Oakdale City Zoning Code

(a)

The purpose of this article is to protect and promote the general welfare, health, safety, and order within the City of Oakdale through the standards, regulations and procedures governing the erection, use and/or display of devices, signs, or symbols serving as visual communicative media to persons situated within or upon public rights-of-way or properties.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)

(a)

Substitution. Signs containing noncommercial speech are permitted anywhere that advertising or business signs are permitted, subject to the same regulations applicable to such signs.

(b)

Construction. All signs shall be constructed in such a manner and of such material that they shall be safe and substantial, provided that nothing in this Code shall be interpreted as authorizing the erection or construction of any sign not now permissible under the Zoning or Building Codes of the City.

(c)

Maintenance. Signs and sign structures shall be properly maintained and kept in a safe condition. Sign or sign structures which are rotted, unsafe, deteriorated, or defaced, as determined by the Community Development Director, shall be removed, repainted, repaired, or replaced by the permit holder, owner, or agent of the property upon which the sign stands.

(d)

Placement.

(1)

No sign, other than those of governmental jurisdictions, shall be erected or temporarily placed within any street right-of-way or upon any public easements.

(2)

A permit for a sign to be located within fifty (50) feet of any street or highway regulatory or warning sign, or of any traffic sign or signal, or of any crossroad or crosswalk, will be issued only if:

(A)

The sign will not interfere with the ability of drivers and pedestrians to see any street or highway sign, or any traffic sign or signal, or any crossroad or crosswalk, and

(B)

The sign will not distract drivers nor offer any confusion to any street or highway sign, or any traffic sign or signal.

(3)

No part of a freestanding sign shall be closer than ten (10) feet to any property line.

(4)

Any freestanding sign within twenty-five (25) feet of any intersection of street right-of-way lines and/or driveway entrances shall have vertical clearance for proper visibility by motorists on all affected roadways.

(e)

Freestanding Signs.

(1)

Freestanding signs along major thoroughfares (I-94, I-694, MN36/120/Inwood Ave/Hadley Ave/10th St/34th St) shall be subject to review and approval by the Development Review Committee. The focus of the review is to assure the quality of the sign with regard to design and materials pursuant to the requirements in this article.

(2)

The base of any freestanding signs shall be at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the width of the sign from the ground to the bottom of the sign.

(3)

The base or support structure for the sign shall complement the design of the building and incorporate forty percent (40%) of brick, stone, decorative block, or similar substantial materials as approved by the city.

(4)

Freestanding sign height shall be measured from the base of the sign to the highest point of the sign.

(f)

Wall Signs.

(1)

A wall sign shall not project more than eighteen (18) inches from the wall to which the sign is to be affixed. Furthermore, wall mounted signs shall not exceed the roofline on any building.

(2)

Banners shall be included in the allowance for wall signs. The design and construction of all banners shall be professional looking and not be allowed to become torn or weathered.

(3)

Canopies and marquees shall be considered to be an integral part of the structure to which they are accessory. Signs may be attached to a canopy or marquee but such structure shall not be considered as part of the wall area and thus shall not warrant additional sign area.

(g)

Illuminated signs.

(1)

All illuminated signs shall have a shielded light source.

(2)

Any sign illuminated and located within fifty (50) feet of a lot line or a residential district shall be diffused or indirect so as not to direct rays of light into adjacent residence.

(3)

All illuminated signs in commercial or industrial districts in close proximity to residential districts shall be designed so as to illuminate the sign and not residential property to the extent practicable.

(4)

The Building Official, in granting permits for illuminated signs, shall specify the hours during which the sign may be kept lighted to prevent the creation of a nuisance.

