# Sign Regulations in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/sturgeon-bay
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Sturgeon_Bay/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH27SI)

## At a glance

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin regulates 28 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the C-1 Commercial District (C-1), C-2 Commercial District (C-2), C-3 Commercial District (C-3), C-4 Office/Business Park District (C-4), I-1 Industrial District (I-1), I-2 Industrial District (I-2) zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 24 sq ft, with a At least 15 ft from all interior side lot lines setback (Sec. 27.13(4)(c)2, 27.11(4)). Most commercial signs in Sturgeon Bay require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 12 ft | No more than 50% of window area to which attached | — |
| Conservancy and agriculture districts | 2 | 20 ft | 24 sq ft (total for all signs) | — |
| R-1 Residential District (R-1), R-2 Residential District (R-2), R-3 Residential District (R-3), R-M Residential District (R-M) | 3 | 12 ft | 50 sq ft per building facia | — |
| R-4 Residential District (R-4) | 4 | 12 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| C-1 Commercial District (C-1), C-2 Commercial District (C-2), C-3 Commercial District (C-3), C-4 Office/Business Park District (C-4), I-1 Industrial District (I-1), I-2 Industrial District (I-2) | 8 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per frontage | — |
| C-5 Mixed Commercial - Residential District (C-5) | 5 | 20 ft | 25 sq ft per frontage | — |
| Waterfront Redevelopment District | 2 | — | — | — |
| Historic Preservation District | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from public right-of-way (if ground sign) | One per site | Confined to site of construction; if ground sign, set back 15 ft from public right-of-way | — | 27.09(1) |
| Directional and Instructional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Entirely on property to which they pertain | — | 27.09(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential: R-1, R-2, R-3, R-M) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from interior side and rear property lines OR completely attached to the structure | Up to 3 per lot/parcel | Located off the public right-of-way on applicable property | — | 27.09(12)(a) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (All Other Districts) | — | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft from interior side and rear property lines OR completely attached to the structure | One per frontage road | Located off the public right-of-way on applicable property | — | 27.09(12)(b) |
| Window Sign (Permanent or Temporary) | — | No more than 50% of window area to which attached | — | — | — | Inside ground floor or upper story window (if upper story space is used for nonresidential use) | — | 27.09(13) |
| Noncommercial Free Speech, Symbols or Insignia, Plaques (One per property) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | One per property | — | — | 27.09(14) |
| Political Message Sign (Nonresidential Property) | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On nonresidential property, not in right-of-way | — | 27.09(11)(d) |
| Business Flag (First) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One flag per business without permit | — | — | 27.09(15) |

### C-1 Commercial District (C-1), C-2 Commercial District (C-2), C-3 Commercial District (C-3), C-4 Office/Business Park District (C-4), I-1 Industrial District (I-1), I-2 Industrial District (I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft | Variable; see formula | — | — | No more than two per public right-of-way per use | On building facia, parallel | — | 27.13(4)(c)3 |
| Permanent Window Sign | 20 ft (if applicable) | ≤10% gross window area (per building facia) | — | — | — | Inside window on ground floor or upper floors open to public | — | 27.13(4)(c)2, 27.11(5) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft | 24 sq ft | — | At least 15 ft from all interior side lot lines | One per frontage | Projects no more than 5 ft from building; must not extend into public right-of-way unless zero lot line; must not extend past curb | — | 27.13(4)(c)2, 27.11(4) |
| Ground Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per frontage | — | 15 ft from side and rear lot lines; 5 ft from street right-of-way; 5 ft from building | One per frontage | Ground sign; on lot | — | 27.13(4)(c)3 |
| Building with Separate Entrances – Wall Sign Option | 20 ft | Variable | — | — | One per occupant | On building facia | — | 27.13(4)(c)6a.i |
| Building with Separate Entrances – Projecting Sign Option | 20 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per occupant | Projecting | — | 27.13(4)(c)6a.ii |
| Building with Common Entrances – Wall Sign Option | 20 ft | Variable | — | — | One per occupant | Wall | — | 27.13(4)(c)6b |
| Cooperative Ground Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | Same as ground signs in this zone | One per street abutting | Ground sign, may be shared | — | 27.13(4)(c)6c |

