Roseville, MN Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)

Chapter 1010 of the Roseville City Code defines a billboard as a permanent off-site or on-premises sign exceeding 200 square feet on a single face. Section 1010.03(c)(8) lists new billboards among the prohibited signs, then carves out the five lawful pre-existing nonconforming billboards named in the definition in section 1010.02: the railroad right-of-way at 508 Cleveland Avenue North, west of Interstate 35W; the Ramsey County right-of-way at the southeast corner of County Road C and Cleveland Avenue; the parcel immediately east of 2560 Long Lake Road; the railroad right-of-way directly east of 2255 Walnut Street; and atop the building at 2280 Hamline Avenue.

Section 1010.03(d) allows those five to convert to a dynamic display under section 1010.10(8). The conversion requires a permit and a sign owner agreement with the City on the design and operation of the new display. That agreement must give the City no less than 20 hours per month per dynamic display for community and public service messages at times the City approves. The permit allows the digital display to occupy 100 percent of the existing copy and graphic area. Paragraph d is the freeway rule: the display must be oriented towards, and located within 150 feet of, the right-of-way of Interstate 35W, Highway 280 or Highway 36.

Before a permit issues, a visual impact analysis can be required if the city manager determines the display could have a detrimental visual impact on a residence, residential neighborhood, city park or other open space. The Community Development Department takes sign permit applications, and the City Council sets the permit fee by resolution.