# Sign Regulations in Marshfield, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Marshfield, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/marshfield
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-01
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44596480#44596480)

## At a glance

Marshfield, Wisconsin regulates 20 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Community Information Signs in the Mixed Use Districts (CMU, UMU, NMU, DMU) zoning district are capped at 12 feet tall and 80 sq ft, with a As determined by the Board of Public Works setback (Sec. § 24-03(4)). Most commercial signs in Marshfield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mixed Use Districts (CMU, UMU, NMU, DMU) | 14 | 40 feet | 150 sq ft | — |
| Institutional Uses | 11 | 12 feet | 100 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (IP, LI, GI, RD) | 15 | 40 feet | 300 sq ft, max 600 sq ft per structure | — |
| Residential Districts (SR-2, SR-3, SR-4, SR-6, TR-6, MR-12, MR-24, MH-8) | 4 | 8 feet | 50 sq ft | — |
| Multifamily Residential Uses (MR-12, MR-24, MH-8) | 7 | 8 feet | 50% of the awning or canopy area | — |
| Downtown Design Corridor | 10 | 12 feet | 100 sq ft | — |
| Rural Holding Districts (RH-35) | 2 | 12 feet | 50 sq ft | — |
| Campus District & Planned Development (CD, PD) | 1 | — | Under 50 sq ft | — |
| Community Mixed Use District | 2 | 40 feet | 300 sq ft, max 600 sq ft per structure | — |
| General Industrial District | 1 | 25 feet | 300 sq ft, max 600 sq ft per structure | — |
| Neighborhood Mixed Use District | 3 | 12 feet | 50% of the overall sign area, max 24 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Mixed Use Districts (CMU, UMU, NMU, DMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Community Information Sign | 12 feet | 80 sq ft | — | As determined by the Board of Public Works | One per lot | Private or public property | — | § 24-03(4) |
| Directional Sign, On-Premises | 5 feet | 8 sq ft | — | May not protrude into the vision triangle | One per vehicular entrance and exit | Each vehicular entrance and exit | — | § 24-03(6) |
| Fuel Sign | Limited to the height requirements of the attached sign | 10 sq ft per type of fuel, max 40 sq ft | — | Limited to the setback requirements of the attached sign | One per freestanding sign | Part of a monument, post and panel, pylon, or highway sign | — | § 24-03(8) |
| Highway Sign | 40 feet | 150 sq ft | — | 15 feet minimum | One per lot | Within 100 feet of U.S. Highway 10 right-of-way | — | § 24-03(10) |
| Monument Sign | 12 feet | 100 sq ft | — | 5 feet minimum | One per lot | Freestanding | — | § 24-03(13) |
| Multitenant Sign | Limited by the height of the sign to which they are attached | 100 sq ft plus 10 additional sq ft per tenant up to 150 sq ft | — | 5 feet minimum | One per lot | Freestanding | — | § 24-03(14) |
| Post and Panel | 12 feet | 40 sq ft | — | 5 feet minimum | One per lot | Freestanding | — | § 24-03(17) |
| Projecting Sign | May not extend above top of the roof or parapet line | 32 sq ft | — | May not project more than 6 feet from the wall | One per building | On-building | — | § 24-03(18) |

### Institutional Uses

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Changeable Copy Sign | Limited to the height requirements of the sign to which it is attached | 50% of the overall sign area, max 40 sq ft | — | Limited to the setback requirements of the sign to which it is attached | One per lot | — | — | § 24-03(3) |
| Community Information Sign | 12 feet | 80 sq ft | — | As determined by the Board of Public Works | One per lot | Private or public property | — | § 24-03(4) |
| Directional Sign, On-Premises | 5 feet | 8 sq ft | — | May not protrude into the vision triangle | One per vehicular entrance and exit | Each vehicular entrance and exit | — | § 24-03(6) |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) | Limited to the height requirements of the sign to which it is attached | 50% of the overall sign area, max 24 sq ft | — | Limited to the setback requirements of the sign to which it is attached | One per property | — | — | § 24-03(7) |
| Monument Sign | 12 feet | 100 sq ft | — | 5 feet minimum | One per lot | Freestanding | — | § 24-03(13) |
| Multitenant Sign | Limited by the height of the sign to which they are attached | 100 sq ft plus 10 additional sq ft per tenant up to 150 sq ft | — | 5 feet minimum | One per lot | Freestanding | — | § 24-03(14) |
| Post and Panel | 12 feet | 40 sq ft | — | 5 feet minimum | One per lot | Freestanding | — | § 24-03(17) |
| Projecting Sign | May not extend above top of the roof or parapet line | 32 sq ft | — | May not project more than 6 feet from the wall | One per building | On-building | — | § 24-03(18) |

