# Sign Regulations in Orfordville, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Orfordville, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/orfordville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8352117#8352117)

## At a glance

Orfordville, Wisconsin regulates 31 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Roadside Stand Signs in the Residential, Planned Unit Development (Residential), Agricultural and Conservancy Districts zoning district are capped at 15 feet above curb level tall and 12 square feet, with a No closer than 50 feet from any other zoning lot setback (Sec. § 320-46.3B). Most commercial signs in Orfordville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial, Industrial and Planned Unit Development (Commercial/Industrial) Districts | 13 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Residential, Conservancy and Agricultural Districts | 11 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| Business and Manufacturing Districts | 6 | 20 feet above the mean center-line street grade | 400 square feet | — |
| Residential, Planned Unit Development (Residential), Agricultural and Conservancy Districts | 5 | 15 feet above curb level | 32 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 25 square feet on each face, back-to-back | — |

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

### Commercial, Industrial and Planned Unit Development (Commercial/Industrial) Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Temporarily located on the premises | — | § 320-46.1A(1) |
| Name, Occupation and Warning Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Located on the premises | — | § 320-46.1A(2) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | Located on the premises | — | § 320-46.1A(3) |
| Memorial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed flat against the structure | — | § 320-46.1A(4) |
| Rummage or Garage Sale Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 320-46.1A(6) |
| Property Number Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 320-46.1A(8) |
| Traffic and Parking Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property | — | § 320-46.1A(12) |
| Political Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 320-46.1A(13) |

### Residential, Conservancy and Agricultural Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonconforming Business Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Over show windows or doors | — | § 320-46.1B(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | Temporarily located on the premises | — | § 320-46.1B(2) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Located on the premises | — | § 320-46.1B(3) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | Located on the premises | — | § 320-46.1B(4) |
| Memorial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed flat against the structure | — | § 320-46.1B(5) |
| Awning or Canopy | — | — | — | — | — | Servicing only a particular single-family dwelling unit | — | § 320-46.1B(7) |
| Professional Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | Only one such sign per premises | Located on the premises | — | § 320-46.1B(9) |
| Political Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 320-46.1B(10) |

### Residential, Planned Unit Development (Residential), Agricultural and Conservancy Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parking Area Sign | 7 feet above curb level | 2 square feet for entrance/exit signs; 9 square feet for conditions of use or identity sign | — | — | One sign per parking area; two signs on a corner lot | Accessory to parking area | — | § 320-46.3A |
| Roadside Stand Sign | 15 feet above curb level | 12 square feet | — | No closer than 50 feet from any other zoning lot | Not more than two signs per lot | On the same zoning lot as the roadside stand | — | § 320-46.3B |
| Temporary Subdivision Sign | 5 feet above curb level | 32 square feet | — | Observe the front yard requirement of the principal use; located at least 50 feet from all other boundaries of the site | Not more than two signs per subdivision | Accessory to subdivision developments | — | § 320-46.3C |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 6 feet above curb level | 24 square feet | — | — | Not more than one sign per entrance | Located at each entrance to a subdivision | — | § 320-46.3D |
| Church Bulletin Sign | 15 feet above curb level | 16 square feet | — | No closer than eight feet from any other zoning lot | Not more than one sign per lot; two signs on a corner lot | Nonflashing, illuminated | — | § 320-46.3E |

## Prohibited signs in Orfordville

- 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.
- No sign shall be erected which has any flashing, rotating or brilliant intermittent parts or lights or bare reflecting-type bulbs, except those giving public service information such as time, date, temperature, weather or similar information or where allowed by conditional use permit.
- No signs, billboards or other advertising media which creates a hazard or dangerous distraction to vehicular traffic or a nuisance to adjoining residential property shall be permitted in any district.
- Signs shall not be permitted on public rights-of-way, except for municipal traffic control, parking and directional signs and as otherwise specified in this chapter, or be located within five feet of a property line.
- No obscene, profane, or indecent language shall be permitted.
- The display of scenes depicting graphic violence and/or phrases or actions that are derogatory toward any class protected by federal law, or graphic scenes, language or messages that seek to threaten, intimidate and/or harass others are not permitted.
- No signs shall be painted on, attached to or affixed to any trees, rocks, or other similar organic or inorganic natural matter, including utility poles or apparatus.
- Blanketing of signs shall not be allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Orfordville

- Real estate signs not to exceed 32 square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily located.
- Name, occupation and warning signs not to exceed two square feet located on the premises.
- Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions not to exceed eight square feet in area located on the premises.
- Memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and affixed flat against the structure.
- Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restriction, information and notices.
- Rummage or garage sale signs not to exceed eight square feet in area, but use of this type of sign shall be limited to 72 hours per sale.
- Signs designating entrances, exits, service areas, parking areas, restrooms and other such signs relating to functional operation of the building or premises shall be permitted without limitation other than reasonable size and necessity.
- Signs not exceeding two square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers or names of occupants of premises.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notices, identification information or directional signs erected by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.
- Political signs may be posted 60 days before an election and must be removed within 10 days after said election. Said sign shall be a maximum of 32 square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals, following a recommendation from the Plan Commission.

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

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