(h)

The total sign area of any multi-faced sign shall not exceed twice the permitted area of a two-sided sign or three (3) times the area of a three-sided sign. All applications for signs of more than two (2) sides shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and Council.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)

The following signs shall not be permitted, erected, or maintained on any property within the city:

(a)

Roof signs;

(b)

Private signs that resemble any official marker, governmental agency, or display such words as "stop" or "danger" unless so specified by this article;

(c)

Signs containing "obscene" content as defined by Minnesota Statutes, Section 617.241;

(d)

Signs which contain moving parts or flashing lights;

(e)

Permanent signs which are portable and internally lit;

(f)

Signs which by reason of position, movement, shape, illumination, or color would constitute a hazard to oncoming traffic;

(g)

Signs located on private property without the consent of the owner thereof;

(h)

Signs which are structurally unsafe, dilapidated, or abandoned.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)

The exemptions allowed by this section shall apply only to the requirement of a permit and shall not be construed as excusing the installer of the sign, or the owner of the property upon which the sign is located, from complying with the other provisions of this article. No permit is required under this section for the following signs:

(a)

Property address information no larger than two (2) square feet in area which is visible from the street or road fronting the property for public safety purposes.

(b)

Signs erected by a governmental unit or public school district.

(c)

A window sign placed within a building and not exceeding fifty percent (50%) of the window area.

(d)

All noncommercial signs of any size may be posted in any number beginning forty-six (46) days before any primary in any election year until ten (10) days following any election. These signs must be placed no less than five (5) feet from any lot line and cannot be located within the public right-of-way.

(e)

Signs which are located completely within a building and are not visible from the outside of said building.

(f)

Signage which does not outwardly face the public right-of-way and which is intended for internal site communication.

(g)

Bench signs are allowed in all districts at Metro Transit bus stops.

(h)

Back-lighted signs are allowed on the ends of bus shelters.

(i)

In addition to the signage allowed in this article, one (1) additional non-illuminated wall sign is allowed on any property with a home occupation. Said sign shall be no more than six (6) square feet in area.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)

(a)

In addition to those exempt signs listed in Section 25-11-202 Exempt Signs, the following permanent signs are allowed in each specific district with a permit and shall be regulated according to the requirements herein set forth:

(1)

Residential Districts.

(A)

Residential uses.

(i)

One freestanding (1) sign per each major development, not to exceed twenty-four (24) square feet in area and six (6) feet in height.

(ii)

One (1) wall sign for each street frontage shall be permitted on any multi-unit residential building. The total area of each wall sign shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total area of the wall on which it is affixed or one hundred fifty (150) square feet, whichever is less.

(iii)

Blade signs as specified in provision (2)(C) below may be placed on multi-unit residential buildings containing eight (8) or more units.

(B)

Private parks and recreational uses.

(i)

One (1) freestanding sign per street frontage is allowed. Such sign shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet in area nor shall it be placed closer than ten (10) feet to any property line nor shall it be placed in a location that would interfere with the safe movement of traffic.

(C)

Non-residential institutional uses.

(i)

Wall Signs:

a.

One (1) wall sign for each street frontage shall be permitted on a building. The total area of each wall sign shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total area of the wall on which it is affixed or one hundred fifty (150) square feet, whichever is less.

(ii)

Freestanding Signs:

a.

One (1) freestanding sign is permitted for each street frontage. The total area of a freestanding sign for a building having one (1) street frontage shall not exceed sixty (60) square feet. Where a building has two (2) or more street frontages, each permitted freestanding sign in excess of one (1) shall be no greater than thirty (30) square feet in area.

b.

No part of a freestanding sign shall exceed ten (10) feet in height.

(2)

Commercial Districts.

(A)

Wall Signs:

(i)

One (1) wall sign per tenant shall be permitted on a building for each street frontage, including private drives. The total area of each wall sign shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total area of the wall on which it is affixed or one hundred fifty (150) square feet, whichever is less.

(ii)

For retail establishments exceeding sixty thousand (60,000) square feet in size:

a.

One (1) wall sign for each street frontage, including private drives, shall be permitted on a building for each business located within such building.

b.

The total square footage of wall signage shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total square footage of the wall upon which the signs are affixed.

c.

No individual wall sign shall exceed three hundred fifty (350) square feet.

d.

