# Sign Regulations in New Glarus, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Glarus, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/new-glarus
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9805482#9805482)

## At a glance

New Glarus, Wisconsin regulates 5 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Sandwich Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 6 square feet per side, with a No part closer than three feet from the street curb setback (Sec. § 305-48B(2), § 305-50O). Most commercial signs in New Glarus require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 10 feet above the roofline | 64 square feet per side | — |
| C-1 District | 2 | 10 feet above the roofline | 64 square feet per side | — |
| R-1 | 1 | — | 6 square feet | — |
| R-2 District | 1 | — | 6 square feet | — |
| W District | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 10 feet above the roofline | 64 square feet per side | — | — | — | — | — | § 305-49G, § 305-49H, § 305-56A, § 305-56C, § 305-49D, § 305-49E |
| Freestanding Sign | Not taller than maximum building height | 64 square feet per side | — | — | — | — | — | § 305-49G, § 305-49H, § 305-56A, § 305-56C, § 305-49D, § 305-49E |
| Sandwich Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet per side | — | No part closer than three feet from the street curb | One per lot | On premises or certain off-premises locations | — | § 305-48B(2), § 305-50O |

### C-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 10 feet above the roofline | 64 square feet per side | — | — | — | — | — | § 305-49F, § 305-49G, § 305-49H, § 305-56A, § 305-56C, § 305-49D, § 305-49E |
| Freestanding Sign | Not taller than maximum building height | 64 square feet per side | — | — | — | — | — | § 305-49F, § 305-49G, § 305-49H, § 305-56A, § 305-56C, § 305-49D, § 305-49E |

### R-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | Two per lot | On a lot in a residential zoning district | — | § 305-50N |

## Prohibited signs in New Glarus

- No sign shall be placed within any vision corner of intersecting streets, highways, and driveways.
- No sign will be permitted that resembles the size, shape, form, or color of official traffic control signs, signals, or devices.
- No sign shall contain, include, or be composed of any conspicuous animated or moving part.
- No sign shall contain, include, or be illuminated by flashing lights, except for those exclusively providing public service information.
- No light source illuminating any sign shall be directed into any public street or highway or into any residential zoning district.
- Any sign that encroaches over or upon a public road, street, easement, alleyway, sidewalk, or lane shall have a vertical clearance of not less than 14 feet.
- No sign shall be taller than the maximum permitted building height in the associated zoning district.
- No one sign shall contain more than 64 square feet in gross area per side visible from any one location, except by site plan approval.
- Off-premises advertising signs are not permitted.
- No sign shall be painted, erected, or maintained directly on a tree, rock, or other natural feature.
- Parking of advertising vehicles is prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected so that any portion of the sign or its supports is attached to or interferes with the free use of any fire escape, exit, any required stairway, door, ventilator or window.
- No sign shall be erected that will interfere with, obstruct, confuse or mislead traffic.
- At no time shall signs be permitted within a vision clearance triangle in such a manner as to restrict vision or impair safety.
- No sign located within 150 feet of a highway or street right-of-way shall contain, include or be illuminated by a flashing or rotating beam of light.
- Signs shall not be permitted on public rights-of-way except for traffic control, parking and directional signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Glarus

- Address numerals and similar sign information required to identify a location by law or governmental order.
- Architectural elements, including integral decorative or architectural elements of buildings or works of art, so long as such elements or works do not contain a commercial message, trademark, moving parts or moving lights.
- Auxiliary signs for nonresidential uses, such as on-site directional signs, 'open' signs, and parking lot rule signs, where each such sign does not exceed six square feet.
- Bulletin boards, not exceeding 12 square feet for public, philanthropic or religious institutions located on the premises of said institutions.
- Farm field signs, provided that no such sign exceeds 12 square feet in area.
- Flags, standards, emblems and insignia of governmental, civic, philanthropic, religious or educational organizations, not exceeding 48 square feet, when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Fuel canopy signs, not exceeding two signs and a total sign area not exceeding 12 square feet per canopy.
- Historical markers, commemorative plaques, memorial tablets, or emblems of official historical bodies, not exceeding 12 square feet.
- Holiday decorations of a primarily decorative nature, in connection with traditionally accepted civic, patriotic, or religious holidays.
- Interior signs located on the interior of a premises and which are three feet or more from any window to the outdoors.
- Political signs.
- Regulatory signs and government information signs not exceeding 64 square feet.
- Required signs by state or federal statute or regulation.
- Residential signs not greater than six square feet each and not more than two such signs per lot.
- Sandwich signs, per associated limitations.
- Temporary signs, which if advertising a special event, auction or sale shall be removed within two weeks of the conclusion of the event, auction or sale.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No one sign shall contain more than 64 square feet in gross area per side visible from any one location, except by site plan approval.
- Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

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

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