[Ord. No. 854, § III, 12-20-2011; amended 4-16-2025 by Ord. No. 1035]
The following definitions shall apply to words, terms and phrases within this Chapter
64:
A sign which no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business, lease, service, owner, product or activity, or for which no legal owner can be found, and which has no historical significance.
ABUTTING RESIDENTIALFor the purpose of sign regulation in the Village of Mukwonago, abutting residential shall mean when a sign on a same front, side or rear of a property that is contiguous to a property used for and zoned residential, or separated there from only by a nonarterial street, alley, railroad right-of-way from property used for and zoned residential. A sign on or along a front or side of a building that is opposite of the side of a property away from a residential property, although the property on which the sign is located is abutting residential, the sign is not considered abutting residential.
ACCENT SYMBOLA solid color or multi-colored design as part of a wall sign system having the intent of drawing attention to the sign or providing a color or colors associated with the business or organization.
ADJACENT GRADEFor the purpose of sign regulation in the Village of Mukwonago, the highest finished grade level onto which the sign is attached.
APPLICANTA person who applies for any permit or approval to do anything governed by this Chapter
64 and who has legal standing to apply for a permit or approval on the specific property.
An architectural embellishment covering attached to the outside of a structure, erected on or over a window or door, typically supported by a metal frame and covered in a fabric or flexible vinyl product, or similar flexible durable material. A lighted awning, either internally or from the exterior, without sign copy is not an awning sign.
AWNING SIGNA sign that is mounted or painted on or attached to an awning, canopy or marquee. An awning sign shall conform to standards or wall signs; however, only the sign copy size and logo size, if displayed, as determined by the square footage within an imaginary polygon drawn around the sign, shall count toward the maximum allowed wall sign square footage for the business. A logo shall not be displayed without the business name. Display of an address on an awning is not a sign.
BANNERA temporary sign with letters, a message, logo or statement advertising a business made of cloth, paper, fabric or another durable flexible material attached to the building in which the business advertised on the banner is located, or securely attached to and between temporary poles located on the same property on which the business advertised on the banner is located. A banner sign shall be either square in dimension or horizontal with the width dimension greater than the height dimension. Any commonly known banner attached to a pole on one side of the banner is considered a flag for the purposes of this Chapter
64.
An outdoor advertising sign or poster panel which advertises products, businesses, and/or services not connected with the site on which the sign is located, which may be a sign on a substantially permanent structure which display services of a type which are customarily leased for commercial purposes. A billboard is prohibited within the Village of Mukwonago pursuant to §
64-13.
A sign that is self-enclosed in a typically square or rectangular structure with or without internal lighting. A box sign may be either single faced or double faced, where applicable.
BUILDING INSPECTORFor the purpose of this Chapter
64, the Building Inspector is a person or anyone of a group of persons assigned by the Village Board and/or Village Administrator to regulate and inspect matters of sign installation, maintenance and enforcement in accordance with health and safety standards and codes and issue permits for sign installation when required by this Chapter
64 if the sign complies with health and safety standards and codes for signs. The person or group of persons assigned with building inspection responsibilities from time to time may be assigned the duties of Zoning Administrator, but the duties of each described within this Chapter
64 are separate and distinct.
A sign made of stone or etched in stone, or a plaque, constructed within a building facade indicating a specialized name of the building, and not a specific business name or conveying a commercial message.
BULLETIN BOARDA type of directory sign that has changeable copy enclosed in a casement covered by glass, plexiglas or other transparent material. A bulletin board sign may be permitted in any residential district provided it is used in conjunction with government functions, churches, schools or similar institutions. A bulletin board is not a reader board.
BUSINESSFor the purposes of this Chapter
64, a person, company, corporation or similar entity engaged in an enterprise that is eligible to be identified with a sign or signs as regulated by this Chapter
64.
Any of the separate zoning districts within Chapter
100 of the Village of Mukwonago Municipal Code (zoning) that has business as part of the zoning district name and description, normally designated with a "B" and number.
Individually illuminated letters or graphics of a wall sign; or if a wood wall sign, channel letters are individual letters not physically connected to other letters.
CORNERSTONEA sign made of stone or etched in stone, or a plaque, constructed within a building facade indicating the date of construction of said building.
