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Sauk County, WI Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Corridor
US Hwy 12, Terrytown Rd to SR 33
On-premises height cap
40 ft
On-premises copy area cap
200 sq ft
Off-premises signs
Barred except wayfinding/government
Permit
Required, Zoning Administrator

Summary

Sauk County has no general freeway sign rule, but Section 7.132 sets special standards for the U.S. Highway 12 corridor between Terrytown Road and State Road 33: on-premises ground signs there may reach 40 feet in height and 200 square feet of copy area, well above the countywide limits, while off-premises ground signs are barred except for wayfinding and government signs.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Sauk County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The following standards shall apply to lands located within 500 feet of the right-of-way line to the east of U.S. Highway 12 between Terrytown Road and State Road 33. Except as provided in this chapter for the lands, all other provisions of this chapter shall apply. (1)On-premises ground signs shall be permitted a maximum height of 40 feet and a maximum copy area of 200 square feet facing each direction of travel.(2)Off-premises ground signs, except wayfinding and government signs, are not permitted.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Section 7.132 carves out a special sign corridor along U.S. Highway 12 rather than regulating freeway-facing signs generally: the standards apply only to lands within 500 feet of the right-of-way line on the east side of U.S. Highway 12 between Terrytown Road and State Road 33. Within that strip, an on-premises ground sign may be built up to 40 feet tall with as much as 200 square feet of copy area facing each direction of travel, far exceeding the county's standard on-premises ground sign allowance of 75 square feet and 10 feet in height under Section 7.129.

Off-premises ground signs get the opposite treatment on this corridor: Section 7.132(2) bars them outright, with the only exceptions being wayfinding signs and government signs, both of which Section 7.130 otherwise allows to be located along any road in the commercial, recreational commercial, or industrial districts. Every other provision of Chapter 7's sign subchapter, including the permit requirement in Section 7.117, the setback rules in Section 7.135, and the illumination standards in Section 7.128, continues to apply to signs erected along this Highway 12 corridor; Section 7.132 only substitutes the height and copy area figures and the off-premises ban.

A sign owner along this stretch of Highway 12 still applies to the Zoning Administrator for a sign permit before erecting a qualifying ground sign.

Violations & Fines

Building an on-premises ground sign taller than 40 feet or larger than 200 square feet of copy area along the U.S. Highway 12 corridor, or erecting any off-premises ground sign there other than a wayfinding or government sign, violates Section 7.132 and is enforced through Section 7.155(5)'s forfeiture of not less than $50.00 nor more than $200.00 per day the violation continues, plus the county's enforcement costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Sauk County regulate signs along freeways separately?
Not by that name. The county's special corridor rule in Section 7.132 applies specifically to lands within 500 feet of U.S. Highway 12 between Terrytown Road and State Road 33, not to freeways generally, and it raises the on-premises sign limits there rather than restricting them.
How tall can a sign be along US Highway 12 in Sauk County?
Section 7.132 allows an on-premises ground sign up to 40 feet tall with up to 200 square feet of copy area facing each direction of travel within 500 feet of the highway's right-of-way between Terrytown Road and State Road 33, well above the county's normal 10-foot, 75-square-foot ground sign limit elsewhere.
Are billboards allowed along US Highway 12 in Sauk County?
No. Section 7.132(2) prohibits off-premises ground signs, the category that covers billboards, anywhere along the designated Highway 12 corridor, with the only exceptions being wayfinding signs and government signs.
Do I still need a permit for a sign on this stretch of highway?
Yes. Section 7.132 only changes the height and copy area figures and bars off-premises signs; it does not remove the sign permit requirement in Section 7.117, so a qualifying on-premises ground sign still needs Zoning Administrator approval before it goes up.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sauk County

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsDigital BillboardsHeavy RestrictionsPolitical SignsSome RestrictionsGarage Sale SignsLight RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions

All Sauk County rules

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