# Sign Regulations in Algoma Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Algoma Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/algoma-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-29
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/algomatownship/document_center/Ordinances/Zoning%20Code%20of%20Ordinance.PDF?t=202509110931260&t=202509110931260#page=363)

## At a glance

Algoma Township, Michigan regulates 42 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Community Special Event Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and On-premises: 32 sq ft; Off-premises: 6 sq ft, with a ≥10 ft from all property lines setback (Sec. §25.8 (Community Special Event Sign)). Most commercial signs in Algoma Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 35 ft maximum sign height (global cap) | On-premises: 32 sq ft; Off-premises: 6 sq ft | — |
| R-A Rural Agricultural District; R-R Rural Residential District; N-R Natural River District | 7 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-1 Suburban Residential District; R-2 Low-Density Multiple Family Residential District; R-3 Lake Residential District; Open Space Planned Unit Development District (OS-PUD) | 6 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-4 MHC Manufactured Housing Community District | 2 | — | 32 sq ft (first entrance) | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Business District; C-2 General Business District; C-3 Office Business District; Commercial Planned Unit Development District (C-PUD) | 11 | 30 ft | Up to 150 sq ft total (as calculated) | — |
| Mixed Use Planned Unit Development District (M-PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| I Industrial District | 6 | 8 ft | Up to 150 sq ft total (as calculated) | — |
| Ten Mile Road Corridor Overlay District | 12 | Per §25.10 (8 ft), except as permitted otherwise for gasoline-price signs | Up to 250 sq ft, but no more than 10% of wall area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Illumination Rules | 35 ft maximum sign height (global cap) | — | — | — | — | Applies to all signs where illumination is permitted | — | Algoma Zoning Ord. §25.4(b)(1)-(3); §25.5; §25.3(a)-(e); §25.6; §25.4(c) |
| Community Special Event Sign | 6 ft | On-premises: 32 sq ft; Off-premises: 6 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | Max 5 per event (one may be on-premises) | On-premises or off-premises; ground sign only | — | §25.8 (Community Special Event Sign) |
| Directional Sign (On-Premises) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | Not limited in §25.8; but subject to site plan practicality | On-premises only; traffic control functions; may include business name/logo; no advertising | — | §25.8 (Directional Sign, On-Premises Only) |
| Construction Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | One per development or project; if for a building, only one | On development/project site; ground sign only | — | §25.8 (Construction Sign) |
| Community Service Group Sign | 6 ft | 9 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | One per premises plus up to two off-premises | On or off premises; ground sign only | — | §25.8 (Community Service Group Sign) |
| Information/Announcement Sign (Portable) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | One sign per property | On-premises only | — | §25.8 (Information/Announcement Sign) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 9 sq ft (≤5 acres); up to 32 sq ft (≥5 acres) | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | One per property | On property being advertised; ground sign only | — | §25.8 (Real Estate Sign) |
| Placard Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | Spacing limits apply | Lot lines and interior of parcel | — | §25.8 (Placard Sign) |

### C-1 Neighborhood Business District; C-2 General Business District; C-3 Office Business District; Commercial Planned Unit Development District (C-PUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | As above | On-premises | — | §25.10 (Ground Sign) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per street frontage | On building wall(s) | — | §25.10 (Wall Sign) |
| Business Park Identification Sign | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | One at each primary entrance | At each primary entrance | — | §25.10 (Business Park Identification Sign) |
| Multi-Tenant Ground Sign (Area Increase) | 8 ft | Up to 150 sq ft total (as calculated) | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | — | On-premises | — | §25.10 (Signs for Multi-Tenants in Commercial Buildings—Ground Sign) |
| Directional Off-Premises Sign | 8 ft | 6 sq ft per sign on one structure | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | One near each entrance (structure holds multiple small signs) | Near each entrance of a public or private non-through street | — | §25.10 (Directional Off-Premises Sign) |
| Electronic Changeable Message Sign | 8 ft (except certain authorized gasoline-price signs) | Electronic portion limited to ≤20% of sign area | — | ≥10 ft from property lines | One per street frontage | On-premises; ≥10 ft from property lines | — | §25.10 (Electronic Changeable Message Sign); §25.12(c)(6) (gasoline-price on certain nonconforming pylon); §25.15 (Overlay gasoline-price) |
| Incidental Signs | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | One at main entrance; one at each restroom exterior entrance; gas pumps: up to two per pump | Main entrance and restroom entries; gas stations: up to two incidental signs on/at each gasoline pump | — | §25.10 (Incidental Sign) |
| Flag Sign (C-2 Only) | 30 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Pole ≥10 ft from property lines | As above (frontage-based) | On-premises; pole at least 10 ft from property lines | — | §25.10 (Flag Sign, in the C-2 District Only) |

