# Sign Regulations in Onalaska, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Onalaska, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/onalaska
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-01
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/37164293#37164293)

## At a glance

Onalaska, Wisconsin regulates 16 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Billboards in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 30 feet above ground, max 45 feet above road center line tall and 300 square feet per side, with a Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way and parcel lines setback (Sec. 14.02.15.A). Most commercial signs in Onalaska require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 30 feet above ground, max 45 feet above road center line | 300 square feet per side | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-MMH (Residential Zones) | 2 | 8 feet | 75 square feet | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2 (Business and Industrial Zones) | 8 | 30 feet | 500 square feet or 40% of wall surface | — |
| MU-N, MU-C (Mixed Use Zones) | 7 | 20 feet above street grade | 60 square feet per side | — |
| P-1, P-2, A-1 (Public, Park, Agricultural Zones) | 6 | 20 feet above street grade | 300 square feet aggregate, max 100 square feet per wall | — |
| PUD, D-PUD, PCID, MCD (Design Overlay Districts) | 6 | 45 feet | 500 square feet or 40% of wall surface | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | Minimum of 8 feet above sidewalk | — | — | No supports beyond setback line | — | Attached to building, not extending beyond 4 feet into right-of-way | — | 14.02.11.A |
| Electronic Message Center Sign | — | 100 square feet per side | — | — | — | Not within 100 feet of residential district unless separated by right-of-way | — | 14.02.12.A |
| Ground/Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14.02.13.A |
| Billboard | 30 feet above ground, max 45 feet above road center line | 300 square feet per side | — | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way and parcel lines | — | Minimum 100 feet from residential district, 750 feet for digital billboards | — | 14.02.15.A |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet above street grade | 24 square feet | — | — | — | Not extending closer than 6 feet to public right-of-way | — | 14.02.16.A |
| Wall Sign | Not exceeding height of wall, not higher than cornice | — | — | — | — | Traditional sign band above entrance | — | 14.02.17.A |
| Roof Sign | 15 feet above parapet, max 30 feet above street grade | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | 14.02.18.A |
| Temporary Sign | — | 3 square feet for yard signs | — | — | Up to 5 yard signs without permit | Private property | — | 14.02.19.B |

### B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2 (Business and Industrial Zones)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground/Freestanding Sign | 30 feet | 200 square feet per side | — | Minimum 5 feet | — | Set back minimum 5 feet from parcel boundaries | — | 14.02.22.B.1 |
| Wall Sign | Not exceeding height of wall | 500 square feet or 40% of wall surface | — | — | — | Per wall for any one premises | — | 14.02.22.B.2 |
| Billboard | 30 feet above ground, max 45 feet above road center line | 300 square feet per side | — | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way and parcel lines | — | Minimum 100 feet from residential district, 750 feet for digital billboards | — | 14.02.15.A |
| Roof Sign | 15 feet above parapet, max 30 feet above street grade | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | 14.02.18.A |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet above street grade | 24 square feet | — | — | — | Not extending closer than 6 feet to public right-of-way | — | 14.02.16.A |
| Sign Adjacent to Drive-Throughs | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | Visible to patrons using drive-through | — | 14.02.14.A |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Minimum of 8 feet above sidewalk | — | — | No supports beyond setback line | — | Attached to building, not extending beyond 4 feet into right-of-way | — | 14.02.11.A |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of glass area | — | — | — | On window pane | — | 14.02.22.B.8 |

### MU-N, MU-C (Mixed Use Zones)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground/Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 60 square feet per side | — | Minimum 10 feet | — | Set back minimum 10 feet from parcel boundaries | — | 14.02.23.B.1 |
| Wall Sign | Not exceeding height of wall | 40 square feet per building wall | — | — | — | Per building wall per approved use | — | 14.02.23.B.2 |
| Entrance Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Adjacent to main entrance | — | 14.02.23.B.3 |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet above street grade | 24 square feet | — | — | — | Not extending closer than 6 feet to public right-of-way | — | 14.02.16.A |
| Sign Adjacent to Drive-Throughs | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | Visible to patrons using drive-through | — | 14.02.14.A |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Minimum of 8 feet above sidewalk | — | — | No supports beyond setback line | — | Attached to building, not extending beyond 4 feet into right-of-way | — | 14.02.11.A |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of glass area | — | — | — | On window pane | — | 14.02.23.B.7 |

## Prohibited signs in Onalaska

- No signage shall be permitted on the west side of Second Avenue North (State Highway 35) from John Street to Sunset Vista Road.
- No signs, billboards or other advertising media which creates a hazard or dangerous distraction to vehicular traffic or a nuisance to an adjoining residential property shall be permitted in any district.
- Signs shall not be permitted on public rights-of-way, except for municipal traffic control devices and as otherwise specified in this Title.
- Signs at intersections shall comply with traffic visibility standards in the Unified Development Code.
- Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs or devices.
- Signs, canopies and awnings shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices or the safe flow of traffic.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign, awning or canopy shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
- Blanketing of signs shall not be allowed.
- No person shall paste, tape, staple, or otherwise affix/fasten any paper or similar material to, nor paint, stencil or otherwise write or color any object, vegetation or pavement located within any street right-of-way or on City property.
- Human signs that are located in or within 10 feet of the public right-of-way; carry or operate flashing or illuminated objects; or operate after daytime.
- Signs placed on semitrailers, pull-behind trailers, vehicles, shipping containers or portable storage units, unless they are functional, used for their primary storage purpose, and have current registration and tags.
- Any sign not expressly permitted by this Title and constructed pursuant to the standards set forth in this Title shall be prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Onalaska

- Address signs are exempted from this Title, provided that such street addresses shall be posted as required under City ordinances.
- This Title does not prohibit signs, require sign or regulate sign locations or sign characteristics to the extent that they are required to be permitted by state or federal law or allow signs that are prohibited by state or federal law.
- Government signs are exempt from this Title.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- As part of the Campus Master Plan, a conceptual signage plan noting locations for all proposed signage (which may include temporary signage) to be provided during staff review.
- In addition to the general City sign provisions, developments within an MCD may install the following signs with dimensions, locations, and amounts as set forth in this subsection. Signs should be an accent to the architecture with the overall effect being low-key and proportional to the building.

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

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