# Sign Regulations in Union Grove, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Union Grove, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/union-grove
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-10
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://peglawfirm.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/UGMay%202023CodeofOrdinances_0.pdf#page=747)

## At a glance

Union Grove, Wisconsin regulates 13 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Ground Sign (At Street Property Line)s in the Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3) zoning district are capped at 15 feet above mean centerline grade of nearest street tall and 32 square feet per side, with a At street property line; not closer than 150 feet to another ground sign, projecting sign or billboard setback (Sec. Sec. 118-1116(c)). Most commercial signs in Union Grove 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 | 2 | 6 feet (for freestanding ground sign) | 16 square feet in residential districts or 32 square feet in all other districts | — |
| Residential Districts (RS-90, RS-80, RD-90, RD-80, RM, MH) | 2 | 10 feet above surrounding grade | 16 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3) | 9 | 25 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2) | 9 | 25 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Park and Conservancy District (PC) | 7 | 20 feet above adjacent centerline street grade | 200 square feet | — |
| Institutional District (P-1) | 7 | 20 feet above adjacent centerline street grade | 200 square feet | — |
| Agricultural District (A) | 1 | 6 feet (for freestanding) | 32 square feet | — |
| Planned Unit Development Overlay District (PUD) | 1 | 6 feet (for freestanding) | 32 square feet | — |

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

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | Outside public right-of-way | — | On or against exterior wall(s) of building; not above ceiling level of top floor; not blocking windows, doors or vents | — | Sec. 118-1116(a) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet above adjacent centerline street grade | 25 square feet per tenant; 150 square feet per premises | — | Not project more than 36 inches into public ROW; 10 feet from side lot lines | — | Fastened to, suspended from or supported by building; not less than 10 feet from side lot lines or beyond building wall | — | Sec. 118-1116(b) |
| Ground Sign (At Street Property Line) | 15 feet above mean centerline grade of nearest street | 32 square feet per side | — | At street property line; not closer than 150 feet to another ground sign, projecting sign or billboard | One per street frontage | Freestanding on property | — | Sec. 118-1116(c) |
| Ground Sign (Set Back 5 Feet or More) | 15 feet above mean centerline grade of nearest street | 40 square feet per side | — | At least 5 feet from street property line; not closer than 150 feet to another ground sign, projecting sign or billboard | One per street frontage | Freestanding on property | — | Sec. 118-1116(c) |
| Off-Premise Directional/Sales Sign | — | 50 square feet per side | — | As per formula; comply with district setbacks | Not to exceed 2 per business within village | In retail business or industrial zoning district; maximum 5 miles from advertised business | — | Sec. 118-1116(d) |
| Billboard | 25 feet | — | — | Same as principal buildings in district; not closer than 1,320 feet to another billboard, ground sign or off-premise sign | — | In retail business or industrial zoned areas | — | Sec. 118-1116(f) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 feet | — | 2 feet | Outside ROW; vision clearance | 1 per business | Adjacent to business; during business hours only | — | Sec. 118-1116(i) |
| Temporary Sign or Banner (With Permit - Non-Residential) | 6 feet (for freestanding) | 32 square feet | — | General setbacks | One per frontage | Attached or freestanding on property | — | Sec. 118-1114(a) |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | Outside public right-of-way | — | On or against exterior wall(s) of building; not above ceiling level of top floor; not blocking windows, doors or vents | — | Sec. 118-1116(a) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet above adjacent centerline street grade | 25 square feet per tenant; 150 square feet per premises | — | Not project more than 36 inches into public ROW; 10 feet from side lot lines | — | Fastened to, suspended from or supported by building; not less than 10 feet from side lot lines or beyond building wall | — | Sec. 118-1116(b) |
| Ground Sign (At Street Property Line) | 15 feet above mean centerline grade of nearest street | 32 square feet per side | — | At street property line; not closer than 150 feet to another ground sign, projecting sign or billboard | One per street frontage | Freestanding on property | — | Sec. 118-1116(c) |
| Ground Sign (Set Back 5 Feet or More) | 15 feet above mean centerline grade of nearest street | 40 square feet per side | — | At least 5 feet from street property line; not closer than 150 feet to another ground sign, projecting sign or billboard | One per street frontage | Freestanding on property | — | Sec. 118-1116(c) |
| Off-Premise Directional/Sales Sign | — | 50 square feet per side | — | As per formula; comply with district setbacks | Not to exceed 2 per business within village | In retail business or industrial zoning district; maximum 5 miles from advertised business | — | Sec. 118-1116(d) |
| Billboard | 25 feet | — | — | Same as principal buildings in district; not closer than 1,320 feet to another billboard, ground sign or off-premise sign | — | In retail business or industrial zoned areas | — | Sec. 118-1116(f) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 feet | — | 2 feet | Outside ROW; vision clearance | 1 per business | Adjacent to business; during business hours only | — | Sec. 118-1116(i) |
| Temporary Sign or Banner (With Permit - Non-Residential) | 6 feet (for freestanding) | 32 square feet | — | General setbacks | One per frontage | Attached or freestanding on property | — | Sec. 118-1114(a) |

