REGULATION OF SIGNS IN GROUP 1 DISTRICTS.
Madison General Ordinances § 31.14
in effect31.14 - REGULATION OF SIGNS IN GROUP 1 DISTRICTS.
(1) The purpose of this section (31.14) is to describe the types of signs that may be displayed in all Group 1 districts. Sec. 31.14(2) provides general restrictions; Secs. 31.14(3) and (4) describe the type of signs and restrictions depending on the specific zoning district in question. Sec. 31.15(3), "Table 3," also applies to all signs in Group 1. In no case shall any of the signs described in Secs. 31.06 through 31.12 (including as listed in Table 1 or Table 2) be displayed in a Group 1 district unless expressly allowed by this Sec. 31.14 or elsewhere in this Chapter.
(2) General Requirements for all Signs in Group 1.
(a) All signs are to be displayed on a wall or on the ground, and limited to one (1) sign per street frontage, unless otherwise expressly stated herein or Table 3.
(b) All signs require a permit unless exempt from permit in Sec. 31.044.
(c) All signs shall be nonilluminated unless expressly stated otherwise.
(d) No sign shall violate the provision for vision clearance under Sec. 27.05(2)(bb).
(e) Signs displayed on the zoning lot of any non-residential use allowed in the Conservancy, Agriculture, and Urban Agricultural districts shall follow the provisions of this chapter that apply to the Group 2 districts. (Am. by ORD-24-00015, 3-20-24)
(f) Existing nonconforming non-residential Uses in a Residential district shall follow applicable sign requirements for the Group 2 districts.
(g) Any sign permitted or authorized in this section may contain any noncommercial message in addition to or in lieu of any other message, per Sec. 31.04(1)(c). (Cr. by ORD-17-00124, 12-18-17)
(3) The following signs may be displayed in the Agricultural (A), Urban Agricultural (UA), and Conservancy (CN) Districts, and all districts classified as Residential in Sec. 28.021 (except for DR1 and DR2), as described below and in Table 3.
(a) Identification Signs.
1. Single Family or 2-Unit Residential Buildings. A maximum of one (1) identification sign per dwelling unit, or two (2) per unit on a corner or through lot, one (1) per street frontage, may be displayed. The identification sign shall not exceed two (2) square feet in net area, and shall be limited to the name of the building occupant or management, address of the building, and any legal home occupation or disabled home occupation. Signs under this paragraph shall be wall signs only, and are exempt from permit under Sec. 31.044.
2. Multiple Family Dwellings, Apartment Hotels, Fraternity and Sorority Houses and Lodging Houses. A maximum of one (1) identification sign per dwelling unit, or two (2) per unit on a corner or through lot, one per street frontage, may be displayed. The identification sign shall not exceed three (3) square feet in net area, and shall be limited to the name of the building occupant or management, address of the building, and any legal home occupation or disabled home occupation. If any occupant of the building has a legal home occupation or disabled home occupation, one (1) additional sign of two (2) square feet in net area may be displayed for each such occupation in addition to the identification sign allowed under this paragraph. Signs under this paragraph shall be wall signs only, and are exempt from permit under Sec. 31.044.
3. Nonresidential Buildings. For nonresidential buildings, a maximum of one (1) identification sign or two (2) per unit on a corner or through lot, one (1) per street frontage, may be displayed. The identification sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet in net area and shall be limited to the name of the building occupant or management, address of the building, and any legal home occupation or disabled home occupation. Signs under this paragraph shall be wall signs only.
4. Height. No identification sign shall be higher than one (1) story or twelve (12) feet above curb level, whichever is lower.
(b) Real Estate Signs. Real Estate signs in Group 1 districts shall be allowed under Sec. 31.044, except that on a lot abutting a waterway, up to two (2) real estate signs, one (1) facing the street and one (1) facing the waterway, shall be allowed, and the height shall be restricted to no higher than one (1) story or twelve (12) feet, whichever is lower. Signs under this paragraph are exempt from permit under Sec. 31.044.
(c) Noncommercial Signs. Noncommercial signs may be displayed in addition to the other signs allowed herein, as an Exempt Sign under Sec. 31.044. See also Sec. 31.04(1)(c). (Am. by ORD-17-00124, 12-18-17)
(d) Parking Lot Directional and Parking Lot Regulation Signs. The following may be displayed and are exempt from permit under Sec. 31.044:
1. Area and Number. Parking Lot Directional Signs, designating parking area entrances or exits are limited to one (1) sign for such exit or entrance, and to a maximum net area of three (3) square feet each. One (1) Parking Lot Regulation sign per parking area, designating the conditions of use or identity of such parking area and limited to a maximum area of nine (9) square feet, shall be permitted. Two (2) Parking Lot Regulation signs, one (1) facing each street, shall be permitted on a corner zoning lot or a through lot. No sign shall project beyond the property line into the public way.
