# Sign Regulations in Rice Lake, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rice Lake, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/rice-lake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-01
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6886908#6886908)

## At a glance

Rice Lake, Wisconsin regulates 12 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the CN, C, CH, O, IL, I zoning district are capped at 30 feet tall and 100 square feet, with a Must meet yard requirements setback (Sec. § 260-94B(2)(b)). Most commercial signs in Rice Lake require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RS, R, RM, RE, A, AT, W | 5 | — | 160 square feet per sign | — |
| CN, C, CH, O, IL, I | 6 | 70 feet | 250 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 4 feet | 8 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### RS, R, RM, RE, A, AT, W

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Development Sign | — | 160 square feet per sign | — | Must comply with zoning district setback requirements | Two signs allowed | Must comply with setback requirements | — | § 260-93A(1-4) |
| Symbols or Insignias | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Flat against a building | — | § 260-91N |
| Public, Charitable or Religious Institution Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 260-94B(1)(d) |
| Public or Quasi-Public Directional Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | On property to which it pertains | — | § 260-93C |
| Temporary Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | — | Authorized by Plan Commission | — | § 260-94B(1)(f) |

### CN, C, CH, O, IL, I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Against exterior walls of buildings | — | § 260-94B(2)(a) |
| Ground Sign | 30 feet | 100 square feet | — | Must meet yard requirements | One per street frontage | Must meet yard requirements | — | § 260-94B(2)(b) |
| Roof Sign | 10 feet above roof | 250 square feet | — | Must meet yard requirements | — | On roof | — | § 260-94B(2)(c) |
| Pole Sign | — | 250 square feet per face | — | Not allowed in side yard setbacks | One per premises | Front yard setbacks | — | § 260-94B(2)(d) |
| On-Premise Pole Sign (CH) | 70 feet | — | — | — | One per premises | Highway Commercial (CH) | — | § 260-94B(2)(e) |
| On-Premise Sign (CN) | 25 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | — | Neighborhood Commercial (CN) | — | § 260-94B(2)(f) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 feet | 8 square feet | 2 feet | — | One per business | Right-of-way immediately fronting the business | — | § 260-93D |

## Prohibited signs in Rice Lake

- Prevent or inhibit adequate light, air or ventilation.
- Inhibit the safety of vehicular or pedestrian traffic by actual physical or visual impairment or obstruction.
- Distract from the aesthetics of the location, area and community as a whole.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rice Lake

- Art work. Graphic designs and displays that do not include a commercial message.
- Construction signs. Two construction signs per construction project not exceeding 100 square feet in sign area.
- Directional signs. Signs which provide direction or instruction and are located entirely on the property to which they pertain.
- Flags. The flag, emblem or insignia of the United States, a nation, a state or a religious or fraternal organization and one corporate flag.
- Governmental signs. Governmental signs for control of traffic and other regulatory purposes.
- House numbers and nameplates. House numbers and nameplates not exceeding one square foot in area for each residential building.
- Interior signs. Signs located within the interior of any building or stadium or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building.
- Memorial signs. Memorial signs or tablets, headstones, grave markers or names of public buildings and date of erection.
- Neighborhood identification signs. A sign, masonry wall, landscaping and other similar materials or features for neighborhood or tract identification.
- Occupant signs. One sign for each dwelling unit not to exceed four square foot in area indicating the name of the occupant.
- Plaques. Plaques or nameplate signs not more than two square feet in area which are fastened directly to the building.
- Campaign and political signs. Campaign signs on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on election ballots.
- Real estate sales signs. One real estate sales sign on any lot or parcel.
- Symbols or insignia. Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historical agencies or identification emblems of religious orders or historical agencies.
- Temporary signs. Temporary signs not exceeding 16 square feet in area pertaining to drives or events of civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations.
- Temporary window signs. In commercial and industrial zones, the inside surface of any ground floor window may be used for attachment of temporary signs.
- Vehicular signs. A truck, bus, trailer or other vehicle while operated in the normal course of business which is not primarily the display of signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A plan shall be provided to the City Plan Commission for a conditional use approval detailing the location, size and shape of the sign and the colors, wording and directions to be shown on the sign.

## Full detail

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

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