Sign Regulations in Monona, Wisconsin
Monona, Wisconsin has specific sign regulations covering 39 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Wall Sign, Window Sign, Flag Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 27, 2026
Sign Regulation Overview for Monona, Wisconsin
Sample Sign Requirements in Monona
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address Sign | 8 feet maximum mounted height | 4 square feet | On-building |
| Building Management Identification Sign | 6 feet maximum mounted height | 4 square feet | On-building |
| On-Site Warning Sign | 4 feet maximum post mounted height or 6 feet maximum building or fence mounted height | 4 square feet | Freestanding: minimum 15 feet from street curb face |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for MononaFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
39
- Wall Sign
- Window Sign
- Flag Sign
- Projecting Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
10
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Monona
Other Cities in Wisconsin
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Monona vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Monona, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Monona, regulated sign types include Wall Sign, Window Sign, Flag Sign, Projecting Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Monona vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Monona are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Monona has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Monona, Wisconsin Sign Rules at a Glance
Monona, Wisconsin regulates 39 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Community Design District (CDD), Commercial/Industrial District (C/I) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 60 sf, with a 15 ft setback (Sec. Figure 480-70(1)). Most commercial signs in Monona require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Monona, Wisconsin
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Monona (10 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 35-foot flagpole height | 200 square feet | — |
| Single-Family Residential District (SF), Two-Family Residential District (TF) | 5 | 10 feet | 200 sf for all combined | — |
| Multifamily Residence District (MF), Conservancy District (CON), Public Facilities District (P), Cemetery District (CEM) | 11 | 10 ft | 200 sf combined | — |
| Neighborhood Small Business District (NSB), Retail Business District (RB) | 13 | 10 ft | 200 sf combined | — |
| Community Design District (CDD), Commercial/Industrial District (C/I) | 15 | 30 ft | 200 sf | — |
| Commercial District | 13 | 25 ft flagpole | 200 square feet | — |
| Broadway District | 14 | 25 ft pole | 200 sf | — |
| Gateway District | 15 | 30 ft | 200 sf | — |
| South Towne Mall and Outlots | 2 | — | 16 square feet | — |
| Multiple-Family Residential District, Parks District, Governmental District, Public and Quasi-Public Use District | 11 | 25 ft pole | 100 sf | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Monona(sample of 3 of 10 zones)
Community Design District (CDD), Commercial/Industrial District (C/I)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Sign | 5 ft | 60 sf | — | 15 ft | 1/site | 15 ft curb | — | Unlock | Figure 480-70(1) |
| Pylon Sign | 30 ft | 200 sf | — | 15 ft | 1/site | 15 ft curb, facing US 12/18 min 50 ft ROW | — | Unlock | Figure 480-70(1) §480-65 |
| Wall Sign | — | 150 sf | — | — | 1/business/façade | Parallel facade | — | Unlock | Figure 480-70(1) |
| Canopy Sign | — | 40 sf | — | — | Included | On canopy | — | Unlock | Figure 480-70(1) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 100 sf | — | — | Included | Over entrance | — | Unlock | Figure 480-70(1) |
| Awning Sign | — | 75 sf | — | — | Included | On awning | — | Unlock | Figure 480-70(1) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sf | 2 ft | — | 1/business | Near entrance | — | Unlock | Figure 480-70(2) |
| Active Building or Plat Sign | 10 ft | 200 sf | — | — | 1/team | Clustered | — | Unlock | Figure 480-70(2) |
Broadway District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 2 | On-site | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Broadway District Table |
| Flag Sign | 25 ft pole | 24 sf per flag | — | — | 1 pole | Flagpole | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Broadway District Table |
| Graphic Sign | — | 200 sf | — | — | 1/use | Building | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Broadway District Table |
| Landscape Ground Sign | 5 ft | 60 sf | — | 15 ft | 1 | 15 ft curb | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Broadway District Table |
| Noncommercial Free Speech Sign | 5 ft off building | 60 sf | — | 15 ft | 1 | On/off building, 15 ft curb off | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Broadway District Table |
| Off-Premise Advertising Sign | 5 ft | 60 sf per face | — | 15 ft curb | Per interval | Same as landscape ground | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Broadway District Table §480-94 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sf | — | — | 1/use | From wall | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Broadway District Table |
| Reader Board Sign | — | 32 sf | — | — | 1/site | Building or freestanding | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Broadway District Table |
Gateway District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Sign | — | 100 sf | — | — | 2 | On-site | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Gateway District Table |
| Flag Sign | 25 ft | 24 sf | — | — | 1 | Pole | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Gateway District Table |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft | 200 sf | — | 55 ft ROW | 1 | 55 ft from ROW | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Gateway District Table |
| Graphic Sign | — | 200 sf | — | — | 1/use | Building | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Gateway District Table |
| Landscape Ground Sign | 5 ft | 60 sf | — | 15 ft | 1 | 15 ft curb | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Gateway District Table |
| Noncommercial Free Speech Sign | 25 ft off | 100 sf | — | 15 ft | 1 | On/off, 15 ft curb off | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Gateway District Table |
| Off-Premise Advertising Sign | 25 ft | 100 sf per face | — | Freestanding | Per interval | Freestanding setback | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Gateway District Table |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sf | — | — | 1/use | Wall | — | Unlock | Attachment 1 Gateway District Table |
PermitPal covers all 10 zoning districts in Monona — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 10 zones for Monona — start freeProhibited Signs in Monona
- No sign shall be erected at any location where it may, by reason of its position, shape, color or design, interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, nor shall such sign make use of words such as "stop," "look," "danger," or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse users of streets or highways.