DIRECTORY SIGNA sign or a portion thereof that identifies the names of tenants in a multi-tenant building or a development made up of a group of buildings advertising two or more businesses on the same property. The directory sign shall be a part of a freestanding sign located on the same property of the tenants so identified on the sign.
DOUBLE FACED SIGNA sign that has the same dimensions, sign elements and sign copy (except for reader board copy) back to back that can be viewed from opposite directions, or when allowed a V-shaped with the same dimensions, elements and copy.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTERA general term referring to any type of electronic programmable sign, with an electronic display or changeable copy. An electronic message center is a category of a reader board. See definition of "reader board."
FLAG, COMMERCIALA commercial flag means a piece of cloth or lightweight fabric, mounted on a pole usually on one side of the flag or attached to a movable cord mounted to the pole, used as a temporary display of the name, color scheme, name or logo of a commercial interested located on the property on which the commercial flag or flags are located; or the colors, name or logo of a unified multi-tenant property. The design of the commercial flag may be combined with the allowable message on a noncommercial flag; however, any flag displaying a commercial interest as defined herein shall be only allowed under the required permit. A commercial flag shall not list display prices of product or individual products sold if more than one product line is sold within the business or businesses displayed on the flag. A vertical flag mounted on a pole that is commonly called a banner is considered a flag under this definition.
FLAG, GOVERNMENTA government flag means a piece of cloth or lightweight fabric, mounted on a pole usually on one side of the flag or attached to a movable cord mounted to a pole, depicting the colors, insignia, and/or symbol of the United States of America, a branch of the military of the United States of America, the State of Wisconsin, Waukesha or Walworth Counties, Village of Mukwonago, Mukwonago Area School District, and any other officially authorized design of one of the aforementioned governments.
FLAG, NONCOMMERCIALA noncommercial flag means piece of cloth or lightweight fabric, mounted on a pole usually on one side of the flag or attached to a movable cord mounted to a pole, that (1) does not display a logo, color scheme, message, statement or expression relating to any commercial interest except for a community wide special event or a sports team of local interest; and that (2) provides a design and/or color scheme that recognizes a community organization, recognizes a holiday, presents seasonal colors or provides colors to enhance the aesthetic appeal of a property. A vertical flag mounted on a pole that is commonly called a banner is considered a flag under this definition.
FLASHING SIGNA sign or a portion thereof which changes light intensity or switches on and off in constant pattern, or contains motion or the optical illusion of motion. For the purposes of this Chapter
64, a moving or revolving sign shall be considered a flashing sign. A flashing sign is prohibited within the Village of Mukwonago.
For the purposes of this Chapter
64, a portion of a building included between the surface of a story of a building and the next floor, story or roof line above it.
Any sign permanently affixed to a monument sign base or a pole, when permitted that is affixed to the ground independent of any other structure or building. See also "pole sign," "monument horizontal sign", "monument vertical sign" or "structure sign."
HANGING SIGNAny sign presented horizontally that hangs from an awning, canopy or overhang over private property with a minimum clearance of seven feet from the bottom of the sign to the ground or pedestrian walkway, or 10 feet from the bottom of the sign to any vehicle drive.
ILLEGAL NONCONFORMINGAny sign, the area, dimensions, location or design of which were unlawful at the time the sign was erected, and which continues to nonconforming to the current standards and regulations due to the adoption, revision or amendment of this Chapter
64. See also "legal nonconforming."
For the purposes of this Chapter
64, an improved property is listed in the assessment records of the Village of Mukwonago as "improved".
A ground-mounted or aerial inflated device is an air filled object made of strong plastic or rubber expansive material designed to bring attention to a business, located on the same property on which the business the inflated device advertises is located.
LANDSCAPINGFor purposes of this Chapter
64, the improvement of the appearance of the area surrounding a freestanding sign by the planting of grass, shrubs, other plants or other materials such as natural stone.
Any sign, the area, dimensions, location or design of which were lawful at the time the sign was erected, but which fail to conform to the current standards and regulations due to the adoption, revision or amendment of this Article VII. See also "illegal nonconforming."
LOGOA graphic mark; symbol or emblem commonly used for a business or an organization to aid and promote instant recognition. The logo can be symbol of a parent company to which the local business represents and has a contractual affiliation.