Wall signs for sub-tenants and sub-brands shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet, unless the sub-tenant or sub-brand contains sixty thousand (60,000) square feet or greater of gross floor area, in which case its wall sign shall not exceed three hundred fifty (350) square feet.

(B)

Freestanding Signs:

(i)

One (1) freestanding sign is permitted for each building for each street frontage, including private drives.

(ii)

The total area of a freestanding sign for a building having one (1) street frontage shall not exceed eighty (80) square feet. Where a building has two (2) or more street frontages, each permitted freestanding sign in excess of one shall be no greater than one-half (½) the area of the first sign.

(iii)

No part of a freestanding sign shall exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height.

(C)

Blade Signs:

(i)

Blade signs may be placed on buildings within the B-1, B-2, B-3, and MX zoning districts.

(ii)

Blade signs shall meet the following standards:

a.

No more than one (1) blade sign per tenant space

b.

The sign may be located on the ground floor façade only (sign to be mounted below fifteen (15) feet as measured from finished grade outside the facade)

c.

The maximum area of the sign shall be fifteen (15) square feet.

d.

The sign shall not obstruct any pedestrian or vehicular way. Minimum vertical clearance of ten (10) feet from the finished sidewalk if it is non-illuminated and eleven (11) feet from the finished sidewalk if it is illuminated.

e.

The sign may project no more than three (3) feet from building wall.

(D)

Pylon signs on properties abutting an interstate freeway, state highway, or county highway right-of-way:

(i)

Retail and service establishments may erect one (1) pylon sign not exceeding one hundred fifty (150) square feet of display surface area in addition to freestanding signage allowed in provision (B) above.

(ii)

Multi-tenant retail establishments exceeding sixty thousand (60,000) square feet in size are allowed one (1) pylon sign on the interstate frontage for all tenants in the establishment in addition to freestanding signage allowed per provision (a)(2)(B) above. Total sign area on the pylon sign shall not exceed three hundred fifty (350) square feet. Multi-tenant big box retail pylon signs shall have a support structure in compliance with the performance standards set forth in Subsection 25-11-102(e).

(iii)

The minimum allowance distance of a pylon sign to an interstate freeway or county highway right-of-way is fifty (50) feet, with a maximum height of thirty (30) feet.

(iv)

The minimum allowable distance in any direction between pylon signs within the boundaries of the City of Oakdale is five hundred (500) feet.

(3)

Industrial Districts.

(A)

Freestanding Signs:

(i)

One (1) freestanding sign is permitted for each principal building, not to exceed eighty (80) square feet in area and fifteen (15) feet in height.

(B)

Wall Signs:

(i)

One (1) wall sign for each street frontage shall be permitted on a building.

(ii)

One (1) additional wall sign is permitted for each tenant in a multi-tenant building.

(iii)

The total square footage of wall signage shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total square footage of the wall upon which the signs are affixed.

(iv)

No wall sign shall exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet in area.

(C)

Commercial uses in industrial districts may have signs according to the standards for commercial districts listed in provision (2) above.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)

(a)

Billboards are allowed only in the B-1, B-3, and B-4 zoning districts.

(b)

Billboards may only be erected along and are intended to be viewed from Interstate Highways 94 and 694.

(c)

The maximum allowable size of any billboard is seven hundred (700) square feet. The maximum allowable extensions shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the total sign area. All skirting and perimeter material shall be counted as part of the sign area.

(d)

The maximum allowable height of any billboard is thirty-five (35) feet. If an interstate highway served by a billboard is elevated above the surface on which it is placed, the City Council may grant a variance to this regulation according to its discretion.

(e)

The minimum allowable distance in any direction between billboards within the boundaries of the City of Oakdale is one (1) mile.

(f)

The minimum allowable proximity of any billboard to any residential zoning district is five hundred (500) feet.

(g)

The minimum allowable distance of any billboard to any interstate or trunk highway right-of-way is fifty (50) feet.

(h)

The minimum allowable distance of a billboard to any building is twenty-five (25) feet.

(i)

No portion of any billboard shall occupy air space above any driveway or parking area.

