# Sign Regulations in Nashotah, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nashotah, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/nashotah
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Nashotah/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH21SICR148RERE219)

## At a glance

Nashotah, Wisconsin regulates 14 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Conservancy and Residential Districts (RE-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5a, R-5b, .C-1 and C-2) zoning district are capped at 15 ft. tall and 24 sq. ft., with a At least 25 ft. from interior side or rear lot lines and fully outside right-of-way setback (Sec. 21.18(a)(3)a-d). Most commercial signs in Nashotah require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservancy and Residential Districts (RE-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5a, R-5b, .C-1 and C-2) | 5 | 15 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| Business District (B-1, B-2) | 7 | — | 100 sq. ft. per facade | — |
| Industrial District (M-1) | 4 | — | 100 sq. ft. per facade | — |
| Park/Public District (P-1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Agricultural District (A-1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Shoreland Overlay District (S-1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 100 sq. ft. for on-premise wall signs; no area limit for name/symbol | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Conservancy and Residential Districts (RE-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5a, R-5b, .C-1 and C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs Not Requiring a Permit | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21.18(a)(1) and 21.13 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 11 sq. ft., subject to increase if otherwise permitted by Section 21.18 | — | — | — | — | — | 21.18(a)(2) and 21.17 |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | Building must be set back at least 25 ft. from right-of-way | 1 per frontage road | On building wall with facade facing right-of-way | — | 21.18(a)(3)a, b |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | At least 25 ft. from interior side or rear lot lines and fully outside right-of-way | 1 per frontage road | At least 25 ft. from interior side or rear lot lines and outside public right-of-way | — | 21.18(a)(3)a-d |
| Monument Sign | — | — | — | Not less than 5 ft. from side or rear lot line (per 21.14(f)) | — | — | — | 21.18(a)(4) and 21.14(f) |

### Business District (B-1, B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs Not Requiring a Permit | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21.18(b)(1), 21.13 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 11 sq. ft., subject to increase if allowed by other standards in Section 21.17 | — | — | — | — | — | 21.18(b)(2), 21.17 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to awning on building | — | 21.18(b)(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq. ft. per facade | — | — | 2 per building facade | Building facade | — | 21.18(b)(4)a |
| Ground Sign | — | — | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way | 1 per road frontage | At least 10 ft. from right-of-way | — | 21.18(b)(4)b |
| Moveable Sign - Sandwich or Movable Sign (≤ 8 sq. ft.) | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft. from street property line | Max 3 per lot (1 per 25 ft. of frontage) | Set back at least 5 ft. from street property line | — | 21.18(b)(6) |
| Moveable Sign - Option: Oversized (36 sq. ft.) | — | 36 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft. from street property line | One oversized sign if 75 ft. of frontage is present | Set back at least 5 ft. from street property line | — | 21.18(b)(6) |

### Industrial District (M-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs Not Requiring a Permit | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21.18(c)(1), 21.13 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to awning on building | — | 21.18(c)(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq. ft. per facade | — | — | 2 per building facade | Building facade | — | 21.18(c)(3)a |
| Ground Sign (except entrance-exit directional signs) | — | — | — | May not extend into right-of-way | — | May not extend into public right-of-way | — | 21.18(c)(3)b |

## Prohibited signs in Nashotah

- It is unlawful to erect, construct, enlarge, or structurally modify any sign or awning without first obtaining a permit, except as otherwise provided.
- Signs painted directly on building walls are prohibited, except water towers as described in Section 21.18.
- Sandwich signs and movable signs are prohibited except as provided in specific zoning sections.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- No person shall park any vehicle on a public right-of-way or private property so as to be seen from a public right-of-way, if the vehicle has attached any sign or advertising device for the primary purpose of advertisement or directing people to a business activity.
- Animated or moving signs are prohibited, including those with flashing, scintillating, blinking, or traveling lights; physically moving components visible from the public right-of-way are not permitted.
- Swinging signs are prohibited.
- Banners, searchlights, balloons or other gas/air-filled figures are prohibited as permanent signs.
- Signs illuminated or constructed so as to interfere with, obscure, or impair official traffic signs, signals, or driver vision are prohibited.
- Reflection-illuminated signs whose light source is partly or entirely visible from a public right-of-way (25% or more of its intensity) or from residential property are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate, resemble, or interfere with official traffic signs, signals, or devices, or display words/colors commonly used by traffic control signs (e.g., 'stop', 'warning') are prohibited.
- No sign, awning or advertising device shall be located or installed in such a manner as to obscure, obstruct, or physically interfere with official traffic signs or the driver’s view.
- No signs are allowed within the limits of any street, road, or highway right-of-way except as specifically allowed for government signs or permitted structures (like mailboxes).
- Off-premise signs are prohibited.
- No sign or advertising device of any type shall be attached to any utility, sign, or other municipal poles or structures located in the public right-of-way, except government signs.
- No sign shall be suspended by chains or devices that allow the sign to swing due to wind action; signs must be anchored to prevent lateral movement.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nashotah

- Temporary signs 11 square feet or less in area, provided they comply with total sign area limitations for the lot.
- Repainting of signs without changing wording, composition, or colors, or minor non-structural repairs (except electrical repair).
- Relocation of signs if required by the Village.
- Flags of the United States, State of Wisconsin, Waukesha County, or Village of Nashotah, and associated poles.
- Government signs.
- One non-illuminated wall sign (2 sq. ft. max) for home occupations, as defined in the Zoning Ordinance.
- House numbers and name plates not exceeding 2 sq. ft. for each building.
- Interior signs (located inside a building, excluding window signs).
- Memorial signs or tablets, building names and dates, in masonry or noncombustible material not more than 4 sq. ft.
- Window signs on the inside surface of any ground floor window (not on doors or safety-critical windows) in business and industrial buildings.
- Truck, bus, trailer, or other vehicle signs while operating in the normal course of business, if not primarily for the display of signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications must include a site plan showing building(s), location, size, and type of existing and proposed signs, canopies, and awnings on the premises (Section 21.04(a)(2)).
- For monument signs at the entrance to a subdivision, residential, or commercial development, the Plan Commission determines the appropriate size of the sign based on its design, traffic safety and compatibility, per Section 21.14(f).
- Additional on-premise signage for fully-developed sites over five acres for shopping centers, business, or industrial uses requires a planned approach subject to approval of the Zoning Administrator (Section 21.18(f)).
- A conditional use permit may authorize signage requirements that are more or less restrictive than standard requirements (Section 21.18(g)).
- In some situations, a waiver of certain dimensional requirements may be granted by the Zoning Administrator (Section 21.16(b)(1), (c)(1)).

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

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