# Sign Regulations in Plymouth, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Plymouth, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/plymouth
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Plymouth/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT13ZO_CH1ZOCO_ARTHSIBI)

## At a glance

Plymouth, Wisconsin regulates 25 sign types across 5 zoning districts. R-MH Mobile Home Park Entrance Signs in the R-1 rural single-family residential district (R-1),R-2 single-family residential district (R-2),R-3 two-family residential district (R-3),R-3A zero lot line two-family residential district (R-3A),R-4 multi-family residential district (R-4),R-5 traditional neighborhood district (R-5),R-6 high density multi-family residential district (R-6),R-MH mobile home district (R-MH),A agricultural district (A),C conservancy district (C) zoning district are capped at 50 square feet per entrance, with a Must be at least 5 feet from property line. setback (Sec. Sec. 13-1-160(a), (d)). Most commercial signs in Plymouth require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 144 square inches (1 square foot) | — |
| R-1 rural single-family residential district (R-1),R-2 single-family residential district (R-2),R-3 two-family residential district (R-3),R-3A zero lot line two-family residential district (R-3A),R-4 multi-family residential district (R-4),R-5 traditional neighborhood district (R-5),R-6 high density multi-family residential district (R-6),R-MH mobile home district (R-MH),A agricultural district (A),C conservancy district (C) | 6 | — | 50 square feet per entrance | — |
| B-1 business or professional offices district (B-1),B-2 general business district (B-2),CB central business district (CB),B-3 highway business district (B-3),L-I light industrial district (L-I),H-I heavy industrial district (H-I) | 11 | 20 feet in B-1, B-2, CB; 30 feet in B-3, L-I, H-I | 100 sq.ft. per side; 200 sq.ft. all sides (standard); 200 sq.ft. per side, 400 sq.ft. all sides (B-3/HI >300 ft road frontage) | — |
| I institutional district (I) | 2 | — | — | — |
| PUD planned unit development (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Located completely within an enclosed building and visible from a public way. | — | Sec. 13-1-104(f)(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 144 square inches (1 square foot) | — | — | 1 per residence | Flat against dwelling in residential zones. | — | Sec. 13-1-73(9) |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | 2 square feet per sign face | — | — | 1 per property | On property at any time (one sign). | — | Sec. 13-1-104(f)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential/Election) | — | 11 square feet | — | — | 3 per residential property | Residential property during election campaign period. | — | Sec. 13-1-104(f)(6) |
| Address/Name Plate Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | On property, displaying property numbers or names. | — | Sec. 13-1-104(d) |
| Flag | — | 4 feet by 8 feet per flag | — | — | 2 per property | — | — | Sec. 13-1-104(e) |

### R-1 rural single-family residential district (R-1),R-2 single-family residential district (R-2),R-3 two-family residential district (R-3),R-3A zero lot line two-family residential district (R-3A),R-4 multi-family residential district (R-4),R-5 traditional neighborhood district (R-5),R-6 high density multi-family residential district (R-6),R-MH mobile home district (R-MH),A agricultural district (A),C conservancy district (C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 8 square feet per sign face | — | — | 1 per property | On property when offered for sale by agent or owner. | — | Sec. 13-1-104(f)(3) |
| Temporary Open House Sign (Residential) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On property, during day when property open to public. Maximum 2 days per year and must be consecutive. | — | Sec. 13-1-104(f)(4) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 square foot (144 square inches) | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Flat against dwelling unit. | — | Sec. 13-1-73(9) |
| R-MH Mobile Home Park Entrance Sign | — | 50 square feet per entrance | — | Must be at least 5 feet from property line. | 1 per principal entrance | At each principal entrance to mobile home park. | — | Sec. 13-1-160(a), (d) |
| R-MH Mobile Home Park Sale/Lease Rent Sign | — | 6 square feet per entrance | — | At least 5 feet from any exterior property line. | 1 per principal entrance | At each principal entrance. | — | Sec. 13-1-160(b), (d) |
| R-MH New Mobile Home Community Sale Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from property line. | 1 per entrance | Principal entrance to new manufactured home subdivision or condominium. | — | Sec. 13-1-160(c), (d) |

### B-1 business or professional offices district (B-1),B-2 general business district (B-2),CB central business district (CB),B-3 highway business district (B-3),L-I light industrial district (L-I),H-I heavy industrial district (H-I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Main Entrance) | 20 feet in B-1, B-2, CB; 30 feet in B-3, L-I, H-I | 1 sq.ft. per lineal foot of building (main entrance) | — | — | — | Wall of building, at principal entrance facade | — | Sec. 13-1-106(a) |
| Wall Sign (Side or Rear Entrances) | 20 feet in B-1, B-2, CB; 30 feet in B-3, L-I, H-I | 1 sq.ft. per lineal foot of facade with entrance | — | — | — | At side or rear entrances of building | — | Sec. 13-1-106(a) |
| Wall Sign (Other Non-Entrance Facades) | 20 feet in B-1, B-2, CB; 30 feet in B-3, L-I, H-I | 0.5 sq.ft. per lineal foot of facade | — | — | — | Other non-entrance facades | — | Sec. 13-1-106(a) |
| Projecting Identification Sign | 15 feet or front of facade, whichever is less. | 20 square feet | — | — | Max 2 per business/building | Projecting from building. | — | Sec. 13-1-106(b) |
| Pole Sign | 20 feet (B-1, B-2, L-I); 30 feet (B-3, H-I) | 100 sq.ft. per side; 200 sq.ft. all sides (standard); 200 sq.ft. per side, 400 sq.ft. all sides (B-3/HI >300 ft road frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On site, one per street frontage | — | Sec. 13-1-106(c) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 feet | 8 square feet per side | — | — | 1 per business tenant | On business property, typically sidewalk area near entrance. | — | Sec. 13-1-106(f) |
| Banner Sign | No higher than wall or 20 feet, whichever is less (building/entrance facade); off-building also limited to 32 sq ft. | No max size for wall-mounted banner; 32 sq.ft. if attached off-building facade, e.g. to fence | — | — | Max 2 per business | On facade (flat), or on fence | — | Sec. 13-1-110 |
| Temporary Signs (Commercial/Industrial) | — | 32 sq.ft. per sign face | — | ≥10 feet from right of way | As authorized | On property; at least 10 ft from public right of way | — | Sec. 13-1-106(i) |

