Marathon County, WI Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Exemption
- Holiday decorations, when in season
- Limit
- Not year-round display
- Administrator authority
- Can require mitigation anytime
- Coverage
- Town-adoption required
Summary
Marathon County exempts holiday decorations from its exterior lighting standards while they're in season, freeing seasonal displays from the shielding, wattage, and intensity limits that apply the rest of the year.
The following exterior lighting types are exempt from the requirements of this Chapter, except that the Zoning Administrator may take steps to minimize glare, light trespass or light pollution impacts where determined to be necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public: A.Holiday Decorations when in season.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 17.403.06.A lists holiday decorations among the lighting types exempt from Chapter 17's exterior lighting requirements, but only 'when in season' -- the exemption doesn't cover permanent, year-round displays. The Zoning Administrator keeps authority to step in and require mitigation if a display's glare, light trespass, or light pollution threatens public health, safety, or welfare, even during the exempt season. Applies only in unincorporated towns that adopted the county zoning ordinance.
Violations & Fines
A display kept up outside the holiday season loses the exemption and must meet the full shielding and intensity standards; the Zoning Administrator can also order changes to an in-season display causing genuine glare or trespass complaints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do holiday lights need a shielding or wattage permit?
Can the county ever object to my holiday lights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marathon County
Compare Marathon County to another location·View the Wisconsin sign regulations overview
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