### C-5 Mixed Commercial - Residential District (C-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft | — | — | — | No more than two per direction per use | On building wall | — | 27.13(5)(c)3, 27.13(5)(c)7 |
| Window Sign | 20 ft (if applicable) | — | — | — | No more than two per direction per use | In window | — | 27.13(5)(c)2 |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft | 16 sq ft per frontage | — | 10 ft from all side and rear lot lines | No more than two per direction per use | Projects from building | — | 27.13(5)(c)3 |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 25 sq ft per frontage | — | 15 ft from side and rear lot lines; 5 ft from street right-of-way; 5 ft from building | No more than two per direction per use | Ground sign, on lot | — | 27.13(5)(c)3,4 |
| Multiple Occupancy Wall Sign | 20 ft | — | — | — | Per above restrictions | Wall | — | 27.13(5)(c)6 |

## Prohibited signs in Sturgeon Bay

- No person shall erect, construct, enlarge or structurally modify or change the copy of any sign in the city without first obtaining a sign permit, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
- Any sign erected, altered, moved or structurally modified without a permit, or altered with a permit but in violation of the provisions of this chapter, shall be removed at the owner's expense or brought into compliance.
- The following signs shall be prohibited within the city: abandoned signs; swinging, rotating and revolving signs (motor driven or wind propelled); roof signs (except those painted on a roof designed to provide information to air traffic); indirectly illuminated signs whose light beam is directed onto surrounding premises or roadways; unclassified signs bearing or containing obscene, pornographic, or immoral content or untruthful advertising; signs purporting to be or imitating official traffic signs or using official signal words/colors; flashing signs; private signs within any public right-of-way (except as provided in section 27.11(4)); interior lit signs within the waterfront redevelopment area(s) and historic preservation district(s).
- No sign shall be suspended by chains or other devices that will allow the sign to swing due to wind action.
- No sign or any part thereof, or anchor, brace, or guy rod, shall be attached, fastened, or anchored to any fire escape, fire ladder, or standpipe, and no sign shall obstruct any door, doorway, or window, or hinder ingress/egress or the raising/placing of ladders in event of fire.
- Violation or failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall be prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sturgeon Bay

- The following signs do not require a sign permit but must meet the general design requirements: temporary construction signs (max 32 sq ft, on site, removed within 30 days of completion or prior to occupancy), directional/instructional signs on the property not exceeding 4 sq ft and not advertising a business, nonilluminated emblems or insignia of any nation, political subdivision, or nonprofit organization, government signs for regulatory purposes, danger signs and public utilities signs, house number and name plates not exceeding 2 sq ft, interior signs not visible from the public right-of-way, memorial signs or tablets, building names and dates cut into/part of buildings or constructed of bronze or noncombustible material not exceeding 4 sq ft, no trespassing/no dumping signs (1.5 sq ft each), official public notices, public signs required/specially authorized by law, political message signs (with specific limitations), temporary real estate signs and pennants (subject to provisions), window signs (subject to 50% coverage, vision and historic district restrictions), noncommercial free speech, religious symbols or historic agency commemorative plaques (1 per property, not exceeding 25 sq ft), business flags (1 per property, max 12 sq ft, additional flags require permit), vehicular signs (provided vehicles are not used primarily to display signs), awning signs (1 line of copy on border), municipal ballfield banners (up to 50 sq ft, per park rules), banners on city property for social/civic events (per code), banners for city-sponsored events (subject to approval and code).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site plan showing buildings and the location, size, and types of existing and proposed signs must be submitted with the sign permit application.
- In cases of appeals or variances, application must be filed at least ten days before a scheduled meeting of the board of appeals and include all items outlined for permit application plus a statement of extenuating circumstances.
- For cooperative ground signs and some special/event-related signs (such as off-premises emergency medical facility directional signs), approval by the plan commission is required, including submission of maps and drawings showing proposed sign location, size, and design.
- In buildings or parcels with multiple occupants (in certain districts), a plan for allocation of available area of wall signs may be submitted by the building owner as an alternative to default allocation.

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

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