(a) Applicability. Regulations for freestanding permanent signs are applicable to monument, pylon, incidental, and directional signs as defined in § 21.304.07.
(b) General freestanding sign standards.
(1) Prohibitions.
(A) Clear view triangle. No sign or sign structure taller than three feet in height may be located within a clear view triangle area as defined in § 19.03.
(B) Encroachment into public easements. No freestanding sign may encroach into or be located within a public easement of record without written approval from the Director of Public Works.
(2) Foundation permit. A freestanding sign may require a separate foundation permit when required by the Minnesota State Building Code.
(4) Planned developments. When there are multiple contiguous properties within an approved planned development of record, the properties are considered one property for the purposes of freestanding signage allowances. Additional signs may be approved through planned development flexibility as specified in § 19.38.01.
(c) Monument sign standards. Monument signs must comply with the requirements in the following table according to the sign district in which they are located:
Sign District | Monument Sign Performance Standards | ||||
Maximum Number | Minimum Setbacks | Maximum Height | Maximum Area per Sign | ||
Along Public Streets | Side or Rear Yard
| ||||
Sign District | Monument Sign Performance Standards | ||||
Maximum Number | Minimum Setbacks | Maximum Height | Maximum Area per Sign | ||
Along Public Streets | Side or Rear Yard
| ||||
Class I
| |||||
Neighborhood identification sign | 2 per neighborhood | 15 feet | 5 feet | 8 feet | 40 sq. ft. |
Nonresidential use signs | 1 per public street frontage | 15 feet | 5 feet | 8 feet | 40 sq. ft. |
Class II
|
1 per public street frontage | 15 feet | 5 feet | 8 feet | 40 sq. ft. for residential uses, 64 sq. ft. for nonresidential uses |
Class III
|
1 monument or pylon sign per public street frontage | 15 feet for signs 8 feet or less in height, 20 feet for signs taller than 8 feet | 5 feet | 20 feet (see table note 1) | 0.4 sq. ft. of sign area per linear foot of lot frontage, up to a maximum of 150 sq. ft. (see table notes 2 and 3) |
Class IV
|
1 per public street frontage | 20 feet | 5 feet | 20 feet (see table note 1) | 0.5 sq. ft. of sign area per linear foot of lot frontage, up to a maximum of 500 sq. ft. (see table note 3) |
Class V
|
1 per public or private street frontage | 15 feet | 5 feet | 8 feet | 0.4 sq. ft. of sign area per linear foot of lot frontage, up to a maximum of 150 sq. ft. (see table notes 2 and 3 |
Table Notes
1) When located adjacent to and oriented towards I-35W, I-494, and TH-77, the maximum height allowed for a monument sign is 45 feet at sites zoned CR-1, C-2, C-3, or CX-2 and 30 feet at all other sites. 2) When located adjacent to and oriented towards I-35W, I-494, and TH-77, the maximum area allowed for a monument sign is 200 square feet at sites zoned CR-1, C-2, or C-3. 3) Each legally permitted monument sign is granted a minimum sign area allowance of 40 square feet irrespective of lot frontage. | |||||
(d) Pylon sign standards. Pylon signs must comply with the requirements in the following table according to the sign district in which they are located:
Sign District | Pylon Sign Performance Standards | ||||
Maximum Number | Minimum Setbacks | Maximum Height | Maximum Area per Sign | ||
Along Public Streets | Side or Rear Yard
| ||||
Class III
|
1 monument or pylon sign per public street frontage | 15 feet for signs 8 feet or less in height, 20 feet for signs taller than 8 feet | 5 feet | 20 feet (see table note 1) | 0.35 sq. ft. of sign area per linear foot of lot frontage, up to a maximum of 150 sq. ft. (see table notes 2 and 3) |
Table Notes
1) When located adjacent to and oriented towards I-35W, I-494, and TH-77, the maximum allowed height for a pylon sign is 45 feet at sites zoned CR-1, C-2, or C3 and 30 feet at all other sites. 2) When located adjacent to and oriented towards I-35W, I-494, and TH-77, the maximum area allowed for a pylon sign is 200 square feet at sites zoned CR-1, C-2, or C-3. 3) Each legally permitted pylon sign is granted a minimum sign area allowance of 40 square feet irrespective of lot frontage. | |||||
(e) Menu boards. Menu boards are allowed as part of permitted drive-throughs in addition to the signage allowances in subsections (c) and (d) above, subject to the following standards:
(1) Number, size, and height.
(A) Primary menu board. One primary menu board up to 36 square feet in area and eight feet in height is allowed per order station.
(B) Secondary menu board. One secondary menu board up to 15 square feet in area and six feet in height is allowed per drive-through.
(2) Separation from residential. Menu boards must be located at least 75 feet from a property that is zoned and used residentially.
(f) Special freestanding sign provisions. The following special freestanding sign provisions are applicable across all sign districts:
(1) College campuses and schools (K-12). Freestanding signage allowances at college campuses and schools (K-12) are as follows in place of the sign number, height, and size regulations in subsection (c) above:
(A) Primary identification signs. Each college campus or school is permitted one primary identification sign per arterial street frontage, up to 100 square feet in area and 20 feet in height.
(B) Secondary identification signs. Each college campus or school is permitted two secondary identification signs up to 50 square feet in area and ten feet in height.
(C) Light pole signs. College campuses and schools may erect light pole signs subject to the following standards:
(i) Number. The maximum number of light pole signs at a college campus or school site is one per acre, rounded to the nearest acre.
(ii) Location. The sign must be located at least 15 feet from public right-of-way and five feet from side or rear lot lines not abutting a street.
(iii) Size. The sign must not exceed 20 square feet.
(iv) Height. The sign must not exceed a height of 20 feet.
(2) High usage parks, playfields, and golf courses. Freestanding signage allowances at high usage park sites (Bush Lake Beach, Valley View Playfield, Gene C. Kelly Playfield, Dred Scott Playfield, Moir Park, Mount Normandale Lake Park, and Hyland Regional Park), high school playfields (Jefferson, Kennedy, and Lincoln school fields), and golf courses (Dwan, Hyland Greens, and Minnesota Valley) are as follows in place of the sign number, height, and size regulations in subsection (c) above:
(A) Main freestanding park sign. One freestanding sign up to 80 square feet in area is allowed.
(B) Additional freestanding park signs. For parks with more than one public entrance, one additional freestanding sign up to 24 square feet in area is allowed per entrance.
(C) Playfield entrance signs. One freestanding sign, either monument or pylon, is permitted at the primary entrances of Jefferson, Kennedy, and Lincoln school fields subject to the following standards:
(i) Size. The sign must not exceed 200 square feet.
(ii) Height. The sign must not exceed a height of 20 feet.
(iii) Setbacks. The freestanding entrance sign must comply with setback requirements in subsection (c) above.
(D) Outfield signs and scoreboard signs. Outfield signs and scoreboard signs are permitted at Dred Scott Playfield, Valley View Playfield, Gene C. Kelly Playfield, Smith Park, Jefferson School Field, Kennedy School Field, and Lincoln School Field.
(Ord. 2024-4, passed 2-26-2024)