# Sign Regulations in Vernon, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Vernon, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/vernon
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9364099#9364099)

## At a glance

Vernon, Wisconsin regulates 4 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall, with a Minimum 10 feet to the base setback line or any property line setback (Sec. § 300-13N, § 300-13O). Most commercial signs in Vernon require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, RRD-5) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Agricultural Districts (A-B, AD-10, A-5, A-1a, A-2, A-3) | 1 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2) | 1 | — | 100 square feet per adjacent road frontage | — |
| Business Districts (B-3, B-4, BP) | 1 | — | 150 square feet per adjacent road frontage | — |
| Industrial District (I-1) | 1 | — | 100 square feet per adjacent road frontage | — |
| Public and Institutional District (P-1) | 1 | — | 100 square feet per adjacent road frontage | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 20 feet | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, RRD-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Sign | — | — | — | Minimum 10 feet from property lines and rights-of-way | — | At least 10 feet from all property lines and rights-of-way | — | § 300-13J |

### Business Districts (B-1, B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Signage | — | 100 square feet per adjacent road frontage | — | — | — | Facing an adjacent road right-of-way | — | § 300-13E(3) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | — | — | Minimum 10 feet to the base setback line or any property line | — | — | — | § 300-13N, § 300-13O |
| Wall Sign | Shall not extend above the eave of a pitched roof or parapet of a flat roof | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 300-13N, § 300-13O |

## Prohibited signs in Vernon

- Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate traffic or railroad signs, signals, or devices; shall not cause glare, mislead or confuse traffic, or impair driver visibility on public ways, private roadways, or adjoining properties; and shall not be flashing, revolving, blinking, strobing, animated, or have traveling lights or any other device or means not providing constant illumination, except as permitted for an electronic message center sign.
- Signs shall not be constructed, operated, or maintained so as to constitute a nuisance to adjoining properties, or detract from the value of the adjoining properties.
- Signs shall not be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs shall be placed so as not to obstruct or interfere with vision triangles and traffic visibility and shall not be lighted in a way which causes glare or impairs driver visibility upon public ways.
- Banners, pennants, streamers, balloons, and inflatable signs are not permitted, except as a temporary sign, as may be permitted per this code.
- All off-premise signage is prohibited except otherwise specified per § 300-13G or L of this code or signs regulated per § 239-12 of the Village of Vernon Code of Ordinances.
- The tacking, pasting, or otherwise affixing of signs of a miscellaneous character, visible from a roadway, located on the walls of buildings, barns, sheds, trees, poles, posts, fences, or other structures are prohibited unless otherwise permitted by this code.
- Roof signs.
- No sign, other than warning or equipment information, shall be placed on any communication, radio, or cell tower.
- No signs placed on parked vehicles, boats, trucks or utility trailers which are visible from the public right-of-way for which the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or to direct the public to a business or activity are prohibited.
- Signs which emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Vernon

- Home occupations shall be allowed to have non-illuminated wall or window signs not exceeding two square feet in sign area, mounted flush against the dwelling.
- Portable menu board or sandwich board signs limited to 15 square feet in sign area per sign, one sign per business, and on private property within business zoning districts.
- Plaque signs cut into a masonry surface or constructed of bronze of other noncombustible materials and placed on buildings, property, structures, graves, statuary or the like with historical importance.
- Signs carved into a building in such a way that they are not directly illuminated and do not contrast sharply in color with the building.
- Official Village of Vernon address signs and address lettering, not to exceed two square feet in sign area, mounted flush against a building.
- Safety signs such as traffic signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger, security, directional, and such temporary emergency or non-advertising signs, as may be erected for the public safety.
- Awning signs painted, applied, or integral to awnings, provided such signs do not exceed four square feet in area per display.
- Signs physically associated with permitted outdoor storage of goods for sale in commercial districts, such as firewood, gas cylinders, and water bottles.
- Flags of the United States, State of Wisconsin, or other sign depicting government organization or entity which do not pose a safety hazard.
- Official Village, Waukesha County, state, or federal signage.
- Yard signs that are temporarily located in residential districts, provided they are not attached to utility poles, meter posts, trees, or other public utility in or along any street right-of-way within the Village, and are not attached to any building, wall fence, or other property of another person without having first obtained the prior written consent of the owner of such property.
- Service door signs in nonresidential districts. One sign per service door shall be allowed up to four square feet in area.
- Window signs which do not exceed 50% of the window area.
- Signs associated with outdoor public or private recreational uses limited to two square feet in area.
- Temporary real estate signs on properties or buildings for sale, lease, or rent.
- Temporary real estate signs on properties which are under development including residential subdivisions.
- Political signs shall be limited to 11 square feet, are allowed only for the period described in § 12.04, Wis. Stats.
- Signs regulated and approved per § 239-12 of the Village of Vernon Code of Ordinances.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for sign permits are reviewed for compliance with § 300-13, the applicable district, and any other applicable Village ordinances.
- Unless specifically exempted by § 300-13G, all signs require a zoning and building permit after review and approval by the Plan Commission.
- Permanent subdivision identification monument signs shall require review and approval by the Village Plan Commission and Village Board as part of the subdivision plat review process.
- Electronic message center signs may be allowed in any business district, industrial district, or public and institutional district upon review and approval by the Village Plan Commission.
- Temporary signs shall require review and approval by the Village Plan Commission prior to issuance of a sign permit.
- The Village Plan Commission may grant special exceptions to the sign regulations of this § 300-13.

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

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