# Sign Regulations in Spencer, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Spencer, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/spencer
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30388193#30388193)

## At a glance

Spencer, Wisconsin regulates 17 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Identification Signs in the R-MH District zoning district are capped at 20 square feet, with a 5 feet from exterior property line setback (Sec. § 480-83A). Most commercial signs in Spencer require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1 Commercial District | 2 | — | 150 square feet | — |
| R-1 and R-2 Residential and Mobile Home Parks Districts | 4 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| C-2 Highway Commercial District | 2 | — | 50 square feet aggregate | — |
| W Conservancy District | 3 | — | — | — |
| Planned unit developments | 1 | — | — | — |
| I Industrial District | 2 | — | 50 square feet aggregate | — |
| A-1 Agricultural District | 1 | — | 150 square feet | — |
| R-MH District | 3 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 32 square feet per face | — |

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

### R-1 and R-2 Residential and Mobile Home Parks Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Within the lot and zoning setback lines | — | § 480-63B(1) |
| Public or Religious Institution Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Within the lot and zoning setback lines | — | § 480-63B(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Advertising Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | Within the lot and zoning setback lines | — | § 480-63B(3) |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Sign | — | 8 square feet | 4 feet | — | — | Within the lot and zoning setback lines | — | § 480-63B(4) |

### C-2 Highway Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not attached to the building | — | § 480-63C(1) |
| Traffic Control Sign | — | 50 square feet aggregate | — | — | Any number | Not designed to be read from the street or highway | — | § 480-63C(4) |

### R-MH District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | 5 feet from exterior property line | One per principal entrance | At each principal entrance | — | § 480-83A |
| Property Sale/Lease/Rent Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | 5 feet from exterior property line | One per principal entrance | At each principal entrance | — | § 480-83B |
| New Mobile Home Park Sale Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | 5 feet from exterior property line | One per principal entrance | At each principal entrance | — | § 480-83C |

## Prohibited signs in Spencer

- No sign shall be so placed as to interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any official traffic sign or signal, or with driver vision at any access point or intersection.
- No sign shall contain, include, or be illuminated by flashing lights.
- No sign will be permitted that resembles the size, shape, form, or color of official traffic control signs, signals, or devices.
- No sign shall contain, include, or be composed of any conspicuous animated or moving part.
- No sign shall contain more than 500 square feet in gross area.
- No sign shall be painted directly on the building walls, except water towers which may display the name or symbol of the owner or operator.
- Parking of advertising vehicles is prohibited.
- Portable signs shall be limited in use to 30 days at a time following approval by the Zoning Administrator.
- Billboards or signs located adjacent to a street or highway in the Village limits are expressly prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected so that any portion of the sign or its supports are attached to or interfere with the free use of any fire escape, exit, any required stairway, door, ventilator or window.
- No sign shall be erected that will interfere with, obstruct, confuse or mislead traffic.
- At no time shall signs be permitted within a vision clearance triangle in such a manner as to restrict vision or impair safety.
- No sign located within 150 feet of a highway or street right-of-way shall contain, include or be illuminated by a flashing or rotating beam of light.
- Signs shall not be permitted on public rights-of-way except for traffic control, parking and directional signs and as otherwise specified in this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Spencer

- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers or names of occupants of premises.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notices, identification information or directional signs erected by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.
- Signs erected by national, state, county or municipal governmental agencies, including traffic and informational signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals, and decisions by the Village Board may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

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

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