# Sign Regulations in Michigan, Indiana

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Michigan, Indiana, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Michigan, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/michigan
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-22
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/in/michigan_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=MICHIGAN_INDIANA_CODE_APXCJOZOOR_ART19SI#page=19)

## At a glance

Michigan, Indiana regulates 26 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Blade Signs in the Non-residential zoning districts zoning district are capped at 3 ft (per table) with minimum 10 ft clearance above sidewalk tall, 8.5 sq ft per side (including bracket), and Depth not to exceed 6 inches wide, with a Not a freestanding sign; N/A setback (Sec. Table 19.04 (Blade); Sec. 19.04(b)(13)). Most commercial signs in Michigan require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 15 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Non-residential zoning districts | 15 | 30 ft | Up to 150 sq ft (and not exceeding 10% of wall area) | — |
| Agriculture (A1, A2) | 2 | Max 30 ft above median ground level within a 500 ft radius | Max 672 sq ft sign surface area (City of La Porte max 384 sq ft) | — |
| Single Family Residential (R1A, R1B, R1C, R1D) | 3 | 4 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — |
| Waterfront Residential (R1E) | 3 | 4 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — |
| Townhouse (R2A, R2B) | 3 | 4 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — |
| Low-Rise Multiple Family Residential (R3A), Mid-Rise Multiple Family Residential (R3B) | 3 | 4 ft unless mounted on a wall | 20 sq ft per face | — |
| Manufactured Housing Park (R4) | 2 | 4 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (B1), General Commercial (B2), Mixed Use (MU), Office Service (OS), Marina District (MD), Airport (AP) | 1 | Max 30 ft above median ground level within a 500 ft radius | Max 672 sq ft (City of La Porte max 384 sq ft) | — |
| Highway Commercial (B3), Light Industrial (M1), Heavy Industrial (M2) | 1 | Max 30 ft above median ground level within a 500 ft radius | Max 672 sq ft sign surface area (City of La Porte max 384 sq ft) | — |
| Downtown Core (CBD1), Transition or Hamlet Center (CBD2) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Community Special Event | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public ROW or any lot line (Sec. 19.03(j)) | 1 per street frontage | Setback a minimum of 10 ft from the public right-of-way or any lot line | — | Sec. 19.03(j); Table 19.03 (Community Special Event Signs) |
| Temporary Sign - Construction | 15 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public ROW or any lot line (Sec. 19.03(j)) | 1 per lot; on corner lots, 2 (1 facing each street) | Setback a minimum of 10 ft from the public right-of-way or any lot line | — | Sec. 19.03(j); Table 19.03 (Construction Signs) |
| Temporary Sign - Garage Sale | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public ROW or any lot line (Sec. 19.03(j)) | 1 per lot | Setback a minimum of 10 ft from the public right-of-way or any lot line | — | Sec. 19.03(j); Table 19.03 (Garage Sale Signs) |
| Temporary Sign - Grand Opening / Special Sale / Promotional / Banner | Ground sign 6 ft; Wall sign not higher than building | 16 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public ROW or any lot line (Sec. 19.03(j)) | 1 per lot; on corner lots, 2 (1 facing each street) | Setback a minimum of 10 ft from the public right-of-way or any lot line | — | Sec. 19.03(j); Table 19.03 (Grand Opening, Special Sale & Promotional Signs and Banners) |
| Temporary Sign - Political | — | 16 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public ROW or any lot line (Sec. 19.03(j)) | Not specified | Setback a minimum of 10 ft from the public right-of-way or any lot line | — | Sec. 19.03(j); Table 19.03 (Political Signs) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate: Sale or Lease of Individual Business or Lot | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public ROW or any lot line (Sec. 19.03(j)) | 1 per lot; on corner lots, 2 (1 facing each street) | Setback a minimum of 10 ft from the public right-of-way or any lot line | — | Sec. 19.03(j); Table 19.03 (Real Estate: Sale or Lease of Individual Business or Lot) |