### Ten Mile Road Corridor Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Permitted Non-Residential Uses) (R-A/R-R/R-1/R-2/R-3 underlying) | 4 ft (if <20 ft from Ten Mile Rd ROW); 6 ft (if ≥20 ft from Ten Mile Rd ROW) | 48 sq ft | — | At least 20 ft from all property lines | One | On-premises | — | §25.14 Table 25.14A (Ground Sign for Permitted Non-Residential Uses in Overlay) |
| Residential Development Ground Sign (Overlay) | 4 ft (if <20 ft from Ten Mile Rd ROW); 6 ft (if ≥20 ft from Ten Mile Rd ROW) | 32 sq ft (or as otherwise permitted in development approval) | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | As above | Development entrance | — | §25.14 Table 25.14A (Ground Sign for Residential Development in Overlay) |
| On-Premises Directional Sign (Overlay, RA/RR/R1/R2/R3 underlying) | 3 ft (may be exceeded if approved during site plan review) | 3 sq ft (may be exceeded if approved during site plan review) | — | ≥10 ft from all property lines | Not limited | On-premises only | — | §25.14 Table 25.14A (On-Premises Directional Sign) |
| Ground Sign (Overlay, C-1/C-2/C-PUD underlying) | 6 ft | 64 sq ft (single-establishment); 100 sq ft (if more than one establishment on parcel) | — | ≥20 ft from all property lines | As above | On-premises | — | §25.14 Table 25.14B (Ground Sign Overlay C districts) |
| On-Premises Directional Sign (Overlay, C-1/C-2/C-PUD underlying) | 3 ft (may be exceeded in site plan review) | 3 sq ft (may be exceeded if approved during site plan review) | — | ≥20 ft from all property lines | Not limited | On-premises only | — | §25.14 Table 25.14B |
| Ground Sign (Overlay, C-3 underlying) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥20 ft from all property lines | One per parcel | On-premises | — | §25.14 Table 25.14C (Ground Sign Overlay C-3) |
| Office Park Identification Sign (Overlay, C-3 underlying) | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | ≥20 ft from all property lines | Up to two per office park | At each entrance to office park/development | — | §25.14 Table 25.14C (Office Park Identification Sign) |
| Office Building Ground Sign (Multiple-Building Development) (Overlay, C-3 underlying) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥20 ft from all property lines | One per building | At entrance of public/private street or access easement to the building | — | §25.14 Table 25.14C (Office Building Sign) |

## Prohibited signs in Algoma Township

- Any sign not expressly permitted by the ordinance is prohibited (Section 25.7).
- Strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, ribbons, flags, sequins, discs, banners or similar materials used for commercial advertising are prohibited, except Christmas decorations between November 15 and January 15 (Section 25.7).
- Portable signs are prohibited, except the specific Information/Announcement portable sign allowed under Section 25.8 (Section 25.7).
- Balloon signs are prohibited (Section 25.7).
- Any sign located in a public or private street right-of-way or within a clear-vision corner is prohibited (Section 25.7).
- Roof signs are prohibited (Section 25.7).
- Snipe signs (attached to utility poles, trees, fences, stakes, etc.) are prohibited (Section 25.7).
- Billboards are prohibited; only existing lawful nonconforming billboards may continue subject to Section 25.12 and Chapter 29 (Section 25.7).
- Multi-vision signs are prohibited (Section 25.7).
- Electronic changeable message signs are prohibited unless expressly allowed under the district-specific provisions (e.g., Section 25.10 and Ten Mile Corridor tables) (Section 25.7).
- Vehicle signs (signs affixed/painted on vehicles or trailers primarily to advertise) are prohibited (Section 25.7).
- Structurally or electrically unsafe signs are prohibited (Section 25.7).
- Any sign structure or frame that no longer supports or contains a sign is prohibited (Section 25.7).
- Signs shall not be placed where their position, shape, color, or characteristics interfere with or are confused with traffic control devices or create hazards (Section 25.4(a)(4)).
- A wall sign may not extend beyond the face or sides of the wall to which it is attached (Section 25.4(a)(5)).
- A sign or any part of its supports may not extend beyond the lot line of the property on which it is located (Section 25.4(a)(6)).
- Light poles, power poles or other supporting members shall not be used for sign placement unless expressly permitted (Section 25.4(a)(7)).
- Flashing, oscillating, blinking or variable-intensity lighting is prohibited, except time-and-temperature signs (Section 25.4(b)(2)).
- Signs with moving or animated parts (or the appearance of movement/animation) are prohibited, except time-and-temperature signs and barber poles (Section 25.4(b)(3)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Algoma Township

