Sign Regulations in Wauwatosa, WI (2026)
4 verified sign regulations for Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Wauwatosa Rummage Sale Sign Rules
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code §§ 15.36.060, 15.36.070
15.36.060 Signs Any residential property holding a rummage sale, or any property participating in a neighborhood association rummage sale pursuant to section 15.36.050B., above, shall be permitted to have no more than one sign per residential lot, and said sign shall only be placed upon a property where such sale is being conducted. Signs shall not exceed twelve square feet in area, and shall b...
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.
Wauwatosa Holiday String Light Rules
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 15.14.055
The use of LED "rope lights," holiday string lights, or any other similar type of stringed lights or illuminating device, whether pulsating, blinking, flashing, or otherwise changing in light intensity, brightness, or color or in a steady, constant, non-fluctuating or non-undulating manner, whether attached to or suspended from any commercial or industrial building or structure, or portion ther...
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.
Wauwatosa Electronic Message Board Sign Rules
Significant RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 15.14.330
Changeable copy signs including electronic message boards are permitted as follows: Maximum Size. Twenty-four square feet when placed within five feet of the lot line; thirty-two square feet when placed beyond five feet. Only one changeable copy sign permitted per business premises. The sign may be double-faced. The copy may only be changed once per ten minute interval. ... Animation, flashing ...
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.
Wauwatosa Window Sign Coverage Limit
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa Municipal Code § 15.14.410
Sign shall not cover more that twenty percent of total net glazed front window area per business premises. Sign shall not be placed on glass doors or window areas that will impede pedestrian safety or prohibit view by police.
Looking for Milwaukee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Wauwatosa city rules.
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