# Sign Regulations in Pewaukee Village, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pewaukee Village, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/pewaukee-village
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-16
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Pewaukee/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH70SI)

## At a glance

Pewaukee Village, Wisconsin regulates 35 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Multi-family Residential: more than 4 dwelling units, ≤22,000 sq ft parcel)s in the Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 (LO), R-6, RM, MH) zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 15 sq ft, with a >=10 ft from property line/driveway; >=50 ft from another freestanding sign setback (Sec. Sec. 70.115(a)(1–4)). Most commercial signs in Pewaukee Village require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | — | — | — |
| OA agricultural overlay district | 1 | — | 15 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 (LO), R-6, RM, MH) | 6 | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, IPS, P-1, nonresidential use or mixed use PUD | 17 | 48 inches (4 ft) | 50 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Vehicle Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited where primary use is to display signage, whether on public or private property visible from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 70.110(a)(2) |
| Signs on Rocks, Trees, Living Vegetation | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited | — | Sec. 70.110(a)(3) |
| Flashing/Rotating/Motion Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited except for signs indicating current time/temperature (with commission approval) | — | Sec. 70.110(a)(5) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited except B-1–B-5, IPS, P-1 (see permitted zones) | — | Sec. 70.110(a)(6), see Sec. 70.115(d)(8) |
| Banners, Pennants, Streamers, Balloons, Gas-filled Figures | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited except as a temporary sign per Sec. 70.111 | — | Sec. 70.110(a)(7) |
| Off-premises Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited except village approved temporary off-premises signs during road construction | — | Sec. 70.110(a)(8) |
| Portable and Wheeled Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited | — | Sec. 70.110(a)(10) |
| Placement and Setback (General) | — | — | — | >=10 ft from lot line/right-of-way/driveway | — | All signs | — | Sec. 70.114 |

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 (LO), R-6, RM, MH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Residence Owner/Occupant) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residential building | Maintained by owner/occupant of any residential building | — | Sec. 70.111(a)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Districts) | 7 ft | 6 sq ft (or larger if multi-item voting signs, see additional requirements) | — | — | Up to 4; or election period: up to 1 per voting item per frontage | — | — | Sec. 70.111(a)(10), Sec. 70.111(b)(1)b |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-family Residential: more than 4 dwelling units, ≤22,000 sq ft parcel) | 7 ft | 15 sq ft | — | >=10 ft from property line/driveway; >=50 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 per parcel (1 freestanding), 1 per building (wall sign); extra for abutting street/lake | >=10 ft from property line or driveway; not closer than 50 ft to another freestanding sign | — | Sec. 70.115(a)(1–4) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-family Residential: more than 4 dwelling units, >22,000 sq ft parcel) | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — | >=10 ft from property line/driveway; >=50 ft from another freestanding sign | 1 per parcel (1 freestanding), 1 per building (wall sign); extra for abutting street/lake | >=10 ft from property line or driveway; not closer than 50 ft to another freestanding sign | — | Sec. 70.115(b)(1–4) |
| Contiguous Project Freestanding Sign (Residential Districts, >1 acre) | 7 ft | 24 sq ft per sign | — | >=10 ft from property line/driveway | 1 per vehicular access | >=10 ft from property line/driveway | — | Sec. 70.115(c)(1–3) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-family Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building; extra for abutting street/lakefront | Wall mounted building sign per building; extra for abutting street/lakefront | — | Sec. 70.115(a)(2), (b)(2) |

### B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, IPS, P-1, nonresidential use or mixed use PUD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (B-1, B-3–B-5, IPS, P-1) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | >=10 ft from property line/driveway; >=50 ft from another sign | 1 per principal building; extra per street frontage | >=10 ft from property line/driveway; >=50 ft from another freestanding sign; one per principal building; extra for street frontages | — | Sec. 70.115(d)(2) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (B-2) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | >=10 ft from property line/driveway; >=50 ft from another sign | 1 per building; extra per street frontage | same as above | — | Sec. 70.115(d)(2)b |
| Projecting Sign (B-1–B-5, IPS, P-1) | 15 ft | 15 sq ft | — | min clearance 8 ft, max height 15 ft; min 25 ft spacing; not within 50 ft of ground sign | 1 per principal building or tenant occupant | may extend up to 5 ft over lot line, but not within 5 ft of back of curb; spaced min 25 ft apart; not within 50 ft of any freestanding ground sign | — | Sec. 70.115(d)(3) |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign (>4 sq ft area) | — | 30 sq ft or 50% of surface area to be affixed to | — | min clearance to grade 8 ft; not closer than 2 ft to back of curb | 1 per principal building or tenant >4 sq ft | Affixed to awning/canopy/marquee; minimum clearance to grade 8 ft; not extend closer than 2 ft to back of curb | — | Sec. 70.115(d)(4) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 48 inches (4 ft) | 8 sq ft per side | — | Not reduce walkway below 4 ft width | 1 per building/tenant | max 10 ft from front primary entrance unless waiver granted; not on walkways reducing width below 4 ft or blocking egress | — | Sec. 70.115(d)(8) |
| Contiguous Project Freestanding Sign (B-1 and B-3–B-5) | 7 ft | 40 sq ft per sign | — | >=10 ft from property line/driveway | 1 per vehicular access | >=10 ft from property line/driveway | — | Sec. 70.115(c)(1)b, (c)(2), (c)(3) |
| Contiguous Project Freestanding Sign (B-2) | 7 ft | 24 sq ft per sign | — | >=10 ft from property line/driveway | 1 per vehicular access | >=10 ft from property line/driveway | — | Sec. 70.115(c)(1)a |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Nonresidential Districts) | 7 ft | 25 sq ft | — | >=10 ft from all lot lines | up to 2 if abutting 2 frontages | setback not less than 10 ft from all lot lines | — | Sec. 70.111(b)(2)a |

