Burlington, WI Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Signs per lot
- 1 (2 on a corner lot)
- Maximum size
- 12 square feet
- Setback
- 8 feet from the lot line
- Placement
- No public land or right-of-way
- Removal deadline
- Within 24 hours of sale's close
- Required text
- Seller's name, address, sale dates, location
Summary
Burlington lets sellers post one rummage-sale sign per lot, two on a corner lot, under City Code § 254-4D. Signs cannot exceed 12 square feet, must sit at least eight feet from the lot line, may never go on public land, and must come down within 24 hours of the sale's close.
"Rummage Sale," "Garage Sale" or similar signs shall be permitted to advertise the rummage sale. There shall not be more than one such sign per lot, except that on a corner lot two signs are allowed, one facing each street. A sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be located not less than eight feet from the nearest lot line. Said signs may be placed only upon the property of the residence where the sale is being held or upon other residential property with permission of the owner or other person in charge of such, at the time of sale. No signs shall be placed within the area of any public lands or right-of-way. ... All signs, no matter where placed, must be removed within 24 hours of the close of the rummage sale.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4997580; v29 updated 2026-07-07; through 07-07-2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 254-4D permits "Rummage Sale," "Garage Sale" or similar signs to advertise a sale governed by § 254-4. No more than one such sign is allowed per lot, except a corner lot may carry two, one facing each street. Each sign is capped at 12 square feet in area and must be located not less than eight feet from the nearest lot line. Signs may be placed only on the property where the sale is held, or on another residential property with that owner's or occupant's permission at the time of the sale; no sign may be placed within any public land or right-of-way.
Every sign must display the name and address of the person holding the sale, the dates of the sale, and the sale's location, per § 254-4D(1) through (3). Subsection E then sets a hard removal deadline: all signs, wherever placed, must come down within 24 hours after the rummage sale closes. These sign rules travel with the broader rummage-sale limits in § 254-4C, capping a household at three sales a year of no more than three consecutive days each.
Violations & Fines
A sign larger than 12 square feet, placed within eight feet of the lot line, standing in the public right-of-way, missing the seller's name, dates or location, or left up more than 24 hours after the sale ends, violates § 254-4D or E. A first offense draws a warning under § 254-4F; a repeat violation is subject to the Chapter 1, § 1-4 forfeiture of $10 to $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a garage sale sign be in Burlington, WI?
Can I put a garage sale sign in the street right-of-way?
When do I have to take down my Burlington garage sale sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burlington
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