Wauwatosa's Sign Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles sign regulations a little differently. In Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Digital Billboards

Wauwatosa bans off-premises billboards outright but allows on-premises electronic message boards as changeable copy signs, capped at 24 to 32 square feet, one per business, with copy changing no more than once every ten minutes and no more than three colors displayed at once.

Key details: Off-premises billboards: Prohibited under § 15.14.140. Max size (near lot line): 24 sq ft within 5 ft of lot line. Max size (setback): 32 sq ft beyond 5 ft. Copy change interval: Once per 10 minutes. Color limit: 3 colors at a time.

The general penalty provisions under Section 15.14.070 apply to any sign code violation, with each day of continued noncompliance treated as a separate violation, and double fees may be assessed where work is performed without the required permit. The chief inspector may revoke a sign permit under Section 15.14.040 if a sign is maintained in violation of its permit or the chapter.

Compared to other cities, Wauwatosa takes a harder line on digital billboards. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Holiday Displays

Wauwatosa bans LED rope lights and similar illuminating string devices on commercial and industrial buildings year-round, but allows non-LED holiday string lights for decoration only from November 15 through January 2, with removal required within ten days of a written notice.

Key details: LED rope/string lights: Prohibited on commercial/industrial buildings. Non-LED holiday lights allowed: Nov. 15 through Jan. 2. Removal deadline after notice: 10 days. Notice issued by: Development Director or designee. Adopted: Ord. O-16-06 (2016), amended 2019.

General penalty provisions under Section 15.14.070 apply, with each day a violation continues treated as a separate offense; failing to remove non-LED holiday string lights within ten days of a written notice from the development director or a designee, or displaying any LED rope or string lights on a commercial or industrial building at any time, is a violation subject to that penalty.

Window Signs

Wauwatosa caps window signs at 20 percent of the total net glazed front window area per business premises, and bars placing signs where they would block pedestrian safety sightlines or a police officer's view into the building. No permit is required for window signs.

Key details: Max window coverage: 20% of net glazed front window area. Permit required: No, exempt under § 15.14.080. Safety restriction: Cannot block pedestrian or police sightlines. Enforcing agency: Building and Safety Division. Maintenance duty: Good structural condition at all times.

General penalty provisions under Section 15.14.070 apply to a sign that exceeds the twenty percent net window area cap or that impedes pedestrian safety or police visibility, with each day the noncompliant sign remains displayed treated as a separate violation. The chief inspector or a delegate may also order removal of a sign that violates the location or coverage requirements under Section 15.14.150.

Garage Sale Signs

Wauwatosa limits each rummage-sale property to one sign of no more than twelve square feet, placed only on the property holding the sale and at least five feet from the nearest lot line, under Municipal Code Section 15.36.060. Every sign, wherever located, must come down within twenty-four hours of the sale's close per Section 15.36.070.

Key details: Sign count: Max 1 sign per residential lot. Size cap: 12 square feet maximum. Setback: 5+ feet from nearest lot line. Placement: Only on the property holding the sale. Removal deadline: Within 24 hours of sale's close.

Posting more than one sign, exceeding the twelve-square-foot size cap, placing a sign closer than five feet to the lot line, or leaving a sign up more than twenty-four hours after the sale closes violates Sections 15.36.060 and 15.36.070. Section 15.36.080 subjects any Chapter 15.36 violation to the code's general penalty provisions, with citations issued under Section 1.24.010 and Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 800.

The Bottom Line

Wauwatosa's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Wauwatosa is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Wauwatosa's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.