- No fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs such as windsocks, motorized signs, pennants, and streamers shall be permitted (except banner signs as defined in § 480-64B(2)).
- No signs shall project above the building parapet or eave, or be mounted on or extend above the roof, if attached to the building.
- No flashing, scrolling, or animated signs shall be permitted (flashing defined as changing more than once within a ten-second time interval).
- No signs shall be mounted to an unlicensed trailer or other unlicensed vehicle.
- No beacons or search beacons shall be permitted.
- No billboards or off-premise advertising signs shall be permitted.
- No abandoned signs shall be permitted (see § 480-64E(1)).
- No illuminated sign shall be permitted unless the illumination is so designed that the lighting element is not visible from any property within a single-family, two-family, or multifamily Zoning District.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be placed in a manner that would impede vehicular or pedestrian safety, or impede access or visibility (must meet § 480-9 requirements).
- No private sign shall be attached to or painted on any natural feature (e.g., tree or rock), fence, fire hydrant, public utility pole, public light pole, or traffic regulatory structure, unless authorized by the Director of Public Works.
- Signs must be placed on-premises (on-site or within right-of-way adjacent to site's street frontage, outside vision triangle, approved via revocable occupancy permit).
- No person shall paste, tape, staple, or otherwise fasten any paper or other material to, nor paint, stencil, or otherwise write or color any object, vegetation, or pavement within any street right-of-way (exception: painting on curbs approved by Common Council).
- Abandoned signs (remaining 90 days on vacant site).
- Advertising vehicle signs (unlicensed/inoperable vehicles parked to be seen from right-of-way).
- Beacon/search beacon signs (beams directed into atmosphere or rotating/moving).
- Board signs (temporarily placed rigid material on ground).
- Bulletin board signs (freestanding with changeable copy).
- Dangerous, deteriorated, or dilapidated signs (imitate traffic signs, block visibility, or unsafe).
- Feather signs (vertically elongated flexible material on single pole).
- Flashing/scrolling/animated signs (lights that flash, scroll, move, etc.; electronic message signs per § 480-67 excepted).
- Floodlighted signs (light source visible from right-of-way or residential property).
- Inflatable signs (filled with air/gas, including animated).
- Mobile/portable signs (mounted on frame/chassis for relocation, including unlicensed vehicles/trailers).
- Off-premise advertising signs (direct attention to off-site activity, including billboards; existing legal nonconforming permitted per § 480-94).
- Roof signs (displayed above eaves or cornice).
Exempt Signs in Monona
- Traffic control and other government messages located within a right-of-way.
- Decorations that are incidentally and customarily associated with any national holiday or religious holiday, or with any community festival or similar event.
- Art works, including but not limited to wall murals, which do not contain a commercial message, logo, or colors; and/or which contain pictorial representations referring to businesses, merchandise, products, or services of an exclusively historic nature of 50 years or older (no longer active commercial enterprise).
- Building colors and lighting which do not contain a commercial message or commercial logo.
- Interior site signs located on the interior of the grounds of the Conservancy Zoning District and Public Facilities Zoning District, which are primarily oriented to persons within the grounds.
- Interior building signs located on the interior of a building and not attached to or located within three feet of the inside of a window, which are primarily oriented to persons within the building.
- Window displays of merchandise, pictures, or models of products or services incorporated in a window display, which are not directly attached to an interior or exterior window surface.
- Vehicles that are licensed, operable, and parked in legal parking spaces (except in violation of § 434-11).
- Business vehicles legally parked on-site at place of business in designated parking/storage or at employee residence (driveways/legal off-street parking) are not advertising vehicle signs.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Monona
- Signs requiring an exception or approval of a comprehensive signage plan for a site or sites with more than one sign viewed together as a group shall be reviewed and approved by the Plan Commission (may be required with zoning permit for change of use or sign permit).
- Signage for Planned Community Development projects permitted per base zoning district and may be granted flexibility through the Planned Community Development process.
- A separate set of sign regulations and standards (signage plan) applies to the South Towne Mall and Outlots area (adopted by Plan Commission on July 25, 1983).
- When a proposed sign is associated with any development requiring a site plan, a sign permit shall not be granted prior to site plan approval; Zoning Administrator reviews for compliance and schedules for recommending/approval body.
- Pylon signs and marquee signs require Plan Commission approval.
- Institutional information signs, electronic message signs, and order board signs require Plan Commission-approved conditional use permit.
- Any exception to sign provisions must receive Plan Commission approval.
Source: ecode360 municipal code