# Sign Regulations in Ripon, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ripon, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/ripon
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Ripon/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT13VETR_CH13.08SI)

## At a glance

Ripon, Wisconsin regulates 32 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Multifamily Unit Freestanding Signs in the Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 24 sq. ft., with a 10 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. 18.28.230). Most commercial signs in Ripon require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones | 15 | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Agricultural Zones | 2 | — | 8 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Business Districts, Industrial Districts | 6 | Central/General/Industrial: 45 ft.; Highway Business: 30 ft. | B-1 only: 9 sq. ft. | — |
| Central Business District (B-1) | 3 | — | 9 sq. ft. | — |
| General Business District (B-3) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Highway Business District (B-2) | 3 | 30 ft. | 130 sq. ft. per face | — |
| Industrial Districts | 3 | 45 ft. | 150 sq. ft. per face | — |
| Institutional Districts | 7 | 15 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Shopping Centers (B-2, B-3) | 2 | — | 150 sq. ft. (single-face) / 150 sq. ft. per face (double-face) | — |
| Hospitals (Institutional Districts) | 4 | Per Central Business District | 70 sq. ft. | — |
| Educational Institutions (Institutional Districts) | 3 | 15 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Open House Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One per intersection per company, max four per house | May be placed one per intersection per company; no more than four directional signs per house within city limits | — | 18.28.185.D; 18.28.090.K; 18.28.200 |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 9 sq. ft. (single/two family); 32 sq. ft. (multi-family) | — | — | — | On property for sale/rent/auction | — | 18.28.185.E; 18.28.090.F |
| Construction Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On residential lot under construction | — | 18.28.185.F; 18.28.090.G |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 5 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On dwelling | — | 18.28.185.H; 18.28.220 |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Max two per subdivision | At principal entrance (max two per subdivision) | — | 18.28.210 |
| Multifamily Unit Freestanding Sign | 6 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | One per eligible frontage | For each street frontage (if frontage >175 ft on corner lot); not in vision clearance triangle | — | 18.28.230 |
| On-premises Wall Sign - Religious Establishment | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building (multi-building campus); one otherwise | On building; one per building on multi-building campus | — | 18.28.185.O; 18.28.140.D; 18.28.180 |
| On-premises Ground Mounted Sign - Religious Establishment | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per face | — | — | One per eligible street frontage | One per street frontage where frontage > 175 ft (corner lots) | — | 18.28.185.O; 18.28.140.A,B,C; 18.28.180 |

### Business Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Column Mounted Sign | Central/General/Industrial: 45 ft.; Highway Business: 30 ft. | B-2: 130 sq. ft. (per face); Industrial: 150 sq. ft. (per face) | — | Central/General/Industrial: 10 ft.; Highway: 20 ft. | One per parcel frontage | Per parcel of frontage (if no projecting or ground sign on same parcel's frontage) | — | 18.28.320; 18.28.280; 18.28.400; 18.28.430 |
| Ground Mounted Sign | Central/General/Industrial: 45 ft.; Highway Business: 30 ft. | B-2: 80 sq. ft. (per face); Industrial: 100 sq. ft. (per face) | — | Central/General/Industrial: 10 ft.; Highway: 20 ft. | One per parcel frontage | Per parcel of frontage (if no column or projecting sign on same frontage) | — | 18.28.320; 18.28.280; 18.28.400; 18.28.430 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building frontage; for mansard - if no wall sign present | — | 18.28.290; 18.28.360; 18.28.380; 18.28.390; 18.28.420; 18.28.300 |
| Mansard Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On mansard roof | — | 18.28.300 |
| Canopy or Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On face of awning/canopy (not above or below canopy) | — | 18.28.310 |
| Projecting Sign | — | B-1 only: 9 sq. ft. | — | — | One per parcel | On building (no ground sign on property); B-1 only for size limit | — | 18.28.330; 18.28.376 |

### Institutional Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hospital Ground Mounted Identification Sign | Per Central Business District | — | — | Per Central Business District | One per 500 ft frontage | One per 500 ft frontage | — | 18.28.500.A,B |
| Hospital Site Information Sign | Per Central Business District | 70 sq. ft. | — | Per Central Business District | One per entrance | At each entrance | — | 18.28.500.C |
| Hospital Wall Sign | — | 40 sq. ft. | — | — | One per entrance | At entrance doors to hospital or clinic | — | 18.28.500.D |
| Hospital Reader Board Sign | — | 48 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On premise | — | 18.28.500.C |
| Educational Institution Wall Sign | — | 150 sq. ft. | — | — | One per wall | On building wall | — | 18.28.510.A |
| Educational Institution Site Information Sign | 15 ft. | 60 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. | One per entrance | At each entrance | — | 18.28.510.B |
| Educational Institution Reader Board | — | 48 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Attached to building or as part of site information sign | — | 18.28.510.A,B |

## Prohibited signs in Ripon

- Signs painted on, attached to, or supported by a tree, stone, cliff, or other natural object.
- Signs painted directly onto building walls.
- Spot lights or beacons.
- Signs placed upon metal light poles, stop signs, or traffic signs.
- Flashing, blinking, or animated signs.
- Signs in the public right-of-way, except signs erected by a governmental agency, a franchise public utility company, a contractor doing permitted work within the public right-of-way, and banners for non-profit organizations approved by the city council.
- Revolving, rotating, or otherwise moving signs.
- Illuminated signs and spotlights which are directed at motorists or adjacent properties.
- Use of a vehicle or trailer as a sign in circumvention of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ripon

- Traffic signs or signals, street signs or railroad signs, or any other safety-related signs placed by a utility or any unit of government.
- Christmas or other seasonal decorations on residential lots with no commercial message.
- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the zone lot or parcel on which the sign is located.
- Works of art that do not include any commercial message.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No permit shall be granted until an application has been filed with the city building inspector to assure compliance. The city building inspector may require that the application be accompanied by a plan or design of the sign showing its weight, dimensions, electrical or gas equipment, and details of its position relative to the building and to all property lines.
- The city building inspector may require that the application be accompanied by a plan or design of the sign.
- Variance or exception to the sign ordinance may be granted by the zoning board of appeals.
- Historic signs or signs in the Watson Street National Historic District or on historic properties require review and approval by the historic preservation commission, with possible appeal to the plan 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 12 zoning districts in Ripon — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Ripon+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-ripon

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