### Industrial Districts (IP, LI, GI, RD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard Sign | 25 feet | 300 sq ft, max 600 sq ft per structure | — | 15 feet minimum from any public right-of-way | Up to two billboard faces per structure | Freestanding | — | § 24-03(2) |
| Community Information Sign | 12 feet | 80 sq ft | — | As determined by the Board of Public Works | One per lot | Private or public property | — | § 24-03(4) |
| Directional Sign, On-Premises | 6 feet | 12 sq ft | — | May not protrude into the vision triangle | One per vehicular entrance and exit | Each vehicular entrance and exit | — | § 24-03(6) |
| Fuel Sign | Limited to the height requirements of the attached sign | 10 sq ft per type of fuel, max 40 sq ft | — | Limited to the setback requirements of the attached sign | One per freestanding sign | Part of a monument, post and panel, pylon, or highway sign | — | § 24-03(8) |
| Highway Sign | 40 feet | 150 sq ft | — | 15 feet minimum | One per lot | Within 100 feet of U.S. Highway 10 right-of-way | — | § 24-03(10) |
| Monument Sign | 12 feet | 100 sq ft | — | 5 feet minimum | One per lot | Freestanding | — | § 24-03(13) |
| Multitenant Sign | Limited by the height of the sign to which they are attached | 100 sq ft plus 10 additional sq ft per tenant up to 150 sq ft | — | 5 feet minimum | One per lot | Freestanding | — | § 24-03(14) |
| Post and Panel | 12 feet | 40 sq ft | — | 5 feet minimum | One per lot | Freestanding | — | § 24-03(17) |

## Prohibited signs in Marshfield

- No fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs.
- No roof signs shall be permitted.
- Extending signs above the parapet, building roof line or canopy/awning.
- No flashing or animated signs shall be permitted.
- No inflatable device shall be permitted.
- No beacons or search beacons shall be permitted.
- No abandoned signs shall be permitted.
- Advertising mobile signs attached to vehicles or trailers parked for more than 48 consecutive hours.
- Signs in the public right-of-way that are not otherwise permitted.
- Non-compliance with the terms, conditions or provisions of this sign code.
- Signs may not be painted directly on to any building surface.
- No sign shall prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No sign shall impede vehicular or pedestrian safety, or impede access or visibility.
- No commercial sign shall be attached to or painted on any natural feature, public utility pole, public light pole or traffic regulatory structure.
- Signs posing traffic or pedestrian hazards.

## Signs exempt from permit in Marshfield

- Address numerals and other information to identify a location.
- Bulletin boards listing meetings, services, activities, or events for public, philanthropic, or religious institutions.
- Commemorative signs denoting the name of a structure or its date of erection.
- Flags and insignia of corporations and businesses.
- Garage sale signs on the day(s) of the sale.
- Government information signs.
- Identification signs indicating the name and/or address of the property owner, tenant and/or manager.
- Informational signs providing special information such as hours of operation.
- Interior oriented signs primarily oriented to persons within the premises.
- Open signs advertising a premises as open for business.
- Pennant signs for special events, decoration, or seasonal changes.
- Philosophical signs not exceeding 6 square feet in area and 4 feet in height.
- Public property and right-of-way signs.
- Site information signs providing instructions and/or direction to facilities.
- Small directional signs less than 3 square feet in area and less than 3 feet in height.
- Temporary signs 32 square feet or less.
- Window signs attached to the inside face of an exterior window.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan is required when two or more signs do not meet individual sign standards.
- A master sign plan is required for Campus District or nonresidential Group or Large Development.
- A master sign plan is required for signs in a Campus District or Group or Large Development that exceed 50 square feet in area.
- A master sign plan is required for amendments to existing plans that do not comply with current standards.
- The Zoning Administrator may require a master sign plan due to project characteristics such as size and number of proposed signs, limited site visibility, or site location relative to major transportation routes.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/marshfield