### Park and Conservancy District (PC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | Outside public right-of-way | — | On or against exterior wall(s) of building; not above ceiling level of top floor; not blocking windows, doors or vents | — | Sec. 118-1116(a) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet above adjacent centerline street grade | 25 square feet per tenant; 150 square feet per premises | — | Not project more than 36 inches into public ROW; 10 feet from side lot lines | — | Fastened to, suspended from or supported by building; not less than 10 feet from side lot lines or beyond building wall | — | Sec. 118-1116(b) |
| Ground Sign (At Street Property Line) | 15 feet above mean centerline grade of nearest street | 32 square feet per side | — | At street property line; not closer than 150 feet to another ground sign, projecting sign or billboard | One per street frontage | Freestanding on property | — | Sec. 118-1116(c) |
| Ground Sign (Set Back 5 Feet or More) | 15 feet above mean centerline grade of nearest street | 40 square feet per side | — | At least 5 feet from street property line; not closer than 150 feet to another ground sign, projecting sign or billboard | One per street frontage | Freestanding on property | — | Sec. 118-1116(c) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 50 percent of window glass area (100 percent for perforated decals) | — | — | — | Inside the window or on window surface | — | Sec. 118-1116(e) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 feet | — | 2 feet | Outside ROW; vision clearance | 1 per business | Adjacent to business; during business hours only | — | Sec. 118-1116(i) |
| Temporary Sign or Banner (With Permit - Conservancy/Floodplain) | 6 feet (for freestanding) | 16 square feet in residential or 32 square feet in other (applies 32 sq ft) | — | General setbacks; outside floodplain restrictions if applicable | One per frontage | Attached or freestanding on property in upland/lowland areas | — | Sec. 118-1118 |

## Prohibited signs in Union Grove

- It shall be unlawful to locate, erect, move, reconstruct, extend, enlarge, convert, or structurally alter any sign without complying with the requirements of this article or applicable state or federal requirements.
- Signs on rooftops are prohibited.
- Flashing, blinking, or electronically movable copy (scrolling) signs are prohibited.
- Portable and other movable signs are prohibited.
- Any sign within a public street or highway right-of-way is prohibited without written permission of the public body having jurisdiction.
- No sign may be located within a vision triangle of two or more intersecting streets without written permission.
- Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate the shape, size, form, or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- Signs shall not be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs shall be placed so as not to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.

## Signs exempt from permit in Union Grove

- Temporary signs permitted without a permit, including one sign up to 4 square feet at any time, one small window sign (8.5x11 inches), limited to 7 days per month; real estate signs with owner consent for sale properties; election campaign signs per Wisconsin Statutes §12.04 with size limits; rummage/garage/estate sale signs complying with temporary requirements.
- Government signs erected, maintained, or posted by federal, state, local government, or special purpose units like utility or school districts.
- Required signs posted to comply with federal, state, or local law warning of danger or prohibiting access.
- Building monument signs carved into or affixed flat to a building, not directly illuminated, non-reflective, low contrast, not exceeding 2 inches in thickness.
- Signs not visible from any public street, highway, sidewalk, or bicycle path.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permanent structures identifying a subdivision/development require review and approval by the plan commission prior to permit issuance.
- Permanent ground signage structures on parcels over 5 acres, exceeding 40 square feet, or any changes require approval by the plan commission.
- Off-premise directional/sales signs and billboards require permission by the plan commission.
- Multiple projecting signs on one premises serving multiple tenants require design approval by the plan commission.
- Electronic signs displaying messages beyond time/temperature require approval by the plan commission.
- Neon signs or exterior neon displays require approval by the plan commission to complement architectural design.
- Exceptions to area, height, and setback requirements may be granted upon approval by the plan commission after review of detailed site plans and sign details.
- Aesthetic appearance, lighting, and landscaping of permanent signs must be approved by the plan commission; in downtown districts, also by the CDA.
- The building inspector may direct applicants to meet with the plan commission for review and guidance on permit issuance or standards interpretation.
- Signs in downtown districts must comply with downtown design guidelines and be approved by the CDA and plan commission.

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

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