# Sign Regulations in McFarland, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** McFarland, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/mcfarland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/McFarland/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH8BUBURE_ARTXISIBIRE)

## At a glance

McFarland, Wisconsin regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Sandwich Board Signs in the Business District, Commercial District, Industrial District, C-G zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 12 sq ft, and 3 ft wide, with a On private property only, in front of business setback (Sec. Sec. 8-499(b)). Most commercial signs in McFarland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 6 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business District, Commercial District, Industrial District, C-G | 12 | 25 ft | Up to 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 8 ft (freestanding) | 40 sq ft (freestanding), On-wall: 1/10 building face area | — |

_2 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | At least half of the required minimum setback specified in the district regulations | 1 per single-family or two-family dwelling | Per residence; near building entrance; set back per district requirements | — | Sec. 8-494(a)(1) |
| Identification Sign (Multifamily/Development Entrance) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building/subdivision | Near main entrance to building or subdivision | — | Sec. 8-494(a)(2) |
| Construction or Remodeling Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street (2 allowed on corner lots) | — | — | Sec. 8-494(a)(3) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign (Single Family/Residential Lot) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Yard adjoining an existing or dedicated street. | — | Sec. 8-494(b)(1) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign (Multifamily/Condo By Individual Owner) | — | 12 sq ft (adjoining street); 3 sq ft (within 10 ft of unit front door) | — | — | 1 per adjoining street; 1 per unit at front door | Yard adjoining street; or within 10 ft of front door | — | Sec. 8-494(b)(2) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign (More than 6 Units/Lots by Same Party) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street | One sign facing each public street providing access | — | Sec. 8-494(b)(3) |

### Business District, Commercial District, Industrial District, C-G

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Side Wall Sign | — | Up to 100 sq ft | — | Must face a side yard complying with setbacks, or toward a side street. | Not specified; by wall. | Side wall facing side yard or side street. | — | Sec. 8-497(b) |
| Rear Wall Sign | — | 50% of front wall sign allowance | — | May project up to 12 in into required rear yard. | Not specified; by wall. | Rear wall of building. | — | Sec. 8-497(c) |
| Ground Sign (Setback 1–9 ft) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 1 ft – 9 ft from ROW | Up to 2 per building (with provision for area increase if only 1 is built) | At minimum 1 ft to 9 ft from right-of-way. | — | Sec. 8-497(d) |
| Ground Sign (Setback 9–17 ft) | 16 ft | 70 sq ft | — | 9 ft – 17 ft from ROW | Up to 2 per building | At 9–17 ft from right-of-way | — | Sec. 8-497(d) |
| Ground Sign (Setback 17–25 ft) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 17 ft – 25 ft from ROW | Up to 2 per building | At 17–25 ft from right-of-way | — | Sec. 8-497(d) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | — | 32 sq ft | — | At least half of setback in district | 1 per yard per street | Each yard adjoining a street | — | Sec. 8-497(h)(1) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign (Commercial/Industrial Plat) | — | 100 sq ft | — | Per ground sign criteria | 1 per street | One facing each street providing access to plat | — | Sec. 8-497(h)(2) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | 3 ft | On private property only, in front of business | 1 per premise per street frontage | Private property in front of the business (not public ROW) | — | Sec. 8-499(b) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | — | — | Sec. 8-499(a) |
| Directory Sign (Houses of Worship, Schools, Nonprofit Institutions) | 8 ft (freestanding) | 40 sq ft (freestanding), On-wall: 1/10 building face area | — | — | 1 per lot (2 for corner lots) for freestanding | 1 per lot (2 if corner lot, one per street); wall sign is on front wall. | — | Sec. 8-496 |
| Parking Area Signs (Entrance/Exit) | — | 2 sq ft | — | At least 1 ft behind lot line | 1 per entrance/exit | At each entrance or exit to parking area, min. 1 ft behind lot line | — | Sec. 8-495(a) |
| Parking Area Signs (Conditions of Use) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parking area | Per parking area | — | Sec. 8-495(b) |

## Prohibited signs in McFarland

- No sign may be constructed, erected, remodeled, relocated, or expanded until a sign permit is obtained in accordance with the McFarland Building Code (Sec. 8-486(a)).
- No sign shall block any required accessway or the outside of any window (Sec. 8-493(e)).
- No sign shall be located on vacant property except a sign advertising the premises for sale or lease which meets the standards of Section 8-494(b) (Sec. 8-493(f)).
- No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole whether on public or private property (Sec. 8-493(g)).
- No sign shall be maintained at any location where by reason of its position, size, shape or color it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal or device, or where it may interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic (Sec. 8-493(i)).
- No sign shall be permitted that advertises a business that is not being presently conducted. Obsolete signs shall be removed within 30 days of termination of business advertised (Sec. 8-493(j)).
- No sign shall be permitted on any public street, sidewalk, alley or parkway or other public property, except that a sign advertising 'Garage Sale,' not to exceed nine square feet in area, may be placed in the parkway in front of the residence for a period not to exceed three days in length. If the residence does not front on a major thoroughfare, a second sign may be placed in the parkway of the closest thoroughfare for the day of the sale (Sec. 8-493(k)).
- Billboards are prohibited (Sec. 8-493(l)).
- No sign shall be suspended by chains or other devices that will allow the sign to swing due to wind action. Signs shall be anchored to prevent any lateral movement that could cause wear on supporting members or connections (Sec. 8-491(e)).
- All signs must conform to the regulations and design standards of the Village Building Code. Wiring of all electrical signs must conform to the Electrical Code of the Village and the National Electrical Code (Sec. 8-493(h)).
- No flashing signs, rotating or moving signs, animated signs, signs with moving lights, or creating the illusion of movement shall be permitted. An electronic message unit sign shall not be deemed to be a flashing sign if the message changes are limited to not more frequently than every 30 seconds (Sec. 8-493(c)).
- No banner, pennant, streamer, string of lights or any other similar sign shall be permitted, except for special promotions allowed twice a year, not to exceed 30 days for each event by permit issued by the Building Inspector (Sec. 8-493(a)).

## Signs exempt from permit in McFarland

- Flags or emblems of a government or of a political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization, displayed on private property. Political campaign signs must be removed within one week after election (Sec. 8-486(a)(1)).
- Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal notices and warnings at railroad crossings (Sec. 8-486(a)(2)).
- Memorial signs and tablets displayed on private property (Sec. 8-486(a)(3)).
- Address numerals and other signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, provided that the content and size of the sign do not exceed the requirements of such law, order, rule or regulation (Sec. 8-486(a)(4)).
- Small signs, not exceeding two square feet in area, displayed on private property for the convenience of the public, including signs to identify restrooms, freight entrances and the like (Sec. 8-486(a)(5)).
- Signs permitted by Sections 8-494(a) and (b) and 8-497(h) are exempt from the permit requirement, but must comply with all of the other regulations of this Article (Sec. 8-486(b)(1)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a sign permit shall include a site plan showing the buildings on the premises upon which the structure is to be erected and maintained together with location, size, and types of existing signs on the premises where the proposed sign is to be located (Sec. 8-487(a)(2)).
- If required by the Building Inspector, calculations showing that the structure and design meets the requirements of this Article for wind speed must be submitted (Sec. 8-487(a)(3)).
- Such other information as the Building Inspector may require to show full compliance with this and all other applicable laws of the Village (Sec. 8-487(a)(5)).
- Any appeal of denial of a sign permit is taken to the Board of Zoning Appeals by written request (Sec. 8-487(d)).

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

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