# Sign Regulations in Whitefish Bay Village, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Whitefish Bay Village, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/whitefish-bay-village
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-02
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33299027)

## At a glance

Whitefish Bay Village, Wisconsin regulates 28 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Monument Ground Signs in the Silver Spring Drive Business District (District-11) zoning district are capped at 10 feet above sidewalk grade tall, 50 square feet, and 4 feet wide (Sec. § 16-43H(6)). Most commercial signs in Whitefish Bay Village require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 150 square feet | — |
| Lake Shore Residence District (District-1), Single-Family Residence District (District-1A), Single-Family Residence District (District-2), Two-Family Residence District (District-3) | 3 | — | 6 square feet | — |
| Churches, Public Buildings and Grounds District (District-4), Clubs and Lodges District (District-4A) | 4 | 8 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| Apartment District (District-5) | 5 | 10 feet | 16 square feet | — |
| Business District (District-6) | 13 | 16 feet above sidewalk grade | 100 square feet | — |
| Business District (District-6, multi-tenant buildings) | 3 | — | 25% of the surface of each window | — |
| Automobile Parking District (District-7) | 2 | 10 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| Special Use District (District-8), Planned Development (District-9) | 3 | — | 16 square feet (up to 32 square feet for new buildings at least two stories on parcel of at least 1/4 acre) | — |
| Silver Spring Drive Business District (District-11) | 13 | 16 feet above sidewalk grade | 100 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 6 square feet (up to 32 square feet for new building at least two stories on parcel of at least 1/4 acre) | — | — | 1 per site | At the site of construction | — | § 16-42A |
| Nonelectric Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | Entirely on the property to which it pertains | — | § 16-42B |
| Interior Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Within the interior of any building or structure | — | § 16-42C |
| Nonilluminated Emblem, Symbol, or Insignia | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 16-42F |
| Temporary Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | No more than 3 per property | — | — | § 16-42G |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 16-42H |
| Special Event Banner (Over Street) | — | 150 square feet | — | — | — | Over a street or carriageway | — | § 16-44C |

### Business District (District-6)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per facade (or 2 if multiple qualifying frontages) | Attached to flat opaque wall surface (not directly painted), within 8 inches of wall | — | § 16-43D(1), § 16-43H(1) |
| Projecting Sign | 16 feet above sidewalk grade | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per facade | Attached to building | — | § 16-43D(1), § 16-43H(2) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business per facade | On awning structure | — | § 16-43D(1), § 16-43H(3) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business per facade | Attached to or within canopy | — | § 16-43D(1), § 16-43H(4) |
| Window Bulletin Sign | — | 18 inches by 30 inches | — | — | 1 | Mounted flush on building | — | § 16-43D(1), § 16-43H(5)(c) |
| Projecting Ground Sign | 10 feet above sidewalk grade | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per facade | Nonpedestrian circulation areas | — | § 16-43D(1), § 16-43H(7) |
| Wall Sign - Secondary Frontage | — | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 additional | On secondary street frontage or abutting District 7 | — | § 16-43D(2) |
| Residential District Sign (Temporary) | — | 16 square feet (up to 32 square feet for new buildings at least two stories on parcel of at least 1/4 acre) | — | Behind front lot line and inside side setback lines | No more than 3 per property | Behind front lot line and inside side setback lines | — | § 16-42D(2) |

### Silver Spring Drive Business District (District-11)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per facade | Attached to flat opaque wall surface (not directly painted), within 8 inches of wall; for upper floors only wall and permanent window allowed | — | § 16-43H intro, § 16-43H(1) |
| Projecting Sign | 16 feet above sidewalk grade | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per facade | Attached to building | — | § 16-43H(2) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business per facade | On awning | — | § 16-43H(3) |
| Window Bulletin Sign | — | 18 inches by 30 inches | — | — | 1 | Flush on building | — | § 16-43H(5)(c) |
| Monument Ground Sign | 10 feet above sidewalk grade | 50 square feet | 4 feet | — | 1 per business per facade | — | — | § 16-43H(6) |
| Projecting Ground Sign | 10 feet above sidewalk grade | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per facade | Nonpedestrian areas | — | § 16-43H(7) |
| Temporary Banner | — | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Off-street | — | § 16-44B |
| Residential District Sign (Temporary) | — | 16 square feet (up to 32 square feet for new buildings at least two stories on parcel of at least 1/4 acre) | — | Behind front lot line and inside side setback lines | No more than 3 per property | Behind front lot line and inside side setback lines | — | § 16-42D(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Whitefish Bay Village

- No sign shall be erected or maintained except as provided in this article.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Moving signs with physically moving components visible from the public right-of-way are prohibited, except for approved barber poles.
- Floodlighted signs whose light source is positioned so that 25% or more of its light intensity is visible from a public right-of-way by vehicular operators or visible from residential property are prohibited.
- Signs bearing or containing statements, words or pictures of obscene, pornographic or immoral subjects are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate or resemble official traffic signs or signals so as to cause confusion and threaten public safety are prohibited.
- Changeable message signs are prohibited.
- Electronic message signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Sandwich signs are prohibited (regulated under Chapter 7).
- Swinging signs are prohibited.
- Searchlights are prohibited.
- Balloons two feet in diameter and larger are prohibited.
- Off-street banners in place for more than 15 days are prohibited.
- Signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- No sign may extend into the right-of-way.
- No sign shall directly face a residential district (Districts 1, 1A, 2, 3).
- No illuminated sign shall directly face or project into a street where a part of the street within the block is abutted by property zoned in Districts 1, 1A, 2, 3 or 7.

## Signs exempt from permit in Whitefish Bay Village

- Construction signs: One per site, not exceeding six square feet (or up to four feet by eight feet for new buildings at least two stories on parcels of at least 1/4 acre), removed upon completion of construction, no permit required.
- Nonelectric signs belonging to a leaseholder or property owner, located entirely on the property, not exceeding three square feet in area, no permit required.
- Interior signs not visible from the public right-of-way, no permit required (subject to structural, electrical, or material specifications).
- Nonilluminated emblems, symbols, or insignia containing less than seven words text, not exceeding four square feet in area, no permit required.
- Temporary signs not exceeding 16 square feet in area, posted not more than 45 days, may be reinstalled after 30-day waiting period, no more than three per property at a time, no permit required.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In Special Use District (District 8) and Planned Development District (District 9), signs are controlled by the provisions in the approved development plan by the Plan Commission and Village Board, not exceeding limitations of surrounding areas.
- Variances from sign requirements may be applied for to the Board of Appeals within 10 days of permit denial, with a decision within 60 days; application must be at least 15 days before a Board meeting.
- The Building Inspector may refer sign permit applications to the Architectural Review Commission if concerns exist regarding compliance with ordinances and character of the area.

## 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 9 zoning districts in Whitefish Bay Village — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Whitefish+Bay+Village+WI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-whitefish-bay-village

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