Madison sign permit requirements

Permit required for signs; certain signs exempt under Sec. 31.044 (e.g., window signs, real estate, identification signs of limited size). $25 non-refundable application fee per sign.

“Signs may be erected, moved, enlarged, or reconstructed within the City of Madison as allowed in this Ordinance only when a permit therefor shall have been issued by the Zoning Administrator or designee, except when specifically exempt from permit under Sec. 31.044 or elsewhere in this Ordinance.”

40% of signable area OR 2 sq ft per lineal foot of building frontage (lineal-foot method capped at 100% of signable area); 80 sq ft max in net area (120 sq ft for occupancies 25,000 sq ft or more, at 30% of signable area)

“The maximum net area of all wall, roof and above-roof signs within a single signable area shall be no more than forty percent (40%) of the signable area or two (2) square feet of signage for each lineal foot of building frontage. When using the lineal foot method, the total net area shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the signable area designated under Sec. 31.07(2), above. In no case shall a wall, roof, or above-roof sign eligible for measurement under this sub. (a) exceed eighty (80) square feet in net area.”

40% of the signable area (30% for occupancies 25,000 sq ft or more)

“The maximum net area of all wall, roof and above-roof signs within a single signable area shall be no more than forty percent (40%) of the signable area”

Varies by district, lanes and speed per Table 1. Pole signs max 22 feet overall; monument signs generally 8-13 feet; e.g., Group 3 pole sign 2-3 lanes 0-34 mph = 16 feet, monument = 10 feet.

“A Pole sign shall have a maximum height of twenty-two (22) feet, subject to the limits of Table 1.”

As set forth in Table 1 (Sec. 31.15(1)); 32 sq ft single face / 64 sq ft. Only one of a ground or projecting sign on the same lot may exceed 12 sq ft in net area.

“The permitted net area of projecting signs shall not exceed the square footage permitted in the Table of Permitted Signs, Sec. 31.15(1) ("Table 1"), except if a projecting sign is displayed on the same zoning lot as a ground sign, the permitted net area shall be subject to Sec. 31.08(3).”

Must clear pedestrian areas by at least 10 feet and vehicular ways by at least 14 feet. May project at least 15 inches from wall; max 24 inches into right-of-way, or up to 6 feet from building face where setbacks permit.

“Projecting signs must vertically clear any pedestrian area by at least ten (10) feet and vehicular ways by at least fourteen (14) feet.”

Letters/numerals/characters without background: max 30% of window area. Signs with opaque objects, logos, images or background: max 20% of window area.

“Window signs consisting solely of individual alphabetic letters, numerals, or other symbolic characters without any background may be displayed but the net area shall not cover more than thirty (30) percent of the total window area.”

Signs may not be illuminated unless expressly allowed; illumination may be internal or external. Max 40 foot-candles average for signs under 300 sq ft, 70 foot-candles for 300 sq ft or more. External fixtures must be steady, fully shielded, no glare to adjacent property/ROW.

“Signs shall not be illuminated unless expressly allowed in this chapter. For purposes of this chapter, illumination includes any source of direct or reflected lighting incorporated in or connected with a sign. Illumination, when allowed, may be internal or external to the sign.”

Electronic Changeable Copy Signs allowed in Group 2 and 3 districts (and non-residential uses in Districts of Special Control). Copy may not change more frequently than once every 5 minutes in Group 2/3 (once per hour in Districts of Special Control). No scrolling/moving/appearance of movement. One color only, light copy on dark background.

“The electronic changeable copy or images shall not alternate, change, fade in, fade out, or otherwise change more frequently than once every five (5) minutes in Group 2 and 3 districts, and once every one (1) hour for non-residential uses in Districts of Special Control, including Urban Design Districts.”

Business opening signs (which may be banners) may be displayed for up to 30 days from opening/name change/ownership change, and shall not be renewed. Promotional banners on private property require a $25 permit fee each.

“A business opening sign may be displayed for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days from the date the business opened, changed names, or changed ownership; and shall not be renewed.”

Prohibited: Motion signs, Attention-Getting Objects, Flashing signs, Digital Image Signs (static or animated), projected images, signs painted directly on walls (unless approved legacy sign), and (with exceptions) inflatable signs. New/relocated/replacement advertising (off-premise) signs are prohibited.

“All Motion signs, as defined in Sec. 31.03(2), are prohibited.”

Code varies materially by zoning district group. Districts are divided into Group 1 (residential/agricultural/conservancy), Group 2 (neighborhood-serving commercial, pedestrian corridors), and Group 3 (auto-oriented commercial/employment/industrial). General commercial figures reported here are for Group 2/3 per Tables 1 and 2.

“Group 3. The zoning districts in Group 3 are the districts listed below. Group 3 zoning districts include higher-volume motor vehicle transportation corridors, larger-scale development, and primarily auto-oriented commercial and employment uses.”