Sheboygan, WI Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)

Lighting rules for outdoor advertising sit in § 98-5, 'Construction, size and erection,' in the city's sign chapter. Two subsections speak to illumination. Subsection (d) prohibits attaching electric lights or fixtures to any wooden billboard or sign. Subsection (n) works the other way for a narrow class: every sign or advertising device that projects over the public highway or sidewalk more than four feet beyond the lot line and has an area of more than ten square feet must be an electric sign, illuminated with not less than ten watts to each square foot of area from one hour after sunset to 10:00 p.m. Section 98-5 prints no lumen cap, shielding rule or curfew beyond that 10:00 p.m. window.

The lighting rule sits inside a larger set of structural limits. Under § 98-1 a sign designates the name or occupation of the occupant of the building to which it is fixed, and all other advertising structures are classed as billboards, poster panels or signboards. Wooden signs or billboards are permitted under § 98-5(a), while all other signs and billboards must be built entirely of incombustible materials, except that braces, uprights and skeleton frames of billboards, poster panels and signboards to which the metal facing is fastened can be wood (§ 98-5(b)). Structures except marquees and canopies must withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds to the square foot with a safety factor of four (§ 98-5(c)). A billboard, poster panel or signboard cannot exceed 12 feet in height from lower to upper edge, with the lower edge not more than three feet or less than two feet above the ground (§ 98-5(e)). Placing billboards on wagons, automobiles or other vehicles and moving them through the streets is prohibited (§ 98-5(m)).

Placement and permits follow. Advertising structures are allowed in business and industrial districts but not in residential ones, apart from small home occupation and for sale or rent signs (§ 98-4). The city planner enforces the chapter (§ 98-2) and issues the permit (§ 98-36). Billboard permit fees under § 98-37 include $50.00 for a single-face billboard of not more than 288 square feet and $200.00 for single-face 289 to 500 square feet, and electrical work on signs is charged under the electrical code in addition (§ 98-37(c)).