# Sign Regulations in Waupaca, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Waupaca, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/waupaca
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Waupaca/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH17ZOCOREREOR09-20_17.500SI)

## At a glance

Waupaca, Wisconsin regulates 26 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the B-1 District, B-2 District, B-7 District zoning district are capped at 12 ft. tall and 50 sq. ft. per sign (per sign face, single side), with a 0 ft. street yard; 3 ft. side yard setback (Sec. 17.510(2)). Most commercial signs in Waupaca require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-3 District | 1 | 10 ft. | 30 sq. ft. (per sign face, single side) | — |
| B-1 District, B-2 District, B-7 District | 7 | 12 ft. | 150 sq. ft. (total per property/unit, not including historic wall signs) | — |
| B-3 District, B-4 District, B-5 District | 6 | 20 ft. | 400 sq. ft. (total area of all wall signs, not including historic wall signs) | — |
| B-6 District | 5 | 20 ft. (may exceed by 2 ft. per additional foot setback from 10 ft., max 35 ft.; up to 60 ft. w/ CUP; no sign may exceed max airport elevation) | 500 sq. ft. (not including historic wall signs) | — |
| I-1 District, I-2 District, PUL District | 7 | 20 ft. | 500 sq. ft. (not including historic wall signs) | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | 6 ft. | 9 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 4 | — | 50% of area of applicable windows/doors (combined total) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 25 ft. if on a flag pole | 3 ft. by 5 ft. (except for official government flags) | — |

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

### B-1 District, B-2 District, B-7 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign, Canopy Sign, Marquee Sign | — | 100 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | See location: 'One per street-facing, first-floor window' (awning/canopy); 'No more than two' (marquee) | One awning or canopy sign per street-facing, first-floor window; No more than two marquee signs per structure | — | 17.510(2) |
| Ground Sign | 12 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign (per sign face, single side) | — | 0 ft. street yard; 3 ft. side yard | One per property per abutting and accessible street frontage | One per property for each abutting and accessible street frontage (unless otherwise approved in a planned unit development) | — | 17.510(2) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | Max six per property | No more than six per property, minimum separation 10 ft. from other such signs. Perpendicular to facade, not flush. | — | 17.510(2) |
| Ingress/Egress Sign | 5 ft. | 8 sq. ft. per sign | — | 0 ft. street yard; 3 ft. side yard | Two per ingress/egress point | Two per ingress/egress point, within 10 ft. of access point | — | 17.510(2) |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft. | 24 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | One | In street yard only unless exempted in Chapter 8.06 | — | 17.510(2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 35 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | One per structure (one per unit for multi-tenant, min 15 ft. separation) | One per structure; On multi-tenant structures: one per unit/tenant, min 15 ft. separation | — | 17.510(2) |
| Wall Sign (nonresidential) | — | 150 sq. ft. (total per property/unit, not including historic wall signs) | — | — | Three (not including historic wall signs). Multi-tenant: one per unit | Three per property/unit on single tenant, one per unit on multi-tenant (not including historic wall signs) | — | 17.510(2) |

### B-3 District, B-4 District, B-5 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 50 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | One per street-facing, first-floor window | One per street-facing, first-floor window | — | 17.510(3) |
| Ground Sign | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. per sign (per sign face, single side) | — | Street yard: equal to height; Side yard: 3 ft.; 0 ft. from ROW if height <6 ft. | One per property per abutting and accessible street frontage | One per property for each abutting and accessible street frontage (unless otherwise approved in a planned unit development) | — | 17.510(3) |
| Ingress/Egress Sign | 5 ft. | 8 sq. ft. per sign | — | 0 ft. street yard; 3 ft. side yard | Two per ingress/egress point | Two per ingress/egress point, within 10 ft. of access to City street | — | 17.510(3) |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft. | 24 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | One | In street yard only unless exempted in Chapter 8.06 | — | 17.510(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 55 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | One per structure (one per unit for multi-tenant, min 15 ft. separation) | One per structure; Multi-tenant: one per unit/tenant, min separation 15 ft. | — | 17.510(3) |
| Wall Sign (nonresidential) | — | 400 sq. ft. (total area of all wall signs, not including historic wall signs) | — | — | Three, not including historic wall signs. Multi-tenant: one per unit | Three per property/unit; On multi-tenant structures: one per unit (not including historic wall signs) | — | 17.510(3) |

