# Sign Regulations in Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/shorewood-hills
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-19
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://shorewoodhillswi.gov/vertical/sites/%7B00D5AF3F-ADFE-4173-AF3A-FC0C1A78DA4B%7D/uploads/Ch_10_Zoning_Code-Land_Use_Regulations.pdf#page=52)

## At a glance

Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin regulates 11 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Detached Signs in the Non-residential Zoning Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, CF) zoning district are capped at 30 feet above established grade of public highway or sidewalk tall, Aggregate 1% of the square footage of the premises, and 15 feet horizontal wide, with a Not closer to public street than established setback unless lowest edge 6 feet above grade; not within 15 feet of curb line; no extension over public street, highway, or sidewalk setback (Sec. SEC. 10-1-81(b)(2)). Most commercial signs in Shorewood Hills require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | Lowest portion not less than 9 feet above sidewalk | — | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 4 | — | 24 square feet | — |
| Non-residential Zoning Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, CF) | 6 | 30 feet above established grade of public highway or sidewalk | 20 square feet (not including supports) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning | Lowest portion not less than 7 feet above sidewalk | — | — | No extension beyond 12 inches inside the curb line | — | Attached to and supported by the building, no posts or columns beyond the setback line | — | SEC. 10-1-82 |
| Canopy | Lowest portion not less than 9 feet above sidewalk | — | — | No extension beyond 12 inches inside the curb line | — | Attached to building, no supports beyond setback line between canopy and sidewalk | — | SEC. 10-1-83 |

### Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to the dwelling unit | — | SEC. 10-1-81(a)(1) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | SEC. 10-1-81(a)(2) |
| Construction Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | — | Against the wall of a building or entirely on the premises | — | SEC. 10-1-81(a)(3) |
| Rental or Sale Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | Behind front lot line and inside side setback lines | — | Back of the front lot line and inside the side setback lines | — | SEC. 10-1-81(a)(4) |

### Non-residential Zoning Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, CF)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flat Sign | — | — | Shall not exceed the length of the building or wall to which attached | — | — | Attached to the building or wall | — | SEC. 10-1-81(b)(1) |
| Detached Sign | 30 feet above established grade of public highway or sidewalk | Aggregate 1% of the square footage of the premises | 15 feet horizontal | Not closer to public street than established setback unless lowest edge 6 feet above grade; not within 15 feet of curb line; no extension over public street, highway, or sidewalk | 2 | On the premises | — | SEC. 10-1-81(b)(2) |
| Illuminated Sign | — | — | — | As per flat sign or detached sign | — | As per flat sign or detached sign | — | SEC. 10-1-81(b)(3) |
| Professional Sign | 5 feet | 10 square feet | — | — | 1 | On or before the premises | — | SEC. 10-1-81(b)(4) |
| Professional Sign - Multiple (3 or more) | 10 feet | 20 square feet (not including supports) | — | — | 1 | Before the structure | — | SEC. 10-1-81(b)(4) |
| Rental or Sale Sign | — | — | — | As per business sign requirements | 1 | As would be approved for business establishment on premises | — | SEC. 10-1-81(b)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Shorewood Hills

- No canopy, awning or sign or any part thereof, or any anchor, brace or guy rod shall be attached, fastened or anchored to any fire escape, fire ladder or stand pipe; nor shall the same be erected or maintained so as to cover or obstruct any door, doorway or window of any building so as to hinder or prevent ingress or egress through such door, doorway or window or as to prevent or hinder the raising or placing of ladders against such buildings by the fire department; nor shall any sign erected on top of any building or structure be so constructed as to not leave at least fifty percent (50%) of the area below such sign for a height of five (5) feet open and unobstructed.
- No canopy, awning or sign or any part thereof shall be permitted that, in the judgment of the chief of police, obscures traffic at intersections, side roads, or in any other way creates hazards to the movement of vehicular traffic; nor shall any sign or any part thereof be permitted that by reason of its location, position, shape, color or wording may be contrary to any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device or which makes use of the words, "stop," "look," "danger," or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with or mislead or confuse traffic.
- All signs, awnings or canopies erected under subparagraphs (c), (d) or (e) of this ordinance shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than forty (40) pounds per square foot of area, and shall be constructed to receive live and dead loads as required in the State of Wisconsin Building Code.
- No sign shall be equipped with any device which produces motion or the flashing of light in connection with said sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Shorewood Hills

- No application or permit shall be required for an approved rental or sale sign having an area of less than twelve (12) square feet.
- The provisions of this Section, except as to safety requirements, shall not apply to signs painted upon the windows of any business establishment, provided that the same shall advertise only the business or trade conducted therein or the product or products manufactured, produced or sold therein.
- The provisions of this Section, except as to safety requirements, shall not apply to awnings or canopies servicing only a particular single family dwelling unit provided the same shall conform to the regulations applicable to the zoning district in which the same are located.
- The provisions of this Section, except as to safety requirements, shall not apply to signs erected by the Village for municipal purposes.
- The provisions of this Section, except as to safety requirements, shall not apply to house numbers or signs identifying parks or country clubs or to official bulletin boards.

## Full detail

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

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