### Non-residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | Must not exceed height of building; minimum 8 ft clearance over sidewalk | Up to 25% of awning area, maximum 50 sq ft | — | Not a freestanding sign; N/A | 1 per awning | On awning; may project over public sidewalk with 8 ft minimum clearance | — | Table 19.04 (Awning); Sec. 19.04(b)(2) |
| Blade Sign | 3 ft (per table) with minimum 10 ft clearance above sidewalk | 8.5 sq ft per side (including bracket) | Depth not to exceed 6 inches | Not a freestanding sign; N/A | 1 per facade facing a street or public right-of-way | Mounted to building facade; may extend over public sidewalk with min. 10 ft clearance to bottom | — | Table 19.04 (Blade); Sec. 19.04(b)(13) |
| Business Center Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 72 sq ft per face | — | Freestanding sign setbacks apply: 10 ft from ROW in unincorporated county; 1 ft in cities (Sec. 19.06(b)) | 1 per street frontage | On sites meeting business center criteria (≥300 ft major road frontage) | — | Table 19.04 (Business Center); Sec. 19.04(b)(4) |
| Development or Subdivision Entry Sign | 4 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — | Freestanding sign setbacks apply: 10 ft from ROW in unincorporated county; 1 ft in cities (Sec. 19.06(b)) | 1 per entrance | At entrances to developments/subdivisions | — | Table 19.04 (Development and Subdivision Entry); Sec. 19.04(b)(5) |
| Gasoline Price Sign | 12 ft | 12 sq ft per face | — | Freestanding sign setbacks apply: 10 ft from ROW in unincorporated county; 1 ft in cities (Sec. 19.06(b)) | 1 per street frontage | At gasoline service stations | — | Table 19.04 (Gasoline Price); Sec. 19.04(b)(6) |
| Marquee (Canopy) Sign | Not specified; must comply with clearance if over sidewalk | Counted as part of allowed wall signage | — | Not a freestanding sign; N/A | 1 per street frontage | On marquee or canopy; may extend over public sidewalk if clearance maintained | — | Table 19.04 (Marquee/Canopy); Sec. 19.04(b)(7); Sec. 19.06(d)(4) |
| Menu Board / A-frame / Sandwich Board | 5 ft | 7 sq ft per side | — | Not a freestanding sign in ROW; placement restrictions per Sec. 19.04(b)(12) | 1 per tenant or business | On pedestrian walkways adjacent or nearly adjacent to business entrance; within 10 ft of public entrance; not in drive/access or landscape areas | — | Table 19.04 (Menu Boards incl. A-frame/Sandwich Boards); Sec. 19.04(b)(12) |
| Monument or Ground Sign | 6 ft | 72 sq ft per side | — | Freestanding sign setbacks apply: 10 ft from ROW in unincorporated county; 1 ft in cities (Sec. 19.06(b)) | 1 per street frontage | Freestanding, low-profile monument on site | — | Table 19.04 (Monument or Ground); Sec. 19.04(b)(8) |

### Low-Rise Multiple Family Residential (R3A), Mid-Rise Multiple Family Residential (R3B)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Multiple Family Development Sign | 4 ft unless mounted on a wall | 12 sq ft | — | If freestanding, freestanding sign setbacks apply: 10 ft from ROW in unincorporated county; 1 ft in cities (Sec. 19.06(b)) | Not specified | At or near entrances to multi-family developments; or on a wall | — | Table 19.04 (Multiple family development signs) |
| Development or Subdivision Entry Sign | 4 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — | Freestanding sign setbacks apply: 10 ft from ROW in unincorporated county; 1 ft in cities (Sec. 19.06(b)) | 1 per entrance | At entrances to residential/multi-family developments | — | Table 19.04 (Development and Subdivision Entry); Sec. 19.04(b)(5) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | Not specified | On the dwelling/premises where home occupation is allowed | — | Table 19.04 (Home Occupation) |