## Prohibited signs in Plymouth

- No signs shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without a sign permit and without being in conformity with the provisions of this article and all ordinances of the City of Plymouth (except those specifically exempted).
- Signs are prohibited in all districts unless constructed pursuant to a valid sign permit when required and authorized under this Code.
- A property owner may not accept a fee for posting or maintaining a sign allowed under section 13-1-104; any sign posted or maintained in violation of this provision is prohibited.
- Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate the shape, size, form, or color of railroad or traffic signs or devices.
- Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of utility poles, street lights, 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 shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
- No person may place a sign in a public right-of-way or on public property.
- No sign shall be erected which has any bare reflecting-type bulbs, banners, streamers, or any other fluttering or spinning ornamentation.
- No new billboards shall be permitted in the City of Plymouth after December 31, 1994; see rules for pre-existing billboards.
- Painted wall signs (i.e., signs painted directly onto building surfaces) are prohibited except where specifically allowed as a conditional use by the planning commission.
- Signs bearing or containing statements, words, pictures, or symbols of obscene, pornographic, or immoral subjects are prohibited.
- Display of a poster sign outside of the building is prohibited, except when allowed as a temporary sign per section 13-1-104(f).
- Signs at new construction sites and remodeling, repairing, or renovation projects are not permitted in residential zones or at residential buildings in all zones, except for safety warning signs.
- In residential zones or on property used for non-transient residential uses, commercial signs are prohibited except for home occupations or legal nonconforming commercial uses and are subject to the code.
- Blanketing of signs (unreasonable obstruction of view of a sign by another sign) is not allowed.
- Moving or flashing signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- No advertising material or signage other than warning or equipment information shall be allowed on any antenna or tower (Sec. 13-1-130(e)(8)).
- Signs including supports shall not project beyond ten feet of the face of the wall to which attached.
- No fence (including for sign support) shall be constructed with dangerous design, barbed wire in non-industrial zones, or with electrical shock elements.

## Signs exempt from permit in Plymouth

- Signs erected, maintained, or posted by the state, federal, or local government are allowed in every zoning district (Sec. 13-1-104(a)).
- Traffic control devices on private or public property that comply with the Wisconsin Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices are allowed.
- Memorial signs, historic tablets or markers, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or constructed of metal and affixed flat against the structure, and subdivision identification signs are allowed, with some restrictions.
- Signs not exceeding three square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, or names of occupants of premises are allowed.
- Two flags that are no more than four feet by eight feet each are allowed.
- Temporary signs as described in Sec. 13-1-104(f) are allowed: one sign up to two square feet per sign face at any time; any sign posted inside a structure or displayed inside a window; one temporary sign (for sale or lease) up to eight square feet in residential/CB districts or up to 32 square feet in commercial/agricultural/industrial districts during certain conditions; one additional temporary sign when property is opened to the public within specified days; one additional sign during December 1 – January 10; up to three signs during an election campaign period in residential property with each no larger than 11 square feet.
- Flags and pennants (devices generally made of flexible materials such as cloth, paper, or plastic and displayed on strings or wires) are not regulated.
- Government signs described in Section 13-1-104(a) (already covered above) are exempt.
- Membrane structures as defined are exempt from the construction requirements applying to prefabricated storage enclosures.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign identifying a planned shopping center grouping (e.g., master or group sign) may be permitted with the approval of the plan commission, and the commission may modify regulations applicable to the height, size, and location of such sign (Sec. 13-1-106(j)).
- Awnings with professionally painted or screen-printed lettering are permitted and calculated as part of the total permissible wall signage area for the building facade. A sign permit is required for such awnings.
- Site plan and design approval (Sec. 13-1-173) requires all exterior signs on the site to be listed/shown on submitted site plans for approval in districts subject to site plan review.
- A conceptual plan for exterior signage must be provided at time of site plan review for group development (multiple-tenant/site) projects, including requirements for sign coordination and freestanding sign compatibility.
- Banner signs require an annual permit in relevant business districts, with limitations on number, location, and duration (Sec. 13-1-110).
- Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations may be granted by the board of appeals.
- Murals are allowed only as a conditional use in the CB district and require a conditional use permit plus a maintenance agreement with the City.
- Master sign plans are not directly required by ordinance, but group developments and planned shopping centers must submit sign plans or conceptual sign plans and require plan commission review/approval and may be subject to modified requirements.
- In PUD (Planned Unit Development) districts, signs are to be classified and permitted in accordance with Article H (sign regulations), requiring development plans to address sign types and locations, subject to plan commission approval.

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

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