# Sign Regulations in Watertown, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Watertown, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/watertown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-02-03
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30718842#30718842)

## At a glance

Watertown, Wisconsin regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Varies by zone tall and Varies by zone, with a Setback ≥ sign height setback (Sec. Table 550-132A(1)). Most commercial signs in Watertown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 8ft | Varies by zone | — |
| Central Business (CB) Zoning District | 1 | 4ft | 8 sqft | — |
| ER, CR, SR, TR | 2 | 5ft | 2 sqft | — |
| MR, SNR, RH, NO, NB | 12 | 8ft | 100 sqft | — |
| PO, PB, GB, CB, PI, GI, HI | 13 | 15ft | 200 sqft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | Varies by zone | Varies by zone | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 1 per 330' frontage or entrance | Setback ≥ sign height | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Dual Post Sign | Varies by zone | Varies by zone | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 1 per 330' frontage or entrance | Setback ≥ sign height | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Pylon Sign | Varies by zone | Varies by zone | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 1 per site | Setback ≥ sign height | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies by zone | — | — | 1 per tenant per facade | On-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Awning Sign | — | Varies by zone | — | — | 1 per tenant per facade | On-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Canopy Sign | — | Varies by zone | — | — | 1 per tenant per facade | On-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Freestanding Changeable Sign | 8ft | Varies by zone | — | — | 1 per tenant | Freestanding | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Drive-through Sign | 8ft | Varies by zone | — | — | 1 per lane | Freestanding or on-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |

### MR, SNR, RH, NO, NB

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 6ft | 50 sqft | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 1 per 330' frontage or entrance | Setback ≥ sign height | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Dual Post Sign | 6ft | 50 sqft | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 1 per 330' frontage or entrance | Setback ≥ sign height | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sqft | — | — | 1 per tenant per facade | On-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Awning Sign | — | 50 sqft | — | — | 1 per tenant per facade | On-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Canopy Sign | — | 50 sqft | — | — | 1 per tenant per facade | On-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 100 sqft | — | — | 1 per tenant per facade | On-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Freestanding Changeable Sign | 8ft | 15 sqft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Freestanding | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Drive-through Sign | 8ft | 40 sqft | — | — | 1 per lane | Freestanding or on-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |

### PO, PB, GB, CB, PI, GI, HI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 15ft | 100 sqft | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 1 per 330' frontage or entrance | Setback ≥ sign height | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Dual Post Sign | 6ft | 100 sqft | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 1 per 330' frontage or entrance | Setback ≥ sign height | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Pylon Sign | Varies by zone | 150 sqft | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 1 per site | Setback ≥ sign height | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 sqft | — | — | 1 per tenant per facade | On-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Awning Sign | — | 100 sqft | — | — | 1 per tenant per facade | On-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Canopy Sign | — | 100 sqft | — | — | 1 per tenant per facade | On-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Freestanding Changeable Sign | 8ft | 15 sqft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Freestanding | — | Table 550-132A(1) |
| Drive-through Sign | 8ft | 40 sqft | — | — | 1 per lane | Freestanding or on-building | — | Table 550-132A(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Watertown

- No sign shall be erected at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs such as windsocks, motorized signs, pennants, and streamers shall be permitted.
- No signs shall project above the building parapet or eave.
- No flashing, scrolling, or animated signs shall be permitted.
- No signs shall be mounted to an unlicensed trailer or other unlicensed vehicle.
- No beacons or search beacons shall be permitted.
- No billboards or off-premise advertising shall be permitted.
- No abandoned signs shall be permitted.
- No sign, temporary or permanent, shall be displayed on private property without the owner's permission.

## Signs exempt from permit in Watertown

- Government signs are exempt.
- Decorations associated with national or religious holidays are exempt.
- Flags are exempt.
- Art works erected solely for aesthetic purposes are exempt.
- Building colors and lighting without commercial messages are exempt.
- Interior site signs oriented to persons within the grounds are exempt.
- Interior building signs not attached to a window are exempt.
- Window displays not directly attached to a window surface are exempt.
- Licensed, operable vehicles parked in legal parking spaces are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A signage plan is required as part of the sign permit application.
- Pylon signs shall have signage plans approved and stamped by a professional engineer registered in the State of Wisconsin.

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

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