## Prohibited signs in Michigan

- Any signs not expressly permitted are prohibited.
- Banners, pennants, spinners, streamers, balloons, and similar advertising devices bearing a commercial message or used to attract customers are prohibited except when used temporarily per Section 19.03(j) and Table 19.03 for grand openings, special sales, and promotions.
- Unlicensed, inoperable, stationary, or abandoned vehicles, trailers, or watercraft used specifically as signs are prohibited; no commercial vehicle may be parked on a business or industrial site more than 48 hours for the purpose of advertising or serving as a sign.
- Double-wide (side-by-side) and deck/stacked sign structures are prohibited.
- Signs that simulate or could be confused with emergency vehicles or traffic signals are prohibited.
- Exterior string lights used in connection with a commercial enterprise are prohibited, except holiday decorations strung no more than 60 days before and removed within 10 days after the holiday.
- Signs that blink, flash, are animated by lighting, or appear to be traffic safety/warning lights are prohibited.
- Illuminated signs within 50 feet of a residential district are prohibited unless designed so that light does not reflect or shine onto the residential district.
- Rotating signs or signs with moving members/parts or the appearance of movement are prohibited.
- Snipe signs (signs attached to utility poles, light standards, street trees, or other public facilities in the public right-of-way) are prohibited.
- Obsolete signs (advertising a product no longer made, an event that has occurred, or a closed business) are prohibited and must be removed upon notice.
- Off-premise signs (except billboards) are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except where expressly allowed in Article 19.
- Roof signs (signs erected above the roof line) are prohibited.
- Signs that use words/symbols in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic are prohibited.
- Signs that prevent free and unobstructed access to any door, window, fire escape, or other required exit are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct or interfere with official traffic signs/signals or a driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic are prohibited.
- Signs located in, encroaching upon, or overhanging public rights-of-way are prohibited, except menu boards, blade-style wall signs, awnings, marquees, and wall signs may extend over public sidewalks if all requirements of Section 19.04 and Table 19.04 are met.
- Structurally unsafe signs or signs constructed in violation of adopted construction codes are prohibited.
- Attaching signs or objects to public signs or utility poles in the public right-of-way is prohibited.
- No sign may be placed upon a tree or utility pole, except signs of a government body or public utility.
- No pole, cable, or support for a sign may be placed on publicly owned property, road right-of-way, or proposed right-of-way.
- No sign may be located within, project into, or overhang required safety triangles at road intersections or driveway approaches (Section 15.06).
- Use of glaring, undiffused lights or bulbs is prohibited; sign lighting must be shaded/shielded downward to avoid projecting onto adjoining properties or thoroughfares.
- Illumination by bare bulbs, luminous tubing, or flames is prohibited, except bare bulbs are allowed on theater marquees.
- Sign illumination that could distract motorists or otherwise create a traffic hazard is prohibited; characters on changeable message signs must remain constant and not change in hue or intensity during automatic copy changes.
- Signs shall not obstruct or intrude upon architectural features of a building.
- Signs shall not be constructed from materials that are remnants or manufactured for a different purpose.

## Signs exempt from permit in Michigan

- Device signs on vending machines or containers indicating contents, maximum 3 sq. ft. per device.
- Flags: maximum 3 per lot; each flag maximum 50 sq. ft.; flagpoles must comply with height limits of Section 15.04.
- Employment ('Help Wanted') signs for the business on-site, total area not to exceed 6 sq. ft.
- Enclosed signs located completely within a building and not visible from outside.
- Historic plaques/signs designating a historic structure or premises, maximum 6 sq. ft.
- Incidental signs (e.g., credit card decals, hours, no smoking, restroom, affiliations), total area not to exceed 2 sq. ft.
- Murals allowed provided they contain no text, commercial logos, or other identifiable commercial representations.
- Nameplate/identification signs identifying house number, owner, occupant, or building name; up to 1 sq. ft. not counted toward total sign area (larger sizes count toward total).
- Public signs by a government body or public utility (e.g., traffic signs, legal notices, railroad crossing, hazard warnings).
- Temporary signs allowed with a minimum 10 ft setback from the public right-of-way or any lot line and in accordance with Table 19.03 (including community special event, construction, garage sale, grand opening/special sale/promotional signs and banners, political signs, and real estate sale/lease signs) with specified size/height/number/duration limits.
- Traffic control signs on private property that bear no advertising or logos; driveway entry/exit signs exempt only where one-way or restricted turning movements require them (directional signs at full-movement driveways are regulated as freestanding signs).
- Warning signs such as 'No Trespassing,' maximum 1.5 sq. ft. per sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before installing, changing height, increasing area, or structurally altering any sign for which a permit is required (Section 19.07(a)).
- When signs are submitted with construction of a new building or an addition, the location, size, and height of all existing and proposed signs must be shown on the site plan and are reviewed as part of the improvement location permit (Section 19.08(b)(1)).
- Billboard applications must include a certified site plan demonstrating compliance with required spacing and separation distances (Section 19.04(b)(3)(d)).
- Billboards require a state permit from the Indiana Department of Transportation prior to local approval (Section 19.04(b)(3)(j)); signs along state road right-of-way must obtain a state permit or written non-objection and provide a copy to the enforcement official (Section 19.07(b)).
- For off-premise signs, written consent of the property owner or legal representative must be submitted with the sign permit application (Section 19.07(c)).
- The BZA may permit a 15% increase in allowable sign area where the site has shared access with an adjoining site per Section 18.05 (Section 19.04(b)(1)).
- Sign permit applications must include position relative to nearby buildings/structures/property lines (within 100 ft), plans with dimensions/materials/mounting, and other technical details; stress sheets/calculations and electrical information may be required (Section 19.08(a)).

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 11 zoning districts in Michigan — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Michigan+IN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-michigan

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