### I-1 District, I-2 District, PUL District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 50 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | One per street-facing, first-floor window | One per street-facing, first-floor window | — | 17.510(5) |
| Ground Sign (0-100 ft. frontage) | 20 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign face | — | Street yard: equal to height; Side yard: 3 ft.; 0 ft. from ROW if <6 ft. | One per property per abutting and accessible street frontage | One per property per abutting and accessible street frontage (unless otherwise approved in a planned unit development) | — | 17.510(5) |
| Ground Sign (>100 ft. frontage) | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. per sign face | — | Street yard: equal to height; Side yard: 3 ft.; 0 ft. from ROW if <6 ft. | One per property per abutting and accessible street frontage | One per property per abutting and accessible street frontage (unless otherwise approved in a planned unit development) | — | 17.510(5) |
| Ingress/Egress Sign | 5 ft. | 8 sq. ft. per sign | — | 0 ft. street yard; 3 ft. side yard | Two per ingress/egress point | Two per ingress/egress point, within 10 ft. of access | — | 17.510(5) |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft. | 24 sq. ft. per sign | — | Off-street | One | Street yard only | — | 17.510(5) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 35 sq. ft. | — | — | One per structure (one per unit for multi-tenant, min 15 ft. separation) | One per structure. Multi-tenant: one per unit/tenant, min separation 15 ft. | — | 17.510(5) |
| Wall Sign (nonresidential) | — | 500 sq. ft. (not including historic wall signs) | — | — | Three, not including historic wall signs. Multi-tenant: one per unit | Three per property/unit. On multi-tenant: one per unit (not including historic wall signs) | — | 17.510(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Waupaca

- Signs not expressly permitted as being allowed by right or by permit under this Chapter, or by other applicable law, are prohibited.
- Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate the shape, size, form, or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness 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 not be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
- Signs shall not be lighted in such a way as to cause glare or impair driver visibility upon public ways.
- Signs may be illuminated but non-flashing.
- Animated signs (excluding electronic changeable copy signs) which involve motion or rotation of any part by mechanical or artificial means or which display flashing or intermittent lights are prohibited.
- Flashing signs, including signs with scintillating, blinking, or traveling lights of more than 15 watts per lamp, are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Signs which are painted on, or attached or affixed to, rocks, trees, or other living vegetation are prohibited.
- Signs with any light flashing more than 10 times per minute are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Any other signs not specifically permitted by this Chapter are prohibited.
- The use of unshielded lighting, including exposed incandescent light bulbs hung or strung on poles, wires, or any other type of support intended to illuminate a sign, is prohibited.
- No person shall cause to be placed any type of sign, notice or other item on any traffic sign pole, utility pole, street indicator sign or any other pole under the jurisdiction of the City.
- No person may erect any sign with exposed electrical cords or wires.
- Signs shall not be artificially illuminated (for certain exempt, non-permit signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in Waupaca

- Official and governmental signs, such as traffic control, parking, information, and notices.
- Signs intended to protect public safety or warn of potential hazards associated with a specific activity, maintained only as long as the activity is ongoing.
- Private property signs.
- Official notices posted by public officers or employers in the performance of their duties.
- Signs required as specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute, or ordinance.
- Truck, bus, trailer or other vehicles, while operating in the normal course of business which is not primarily the display of signs.
- A sign carried by a person.
- House numbers and name plates not exceeding two square feet in area for each residential, commercial or industrial building.
- Incidental signs.
- Interior signs.
- Flags (not exceeding 3 feet by 5 feet in size, flag height not exceeding 25 feet on a flag pole, except for the flags of the US and other nations, states, counties, or municipalities which are not subject to maximum size).
- Athletic field signage including signs, banners, and scoreboards designed solely for view from spectator areas and displayed on interior walls, fences, or other structures inside an enclosed athletic field at a school, park, or other public or private athletic complex (except that approval of the Plan Commission is required for city parks; may be illuminated and temporary).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Upon submission of sufficient documentation demonstrating the need to modify the size, design or number of signs necessary to identify a development, the Plan Commission may modify the sign restrictions within this Section to overcome constraints due to poor site visibility, excessive setbacks or other physical constraints.
- A site plan is required as part of the sign permit application, showing buildings on the premises, the location of the proposed sign, setbacks, size and types of existing signs, and all relevant dimensions.
- All signage on a recognized historic property shall require a Certificate of Appropriateness by the City of Waupaca Historic Preservation Committee.
- A Conditional Use Permit is required for a ground mounted sign fronting STH 10 to exceed 20 feet in height, up to a maximum of 60 feet, if the owner can demonstrate unique site and surrounding conditions.
- Approval of the Plan Commission is required to display a sign, banner, or scoreboard at a city park athletic field.
- The Plan Commission may approve modifications to sign restrictions for a development based on documented site constraints.

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

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