# Sign Regulations in Mosinee, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mosinee, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/mosinee
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Mosinee/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH42LAUSRE_ARTIIZO_DIV3DIDIRE_SDXCEBUDI_S42-472SIRE)

## At a glance

Mosinee, Wisconsin regulates 22 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Temporary Subdivision/Development/Improvement Signs in the R-1 Single-family residence district, R-2 Single-family residence district, R-3 Single-family residence district, R-4 General residence district, I-R Interchange residence district zoning district are capped at 15 ft above curb level tall and 200 sq ft per sign, with a Meet front yard requirements; at least 50 ft from all other site boundaries setback (Sec. Sec. 42-981(5)). Most commercial signs in Mosinee require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Single-family residence district, R-2 Single-family residence district, R-3 Single-family residence district, R-4 General residence district, I-R Interchange residence district | 7 | One story or 15 ft above curb level, whichever is lower | 200 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-5 Agricultural and estate district | 2 | 15 ft above curb level | 200 sq ft per sign | — |
| B-1 Neighborhood shopping district | 3 | 30 ft above curb level (except as provided by conditional use) | — | — |
| B-2 Community service district, B-3 General commercial district | 2 | 50 ft above curb level (except as permitted by conditional use) | — | — |
| B-4 Central business district | 2 | 50 ft above curb level (except as may be provided by conditional use) | 24 sq ft (all signs on lot) | — |
| M-1 Limited industrial district, I-M Interchange industrial district | 2 | 50 ft above curb level (except as may be allowed by conditional use permit) | — | — |
| M-2 General industrial district | 2 | 50 ft above curb level (except as may be allowed by conditional use) | — | — |
| I-B Interchange business district | 2 | 30 ft above curb level (except as allowed by conditional use) | — | — |
| VP Valley plain district | 1 | — | 200 sq ft (total surface area all signs on zoning lot) | — |
| MW Municipal well recharge area overlay district (Zone A, Zone B) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 30 ft (minimum 12 ft above grade); cannot exceed building height limit of zone | 360 sq ft (max size); total lot area limit by zone signage formula | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### R-1 Single-family residence district, R-2 Single-family residence district, R-3 Single-family residence district, R-4 General residence district, I-R Interchange residence district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate and Identification Sign | One story or 15 ft above curb level, whichever is lower | 1 sq ft for residential use; 9 sq ft for nonresidential building | — | — | One per dwelling unit or nonresidential building (two if on corner lot) | Affixed flat against wall of building | — | Sec. 42-981(1) |
| For Sale and To Rent Sign | One story or 15 ft above curb level for affixed; 4 ft for freestanding | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per zoning lot (two if on a corner) | On lot being offered | — | Sec. 42-981(2) |
| Parking Area Signs | 7 ft above curb level | Entrance/exit signs: 2 sq ft each; Conditions/identity: 9 sq ft each | — | — | One per entrance/exit; one per lot, two on corner | Accessory to parking area | — | Sec. 42-981(3) |
| Roadside Stand Sign | 15 ft above curb level | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max two per lot | Same lot as roadside stand | — | Sec. 42-981(4) |
| Temporary Subdivision/Development/Improvement Sign | 15 ft above curb level | 200 sq ft per sign | — | Meet front yard requirements; at least 50 ft from all other site boundaries | Max 2 per subdivision | Subdivision/Development under construction | — | Sec. 42-981(5) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 15 ft above curb level | 200 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per entrance | At each entrance to subdivision | — | Sec. 42-981(6) |
| Illuminated Church Bulletin | One story or 15 ft above curb level, whichever is lower | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per lot (two on corner) | On lot of church | — | Sec. 42-981(7) |

### B-1 Neighborhood shopping district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonilluminated Business Sign | 30 ft above curb level (except as provided by conditional use) | — | — | No projection into public way | — | Building; projection not into public way | — | Sec. 42-982(a)(1)a |
| Illuminated, Nonflashing Business Sign | 30 ft above curb level (except as provided by conditional use) | — | — | No projection into public way | — | Building; projection not into public way | — | Sec. 42-982(a)(1)a |
| Integrated Center Additional Sign | 30 ft above curb level (except as provided by conditional use) | — | — | Min 15 ft from front lot line | 1 per street frontage | Setback at least 15 ft from front lot line | — | Sec. 42-982(a)(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | 30 ft (minimum 12 ft above grade); cannot exceed building height limit of zone | 360 sq ft (max size); total lot area limit by zone signage formula | — | See Additional Requirements | One back-to-back billboard per lot | Commercial/Industrial zones only; not within 800 ft of another billboard (along/across same right-of-way) | — | Sec. 42-958 to 42-960 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 25 sq ft (permit exemption limit) | — | — | — | Not on public right-of-way or terrace | — | Sec. 42-952(a), 42-928(1), 42-929(f) |
| Portable Sign | 5 ft | 5 ft high × 10 ft long | 10 ft | — | One per lot except lots >100 ft may have more if 100 ft apart | On commercial property (permit required); if on lot w/ >100 ft frontage, minimum 100 ft separation between portable signs | — | Sec. 42-952(c) |
| Electronic Message Unit Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 42-952(b) |
| Residential Development Identification Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | Maximum two signs per development | Entrance to residential development | — | Sec. 42-951(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Mosinee

