# Sign Regulations in Rib Mountain, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rib Mountain, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/rib-mountain
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Rib_Mountain/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH17ZOORRERE00-11_SUBCHAPTER_XSIRE_S17.213DERESPCESIAM2014-04)

## At a glance

Rib Mountain, Wisconsin regulates 20 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Business)s in the Nonresidential zoning districts zoning district are capped at 10 ft max (monument/pylon); Up to 35 ft with conditional use (restricted locations) tall and CC, EO: 50 sq ft max/sign; SO/SC/NC/SI: 100 sq ft; UC/UI/HI: 150 sq ft, with a 10 ft from all property lines; 35 ft from lines abutting residential zoning if sign exceeds 10 ft high setback (Sec. 17.216(4), Table 17.216(6), 17.213(2)(e)). Most commercial signs in Rib Mountain require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 6 | See above | 12 sq ft (multi-family >4 units identification sign); 32 sq ft for permitted principal uses | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts | 7 | 10 ft max (monument/pylon); Up to 35 ft with conditional use (restricted locations) | SO/SC/NC/SI: 100 sq ft max/sign; UC/UI/HI: 150 sq ft max/sign | — |
| CC, EO | 1 | — | 50 sq ft per sign, 2 per business per street frontage | — |
| SO, SC, NC, SI | 2 | 10 ft max; can exceed with conditional use (up to 35 ft) in specified areas | 100 sq ft per sign, max 2 per business per street frontage | — |
| UC, UI, HI | 2 | 10 ft max; can exceed to 35 ft with conditional use in Overlay District/buffer areas | 150 sq ft per sign, up to 2 per business per street frontage, 500 sq ft total per business | — |
| SR-3, UDD | 1 | — | May not exceed 50% of total sign area | — |
| USH 51/STH 29 Overlay District | 2 | 35 ft max | May not exceed 50% of total sign area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Numerals and Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Permitted in all zoning districts | — | 17.212(1)(a) |
| Legal Notice Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted in all zoning districts | — | 17.212(1)(b) |
| Government Agency Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted in all zoning districts | — | 17.212(1)(c) |
| Memorial Sign or Cemetery Tablet | — | — | — | — | — | In cemeteries | — | 17.212(1)(d) |
| On-Premises Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | max 3 per lot | On the property of the facility/building/parking area | — | 17.212(1)(e), 17.213(1)(f) |
| Neighborhood Watch and Related Government Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Within a public right-of-way | — | 17.212(1)(f) |
| Temporary Sign | — | Varies by sign type (see Temporary Signs regulations) | — | — | One per property at a time (exceptions for yard/garage sale signs: up to 5 per event) | Permitted in all zones subject to regulations | — | 17.212(1)(g), 17.217 |
| Community Information Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted in all districts, public or private property | — | 17.212(2) |

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 12 sq ft (multi-family >4 units identification sign); 32 sq ft for permitted principal uses | — | — | One per lot/structure | Building facade | — | 17.215(1), 17.215(3), 17.215(5) |
| Residential Nameplate Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | 5 ft min from front/street side lot line if not attached to mailbox | One per lot | May be attached to mailbox, yard light, ornamental light or as freestanding sign on posts, not closer than 5 ft from front/street side lot line (unless attached to mailbox) | — | 17.215(2), 17.213(1)(k) |
| Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft (single-family lot, or multi-family 4 or fewer units) | — | — | One per lot | On-residence | — | 17.215(2) |
| Monument Sign (Institutional Use) | — | — | — | Min 12 ft from public right-of-way | One per street frontage | 12 ft minimum from public right-of-way | — | 17.215(1) |
| Permanent Subdivision Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.215(4) |
| Temporary Sign | See above | Varies (e.g., For Sale/Rent: 12 sq ft; Construction/Development: 32 sq ft; Garage sale: 4 sq ft; Political signs: total 32 sq ft; Subdivision Id: 32 sq ft, 8 ft high) | — | — | 1 per property at time (except as noted for some event signs) | — | — | 17.215(6), 17.217 |