- Signs 32 square feet or less in area and not more than 6 feet in height are exempt from the Township sign permit requirement (Section 25.6(a)).
- Governmental signs are exempt from the Township sign permit requirement (Section 25.6(b)).
- Political signs are exempt from the Township sign permit requirement (Section 25.6(c)).
- Essential services signs (installed by a utility/municipality/telecom to identify systems/equipment) are exempt from the Township sign permit requirement (Section 25.6(d)).
- Ordinary servicing, repainting, or cleaning of an existing sign does not require a new sign permit (Section 25.3(b)).
- Changing the copy on a sign designed for periodic message change (lawful changeable-copy signs) does not require a new sign permit, provided no structural/electrical augmentation occurs (Section 25.3(b)-(c)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- C-PUD (Commercial Planned Unit Development): A separate sign plan is required. The Planning Commission reviews the sign plan, and the Township Board may approve modifications to size/placement/number/height if they meet the PUD objectives. The Site Plan Review Committee may grant later modifications to an approved sign plan (Sections 17.4(l)(1)-(2) and 25.13(c)).
- M-PUD (Mixed Use Planned Unit Development): A separate signage plan is required. Signs must generally comply with C-PUD sign provisions unless modified in the M-PUD ordinance (Section 18.4(d)(8)).
- Special Land Uses: In conjunction with special land use approval, the Planning Commission (and Township Board when applicable) may modify sign size/placement/number/height where justified and with required findings (Section 25.13(d)-(e)).
- Site Plan Review: Signs must be shown and comply as part of site plan approval (Section 23.6(j)). Linear lighting used to illuminate a sign requires approval as part of a site plan, amended site plan, special land use, conditional rezoning, or similar approval (Section 25.4(b)(1)(iv)).
- Ten Mile Road Corridor Overlay District: Ground and wall signs must comply with the Overlay’s specific tables (25.14A–C), which supersede standard district limits within the overlay. No separate sign plan is mandated by the overlay, but conformance to the overlay standards is required (Section 25.14).
- Roof-mounted wall signs in commercial districts require administrative approval by the Zoning Administrator (or referral to the Site Plan Review Committee/Planning Commission). They are allowed only if a permitted-size wall sign cannot be installed on the wall below; they may not extend above the roof line except on a flat roof (Table 25.10, Roof-Mounted Wall Sign).
- Limited Special Exception Use – Nonconforming Billboard Changes: Changing, relocating on the same parcel, or altering a nonconforming billboard (without converting to electronic/multi-vision) requires Planning Commission approval as a special exception use. The application must include a site plan and may involve a public meeting and possible hearing; conditions (including duration) may be imposed (Section 25.12(e)).
- Electronic Changeable Message Signs: Where allowed, they must be included as part of a permitted ground or wall sign, limited to 20% of the sign area, with messages displayed for at least eight seconds and instantaneous transitions; special gasoline-price allowances apply to certain nonconforming pylon signs and Ten Mile Overlay gasoline-price signs (Sections 25.10, 25.12(c)(6), 25.15).

## 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 8 zoning districts in Algoma Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Algoma+Township+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-algoma-township

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