Wauwatosa, WI Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)

The use of LED "rope lights," holiday string lights, or any other similar type of stringed lights or illuminating device, whether pulsating, blinking, flashing, or otherwise changing in light intensity, brightness, or color or in a steady, constant, non-fluctuating or non-undulating manner, whether attached to or suspended from any commercial or industrial building or structure, or portion thereof, whether outside the building or structure or inside the building or structure and intended to be visible from the outside, or attached to any sign as an element of that sign or attached to the sign structure, is prohibited on commercial and industrial buildings. An exception is provided for non-LED "rope lights," string lights, or any other similar type of non-LED stringed lights, which may be used on commercial and industrial buildings for decorative purposes only during the period from November 15 through January 2 of each year and shall be removed by the owner, agent, or person having beneficial use of the premises or lot within ten days following written notice by the Development Director or his or her designee.