# Sign Regulations in New Berlin, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Berlin, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/new-berlin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-25
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/wi/new_berlin/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=PTIIGELE_CH275ZO_ARTVIIIGEDERE_S275-61SI)

## At a glance

New Berlin, Wisconsin regulates 23 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Nonresidential Zoning Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, O-1, O-2, O-3, M-1, M-2, M-3, Q-1, L-1, I-1, P-1, P-2, PUD/SPO) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 32 sq ft per face, with a Outside ultimate right-of-way and vision triangle setback (Sec. Sec. 275-61 I(1)(c), I(2), I(3)). Most commercial signs in New Berlin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-4.5, R-5, R-6, Rd-1, Rm-1) | 3 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential Zoning Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, O-1, O-2, O-3, M-1, M-2, M-3, Q-1, L-1, I-1, P-1, P-2, PUD/SPO) | 13 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — |
| M-3 District | 1 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — |
| Special Commercial Sign Areas (Moorland Road Business Corridor) | 4 | 13 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — |
| Special Commercial Sign Areas (City Center) | 5 | 13 ft | 48 sq ft per face | — |
| Rural Commercial Area | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### Nonresidential Zoning Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, O-1, O-2, O-3, M-1, M-2, M-3, Q-1, L-1, I-1, P-1, P-2, PUD/SPO)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 or 2 depending on frontage; see Table 275-61-1 | Against exterior wall, not extending more than 12 inches outside the building wall | — | Sec. 275-61 I(1)(a), I(2) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | Outside ultimate right-of-way and vision triangle | 1 per frontage | Set back outside right-of-way and vision triangle; parallel or perpendicular to right-of-way | — | Sec. 275-61 I(1)(c), I(2), I(3) |
| Master Identification Monument Sign (Multitenant) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | Outside ultimate right-of-way and vision triangle | 1 per multitenant parcel | Freestanding, parallel/perpendicular to R.O.W. | — | Sec. 275-61 I(3)(b) |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — | Outside ultimate right-of-way | — | Set back outside right-of-way | — | Sec. 275-61 I(1)(d) |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC)/Changeable Message Sign (on Monument or Ground Sign) | — | 24 sq ft | — | 100 ft from residentially zoned property | Counts toward monument/ground sign limit | Part of ground/monument sign; Not allowed closer than 100 ft from residential zone | — | Sec. 275-61 I(1)(g) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | No specified max | — | — | Sec. 275-61 I(2)(e) |
| Portable/Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from adjacent property line | — | Outside right-of-way, at least 10 ft from adjacent property | — | Sec. 275-61 K(1) |
| Portable Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | — | 2 ft | — | 1 | Directly in front of business storefront; only displayed during business hours | — | Sec. 275-61 K(1)(d) |

### Special Commercial Sign Areas (Moorland Road Business Corridor)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Up to 2 per business | Each permitted wall sign against exterior wall | — | Sec. 275-61 J(3)(b) |
| Monument Sign (Single Tenant) | 13 ft | 75 sq ft per side | — | Outside ultimate right-of-way and circulation areas | 1 per street frontage (max 3 per business in combos) | One per street frontage; outside ultimate ROW, vision triangle, and circulation areas | — | Sec. 275-61 J(3)(c)[5][a] |
| Monument Sign (Multitenant/Master Identification) | 13 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage; outside ultimate ROW, vision triangle, and circulation areas | — | Sec. 275-61 J(3)(c)[5][b], [3] |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) (on Monument/Ground Sign) | — | 24 sq ft | — | EMC portion must not be within 100 ft of residential district | With monument/ground signs only | Only on monument/ground signs, as allowed by Section 275-61 I(1)(g) | — | Sec. 275-61 J(3)(c)[6] |

