Municipal and tribal nation welcome signs

Overview

Photo courtesy of Julie Raasch

A municipal welcome sign is an official sign installed and maintained by a municipality that informs motorists of a municipality's territorial boundary. A municipality may be a town, village, city or county. It does not include an unincorporated community.

A tribal nation welcome sign is also an official sign installed and maintained by one of the federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands in Wisconsin that informs motorists of the territorial boundaries of the Indian reservation or other land held in trust for the tribe or band.

Location

• On state highway right-of-way
• As close to the right-of-way line as possible
• Out of the clear zone
• May not be placed on Interstate right-of-way

Size

• No limitations

Content

• May include logos, graphics and/or taglines (slogans)
  
• For tribal nation welcome signs, may contain dual language
  
• May not contain:
• Commercial messages, business names or sponsorships
• Other official or service club signs
• Electronic message boards
• Static message boards
• Auxiliary placards
• Memorials

Fabrication, installation, maintenance, and relocation

• Paid for by the municipality or tribal nation (applicant)

Relevant law and policy

• Wis. Stat. s. 84.30(2)(hm)
• Wis. Stat. ss. 86.19(1n) and 86.19(1p)
• Highway Maintenance Manual 09-20-30

Application

• Form DT1812, Application/Permit to Work on Highway Right-of-Way
• Include detailed drawing of the proposed sign along with location diagram
• Additional information for work on highway right-of-way permits, see webpage
• Application Fee: None

Questions regarding specific municipal and tribal nation welcome sign installations

• Contact the appropriate WisDOT transportation region office

Other Requirements

• Application must be filled-out and signed by an elected official or authorized employee of the municipality or tribal government representative
• Municipality or tribe must be self-insured or carry sufficient insurance for the sign
• Only one welcome sign is allowed per each state highway direction that crosses a municipal or tribal boundary - even if the highway crosses a boundary more than once
• The municipal welcome sign* must:
• Be installed to inform motorists of the municipal or tribal territorial boundary
• Be entirely located within the municipal or tribal territorial boundary
• Be entirely located on state highway right-of-way (including any overhang)
• Be installed and maintained by a municipality or tribe
• Not constitute a safety hazard (i.e., located out of the clear zone)
• Not obstruct, conflict, or interfere with official traffic control signs and devices
• Not obstruct or interfere with the vision of motorists navigating any intersection, which includes all driveways

*Including any applicable landscaping

Questions regarding WisDOT policy or this webpage

Bob Fasick, Statewide Right-of-Way Permits Engineer
Wisconsin DOT
Bureau of Highway Maintenance
4822 Madison Yards Way, 5th Floor South
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 266-3438
robert.fasick@dot.wi.gov