2. Height. No sign shall project higher than ten (10) feet above curb level.
3. Setback. Signs under this paragraph shall be setback at least three (3) feet.
(e) Church, Hospital, School and Residential Building Complex-Dwelling Signs. (Am. by ORD-13-00134, 8-14-13)
1. Identification Signs for Churches, Hospitals, Schools and Residential Building Complex-Dwelling. (Am. by ORD-13-00134, 8-14-13)
a. Area and Number. One (1) wall and one (1) ground signs per street frontage may be displayed; identifying the entity, with a maximum of two ground (2) signs and two (2) wall signs per zoning lot. Additional wall or ground signs for wayfinding purposes may be permitted when approved by the Urban Design Commission when the zoning lot is occupied by two (2) or more of the uses described above and the size of the lot, number of vehicular and pedestrian entrances, and layout of the buildings require additional signs for wayfinding purposes in order to promote traffic and pedestrian safety. Signs under this paragraph, whether displayed on a wall or the ground, shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in net area nor be closer than ten (10) feet to any lot line, except such signs may be increased in net area by one (1) square foot for each additional foot that the sign set back more than twelve (12) feet from the street lot line. No sign under this section shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in net area.
b. Height. No identification sign shall project higher than one story, or twelve (12) feet above the curb level, whichever is lower.
2. Electronic Changeable Copy Sign for High Schools. A high school may include an Electronic Changeable Copy feature meeting the criteria of Sec. 31.046(1) on an identification sign allowed under Sec. 31.14(3)(e)1. above, if approved by the Urban Design Commission as an Additional Sign Code approval under Sec. 31.043(3). For purposes of this paragraph, a "high school" is a public or private high school as defined in Wis. Stat. §§ 115.01(1) and 115.001(3r), but does not include a junior high school as defined in Wis. Stat. § 115.01(2). If a high school is on a zoning lot that includes another use, including another school, the sign shall be located and designed in such a way that it is clearly for the use of the high school only.
(f) Project Signs (Non-illuminated).
1. A sign describing a construction or improvement project, including the names of the contractors, architects, engineers, owners or occupants, provided that such sign may be in place only during the period that said project is under construction and while valid building permits are in force and further provided that only one such sign may be erected per street frontage, and no such sign shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area.
2. Height and Setback. The maximum height for a project sign under this section shall be eight (8) feet. The minimum setback for a project sign displayed as a ground sign shall be ten (10) feet.
(g) Condominium Identification Signs.
1. A condominium may display condominium identification sign(s) if the total acreage of the property of the condominium, as determined by the legal description within the condominium instruments, is one and one-half (1½) acres or more and the condominium includes eight (8) or more units. For purposes this paragraph, the terms "condominium," "condominium instruments," "property," and "units" shall have the meanings found in Wis. Stat. ch. 703.
2. Number, Area, and Setback. One (1) identification sign on a wall and one (1) sign on the ground per street frontage may be displayed; with a maximum of two signs on the ground and two on the wall, per condominium. Condominium identification signs shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in net area, except that the UDC may approve a sign of more than twelve (12) but not more than thirty-two (32) square feet under Sec. 31.043(3)(g). The minimum setback for condominium identification sign shall be ten (10) feet.
3. Height. Maximum height for a condominium identification sign under this section is one (1) story or twelve (12) feet above the curb level, whichever is lower.
(4) Signs in the TR-U1, TR-U2, TR-V2, DR1 and DR2 districts shall follow the rules for signs allowed under sub. (3) above, unless otherwise specified below:
(a) For multiple-family dwellings, apartment hotels, fraternity and sorority houses, and lodging houses, a single identification sign, not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area and indicating only the name and address of the building and the name of the management thereof, may be displayed, provided that on a corner zoning lot, two (2) such signs, one facing each street, shall be permitted.
(b) For nonresidential buildings, a single identification sign, not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area and indicating only the name and address of the building and the principal occupant may be displayed, provided that on a corner zoning lot, two (2) such signs, one facing each street, shall be permitted. If displayed as a ground sign, the maximum height shall be four (4) feet. See Table 3 for height requirements for wall signs under this paragraph.
(c) For a dwelling located on a lot that is to the rear of another lot and access to the street is only the width of a driveway, one (1) directional sign not exceeding three (3) square feet may be placed in the front yard of the property fronting on the street, and shall be exempt from permit, provided:
1. Permission is obtained from the owner of the property on which the sign is to be located;
2. Only the name, address, and name of management thereof are indicated;
3. A sign permit is obtained prior to the erection of the sign; and
4. The sign does not exceed three (3) feet in height and is a minimum of six (6) feet from the front lot line.
(d) In the UOR and DR2 districts, additional identification signs up to two (2) square feet for accessory use businesses approved as a conditional use in a residential building.
(Am. by ORD-23-00008, 1-12-23)
Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH20--31_CH31SICOOR_MI_31.14RESIGR1DIFetched: 11/1/2026