## Prohibited signs in Pewaukee Village

- Roof signs.
- Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers which are parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way where the apparent primary use/purpose of the vehicle or trailer is to display signage. (Except incidental signage on vehicles where the sign is not the primary use.)
- Signs that are attached or otherwise affixed to rocks, trees or other living vegetation.
- Signs that imitate, interfere with, obstruct the view of or can be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal or other device.
- Flashing or rotating signs, signs containing moving parts and signs containing reflective elements that sparkle or twinkle in the sunlight. (Signs indicating the current time/temperature may be allowed with village planning commission approval.)
- “A” frame, sandwich board, sidewalk, or curb signs, except as provided in section 70.115(c)(8).
- Banners, pennants, streamers, balloons and other gas-filled figures, except as a temporary sign as provided in section 70.111.
- Off-premises signs except village approved temporary off-premises signs identifying businesses adversely affected during road construction.
- Any sign advertising or identifying a business or organization which is either defunct or no longer located on the premises.
- Portable and wheeled signs.
- Signs or other advertising painted directly on walls unless specifically approved by the planning commission.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons.
- Signs erected at or near the intersection of streets, driveways or railroad crossings in such manner as to obstruct free and clear vision by motorists or pedestrians of oncoming traffic; or that interfere with, obstruct the view of, imitate or be confused with authorized traffic signs, signals or devices.
- No sign may be erected with exposed electrical cords and wires.
- The use of unshielded lighting whereby the source of illumination is visible to the surrounding view, including exposed incandescent light bulbs hung or strung on poles, wires or supports intended to illuminate a sign.
- No sign shall be illuminated between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise unless the premises is open for business at that time; signs adjacent to residential districts may not be illuminated between 9:00 p.m. and sunrise.
- All sign lighting must prevent glare or direct light upon adjacent roadways, properties or into the sky.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pewaukee Village

- One wall sign (≤6 square feet) maintained by the owner or occupant of any residential building.
- Public informational bulletin boards (≤15 square feet, ≤7 feet in height) provided by village or governmental organizations and placed on public/village property or right-of-way, or on private property with owner’s written consent.
- Memorial signs or tablets recording names/dates cut into masonry or constructed of bronze/incombustible material and permanently affixed; grave markers, statuary or similar noncommercial items.
- Traffic signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger/emergency or non-advertising signs for public safety.
- Non-illuminated signs painted on canopies, awnings, and marquees (≤4 square feet per display, individual letters ≤6 inches).
- One freestanding sign (≤15 square feet, ≥10 feet setback from right-of-way) on parcels with active agricultural use and OA zoning.
- Flags displayed from flagpoles (flagpoles as accessory structures subject to review/approval as necessary).
- Special decorative 'Village of Pewaukee' and/or directional displays or signs in public right-of-way, installed and maintained by village.
- Signs located within the interior of any building and not visible from outside.
- Miscellaneous temporary signs in residential areas (≤6 square feet, ≤7 feet in height, not illuminated, ≤4 simultaneous, ≤30 cumulative days/year, owner consent required, not attached to utility poles, meter posts, or trees in right-of-way; extended display permitted for up to 2 signs when property marketed for sale/lease until 14 days after sale/lease).
- Miscellaneous temporary signs in non-residential areas (≤15 square feet, ≤10 feet in height, not illuminated, ≤4 simultaneous, ≤30 cumulative days/year and ≤7 consecutive days per sign, owner consent required, not attached to utility poles, meter posts, or trees in right-of-way; extended display for up to 2 signs similar to above).
- Election campaign period signs: Additional temporary sign(s) per voting item allowed per property during 'election campaign period' plus two days, as described, in addition to other permitted signs.
- Temporary construction project signs allowed while project is active and permitted (Up to one sign per street/lake frontage per property, size/height/setback limits, not illuminated).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- If the sign code administrator (SCA) questions whether a proposed sign meets the 'purpose' of the chapter, the applicant is referred to the planning commission for review, which may approve, modify, or deny the application.
- Changeable copy and electronic message signs and major tenant signs may only be allowed with prior planning commission approval.
- Prior to issuance of a sign permit for any business located in a multiple-tenant building, a master sign plan for that building (depicting design, dimensions, location, materials, content, color scheme, type of illumination, method of construction/attachment for all planned signs based on anticipated full occupancy) must be approved by the planning 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 4 zoning districts in Pewaukee Village — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Pewaukee+Village+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-pewaukee-village

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/pewaukee-village