# Sign Regulations in Omro, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Omro, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/omro
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Omro/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT17ZO_CH17.68SICAAWBI)

## At a glance

Omro, Wisconsin regulates 23 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Highway Commercial District (C-2) zoning district are capped at 35 feet tall and Up to 125 sq ft on one side, with a Can increase area for additional setback from street property line setback (Sec. Sec. 17.68.070.C.3). Most commercial signs in Omro require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Residence District (R-1), Duplex District (R-2), Multifamily Residence District (R-3), Mobile Home District (R-4), Planned Unit Development (R-5), Agricultural District (A-1) | 3 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Central Commercial District (C-1) | 8 | 25 feet above adjacent centerline street grade | 32 sq ft at property line (may be up to 100 sq ft based on facade length) | — |
| Highway Commercial District (C-2) | 8 | 35 feet | Up to 125 sq ft on one side | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-1), Industrial Park Light Industrial District (IP-1) | 6 | 25 feet above street grade; at least 10 ft above sidewalk and 15 ft above driveway | 125 sq ft (one side max) | — |
| Downtown Historic District, Downtown Main Street Overlay District | 8 | 25 feet above centerline street grade | 32 square feet (up to 100 sq ft outside historic district) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | — | 40% or 12 sq ft of glass area (whichever is less) | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### Highway Commercial District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Exterior wall of building, facing access street | — | Sec. 17.68.070.C.1 |
| Projecting Sign | 25 feet above street grade; at least 10 ft above sidewalk and 15 ft above driveway | 32 sq ft or area in sq ft equal to distance in feet from property line to building | — | Min 8 ft from side lot lines or beyond building wall | — | Business buildings; cannot extend into/above public lands/streets | — | Sec. 17.68.070.C.2 |
| Ground Sign | 35 feet | Up to 125 sq ft on one side | — | Can increase area for additional setback from street property line | 1 per property <1 acre; 1 per street frontage >1 acre; 2 directional/sales signs per business | Entirely on private property; not within right-of-way | — | Sec. 17.68.070.C.3 |
| Off-Premises Directional/Sales Sign | — | 25 sq ft, increased per setback | — | Can increase area for setback from property line | 2 per business | At least 150 ft from another off-premises/ground sign | — | Sec. 17.68.070.C.4 |
| Flags or Pennants | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 17.68.070.C.5 |
| Awning | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 17.68.070.C.6 |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | Sec. 17.68.070.C.7 |
| Electronic Message or Moveable Copy Sign (Ground Sign Only) | — | 30% of total sign area | — | — | — | Perpendicular to Main St or main access road | — | Sec. 17.68.070.C.8 |

### Downtown Historic District, Downtown Main Street Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Exterior wall of building, facing access street | — | Sec. 17.68.070.B.1 and Sec. 17.68.010(B), (C) |
| Projecting Sign | 25 feet above centerline street grade | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per building | Cannot extend above or into public lands/streets; min 10 ft above sidewalk, min 15 ft above driveway | — | Sec. 17.68.070.B.2 and Sec. 17.68.010(B), (C) |
| Ground Sign | 25 feet | 32 square feet (up to 100 sq ft outside historic district) | — | — | 1 per property <1 acre; 1 per street frontage >1 acre; 2 directional/sales signs per business | Entirely on private property, not within right-of-way | — | Sec. 17.68.070.B.3, 17.68.010(B)-(C) |
| Off-Premises Directional/Sales Sign | — | 25 sq ft, can be increased per setback | — | Area increases per foot of setback from property line | 2 per business | No closer than 150 feet from another off-premises/ground sign | — | Sec. 17.68.070.B.4, 17.68.010(B)-(C) |
| Flags or Pennants | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 17.68.070.B.5, 17.68.010(B)-(C) |
| Awning | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 17.68.070.B.6, 17.68.010(B)-(C) |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | Sec. 17.68.070.B.7, 17.68.010(B)-(C) |
| Electronic Message or Moveable Copy Sign (Ground Sign Only, Non-Historic contributing) | — | 30% of total sign area | — | — | — | Must be part of a ground sign; perpendicular to Main St or main access road | — | Sec. 17.68.070.B.8, 17.68.010(B)-(C) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Memorial Sign/Tablet/Name of Building and Date of Erection | — | — | — | — | — | Cut in masonry or affixed flat to structure | — | Sec. 17.68.060.A |
| Official Sign | — | 3 sq ft each; total of 10 sq ft per property (private traffic/parking) | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 17.68.060.B |
| Masonry Nameplate | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | Sec. 17.68.060.D |
| Election Campaign Sign (A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5) | — | 4 sq ft each, up to 20 sq ft total per property | — | — | — | On private property only, not in public ROW | — | Sec. 17.68.060.E.3, E.5 |
| Election Campaign Sign (C-1, C-2, I-1) | — | 4 sq ft each, up to 32 sq ft per property | — | — | — | Private property, not in ROW | — | Sec. 17.68.060.E.4 |
| Window Sign | — | 40% or 12 sq ft of glass area (whichever is less) | — | — | — | Inside glass of window or door | — | Sec. 17.68.060.F |
| Real Estate For Sale Sign (A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, C-1, R-5) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property | Private property only; not within public ROW | — | Sec. 17.68.060.G.1 |
| Real Estate For Sale Sign (C-2, I-1) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property | Private property only; not within public ROW | — | Sec. 17.68.060.G.2 |