(j)

No billboard may display any moving parts nor shall it be illuminated with any flashing or intermittent lights.

(k)

Three-dimensional attachments on billboards are prohibited.

(l)

All dynamic billboards shall be licensed pursuant to Chapter 9 Licenses and Business Regulations of the City Code.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)

(a)

All electronic message signs, including dynamic billboards, shall meet the following standards:

(1)

The lamp wattage and luminance level in Nits shall be provided at the time of permit application.

(2)

Public service messages, in addition to messages such as Amber Alerts, are to be provided at no cost to the public.

(3)

Electronic dynamic business signs are prohibited as temporary signs.

(4)

Electronic message signs must have minimum display duration of thirty (30) seconds.

(5)

The sign must be rectangular in shape and all messages contained within.

(b)

Additional standards for dynamic billboards:

(1)

Such displays shall contain static messages only; change from one (1) static message to another shall be instantaneous without any special effects, through dissolve or fade transitions, or with the use of other subtle transition that do not have the appearance of moving text or images.

(2)

The sign shall not be allowed on any buildings.

(3)

All electronic message signs shall have installed ambient light monitors and shall, at all times, allow such monitors to automatically adjust the brightness level of the electronic sign based on light conditions.

(4)

Electronic message signs shall not exceed two thousand five hundred (2,500) Nits between the hours of civil sunrise and civil sunset and shall not exceed five hundred (500) Nits between the hours of civil sunset and civil sunrise as measured from the face of the sign.

(5)

Electronic message signs shall have a fully functional monitoring off switch system that automatically shuts the electronic display off when the display deteriorates, in any fashion, five (5) percent or greater until the electronic display sign has been repaired to its fully functional factory specifications.

(6)

When a static billboard is replaced with an electronic message sign, a permanent removal of two (2) square feet of existing static billboard shall be required for every one (1) square foot of electronic message sign.

(7)

Conversion of a nonconforming static billboard sign to a dynamic display electronic message sign is prohibited.

(c)

For institutional uses in residential districts, electronic message signs are allowed as part of the total area of any freestanding sign, with the following standards:

(1)

A conditional use permit is required.

(2)

The electronic portion of the sign not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.

(3)

Electronic message signs shall not exceed two thousand five hundred (2,500) Nits between the hours of civil sunrise and civil sunset, as measured from the sign face.

(4)

The electronic portion of the sign may not be illuminated between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and shall have a maximum of two hundred fifty (250) Nits from civil sunset to civil sunrise, as measured from the sign face. The City Council may extend the hours of illumination if the proposed sign is located at least one hundred (100) feet from a residential property boundary.

(5)

Signs shall have a fully functional off switch that automatically shuts the electronic display sign off when the display deteriorates ten (10) percent or greater.

(d)

In commercial districts, electronic message signs are allowed as part of the total area of a permitted freestanding sign, with the following standards:

(1)

A conditional use permit is required.

(2)

Signs shall not exceed two thousand five hundred (2,500) Nits between the hours of civil sunrise and civil sunset and shall not exceed five hundred (500) Nits between the hours of civil sunset and civil sunrise, as measured from the sign face.

(3)

Signs adjacent to residential properties shall be shut off from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. or have a maximum of two hundred fifty (250) Nits from civil sunset to civil sunrise.

(4)

Signs shall have a fully functional off switch that automatically shuts the display sign off when the display deteriorates ten (10) percent or greater.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25; Ord. No. 959, § 9, 1/27/26)

(a)

Sandwich Board Signs do not require a sign permit.

(1)

The maximum area shall be eight (8) square feet per side of the sign with the maximum height being three and a half (3 ½) feet.

(2)

Only one sandwich board sign per business per street frontage shall be permitted. Signage shall be located directly in front of or adjacent to the building that contains the business that is being advertised, except when a business has written authorization from another business and its property owner for its sign to be located directly in front or adjacent to said other business/property.

(3)

Sandwich board signs shall: not be illuminated, nor shall they contain moving parts; only be displayed during business operating hours, except those located on private property; be removed from public sidewalks if there is any snow accumulation (the sign may not be replaced until the snow is removed).

