# Sign Regulations in Wausau, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wausau, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/wausau
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Wausau/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17FIPR_CH17.36SM_17.36.030NOSMSI)

## At a glance

Wausau, Wisconsin regulates 21 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Institutional Information Signs in the RH-35, SR-2, SR-3, SR-5, SR-7, MH-7, DR-8, TF-10 zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 200 sf, with a 15 ft setback (Sec. Figure 23.09.11c). Most commercial signs in Wausau require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RH-35, SR-2, SR-3, SR-5, SR-7, MH-7, DR-8, TF-10 | 10 | 15 ft | 200 sf | — |
| TRD-12, MRL-12, MRM-20, MRH-50 | 7 | 8 ft | 200 sf per sign | — |
| I, NMU, UMU, SO, SMU, DPMU, RP, LI, MI, HI, IOS, IOC, AO, EX | 7 | 10 ft | 250 sf per frontage | — |
| DHMU, DRMU | 5 | 10 ft | 50 sf per frontage | — |
| Planned Unit Development Zoning District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 15 ft | 200 sf (RH-35, SR-2, etc.)/250 sf (MF, Non-Res) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### RH-35, SR-2, SR-3, SR-5, SR-7, MH-7, DR-8, TF-10

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | 6 ft (mounted height) | 4 sf | — | — | 1 per address, more on each frontage | On-building and visible from street | — | Figure 23.09.11c |
| Building Management Identification Sign | 6 ft (mounted height) | 4 sf | — | — | — | On-building, next to main entry | — | Figure 23.09.11c |
| On-Site Warning Sign | 6 ft (post); 6 ft (building/fence) | 6 sf | — | — | — | On-building or freestanding | — | Figure 23.09.11c |
| Metal Plaque Sign | 6 ft | 6 sf | — | — | Up to 3 per historic building/property/district | On-building or freestanding | — | Figure 23.09.11c |
| Permanent Plat Sign | 6 ft | 100 sf | — | At least max sign height | — | Within a platted outlot or within a permanent sign easement; setback at least max sign height | — | Figure 23.09.11c |
| Institutional Information Sign | 6 ft | 200 sf | — | 15 ft | 1 per site with a C.U.P. | Freestanding with minimum 15 ft setback | — | Figure 23.09.11c |
| Institutional and Recreational Interior-Oriented Sign | 15 ft | 32 sf | — | — | — | Affixed to fences facing interior of recreational field | — | Figure 23.09.11c |
| Stake Sign | 4 ft | 6 sf | — | — | 1 per street frontage plus 1 additional | On-site | — | Figure 23.09.11d |

### TRD-12, MRL-12, MRM-20, MRH-50

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 50 sf per frontage | — | 15' from curb face | 1 per street frontage, plus 1 per lot with >200 ft frontage | 15' from street curb face, on-site, not in ROW | — | Figure 23.09.11a |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 sf per sign | — | Not within 2 ft of curb, not project more than 1 foot beyond wall | 1 per exterior wall, plus 1 per customer entry | Shall not extend above parapet or facia. Not within 2 ft of curb. Must be on exterior wall not abutting residential or zoning dist. | — | Figure 23.09.11a |
| Canopy Sign | — | 40 sf area | — | — | — | — | — | Figure 23.09.11a |
| Menu Board Sign | — | 8 sf area | — | Within 10 ft of customer entrance | 1 per business | Within 10 ft. of customer entrance. Wall mounted. | — | Figure 23.09.11a |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sf area | 2 ft | — | — | Ground-mounted; on-site | — | Figure 23.09.11a |
| Stake Sign | 4 ft | 6 sf | — | — | 1 per street frontage, plus one additional | On-site | — | Figure 23.09.11d |
| Arm & Post Sign | 6 ft | 10 sf | — | — | — | — | — | Figure 23.09.11d |

### I, NMU, UMU, SO, SMU, DPMU, RP, LI, MI, HI, IOS, IOC, AO, EX

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft | 250 sf per frontage | — | 15' from curb face | 1 per frontage, +1 for >200 ft total frontage | 15' from street curb face, on-site, not in ROW | — | Figure 23.09.11a |
| Wall Sign | — | Per formula | — | Not within 2 ft of curb, not project >1 ft beyond wall | 1 per exterior wall not abutting residential, plus 1 per customer entry | Same as above, not above parapet/facia, not project within 2 ft of curb | — | Figure 23.09.11a |
| Canopy Sign | — | 40 sf area | — | — | — | — | — | Figure 23.09.11a |
| Menu Board Sign | — | 8 sf area | — | Within 10 ft of customer entrance | 1 per business | Within 10 ft. of customer entrance. Wall mounted. | — | Figure 23.09.11a |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sf area | 2 ft | — | — | Ground-mounted; on-site | — | Figure 23.09.11a |
| Stake Sign | 4 ft | 6 sf | — | — | 1 per street frontage, plus one additional | On-site | — | Figure 23.09.11d |
| Arm & Post Sign | 6 ft | 10 sf | — | — | — | — | — | Figure 23.09.11d |