MANUFACTURING ZONINGAny of the separate zoning districts within Chapter
100 of the Village of Mukwonago Municipal Code (zoning) that has manufacturing as part of the zoning district name and description, normally designated with an "M" and number.
A stone-like material laid in and bound together. The common materials for a masonry sign base are brick and stone such as marble, granite, travertine or limestone. Split face block can be utilized if matching the split face block consistency and color on the building the sign advertises. Full brick pieces or stone may be installed over a solid interior base, such as concrete or solid wall construction. The exposed masonry of a masonry sign base may not be cement, concrete, concrete block, painted concrete block, glass block, stucco and tile.
MEMORIAL SIGN OR TABLETA stone or plaque constructed within or installed onto a building wall in remembrance of a person or event, and not a specific business name or conveying a commercial message.
MENU BOARDA permanently mounted sign requiring a permit for a drive-in, drive-thru or drive-window service for the benefit of customers already on the property. A menu board is not a reader board.
MONUMENT HORIZONTAL SIGNA freestanding monument sign having the sign face area that counts toward overall maximum sign size as either square in height and width dimensions, or the height dimension is less than the width dimension. Also referred to as a horizontal monument sign.
MONUMENT SIGNA freestanding sign continuously attached to a continuous structural base affixed to the ground, which base is not less than the width and depth of the sign attached to it. Monument signs do not include freestanding signs supported by poles.
MONUMENT SIGN BASEContinuous masonry structural base affixed to the ground to serve as the base for a freestanding horizontal monument sign or a freestanding vertical monument sign.
MONUMENT VERTICAL SIGNA freestanding monument sign having the sign face area that counts toward overall maximum sign size with the height dimension at least 1.2 times the width dimension; also referred to as a vertical monument sign.
MULTI-TENANTA property or structure occupied by multiple leaseholders each with its own public entrance from the exterior of the building or through a shared lobby, atrium, mall, or hallway and separated from other tenant spaces by walls.
OFF-PREMISES SIGNAn outdoor advertising sign or poster panel which advertises products, businesses, and/or services not connected with the site on which the sign is located, which may be a sign on a substantially permanent structure which displays services of a type which are customarily leased for commercial purposes. An off-premises sign is prohibited within the Village of Mukwonago pursuant to §
64-13.
For the purposes of this Chapter
64, a person, corporation or similar entity engaged in a service that is eligible to be identified with a sign or signs as regulated by this Chapter
64.
A sign securely attached at the top or near the top of a vertical pole, support or base constructed of wood, metal or similar rigid and durable material displayed outside and near the main building entrance of a business to temporarily identify a product or service, typically a restaurant menu or a special sale item.
PERMANENT SIGNA sign which is intended to be "permanent in place" for the duration of the permit use. Examples of permanent signs may include, but not limited to, wall signs, roof signs, projecting signs, freestanding signs (pole, monument horizontal, monument vertical or structure), awning signs, or on-site directional signs.
PERMITFor the purposes of this Chapter
64, a document issued by the Zoning Administrator or the Building Inspector stating a sign meets the requirements of this Chapter
64 and any other applicable codes to allow that sign to be duly placed and installed within a property within the Village of Mukwonago. Each sign type that requires a permit under the provisions of this Chapter
64 shall be included in a list determined and maintained by the Zoning Administrator and the Building Inspector to either Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector responsibility to issue said permit. Permit application forms shall be made available to applicants for sign permits, and the Village Board may set fees to issue a sign permit and complete sign inspections per sign type.
The body with the responsibility of review of signs and special exceptions as required by this Chapter
64, as organized under W.S.A., §
62.23 and Village of Mukwonago Municipal Code Chapter
62.
Any freestanding sign that does not meet the definition of monument sign. A pole sign is composed of the sign cabinet and the sign pole or pylon by which the sign cabinet connects to the ground.
PORTABLE SIGNA sign that is not permanent, affixed to a building, structure, or to the ground, other than a sandwich board or pedestal sign allowed by this Chapter
64. Such sign is sometimes mounted on wheels to make it transportable. A portable sign is prohibited in the Village of Mukwonago pursuant to §
64-13.
A sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support and which projects more than 12 inches from such building.
PUBLIC ENTRANCEFor the purposes of this Chapter
64, an entrance to the interior space of an office, commercial or retail business, or industrial building that is located and designed, and allowed by applicable building codes, to be used as an ingress/egress to the interior space by customers or visitors, and that is available for use by the public during business open hours. An entrance used solely for employees and/or deliveries shall not be determined to be a public entrance.
