1)). Most commercial signs in Markesan require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservancy (CON) | 1 | — | 3 feet in length, 1 foot in height | — |
| Residential District (R-1) | 2 | — | 3 feet in length, 1 foot in height | — |
| Agricultural District (A) | 2 | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| General Commercial District (C-1) | 2 | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Mobile Home Park District (R-3) | 2 | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Highway Commercial District (C-2) | 2 | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Industrial District (I-1) | 2 | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 8 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Agricultural District (A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — | — | — | Exterior walls of a building | — | § 400-115B(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 200 square feet per facing | — | — | One per 200 feet of frontage | — | — | § 400-115B(3) |

### General Commercial District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — | — | — | Exterior walls of a building | — | § 400-115B(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 200 square feet per facing | — | — | One per 200 feet of frontage | — | — | § 400-115B(3) |

### Mobile Home Park District (R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — | — | — | Exterior walls of a building | — | § 400-115B(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 200 square feet per facing | — | — | One per 200 feet of frontage | — | — | § 400-115B(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Markesan

- No sign shall be erected at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, traffic signal or other traffic device.
- No sign shall make use of the words 'STOP,' 'LOOK,' 'DRIVE-IN,' 'DANGER,' 'ENTER,' 'EXIT,' 'OPEN' or use any other word, phrase or symbol or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- No sign shall be placed upon or over any public way or right-of-way.
- Advertising balloons, kites or other such signs tethered to the ground or a structure are prohibited.
- No sign shall be so illuminated so as to create or cause a hazard to vehicles or other traffic, or to obscure an official device, sign or signal.
- Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or interfere with traffic visibility nor be lighted in such a way as to cause glare or impair driver visibility upon the public highways.
- No person other than an officer authorized by this chapter to erect and maintain official traffic control devices, or his designee, shall place within the limits of any street or highway maintained by the City any sign, signal, marker, mark or monument unless permission is first obtained from the Chief of Police or the State Highway Commission.

## Signs exempt from permit in Markesan

- Construction signs with the principal purpose of identifying contractors, subcontractors or suppliers on a construction site shall be permitted without permits.
- Government signs for control of traffic and other regulatory purposes, danger signs, railroad crossing signs and signs of public utilities indicating danger, and aids to service of safety which are erected by or on the order or a public officer in the performance of his public duty.
- Home occupation signs associated with a home occupation provided such signs are nonilluminated wall signs that do not exceed two square feet in area.
- House numbers and name plates not exceeding two square feet in area for each residential, commercial or industrial building.
- Interior signs located within the interior of any building or structure or business premises which are not visible from the public right-of-way.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and dates of erection which are cut into masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of a building or when constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material no more than four square of feet in area.
- No trespassing and no dumping signs not to exceed 1 1/2 square feet in area per sign.
- Official notices posted by public officers or employees in the performance of their duties.
- Signs required as specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance.
- Political and campaign signs on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on election ballots.
- One real estate sign on any lot or parcel, provided such sign is located entirely within the property to which the sign applies and is not directly illuminated.
- Temporary window signs in business, commercial and industrial districts.
- Temporary signs which advertise an event and are no larger than 16 square feet in nonresidential zoning districts and 11 square feet in residential zoning districts.
- On-premises symbols or insignia such as religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historic agencies or identification emblems of religious orders or historical agencies.
- On-premises temporary signs not exceeding four square feet in area pertaining to drives or civic, philanthropic, educational, religious organizations.
- Vehicular signs on truck, bus, trailer or other vehicle while operating in the normal course of business, which is not primarily the display of signs.
- Bulletin boards of public, charitable or religious organizations not to exceed eight square feet in area located on the premises.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A variance shall be permitted for one on-premises sign for property owners with less than 100 feet of frontage.
- Variance may be allowed to other property owners where topography or location of existing buildings make compliance with this section difficult and an alternate location consistent with the intent and spirit of this section is proposed.

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

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