# Sign Regulations in Spooner, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Spooner, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/spooner
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Spooner/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH86ZO_ARTVIIISI)

## At a glance

Spooner, Wisconsin regulates 25 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground (Freestanding) Signs in the C-1 zoning district are capped at 30 ft above grade tall and 80 sq ft, with a If <15' to right-of-way, bottom must be >10' above grade or sign may not exceed 3' in height setback (Sec. Sec. 86-772(2)c; Sec. 86-770(a),(e)). Most commercial signs in Spooner require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3 | 10 | 30 inches | 100 sq ft per sign; max 2 signs per construction site | — |
| C-1 | 9 | 35 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| A industrial, B industrial | 9 | 35 ft above grade | 120 sq ft | — |
| A-1 | 1 | 35 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 30 ft | 300 sq ft max | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### R-1, R-2, R-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 100 sq ft per sign; max 2 signs per construction site | — | — | 2 per construction site | Confined to site of construction | — | Sec. 86-768(a) |
| Directional/Instructional (Non-Electric) Sign | — | 8 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | On property to which they pertain | — | Sec. 86-768(b) |
| Home Occupation Wall Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Wall of dwelling unit | — | Sec. 86-768(e) |
| House Number/Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Building | — | Sec. 86-768(f) |
| Memorial Sign/Plaque | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Cut into or inlaid to building or attached | — | Sec. 86-768(h) |
| Political/Campaign Sign | — | 11 sq ft | — | 15 ft from public right-of-way at street intersections | — | Not within 15 ft of right-of-way, not over right-of-way at intersections | — | Sec. 86-768(l) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel | Entirely within property | — | Sec. 86-768(m)(1) |
| Occasional Sales Sign | 30 inches | 30 inches (height) x 36 inches (width) | 36 inches | — | — | Not in right-of-way, not impeding traffic or parking | — | Sec. 86-768(q) |

### C-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall | — | Sec. 86-772(2)a,b; Sec. 86-766(a) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | Sec. 86-772(2)a,b |
| Marquee/Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business (canopy/marquee/awning sign) | On, under, or attached to marquee/canopy/awning | — | Sec. 86-772(2)a,b; Sec. 86-770(c) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft above grade | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 86-772(2)d; Sec. 86-770(c),(d) |
| Ground (Freestanding) Sign | 30 ft above grade | 80 sq ft | — | If <15' to right-of-way, bottom must be >10' above grade or sign may not exceed 3' in height | 1 per street frontage | On premises | — | Sec. 86-772(2)c; Sec. 86-770(a),(e) |
| Ground (Directional) Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 86-772(2)a |
| Roof Sign | 10 ft above roof | — | — | — | — | On roof of building | — | Sec. 86-772(2)a; Sec. 86-770(f) |
| Off-premises Sign | 35 ft | 120 sq ft | — | Min 1 ft from right-of-way; Not within 150 ft of certain districts/parks | 1 per zoning lot | C-1 zone; not within 150 ft of residential, conservancy district, or public park | — | Sec. 86-772(2)e; Sec. 86-771(d) |

### A industrial, B industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Building wall | — | Sec. 86-772(3)a,b |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | Sec. 86-772(3)a,b |
| Marquee/Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business (canopy/marquee/awning sign) | On, under, or attached to marquee/canopy/awning | — | Sec. 86-772(3)a,b; Sec. 86-770(c) |
| Projecting Sign | 30 ft above grade | 80 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 86-772(3)d; Sec. 86-770(c),(d) |
| Ground (Freestanding) Sign | 35 ft above grade | 80 sq ft | — | If <15' to right-of-way, bottom must be >10' above grade or sign may not exceed 3' in height | 1 per street frontage | On premises | — | Sec. 86-772(3)c; Sec. 86-770(a),(e) |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 86-772(3)a |
| Roof Sign | 10 ft above roof | — | — | — | — | On roof of building | — | Sec. 86-772(3)a; Sec. 86-770(f) |
| Off-premises Sign | 35 ft | 120 sq ft | — | Min 1 ft from right-of-way; Not within 150 ft of certain districts/parks | 1 per zoning lot | A or B industrial zone; not within 150 ft of residential, conservancy district, or public park | — | Sec. 86-772(3)e; Sec. 86-771(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Spooner

- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Flashing or moving signs are prohibited, except changeable message signs. Signs with physically moving components visible from the public right-of-way are not permitted except for those which do not revolve.
- Swinging signs are prohibited.
- Signs which are not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled ways of a public right-of-way and which are of such intensity or brilliance to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle, or which otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle are prohibited.
- Signs which are not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any residential property and which are of such intensity or brilliance to cause a public nuisance are prohibited.
- No sign shall be so floodlighted or illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of, or obscures an official traffic sign, device and signal.
- Signs that bear or contain statements, words or pictures of obscene, pornographic, or immoral subjects are prohibited.
- Signs which are an imitation of, or resemble in shape, size, copy or color an official traffic sign or signal are prohibited.
- Any sign erected, constructed or maintained to obstruct or to be attached to any fire escape, window, door or opening used as means of ingress or egress, or for firefighting purposes, or placed to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation, is prohibited.
- No sign, portable sign or advertising devise shall be erected or maintained at the intersection of streets in such a manner as to obstruct vision of the intersection.
- It is unlawful to erect a sign or other obstruction on public right-of-way without express written permission of the City Council.
- It is unlawful to erect a sign or other obstruction on utility poles, street lights, street signs or any other supporting structure in or marking any public right-of-way.

## Signs exempt from permit in Spooner

- Two construction signs per construction site, not exceeding 100 square feet each, confined to the site and removed 30 days after completion or prior to occupancy, whichever is sooner.
- Direction and instructional nonelectric signs providing instruction or direction, located entirely on the property they pertain to, not exceeding eight square feet each, not advertising a business.
- Nonilluminated emblems or insignia of any national or political subdivision, profit or nonprofit organization.
- Government signs for control of traffic and other regulatory purposes, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, public signs and signs of public utilities erected by or on order of a public officer.
- Home occupation signs that are nonilluminated wall signs not exceeding four square feet in area.
- House numbers and nameplates not exceeding one square foot in area for each building.
- Interior signs located within the interior of any building or structure which are not visible from the public right-of-way (though structural, electrical or material specifications may still apply).
- Memorial signs or plaques, names of buildings and date of erection, cut into masonry or inlaid as part of a building or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material not more than four square feet in area.
- "No dumping" and "no trespassing" signs not exceeding 1.5 square feet per sign.
- Official notices posted by public officers or employees in the performance of their duties.
- Signs required as specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance.
- Political and campaign signs on behalf of candidates or measures, subject to limits: max 11 square feet, may be erected no earlier than 90 days before the primary election, removed within seven days after general election, and minimum 15 feet setback from right-of-way.
- One real estate sales sign per lot or parcel, not directly illuminated, max 8 square feet in residential districts and commercial business district (removed within 30 days after sale/rental/lease), max 32 square feet in other districts (removed within 30 days after sale/rental/lease).
- On-premises symbols or insignia: religious symbols, commemorative plaques, recognition of historic agencies or emblems of religious orders or historic agencies.
- On-premises temporary signs not exceeding four square feet, for drives or events of civic, philanthropic, educational, religious organizations, not posted more than 30 days before or after the event.
- Vehicular signs on vehicles operating in the normal course of business which are not primarily the display of signs.
- Signs for occasional sales (yard, attic, garage sales) not over 30 inches in height and 36 inches in width; must be free standing (not attached to utility poles, etc.), not impede traffic or parking, bear name and address of person holding the sale, and removed at close of sale.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site plan showing buildings on the premises, location, setbacks, size, and types of existing signs on the premises where the proposed sign is to be located must be included with any sign permit application.
- Permit applications must include clear and legible drawings with a description and nominal dimensions of the proposed sign, construction materials, and site plan elements.
- Variance from sign regulations (if hardship claimed) requires written application and a decision by the board of appeals.
- There is no specific mention of a 'Master sign plan', but site plans detailing existing and proposed signage are required as part of the permit process.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/spooner