A sign that is designed, installed and used as a permanent sign but with the intent of being removed or replaced from time to time. A quasi-permanent sign as regulated in this Chapter
64 is intended to provide supplemental identification for a business and organization and shall not be used as the sole identification of a business or organization in lieu of a permanent sign allowed in §
64-22 or
64-23.
A portion of a sign on which letters and other sign copy are readily replaceable either manually or electronically such that copy can be changed from time to time at will, and with copy changed at a frequency of at least once every six months; however, individual applied letters shall be changed at a frequency of at least once every seven days. Electronic messages shall be allowed to change no more frequently than once every 15 seconds, except for reader board signs along an interstate highway, where the display criteria is preempted by Wis. Stats., §
84.30. A reader board includes other terms such as changeable copy sign, message board, electronic message center or LED message board. A reader board is not a menu board.
For the purposes of this Chapter
64, a form filed with the Zoning Administrator or the Building Inspector office stating that a temporary sign or quasi-permanent sign meets the requirements of this Chapter
64. The purpose of sign registration is to provide the Zoning Administrator with a record of sign ownership, installer and date of installation, and that the sign conforms to the design standards for the sign. Sign registration forms shall be made available to property owners, sign owners or their assigns. A fee is not required for a sign registration. Failure of a property owner or sign owner to file a registration when required, or placement of a temporary or quasi-permanent sign that does not conform to the standards for that sign category, shall cause removal of said sign in accordance with provisions of this Chapter
64.
For the purpose of sign regulation in the Village of Mukwonago, any property used as a dwelling or dwellings and zoned for residential within Chapter
100 of the Village of Mukwonago Municipal Code (zoning).
A sign that is mounted on the roof of a building or which is wholly dependent upon a building for support and which projects above the point of a building with a flat roof, the eaves line of a building with a gambrel, gable, or hip roof, or the deck of a building with a mansard roof.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGNA two-sided portable sign constructed of wood, metal or similar rigid and durable material displayed outside and near the main building entrance of a business to temporarily identify a product or service, typically a special sale item, special sales event or help wanted. The sandwich board sign is generally two individual sign surfaces connected at a pivot point at the top of the sign surfaces so that each sign surface can support itself and be placed on a flat solid surface in the form of an inverted "V" shape.
SETBACKFor the purpose of sign regulation in the Village of Mukwonago, the required minimum horizontal distance between any part of a sign or sign structure and any right-of-way line (front property line), side property line or rear property line.
SIGNAny medium, including its structure, words, letters, figures, numerals, phrases, sentences, emblems, devices, designs, trade names or trademarks by which anything is made known and which are used to advertise or promote an individual, firm, association, corporation, profession or business, and which is visible to the public.
SIGN COPYThe business name and message to identify an on-site business, and any other sign elements of a logo, accent stripe or accent color allowed by this Chapter
64.
The area or display surface used for the message.
SIGN HEIGHTThe vertical distance from adjacent grade to the highest point of a freestanding sign including supports, design features and embellishments, or for other signs the vertical distance of the sign from bottom to top or all combined wall sign elements.
SIGN MAINTENANCEThe normal care needed to keep a sign functional, such as cleaning, painting, oiling and changing of light bulbs.
SIGN WIDTHThe maximum horizontal distance between the sides of the sign face for a freestanding sign including monument sign columns, or for other signs the maximum horizontal distance between the sides of the sign of all combined sign elements.
SIGN, GROUNDAny sign placed upon or supported by the ground independent of any other structures. For the purpose of this Chapter
64, a ground sign is called a freestanding sign.
A multi-tenant freestanding sign means sign for an office, commercial or industrial building occupied by two or more leasable business areas, or a grouping of buildings within a unified development on the same property that may have multiple tenants per building or within each building. In addition, any office, commercial or industrial building with separate condominium ownerships shall be multi-tenant.