### Special Commercial Sign Areas (City Center)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Up to 2 per business | Each permitted wall sign against exterior wall | — | Sec. 275-61 J(4)(b) |
| Monument Sign (Single Tenant) | 13 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — | Outside ultimate right-of-way and circulation areas | 1 per street frontage (max 3 per business in combos) | One per street frontage; outside ultimate ROW, vision triangle, and circulation areas | — | Sec. 275-61 J(4)(c)[6][a] |
| Monument Sign (Multitenant/Master Identification) | 13 ft | 36 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage; outside ultimate ROW, vision triangle, and circulation areas | — | Sec. 275-61 J(4)(c)[6][b], [4] |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) (on Monument/Ground Sign) | — | 24 sq ft | — | EMC portion must not be within 100 ft of residential district | With monument/ground signs only | Only on monument/ground signs, as allowed by Sec. 275-61 I(1)(g) | — | Sec. 275-61 J(4)(c)[7] |
| Public Entry Sign | — | 48 sq ft per face | — | — | — | At public entry points; may be within right-of-way with Director approval | — | Sec. 275-61 J(4)(c)[8] |

## Prohibited signs in New Berlin

- No sign shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered without a sign permit and conforming with the provisions of this chapter.
- No sign permit shall be issued to a business or property that does not have a zoning permit.
- No part of the sign or sign base shall overhang onto an adjacent property or be located within the ultimate right-of-way.
- No sign shall be located within the vision clearance triangle.
- No sign shall identify or direct attention to a business, activity, or enterprise that is not located on the same premises as the sign. Off-premises signs are prohibited in the City of New Berlin, with the exception of official signs that benefit the City and are located on City-owned land, and signs located within the special commercial sign areas identified in Section 275-61 J.
- Signs shall not flash or blink other than approved electronic message devices. Sirens, strobe lights and other illuminated devices shall not be used to draw attention to a sign or business.
- Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate the shape, size, form, or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices.
- Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices. Signs shall not be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
- No person shall display upon any sign or other sign structure any obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
- No signs or any part thereof or sign anchors, braces, or guide rods shall be attached, fastened, or anchored to any fire escape, fire ladder, or standpipe, and no such sign or any part of any such sign or any anchor, brace, or guide rod shall be erected, put up, relocated, or maintained so as to hinder or prevent free ingress or egress through any door, doorway, window, or fire escape or so as to hinder or prevent the raising or placing of ladders against such building by the Fire Department.
- No sign shall be lighted or flashing in such a way as to cause glare or impair driver visibility upon public ways or adjacent properties.
- All pole signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Audio speakers and all forms of pyrotechnics are prohibited in conjunction with signs.
- Portable trailer signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall advertise a business that is in violation of this chapter or for which no zoning, occupancy and/or building permit has been issued.
- Temporary banners installed without a permit shall be assessed a double fee.
- Construction trailer signs shall require a sign permit and shall not exceed 32 square feet.
- Portable/temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- Yard signs shall not be erected or placed within a public right-of-way, on light poles, utility poles, etc. No yard signs shall be placed off premises.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Berlin

- Public signs, signs erected by, or on the order of, or by the permission of, a government entity are exempt from all provisions of this chapter.
- Portable sandwich board signs are permitted without a sign permit, provided they are placed directly in front of the business storefront, are only displayed during business hours, one per business, not exceeding four feet in height and two feet in width.
- Yard signs (one per property, not exceeding six square feet, not within the public right-of-way and not off-premises) are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit.
- Signs shall not be erected more than 30 days prior to an event, and must be removed within 48 hours after the event.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An overall coordinated sign plan shall be developed and submitted to DCD staff for any building that has more than one tenant in all zoning districts.
- Separate wall, canopy, or fascia signs may be allowed for each tenant in a retail, shopping, industrial, or commercial center, subject to the approval of an overall coordinated sign plan by DCD staff for the building.
- Master identification monument signs for multi-tenant buildings are permitted as part of the overall coordinated sign plan.
- Where off-premises monument and directory signage is permitted within special commercial sign areas, signage must be integrated into an overall coordinated sign plan for the entire development and reviewed/approved by DCD staff.
- If a sign application is incomplete or does not meet code requirements, it may be forwarded to the Plan Commission or Community Development Authority (where applicable) for approval or denial.
- Applicants may request a waiver from the Plan Commission or Community Development Authority for requirements set forth in this section. All waiver requests are subject to an application review fee.

## 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 New Berlin — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=New+Berlin+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-new-berlin

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