## Prohibited signs in Omro

- Billboard signs are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Roof and roof-top signs are prohibited.
- Flashing, blinking, or animated signs are prohibited, except permitted electronic message signs in C-1 and C-2 zoning districts, and signs obtained by conditional use permit in residential zones for churches and schools.
- Moving, swinging, or rotating signs are prohibited. Signs containing moving parts and signs containing reflective elements that sparkle or twinkle in sunlight are prohibited. Signs with physically moving components visible from the public right-of-way are not permitted except those which revolve around a vertical axis at speeds less than seven revolutions per minute.
- Advertising vehicle signs are prohibited.
- Signs attached, affixed, or supported by a tree, stone, cliff, or other natural object/living vegetation are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except those permitted in the C-1 central commercial district and C-2 highway commercial district.
- Signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited except signs erected by a governmental agency, a franchise public utility company, a contractor doing authorized work, banners for nonprofit organizations approved by the public works director or designee, or projecting signs as provided in specified code sections.
- Signs, art/public art, or other advertising painted directly on walls are prohibited unless specifically approved by the planning commission.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited except temporary inflatable figures used in a parade, festival, civic event or holiday display, and novelty balloons less than two feet in diameter which are tethered or moored not to exceed 20 feet.
- It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to locate, erect, move, reconstruct, extend, enlarge, convert or structurally alter any sign without first complying with the requirements of this chapter.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs shall be placed so as not to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
- No sign shall be erected in the visibility triangle as defined in the zoning code.
- Signs shall not be lighted in any way which causes glare or impairs visibility upon public ways.
- No sign may cover any major architectural detail, authorized art/public art, murals, windows, doorways, or ventilation shafts required to remain unobstructed by code.
- No words, numbers, logos, or pictures may be added to an existing sign without written permission of the building inspector.
- Business signs must dedicate no less than 75 percent of each space to the business name and/or business logo.

## Signs exempt from permit in Omro

- Official signs such as traffic control, parking restrictions, information, and notices are permitted without a sign permit.
- On-site private traffic and parking control signs not exceeding three square feet each in area and not exceeding ten cumulative square feet in area per property are allowed without a permit.
- Memorial signs, tablets, names of building, and date of erection signs are allowed without a permit when cut into masonry or constructed of cast metal, affixed flat against the structure, and not illuminated.
- Masonry nameplates attached to a building and not exceeding four square feet in sign area are allowed without a permit.
- Election campaign signs are generally allowed in individual zoning districts without a permit, provided they meet regulatory conditions.
- Window signs are generally permitted without a permit provided they are placed on the inside of glass and do not exceed 40 percent or 12 square feet of window area.
- Temporary signs may be allowed without a permit when authorized by the building inspector, used for no more than 30 days in any six-month period, and not exceeding 32 square feet in signable area.
- Certain real estate for sale signs may be permitted for a maximum of 12 months without a permit, subject to conditions.
- Temporary for sale signs are allowed without permit, provided they are not placed on public lands or rights-of-way, not erected more than five days before the activity, removed the day after the activity, have a total display period not exceeding ten days, are not illuminated, and, when on private property, permission has been obtained from the property owner.
- Governmental entity flags are permitted at all times when displayed on poles or hung properly.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The planning commission is responsible for ensuring only aesthetically pleasing and functionally purposeful signs are displayed in the city; the ultimate decision concerning the final appearance of a sign rests with the planning commission, even if the sign meets basic code requirements (see 17.68.010.B).
- Permanent subdivision or residential complex identification signs must have their location and size reviewed and approved by the planning commission prior to the issuance of a permit.
- Decorative or wall art is only allowed after a public hearing and affirmative action by the planning commission.
- Signs, art/public art, or other advertising painted directly on walls require specific approval by the planning commission.
- A sign permit is required prior to erection of a sign unless specifically exempted; application must be made to the building inspector according to the chapter's requirements.
- If a sign application or permit is denied, or requirements cause undue hardship, a variance may be requested from the zoning board of appeals, which must be filed within ten calendar days after notice of nonconformance.

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

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