# Sign Regulations in River Falls, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** River Falls, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/river-falls
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/River_Falls/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.84SI)

## At a glance

River Falls, Wisconsin regulates 27 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Residential Entrance Sign)s in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft from right-of-way; 8 ft from adjacent lot setback (Sec. 17.84.040(A)(4)). Most commercial signs in River Falls require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 5 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial District, B-1 | 3 | — | 60 sq ft (max on any sign) | — |
| Limited Commercial District, B-2 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Highway Commercial District, B-3 | 4 | — | 60 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District, Heavy Industrial District, I-1, I-2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| University District, U | 2 | — | 60 sq ft (can exceed by 20% if landscaped at base) | — |
| HZ, SZ, P | 1 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Overlay District, Business Overlay District | 1 | 4 ft | 16 sq ft (4 ft x 4 ft) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 4 ft | 16 sq ft (4 ft x 4 ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way; 5 ft from adjacent lot | 1 per use | Set back 10 ft from right-of-way; No closer than 5 ft to adjacent lot | — | 17.84.040(A)(1) |
| Monument Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 32 sq ft per face; max 2 faces | — | 10 ft from right-of-way; 5 ft from adjacent lot | 1 per use | Set back 10 ft from right-of-way; No closer than 5 ft to adjacent lot | — | 17.84.040(A)(1) |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign (Single Family) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | Per dwelling unit | — | — | 17.84.040(A)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Attached to wall only | — | 17.84.040(A)(3) |
| Monument Sign (Residential Entrance Sign) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way; 8 ft from adjacent lot | 2 per development | On private property; 10 ft from right-of-way; 8 ft from adjacent lot; not in right-of-way | — | 17.84.040(A)(4) |

### Highway Commercial District, B-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pylon Sign (Less than 100 ft frontage) | — | 60 sq ft | — | Distance from lot line >= sign height | 1 per 100 ft street frontage | No closer to lot line than sign's vertical height | — | 17.84.040(D)(1-2) |
| Pylon Sign (Lots with 500+ ft frontage on arterial road) | — | 60 sq ft each | — | Distance from lot line >= sign height | 2 per lot (500+ ft frontage & arterial road) | On arterial roads only; see above for setback | — | 17.84.040(D)(3) |
| All Sign Types (Aggregate) | — | — | — | — | — | On lot | — | 17.84.040(D)(4) |
| Pylon Sign (Landscaped) | — | Up to 20% larger than otherwise permitted | — | — | — | Pylon sign base landscaped (plantings/shrubbery) | — | 17.84.040(D)(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | 17.84.030(E)(4-6) |
| Banner Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | 17.84.030(E)(4-6) |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft | 16 sq ft (4 ft x 4 ft) | 4 ft | — | 1 per business | Not in right-of-way except Downtown Overlay District | — | 17.84.030(E)(1-3) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft from edge of pavement | 1 per property | On private property; at least 15 ft from edge of pavement; not in right-of-way | — | 17.84.030(F)(1,7) |
| Directional Real Estate Sign | 2.5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | Up to 4 per property/development | In ground only; not on structures/utility poles/trees; not in right-of-way | — | 17.84.030(F)(1-4) |
| Construction Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft from edge of pavement | 2 per subdivision/development | On property under construction; not in right-of-way; min 15 ft from edge of pavement | — | 17.84.030(G)(2,3,5) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft from edge of pavement | 1 per property | On private property; min 15 ft from edge of pavement; not in right-of-way; in ground only | — | 17.84.030(H) |
| Political Campaign Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft from edge of pavement | — | On private property; at least 15 ft from edge of pavement; not on trees, utility poles, or traffic devices | — | 17.84.050 |

## Prohibited signs in River Falls

- Signs shall not obstruct vehicular or pedestrian movement in any way.
- Signs shall not tend, by location, color or nature, to be confused with or obstruct traffic control signs or devices.
- Signs shall not be located in the public right-of-way, except for portable signs in the business overlay district.
- Signs shall not obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress to any building or structure.
- Signs shall not violate the vision clearance triangle as defined in the municipal code.
- Unsafe, insecure, unlawful signs, or signs considered a general menace to the public are prohibited and subject to removal by the city.
- Abandoned signs shall not remain for more than twelve (12) months after the business, products, or services it advertises is no longer conducted on the premises.
- Flashing and moving signs are prohibited in some zoning districts (see district regulations).
- Signs may not be attached to boulevard trees, utility poles, or traffic control devices (specifically political campaign and garage sale signs).
- Signs must not contain any message or image that resembles or may be confused with a traffic control device.
- Temporary signs are prohibited on a lot with an electronic reader board sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in River Falls

- Political campaign signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Real estate and directional real estate signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Memorials embedded in another structure are exempt from permit requirements.
- Holiday and celebration signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Traffic control and other city regulatory and information signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Park signs (city only) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Advertising of garage sales, nonprofit organization functions, and community events is exempt from permit requirements.
- Incidental signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- University district signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Garage sale signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Construction signs are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for all signs used for advertising unless specifically exempted.
- A special sign permit may be granted by the plan commission for nonconforming signs that are aesthetically acceptable, innovative, or functional and in the best interests of the city.
- Application for a sign permit must be made to the department of community development and must include information such as location, installer, consent from the owner, required electrical permits, sign dimensions, existing signage inventory, and nature of displayed information.
- A special event permit can be applied for real estate or directional real estate signs not in conformity with general requirements.
- As part of its consideration of a special use permit for a billboard that is also an electronic reader board sign, the plan commission requires additional placement, reduction, and design considerations.

## 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 9 zoning districts in River Falls — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=River+Falls+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-river-falls

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