SIGN, MULTI-TENANT WALL SIGN OR PROJECTING SIGNA multi-tenant wall sign or projecting sign means a sign for an office, commercial or industrial building occupied by two or more leasable business areas; however, each leasable area must have a public entrance separate from any other leasable business area and public access directly to the leasable business area via the building exterior or a common lobby or corridor. Leasable business areas that are incorporated within a larger leasable business area or business of the property ownership and are dependent upon the larger leasable business area for hours of operation, facilities, utilities and the like shall not be determined to be multi-tenant. If the public cannot enter a leasable business area when the larger leasable area is not open to the public, then the leasable business area shall not be eligible for a wall sign or a projecting sign as a multi-tenant business. In addition, any building with separate condominium ownerships shall be considered multi-tenant.
SINGLE TENANT BUILDINGFor the purpose of signage, a single tenant building is a stand-alone building designed for and occupied by a single office, commercial or industrial business that may have multiple uses within a larger integral space designed as a single entity. See definitions for multi-tenant wall sign or projecting sign, or multi-tenant freestanding sign, for when sign regulations for single tenant building or multi-tenant buildings apply.
STRUCTURE SIGNA freestanding sign taller than a monument horizontal sign or monument vertical sign constructed with the same width dimension at all points of the sign structure from base to highest point of the sign structure allowed by special exception approved by the plan commission on properties equal to or over 2.01 acres in size abutting the Interstate 43 right-of-way, or allowed in certain situations for a motor fuel dispensing station freestanding sign.
TEMPORARY OR SPECIAL EVENT SIGNA nonpermanent sign intended for use for a short period of time as specified in this Chapter
64 typically constructed of canvas, fabric, wood, plastic, cardboard or wall board, with or without frame.
For the purposes of this Chapter
64, an unimproved property is listed in the assessment records of the Village of Mukwonago with only an assigned "land" value, and not any improvement value.
A permanent or temporary sign affixed, painted on, or placed in or on any vehicle, trailer, or other device capable of being driven or towed, which is displayed in public view so that the primary purpose is to attract the attention of the public, rather than the vehicle or trailer to serve the business of the owner thereof in a manner which is customary for said vehicle or trailer for transportation or carrying of materials. A vehicle or trailer sign is prohibited in the Village of Mukwonago pursuant to §
64-13.
The elected officials of the Village of Mukwonago comprised of a Village President and six Trustees.
VILLAGE CENTER(a) The Village center is the geographic area of the corporate limits of the Village of Mukwonago bounded by:
(1) NORTHCenterline of Pearl Avenue east of Rochester Street (STH 83); centerline of Eagle Lake Avenue west of Rochester Street (STH 83).
SOUTHCenterline of Blood Street from between Lois Street and Main Street; centerline of Main Street between Blood Street and Andrews Street; centerline of Andrews Street east of Main Street with same line extended eastward to the railroad right-of-way.
WESTCenterline of Lois Street north of Blood Street to centerline of Atkinson Street; centerline of Atkinson Street between Lois Street and Park Place; centerline of Park Place Avenue north of Atkinson Street with same line extended to the centerline of Eagle Lake Avenue.
The Village center may be referred to as the downtown, central Village, the historic preservation area or the fire district in other chapters of the Municipal Code or within Village plans or policies.
[Amended 12-18-2019 by Ord. No. 970]
VILLAGE PROPERThe geographic area of the corporate limits of the Village of Mukwonago outside of the defined boundary of the Village center.
VISION TRIANGLEFor the purposes of this Chapter
64, an imaginary line provided at each intersection of two streets, and alley and a street, or an access drive and street. Typically in Chapter
100, the vision triangle is measured 30 feet from the intersection of the rights-of-way or the edge of the access drive with the right-of-way. The vision triangle shall be measured as required in Chapter
100. A vision triangle may be also called a vision corner.
A sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for or forms the background surface of the sign and which does not project more than 12 inches from such building or structure.
WINDOW SIGNA sign that is applied or attached to the interior of a window or located in such manner within the building that it can be readily seen from the exterior of the building through a window.
ZONING ADMINISTRATORFor the purpose of this Chapter
64, a person or anyone of a group of persons assigned by the Village Board and/or Village Administrator to review and approve sign installation, maintenance and enforcement in accordance with the standards and requirements of this Chapter
64, and may from time to time have the authority to issue a permit for sign installation when the proposed sign does not [sic] a review by the Building Inspector. The person or group of persons assigned with zoning administration responsibilities from time to time may be assigned the duties of Building Inspector, but the duties of each described within this Chapter
64 are separate and distinct.