Food carts and crowds on State Street Mall.
Economic Development

Banners on Pedestrian Bridges

An eligible banner for this program is available for non-profit and non-commercial messaging. The banner or series of banners must contain noncommercial messages displayed to call attention to cultural events, charity campaigns or neighborhood sponsored activities.

Banner Display Fee - $200.00 per two weeks or any portion thereof, per location, per side.

A current Certificate of General Liability Insurance (COI) must be on file at all times. See below for the insurance requirements for Banners.

Locations

Campus Drive

  • Inbound faces west toward Middleton, so eastbound motorists see your banner as they drive toward the Capitol.
  • Outbound faces east, so westbound motorists see your banner as they drive toward Middleton.

Park Street

  • Inbound faces south, so that northbound motorists see your banner as they drive toward the University of Wisconsin campus.
  • Outbound faces north, so southbound motorists see your banner as they drive toward the Beltline.

How to Apply

Fees are paid after application is reviewed and approved by staff.

Apply

Need help with your online application? Contact IT Support elamsupport@cityofmadison.com or call 608-261-4293.

  • Click on Permitting at the top of the page
  • Click on Apply for a Permit
  • Select Banner Permit to begin the process

Insurance Requirements for Banners

A current Certificate of General Liability Insurance must be on file at all times. Below are the requirements that must be on the form. This one-page document can be attached to your online application or submitted via email to streetvending@cityofmadison.com. 

Certificate of General Liability Insurance (COI) requirements:

  • Commercial general liability insurance at a minimum of $500,000 per occurrence.
  • Name on your License, legal registered name, and application must match exactly the name of your insured on you Insurance.
  • ADDL INSD box checked
  • In the Description of Operations box near the bottom the write “The City of Madison is listed as an additional insured".
  • Policy number must be listed on the form.
  • Policy dates (start and expiration date) must be active.
  • In the Certificate Holder box at the bottom of the page write:

City of Madison

Attn: Risk Manager

210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Rm. 406

Madison, WI 53703

Banner Guidelines
  • Banner length is not to exceed 24 feet and width is not to exceed 3 feet.
  • Banners are to have air slits every 3 feet to 5 feet minimum to reduce wind load.
  • 400 pounds maximum tensile strength rope used to attach the banner to the bridge.
  • Simple, legible messages are the most effective. A banner that is too small or contains too much information is less legible.
  • Licensed sign hangers use equipment that enables them to safely attach a banner to the outside of the fence.
  • Organizations often use the following to hang their own banners: cable ties, key or combination locks.
  • The City of Madison does not maintain a list of possible vendors who make or hang banners. Organizations are advised to check a phone book, the internet, or to ask other organizations which companies they have engaged.
  • When possible, design a banner that can be used year after year.
  • The banner must have the name and telephone number of the sponsoring civic organization clearly shown on it, however the phone number need not be legible to passing motorists. The phone number serves as a way of contacting the organization by anyone who needs to, such as in case of emergency, and may be on the back of the banner.
  • Organizations may hang the banners themselves or make arrangements with the company that made the banner. Those hanging their own banners are advised to secure their banners to the inside of the chain link fence. They are advised to have at least two people participate, especially on windy days.

General Guidelines

  • If applying any time after the annual December 31st deadline, please contact the Street Vending staff to make sure the dates you desire are available.
  • The most-requested months are March through November.
  • Banner display assignments may begin on any day of the week.

Applications will be emailed late each November to all included on the email distribution list. If you would like to be included on the list, please send your email address to the Street Vending staff at streetvending@cityofmadison.com.

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