# Sign Regulations in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Salem Lakes, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/salem-lakes
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33351880#33351880)

## At a glance

Salem Lakes, Wisconsin regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Agricultural District Signs in the Agricultural District zoning district are capped at 15 feet tall and 20 square feet, with a 15 feet setback (Sec. § 490-12.4A). Most commercial signs in Salem Lakes require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural District | 1 | 15 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| Residential District - R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 | 1 | 8 feet | 4 square feet | — |
| Business District, Manufacturing District, Institutional District, Park-Recreational District - B-1, B-2, P, I-1 | 9 | 30 feet | 600 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 40 feet | 150 square feet per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Agricultural District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural District Sign | 15 feet | 20 square feet | — | 15 feet | One per highway frontage | On premises | — | § 490-12.4A |

### Business District, Manufacturing District, Institutional District, Park-Recreational District - B-1, B-2, P, I-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | At least 8 feet above the public sidewalk or thoroughfare | 15% per side of each face | — | — | One | On premises | — | § 490-12.7A |
| Menu Board | 8 feet | 36 square feet | — | 15 feet | Subject to approval | On premises | — | § 490-12.7B |
| Monument Sign | 10 feet | 80 square feet per side, 160 square feet maximum for all sides | — | 5 feet | One per street frontage or drive entrance | On premises | — | § 490-12.7C |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 150 square feet per side, 300 square feet maximum for all sides | — | 15 feet | One per street frontage or drive entrance | On premises | — | § 490-12.7D |
| Portable Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | 15 feet | One | On premises | — | § 490-12.7E |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet above the mean center-line street grade | 100 square feet per side | — | 15 feet | One | On premises | — | § 490-12.7F |
| Unified Business Center Sign | 30 feet | 300 square feet per side, 600 square feet maximum for all sides | — | 15 feet | One per street frontage and/or entrance | On premises | — | § 490-12.7G |
| Wall Sign - Single-Tenant Buildings | 20 feet in height above the mean center-line street grade | 600 square feet | — | — | One per public entrance or wall/facade which fronts upon a public right-of-way or private drive | On premises | — | § 490-12.7H(1) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Blade and Suspended Sign | At least 8 feet above the public sidewalk or thoroughfare | 4 square feet | — | — | One per business/tenant | On premises | — | § 490-12.4B |
| Flagpole | 40 feet | No maximum | — | Equal to the height of the flagpole | Three per property | On premises | — | § 490-12.4C |
| On-site Informational Sign | 5 feet | 9 square feet | — | 2 feet | No limit | On premises | — | § 490-12.4D |
| Temporary Sign | 5 feet, or 10 feet if on a county or state trunk highway | 9 square feet per side, or 32 square feet per side if located on a county or state trunk highway | — | 15 feet | — | On premises | — | § 490-12.4E |
| Window Sign | — | Not more than 50% of each window | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 490-12.4F |
| On-site Real Estate Sign | 5 feet | 9 square feet | — | 2 feet | One | On premises | — | § 490-12.4G |
| Temporary Development Sign | 15 feet | 50 square feet per side | — | 15 feet | Two | On premises | — | § 490-12.5A |
| Permanent Development Sign | 10 feet | 150 square feet per side | — | 15 feet | One | On premises | — | § 490-12.5B |

## Prohibited signs in Salem Lakes

- No signs or any part thereof or sign anchors, braces or guide rods shall be attached, fastened or anchored to any fire escape, fire ladder or standpipe.
- No sign or any part of any sign or any anchor, brace or guide rod shall be erected, relocated, put up, or maintained so as to hinder or prevent ingress or egress from public or private driveways, parking lots or fire escapes or through a door, doorway or window or so as to hinder or prevent pedestrian traffic on a sidewalk or so as to hinder or prevent the raising or placing of ladders against a building by the Fire/Rescue Department.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility nor be lighted in such a way as to cause glare or impair driver visibility upon public rights-of-way.
- Any sign that creates a hazard or dangerous distraction to vehicle traffic or a nuisance to adjoining property.
- Any sign resembling, imitating or approximating the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices, or obstructing or interfering with the effectiveness of said devices.
- Any sign that moves or has moving, rotating or animated parts.
- Flashing signs.
- Inflatable signs.
- Any temporary, spring-action metal advertising sign used, for example, to advertise cigarette or gasoline prices.
- Any sign located within a vision triangle as defined by § 490-11.1.
- Any sign installed or constructed within the right-of-way, except for official signs.
- Roof signs.
- Signs containing or comprised of bare bulbs.
- Any sign mounted on wheels, trailers, motor vehicles or any other nonpermanent structure parked within sight of a street for the purpose of advertising.
- Any sign that produces sound; causes interference with radio, telephone, television or other communication transmissions; produces or reflects motion pictures or video; or emits visible smoke, vapor, particles or odor.
- Obsolete signs.
- Signs which are deteriorated, dilapidated, structurally dangerous or unsafe, as determined by the Building Inspector.
- Off-premises signs, except for unified business center signs.
- Any sign exceeding 30 feet in height.

## Signs exempt from permit in Salem Lakes

- Agricultural district signs.
- Blade and suspended signs.
- Flagpoles.
- On-site informational signs.
- Temporary signs not permanently attached to the ground, wall or buildings.
- Window signs.
- On-site real estate signs advising the public that the real estate on which the sign is posted is offered for sale or lease.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Before any sign for which a permit is required by this chapter is erected, there shall be submitted to the Planning and Development Administrator the written consent of the owner of the land upon which the sign is to be located.
- Drawings showing the specific design, appearance and location of the sign(s) shall be submitted to the Planning and Development Administrator for 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 4 zoning districts in Salem Lakes — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Salem+Lakes+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-salem-lakes

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