# Sign Regulations in Pepin, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pepin, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/pepin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/pepinwi/latest/pepin_wi/0-0-0-1590)

## At a glance

Pepin, Wisconsin regulates 25 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Area, Low Impact Commercial Area, Industrial Area zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 24 square feet, with a Building must be set back at least 20 feet from lot line setback (Sec. § 151.060(D)(3), § 151.060(D)(6)). Most commercial signs in Pepin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Area, Agricultural Area | 7 | — | 24 square feet | — |
| Commercial Area, Low Impact Commercial Area, Industrial Area | 5 | 6 feet | 32 square feet per sign; 25% of wall space per wall | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | — | 20 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential Area, Agricultural Area

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Based Business Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 151.060(C)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises being advertised (temporarily located) | — | § 151.060(C)(2) |
| Name, Occupation, and Warning Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 151.060(C)(3) |
| Bulletin Board for Public, Charitable, or Religious Institutions | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 151.060(C)(4) |
| Memorial Sign / Building Tablet / Name of Building / Date of Erection | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | Affixed flat against a structure | — | § 151.060(C)(5) |
| Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 151.060(C)(6) |
| Opinion Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 151.060(C)(7) |

### Commercial Area, Low Impact Commercial Area, Industrial Area

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flat on Building) | — | 32 square feet per sign; 25% of wall space per wall | — | — | Not limited by number, but total area limited per wall | Flat on building wall | — | § 151.060(D)(1), § 151.060(D)(6) |
| Projecting Sign (Protruding from Building) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Protruding from building | — | § 151.060(D)(2), § 151.060(D)(6) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | Building must be set back at least 20 feet from lot line | — | Permitted only if building is set back at least 20 feet from lot line | — | § 151.060(D)(3), § 151.060(D)(6) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign - Language/Shape Changes Without Review | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | Pre-approved location (wall or freestanding), once LUCR approved | — | § 151.060(D)(4) |
| Window Posting (Exempt) | — | — | — | — | — | Posted in windows of commercial establishment | — | § 151.060(D)(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (On-Premises Sale of Agricultural Products - Agricultural Area) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On-premises, Agricultural Area | — | § 151.060(E)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Real Estate) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On-premises, for property advertised | — | § 151.060(E)(2) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 151.060(E)(3) |
| Directional Real Estate Sign (Off-Premises) | — | — | — | — | 2 | Off-premises, with property owner permission | — | § 151.060(E)(4) |
| Directional Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Off-premises, with property owner permission | — | § 151.060(E)(5) |
| On-Premises Garage Sale Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On-premises for garage sale | — | § 151.060(E)(8) |
| Temporary Sign (On-Premises Sale of Homeowner Personal Property - Residential Area) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On-premises, Residential Area | — | § 151.060(E)(9) |
| Portable Directional Off-Premises Business Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 2 | On private property within two miles of village limits | — | § 151.060(E)(13) |

## Prohibited signs in Pepin

- No sign shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without a LUCR (Land Use Certificate of Registration) except those signs described in this chapter that do not require a LUCR, being in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
- All signs must conform with all provisions of the sign ordinance.
- Unauthorized signs not in compliance with the provisions of this section that are located within the right-of-way may be removed by the village.
- Abandoned, nonfunctioning, or unsafe signs (as defined) are subject to removal as they threaten the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
- All signs, regardless of zone, are subject to inspection by the Zoning Administrator for compliance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pepin

- Signs described in the ordinance as not requiring a LUCR are exempt from the LUCR permit requirement, provided they conform with the ordinance provisions.
- Official traffic-control, parking restriction, information, and notice signs are exempt from LUCR requirements.
- Items posted in the windows of commercial establishments are not considered signs and do not require a LUCR.
- Holiday and celebration signs are exempt from LUCR requirements.
- Certain temporary signs and banners (such as for real estate, on-premises sales, political signs during election cycles, directional signs for garage sales or nonprofit events, etc.) not exceeding specified square footage are exempt from LUCR if they meet the listed criteria.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A LUCR (Land Use Certificate of Registration) application is required for most signs unless specifically exempted.
- Zoning Administrator approval is required for signs via the LUCR process; application may be appealed to the Planning Commission, and further to the Village Board.
- Planning Commission approval is needed for signs with flashing, strobing, or exterior lighting.
- Requests to waive sign requirements (i.e., a variance or exception) require a special request and a hearing before the Planning Commission.
- Nonconforming signs existing at the time of ordinance adoption are addressed as nonconforming uses/structures and must follow § 151.061.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Pepin, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Pepin+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-pepin

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