# Sign Regulations in Windsor, Wisconsin

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Windsor, Wisconsin (WI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wisconsin/windsor
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/WI/Windsor/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH1GEPR_S1-12EFSERETOSIFO)

## At a glance

Windsor, Wisconsin regulates 27 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Subdivision Signs in the A-1 (EX) Exclusive Agriculture District, A-2 Agriculture District, A-3 Agriculture District, A-4 Small Lot Agriculture District, A-B Agriculture Business District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 64 sq ft, with a 10 ft from road right-of-way; 5 ft from all other lot lines; not in vision clearance triangle setback (Sec. Sec. 52-23(3)(a)13, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a)). Most commercial signs in Windsor require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CO-1 Conservancy District, RE-1 Recreational District | 12 | 16 ft | 324 sq inches | — |
| A-1 (EX) Exclusive Agriculture District, A-2 Agriculture District, A-3 Agriculture District, A-4 Small Lot Agriculture District, A-B Agriculture Business District | 15 | 12 ft | 324 sq inches | — |
| R-1 Single Family Residential District, R-2 Single Family Residential District, R-3 Single Family Residential District, R-4 Single Family Residential District, MF-2 Two-Family Residential District, MF-3 Multiple Family Residential District, ER Estate Residential District, CR Countryside Residential District | 16 | 16 ft | 324 sq inches | — |
| C-1 Commercial District, C-2 Commercial District | 21 | 150 ft | 500 sq ft | — |
| GI Government and Institutional District | 13 | 16 ft | 324 sq inches | — |
| NMO Nonmetallic Mining Operation District | 11 | 12 ft | 324 sq inches | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### A-1 (EX) Exclusive Agriculture District, A-2 Agriculture District, A-3 Agriculture District, A-4 Small Lot Agriculture District, A-B Agriculture Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Auxiliary Sign | — | 5 sq ft per sign; total not to exceed 50 sq ft per site | — | 10 ft from road right-of-way; 5 ft from all other lot lines; not in vision clearance triangle | — | On-premise, separate from primary sign | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)2, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Limited Family Business Sign - Wall | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per permitted business | Wall of business building | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)8, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Limited Family Business Sign - Driveway Entrance | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per business | Driveway entrance of business | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)8, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft from road right-of-way; 5 ft from all other lot lines; not in vision clearance triangle | One per entrance | Primary entrance to subdivision | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)13, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Construction Sign | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | One per road frontage | On-premise, for duration of construction | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)2, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |
| Crop Sign | 10 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | One per row | Within 50 ft of crop identified | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)3, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |
| Real Estate Sign | 8 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | One per road frontage | On-premise (for sale/lease/rent property); one per road frontage | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)9, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |
| Temporary Sign | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | One per parcel | On-premise | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)11, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |

### R-1 Single Family Residential District, R-2 Single Family Residential District, R-3 Single Family Residential District, R-4 Single Family Residential District, MF-2 Two-Family Residential District, MF-3 Multiple Family Residential District, ER Estate Residential District, CR Countryside Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Auxiliary Sign | — | 5 sq ft per sign; total not to exceed 50 sq ft per site | — | 10 ft from road right-of-way; 5 ft from all other lot lines; not in vision clearance triangle | — | On-premise, separate from primary sign | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)2, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Apartment Complex Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per road frontage | On-premise; one per road frontage | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)1, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | 2-4 per building, see sign_size_restrictions | On signable wall area only | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)14, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Ground Sign | 16 ft | 96 sq ft | — | 10 ft from road right-of-way; 5 ft from other lot lines; not in vision clearance triangle | One per road frontage | Freestanding, bottom edge less than 8 ft above ground | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)7, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft from road right-of-way; 5 ft from all lot lines; not in vision clearance triangle | One per entrance | Primary entrance | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)13, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Construction Sign | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | One per road frontage | On-premise, for construction duration | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)2, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |
| Real Estate Sign | 8 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | One per road frontage | On-premise (for sale/lease/rent property); one per road frontage | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)9, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |
| Temporary Sign | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | One per parcel | On-premise | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)11, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |

### C-1 Commercial District, C-2 Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard Sign | 150 ft | 500 sq ft | — | — | One per property | Along interstate highway | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)4, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Ground Sign | 16 ft | 96 sq ft | — | 10 ft from road right-of-way; 5 ft from other lot lines; not within vision clearance triangle | One per road frontage | On-premise; freestanding, bottom edge less than 8 ft above ground | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)7, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Pylon Sign | 35 ft (general); 150 ft on interstate | 200 sq ft (general); 500 sq ft on interstate | — | — | One per property | Freestanding | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)12, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft from road right-of-way; 5 ft from all other lot lines; not within vision clearance triangle | One per entrance | Primary entrance | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(a)13, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(a) |
| Construction Sign | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | One per road frontage | On-premise, for construction duration; one per road frontage | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)2, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |
| Crop Sign | 10 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | One per row | Within 50 ft of crop identified; at least 50 ft from advertised site | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)3, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |
| Real Estate Sign | 8 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | One per road frontage | On-premise (for sale/lease/rent property); one per road frontage | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)9, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |
| Temporary Sign | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | One per parcel | On-premise | — | Sec. 52-23(3)(b)11, Table Sec. 52-23(4)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Windsor

- No sign shall use any word, phrase, symbol, shape, form or character in such manner as to interfere with moving traffic, including signs which incorporate typical street-type or traffic control-type sign designs and colors.
- No sign may be installed at any location where by reason of its position, wording, illumination, size, shape or color it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any official traffic control sign, signal or device.
- No sign may block or interfere with the visibility for ingress or egress of a driveway.
- No sign other than community information signs shall be located within a road right-of-way.
- No sign, temporary or otherwise, shall be affixed to a tree or utility pole, fence or fence pole, or be painted on a stone.
- No sign shall be installed on a roof.
- Flashing or rotating lights on signs are not permitted.
- Except for time and temperature signs and electronic signs, no fluttering, undulating, rotating, or other moving signs shall be permitted.
- All signs within the jurisdiction of this ordinance shall remain in a state of proper maintenance, including the absence of loose materials, prevention of excessive rust, excessive vibration or shaking, and maintenance of original structural integrity.
- Signs found to be in violation of the provisions of this section shall be repaired or removed.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in a vision clearance triangle per section 52-32.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in violation of state and federal regulations which are more restrictive.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained less than ten feet from the road right-of-way except as otherwise provided.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained less than five feet from other lot lines except as otherwise provided.
- Mobile or portable signs are not permitted.
- Billboards and pylon signs may not be mounted one above the other.
- Projecting signs may not be located directly over a public or private street, drive or parking area.
- Signs painted directly on or otherwise permanently embedded in the facade are not permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Windsor

- The flag or emblem of any nation, organization of nations, or other governmental or municipal agencies or units is not considered a sign and is not regulated under this section.
- Traffic control or other public agency signs are not considered signs and are not regulated under this section.
- Community information signs are not considered signs and are not regulated under this section.
- Displays within the confines of a building are not considered signs and are not regulated under this section.
- Merchandise, pictures or models of products or services incorporated in a window display are not considered signs and are not regulated under this section.
- Works of art which in no way identify a product or service; sculptural representations of an organization's or business's logo which do not contain any words and are not illuminated except that only one such representation of a particular business's or organization's logo is permitted, are not considered signs and are not regulated under this section.
- Scoreboards located on athletic fields are not considered signs and are not regulated under this section.
- Signs mounted or painted on commercial vehicles are excluded from regulation under this section.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs requiring a permit as identified in subsection 52-23(3)(a) shall comply with the procedure set forth in subsection 52-101(7).
- Special exceptions from the requirements of this section may be granted by the Village Board after consideration of recommendation of the Village Plan Commission. All other requests for exception to the requirements of this section shall follow the process for variances outlined in subsection 52-101(8).

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

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