## Prohibited signs in Wausau

- No sign shall be erected at any location where it may, by reason of its position, shape, color or design, interfere with or obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or use words or symbols that may confuse street or highway users.
- No fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs such as windsocks, motorized signs, pennants, and streamers are permitted. (Exception: Banner Signs as defined in 23.09.05(2)(b)2.)
- No sign shall project above the building parapet or eave, or be mounted on or extend above the roof, if attached to the building.
- No flashing, scrolling, or animated signs shall be permitted. (Flashing is defined as changing more than once within a ten-second time interval.)
- 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-premises advertising signs shall be permitted.
- No abandoned signs shall be permitted.
- No sign shall be located within a required bufferyard or within a permanently protected green space area.
- No illuminated sign shall be permitted unless the illumination is designed so the lighting element is not visible from any property within a residential zoning district.
- No sign shall prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be placed in a manner that would impede vehicular or pedestrian safety, or impede access or visibility.
- No private sign shall be attached to or painted on any natural feature (e.g. tree or rock), fence, fire hydrant, public utility pole, public light pole, or traffic regulatory structure, unless otherwise authorized.
- Except for permitted awning, canopy, marquee, projecting, blade, and suspended signs, or unless otherwise allowed, no sign shall be permitted within or extend into a public right-of-way.
- No person shall paste, tape, staple, fasten, paint, stencil, or otherwise mark any object, vegetation, or pavement in a street right-of-way, except as allowed for painting curbs with requisite approvals.
- Prohibited sign types (permanent or temporary): abandoned signs, advertising vehicle sign (unlicensed/inoperable parked for advertising), beacon/search beacon sign, board sign (rigid temporary ground sign), commercial message flag sign, feather sign, flashing/scrolling/animated sign, inflatable sign, pylon sign (new), mobile/portable sign, off-premise advertising sign, roof sign.
- All sign types not specifically addressed in the ordinance are construed to be prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wausau

- Traffic control and other government messages located within a right-of-way are not considered signs.
- Decorations incidentally and customarily associated with national or religious holidays, or with any community festival or similar event, are not considered signs.
- Flags which do not contain a commercial message, commercial logo, or commercial colors are not considered signs.
- Art works, including wall murals, which do not contain a commercial message/logo/colors, or which only refer to businesses, products, or services of an exclusively historic nature 50 years or older, are not considered signs.
- Building colors and lighting which do not contain a commercial message, commercial logo, or commercial colors are not considered signs.
- Interior site signs located on the interior grounds of outdoor open space, passive or active outdoor public recreational facilities, primarily oriented to persons within the grounds, are not considered signs.
- Interior building signs not attached to or within three feet of a window and primarily oriented to persons within the building are not considered signs.
- Window displays of merchandise, pictures, or models not directly attached to a window surface are not considered signs.
- Vehicles that are licensed, operable, and parked in legal parking spaces are not considered signs.
- Individual signs less than one square foot in area (not combined in a mosaic to create a larger sign) are not regulated by the ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign type not addressed by this title is construed to be prohibited—a master sign plan or Plan Commission review may be needed for unlisted sign types.
- Group Development Signs for multi-tenant buildings: once a sign permit is granted for a proposed group development sign, all existing freestanding signs on the site must be brought into conformity (23.09.10).
- For sign permit applications, an approved site plan for the subject property is required, or, if not previously approved, a site plan with requirements as determined by the Zoning Administrator must be provided (23.09.27(3)(g)).
- When a proposed sign is associated with development that requires a site plan, a sign permit shall not be granted prior to the approval of a site plan (23.09.27(4)(c)).
- Applicants may request that all such signs at one site be included under one permit (23.09.27(1)(g)).
- Signs requiring Plan Commission approval (freestanding, on-building, bulletin board, order board, or optional miscellaneous signs) must be reviewed and approved prior to erection (23.09.27(1)(a)).
- A special exception to sign district requirements may be granted by the Plan Commission (effectively a variance/meeting) after written application and showing of due cause (23.09.27(2)(b)).
- Application for extensions for nonconforming or vacated property sign retention must be submitted and reviewed by staff or Plan Commission according to duration (23.09.37(1)(c)).

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

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