- No person shall erect, relocate, reconstruct, or maintain any sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the zoning inspector, unless specifically exempted.
- Signs with moving parts, beacon lights, or moving lights are prohibited, except revolving signs are permitted.
- Animated signs with moving parts, beacon lights, or moving lights are prohibited (except as noted above).
- No sign shall use flashing bulbs over 25 watts or bare reflecting bulbs unless properly shaded.
- No sign shall be located so as to project above the parapet line, unless approved by the building inspector.
- Illuminated signs shall not interfere with surrounding properties or traffic.
- Signs and their supports shall not project beyond five feet from the face of the wall to which they are attached.
- Blanketing of signs is not allowed (no sign may unreasonably obstruct view of another sign).
- No sign shall be erected so as to attach to or interfere with fire escapes, exits, required stairways, doors, ventilators, or windows.
- No sign shall be erected that could interfere with, obstruct, confuse, or mislead traffic.
- Signs are not permitted on public rights-of-way except for traffic control, parking, and directional signs, or as otherwise specified.
- No sign in direct line of vision of a traffic signal shall have red, green or amber illumination.
- No sign may be located on a public right-of-way.
- No dangerous, dilapidated, or abandoned signs may remain; they must be removed by the owner or lessee; if not, the inspector will order removal.
- Signs must not be structurally altered, relocated, or rebuilt except in compliance with the ordinance.
- All signs must be kept in reasonable structural condition, clean, and well painted at all times.
- Temporary signs (real estate, political, construction, etc.) must be removed within 10 days after discontinuance of use.
- Temporary signs must not be placed on right-of-way terraces and must not interfere with driveway vision clearance.
- No advertising device may be erected or relocated within 300 feet of the right-of-way of a limited access highway if the face is visible therefrom.
- No advertising sign may be erected or relocated within 300 feet of a public park of ten or more acres, unless appropriately screened.
- No advertising sign shall be permitted within 75 feet of any residence district boundary unless completely screened or facing away from the residence district.
- All signs must be mounted flat on a building, back-to-back, in clusters, or otherwise so backs are neutral/blended color.
- It is unlawful to erect, repair, alter, relocate, or maintain any billboard without a permit.
- Billboards are allowed only in areas zoned commercial or industrial and are not allowed within the 'fire zone' as described on the official map.
- No more than one billboard (back-to-back) is permitted on one lot.
- Billboard size may not exceed 360 square feet.
- Billboards must not be erected within 800 feet of another billboard along/across the same right-of-way.
- No billboard may be erected within 125 feet of a residential or multifamily zoning district.
- Maximum height of any billboard is 30 feet (or lower if required by underlying district).
- Roof-mounted off-premises billboards are prohibited.
- No billboards may be erected within 100 feet of signalized street intersections or within 50 feet of other street intersections.
- Portable signs are only permitted on commercially zoned, commercially used land (placement on vacant sites requires a conditional use permit).
- Billboards and signs must be constructed to withstand a wind pressure of at least 30 pounds per square foot.
- All billboards must have a continuous bond filed with the city.
- Advertising devices are expressly prohibited in the I-B (Interchange Business) district and I-M (Interchange Industrial) district.
- No sign shall be erected, reconstructed, altered, relocated, or maintained in public view unless conforming to city codes and these regulations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mosinee

- The following are exempt from sign regulations: signs not exceeding one square foot in area displaying property numbers, post box numbers, or occupant names.
- Flags and insignia of any government are exempt.
- Legal notices, identification information, or directional signs erected by governmental bodies are exempt.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights, are exempt.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter, are exempt.
- Temporary real estate (advertising only the sale/rent of the premises), political, and construction site or similar type signs of 25 square feet or less are exempt from permit requirements.
- Window signs that direct attention to a business or profession conducted on the premises or a product/service/entertainment sold or offered on such premises are permitted without a permit.
- Storable children's swimming or wading pools (with a max dimension of 15 feet and max wall height of 15 inches, designed to be easily disassembled) are exempt from swimming pool permit requirements (by analogy, this section may also indicate intent of limited sign-type exemptions by structural type).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For new signage in the central business (B-4) district, the design (drawing) must be submitted to the Mosinee BID advisory committee for review for compliance with the sign code; the committee submits a recommendation to the common council within 14 days, and the owner/designee then submits a written building permit from the city clerk's office.
- All applications for sign permits must include plans and specifications, including dimensions, materials, illumination, wiring, height above grade, distance from lot line, and installer/construction details.
- Major changes, variances, or exceptions to sign requirements must be processed through the board of appeals.
- Permits are not required for some temporary signs (see exemptions) or for copy changes when no change in business name is involved.
- Integrated centers, business parks, or industrial parks desiring additional signs/mechanical exception may require additional site plan review or conditional use permit as stipulated in the applicable district regulations.
- Placement of portable signs on vacant commercial land requires a conditional use permit.
- Conditional uses, including those related to signage, require an application with plan and must go through public hearing and common council approval per Division 6, Subdivision III (conditional use process), which entails notice, plan commission hearing, council action, and may include stipulations specific to signage location, design, or appearance.

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

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