### Nonresidential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | CC, EO: 50 sq ft max per sign; SO/SC/NC/SI: 100 sq ft max/sign; UC/UI/HI: 150 sq ft max/sign | — | — | CC, EO, SO, SC, NC, SI, UC, UI, HI: 2 per business per street frontage | Building facade parallel to street | — | 17.216(2), Table 17.216(6), 17.214 |
| Freestanding Sign (Business) | 10 ft max (monument/pylon); Up to 35 ft with conditional use (restricted locations) | CC, EO: 50 sq ft max/sign; SO/SC/NC/SI: 100 sq ft; UC/UI/HI: 150 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all property lines; 35 ft from lines abutting residential zoning if sign exceeds 10 ft high | Max 2 per lot; only 1 in required yard per frontage | Required yard (per frontage) | — | 17.216(4), Table 17.216(6), 17.213(2)(e) |
| Group Freestanding Sign | 10 ft max (monument/pylon unless conditional use) | SO/SC/NC/SI: 100 sq ft max/sign; UC/UI/HI: 150 sq ft max/sign | — | 10 ft from all property lines; 35 ft from residential if over 10 ft | One per lot | Freestanding | — | 17.216(3), Table 17.216(6), 17.213(1)(g) |
| Auxiliary Sign | — | Not to exceed 50% of the maximum permitted area | — | — | — | — | — | 17.216(5) |
| Temporary Sign | Up to 8 ft for temp subdivision id sign | See temporary sign table (e.g., For Sale/Rent: 12 sq ft; Construction: 32 sq ft; Garage sale: 4 sq ft; Political: total 32 sq ft) | — | — | One per property at a time (exceptions per event signs, subdivision signs) | Varies by sign type | — | 17.217, 17.216(7) |
| Unique or Other Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.216(8) |
| Electronic Message Sign | — | May not exceed 50% of total sign area | — | 100 ft from residential in UC/SC/SR-3/UDD, 150 ft in SO | — | As subordinate part of monument or pylon sign only | — | 17.214(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Rib Mountain

- No sign shall use any word, phrase, symbol, shape, form, or character in such manner as to interfere with moving traffic, including signs which incorporate typical street-type and/or traffic control-type signage designs and colors.
- No fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs, pennants or other decorations shall be permitted.
- No illuminated flashing signs shall be permitted. Flashing signs are those which change their appearance more than once in every 30 seconds.
- No illuminated sign shall be permitted unless the illumination of the sign is so designed that the lighting element is not visible from any property within a residential zoning district.
- No illuminated signs are permitted unless they comply with the State Electrical Code and are limited to the hours of customer access.
- No mobile or portable signs shall be permitted.
- No off-premises directional signs shall be permitted for non-governmental or non-institutional uses or for any use outside of a public right-of-way except with the granting of a Conditional Use Permit.
- No advertising signs shall be permitted, except for specific information signs as provided within public rights-of-way per the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where by reason of its position, proximity to the street right-of-way, wording, illumination, size, shape, or color it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where by reason of its position, proximity to the street right-of-way, wording, illumination, size, shape, or color creates a safety hazard for pedestrians or the operators of motor vehicles.
- No sign shall be located within a required bufferyard or within a permanently protected green space area.
- No sign shall be mounted on a roof.
- No sign, temporary or otherwise, shall be affixed to a tree or utility pole unless otherwise authorized by the Director of Public Works.
- Private signs shall not be allowed within any street right-of-way.
- Projecting signs located over a vehicle circulation area shall not be permitted.
- Pylon signs are not permitted in any residential district.
- No signs shall be located within the USH 51/STH 29 Overlay District unless a conditional use is granted.
- No sign shall be erected which does not comply with the visibility standards of Section 17.173.
- All signs must be properly maintained; signs that are loose, rusted, unsafe, vibrate excessively, or are otherwise in disrepair must be repaired or removed.
- All signs must be constructed and mounted to withstand a wind pressure of 30 pounds per square foot.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rib Mountain

- Address numerals and identification signs not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Legal notices.
- Signs established by, or by order of, any governmental agency.
- Memorial signs and tablets displayed in cemeteries.
- On-premises directional signs and warning signs which bear no advertising.
- Neighborhood Watch signs and related government-authorized signs located within a public right-of-way.
- Temporary signs which conform to the requirements of Section 17.217.
- Signs less than one square foot in area are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Traffic control and other public agency signs located within a right-of-way are not regulated by the provisions of this Chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except as provided for specific exempt or conditional use signs, a sign permit must be obtained for any sign to be erected, altered, or relocated within the Town.
- Auxiliary signs may only be permitted when specifically approved as part of the site plan review process.
- Requests for more than one sign or for signs larger than specified in residential districts may be approved as a conditional use following procedures in Section 17.225.
- Community information signs are permitted only as a conditional use and require description of proposed size, configuration, and design as part of the conditional use requirements.
- Electronic message signs, unique signs, and other specified cases require a conditional use permit reviewed by the Plan Commission and/or Town Board per Section 17.225.
- Where an alteration is proposed for a unique sign or other sign approved as a conditional use, the sign shall be removed unless the Town Board approves the alteration through the conditional use procedures in Section 17.225.
- Permanent subdivision identification signs require approval as a conditional use following procedures in Section 17.225.
- For multi-tenant nonresidential properties, sign area allocation requires a sign plan or site plan review as appropriate.

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

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