# Sign Regulations in Sauk, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sauk, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/sauk
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28

## At a glance

Sauk, Wisconsin regulates 16 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3 feet for sandwich board tall, 6 square feet per side for sandwich board, 24 square feet per side for trailer or vehicle, and 2 feet for sandwich board wide (Sec. § 365-72B). Most commercial signs in Sauk require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential and Agricultural Districts | 7 | 2 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Business and Industrial Districts | 5 | 25 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| B-C District | 1 | 48 inches | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 3 feet for sandwich board | 40 square feet | — |

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

### Residential and Agricultural Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Shop Window or Door Sign | 2 feet | 40 square feet | 20 feet | — | — | Over shop windows or doors of a nonconforming business or industrial establishment | — | § 365-73A(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises being advertised | — | § 365-73A(2) |
| Name, Occupation and Warning Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises | — | § 365-73A(3) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 15 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises of public, charitable or religious institutions | — | § 365-73A(4) |
| Memorial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed flat against a structure | — | § 365-73A(5) |
| Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Various | — | § 365-73A(6) |
| Temporary Sign or Banner | — | — | — | — | — | Various | — | § 365-73A(7) |

### Business and Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 25 feet | — | — | — | — | Must observe all applicable building setback lines | — | § 365-73B(1) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign | — | 100 square feet on one face, 200 square feet on all faces | — | 20 feet from right-of-way | One per shopping center or industrial park | Shopping centers or industrial parks | — | § 365-73B(3) |
| Business or Industrial Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | One per facade | Front facade of a building | — | § 365-73B(4) |
| Directional Ground Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Various | — | § 365-73B(7) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 5 square feet | — | — | One per business | Hanging from canopies or covered walks | — | § 365-73B(10) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage, maximum two per lot | On the premises to which the activity pertains | — | § 365-72A |
| Portable Sign | 3 feet for sandwich board | 6 square feet per side for sandwich board, 24 square feet per side for trailer or vehicle | 2 feet for sandwich board | — | One per business or occupant | Lot of the business establishment | — | § 365-72B |
| Electronic Variable Message Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | — | Various | — | § 365-72C |

## Prohibited signs in Sauk

- No signs shall be placed upon, over, or in any public way except for traffic signs, signs specifically permitted to project into or be located in the public way by this chapter, or any other sign so authorized by law.
- Signs attached to any public utility pole or structure, street tree, fence, fire hydrant, bridge, curb, sidewalk, park bench, or other location on public property except as otherwise expressly permitted under this Code.
- No sign shall be erected at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, traffic signal or other traffic device.
- Animated signs, or signs having moving parts.
- Billboards, outdoor advertising signs and any business or industrial signs not located on the same property as the business or industry advertised shall not be permitted in any district.
- No sign or advertising device shall be erected or maintained at the intersection of streets in such a manner as to obstruct clear vision of the intersection.
- Any sign so erected, constructed, or maintained as to obstruct or be attached to any fire escape, window, door, or opening used as a means of ingress or egress, or for fire-fighting purposes, or placed so as to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sauk

- Temporary signs not exceeding eight square feet in area erected while the property on which the sign is located is offered for sale or lease.
- Temporary signs not exceeding four square feet in area erected prior to an election or referendum.
- Temporary signs not exceeding six square feet in area erected prior to or during a garage sale.
- Other signs permitted in residential and agricultural districts.

## 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 Sauk — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Sauk+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-sauk

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