(4)

Sandwich board signs within the public right-of-way may be moved/removed by the city for municipal purposes. (i.e. snow removal, traffic issues, maintenance, etc.).

(b)

Temporary signs associated with special event permits do not need a sign permit.

(c)

Other Temporary Sign Regulations.

(1)

Other temporary signs shall include: banners, pennants, flying signs, air inflated devices, search lights, portable bulletin signs, streamers, and other signs approved through a temporary sign permit.

(2)

Other temporary signs may be displayed for up to sixty (60) calendar days each year.

(3)

After the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy (CO), the business that was issued the CO is exempt from the monetary and time restraints of temporary sign requirements for a period of ninety (90) days.

(d)

Additional temporary signage may be permitted by the City Council with issuance of an interim use permit.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)

(a)

Any nonconforming temporary or portable sign existing at the time of adoption of this ordinance shall be made to comply with the requirements set forth herein or shall be removed within one hundred eighty (180) days after the adoption of this article.

(b)

Nonconforming permanent signs lawfully existing at the time of the adoption of this article shall have five (5) years from the date of the adoption of this article to comply with the provisions of this article or be removed.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)

(a)

Except as provided in Section 25-11-202 Exempt Signs, the owner or occupant of the premises on which a sign is to be displayed, or the owner or installer of such signs, shall file an application provided by the City Building Official for permission to display such sign. Permits must be acquired for all existing, new, relocated, modified or redesigned signs except those specifically exempted in Section 25-11-202 Exempt Signs. The applicant shall submit with the application a complete description of the sign and a sketch showing its size, location, manner of construction and such other information as shall be necessary to inform the City Building Official of the kind, size, material, construction and location of the sign. The City Building Official may approve Sign Permits. The applicant shall also submit the fee at the time of application.

(b)

If a sign authorized by a permit has not been installed within three (3) months after the date of issuance of said permit, the permit shall become null and void.

(c)

All signs shall be constructed in accordance with the current Minnesota State Building Code and National Electric Code.

(d)

All signs utilizing electricity shall be subject to the state's current Electrical Code and electrical wiring shall be buried or concealed.

(e)

All sign structures shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 80 mph, or as determined by the current Minnesota State Building Code.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)

(a)

If the City Building Official finds that any sign regulated by this article is in violation of this article, the Building Official shall give written notice of such violation to the owner or permittee thereof. If the owner or permittee fails to comply with the provision set forth in this ordinance within ten (10) calendar days following receipt of said notice, the following shall apply:

(1)

Nuisance. Such sign shall be deemed to be a nuisance and may be abated by the city by proceedings taken under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429, and the cost of abatement, including administration expenses, may be levied as a special assessment against the property upon which the sign is located.

(2)

Penalty. Failure to comply with the provisions of this article shall be a misdemeanor.

(3)

Confiscation. Signs in violation of this article.

(A)

Process:

(i)

Whenever signs are not in conformance with this article, the signs may be picked up by City Staff.

(ii)

All confiscated signs shall be stored at Public Works, in a location designated by Public Works for their storage

(iii)

Public Works shall retain the signs for a minimum of two (2) weeks, after which they are free to dispose of the sign(s).

(iv)

Any sign(s) in violation, which requires more than one (1) person in the removal, shall be released after the handling fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) has been paid at Public Works.

(4)

Exceptions: Signage allowed by Minnesota Statute Section 211B.045 which are in violation shall first receive notification that they are in violation and have twenty-four (24) hours to remove the sign. Confiscated signs will then be held at Public Works and disposed of after the election.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)

(a)

A permit applicant or permit holder may appeal any order or determination made by the City Building Official pursuant to this article by filing a notice of appeal with the Community Development Director requesting a hearing before the City Council within ten (10) days of any such order or determination. The City Council will hear:

(1)

Appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the administrative officer in the enforcement of this article.

(2)

Requests for variances from the literal provisions of this article.

(Ord. No. 948, § 2, 7-8-25)