# Sign Regulations in Algonac, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Algonac, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/algonac
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Algonac/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH22LADISU_ARTIISURE_DIV4IM_SDIIST_S22-147SITRSTSI)

## At a glance

Algonac, Michigan regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the MB, CBD, GB, WP zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 24 sq ft (single face); 48 sq ft (total all faces), with a Not nearer than 25 feet to any right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 50-456(3)b.1). Most commercial signs in Algonac require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2 | 4 | — | 18 sq ft | — |
| MB, CBD, GB, WP | 8 | 30 ft max; not less than 8 ft to bottom of sign | 100 sq ft (absolute max); see formula for specific calculation | — |
| I | 2 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On dwelling unit | — | Sec. 50-456(3)a.1 |
| Identification Sign (Non-dwelling unit structure) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per structure | On structure other than dwelling unit | — | Sec. 50-456(3)a.2 |
| Church Bulletin Board | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per church | On church property | — | Sec. 50-456(3)a.2 |
| Rental/Management Office Identification Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per office | Rental/Management office in multiple housing development | — | Sec. 50-456(3)a.3 |

### MB, CBD, GB, WP

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft (single face); 48 sq ft (total all faces) | — | Not nearer than 25 feet to any right-of-way | 1 per development | Accessory to development | — | Sec. 50-456(3)b.1 |
| Portable Sign | 6 ft | 15 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per lot | On premises; not to obstruct parking or traffic lanes | — | Sec. 50-456(3)b.2 |
| Pole Sign | 30 ft max; not less than 8 ft to bottom of sign | 13 ft height: 50 sq ft; 14 ft: 56 sq ft; ...up to 30 ft: 150 sq ft (see citation for full range); max total area for all faces: double single-face max | — | Height correlates to setback: e.g., 13 ft height requires 15 ft setback, up to 30 ft height requires 50 ft setback. See citation. | 1 per development | Accessory to development | — | Sec. 50-456(3)b.3 |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale or Rental) | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per property; 2 per corner lot | On land or building being advertised | — | Sec. 50-456(3)b.4(i) |
| Temporary Sign (Construction) | — | 32 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per site | On building or lot under construction | — | Sec. 50-456(3)b.4(ii) |
| Temporary Sign (New Business or Owner) | If not attached to wall: must be at least 7 ft 6 in above grade and no more than 12 ft in overall height | 32 sq ft per side; if attached to building wall, max is top of wall | — | — | 1 per new business or owner | On business property | — | Sec. 50-456(3)b.4(iii)-(iv) |
| Temporary Wall Sign (Advertising or Special Event) | — | Maximum of 3 signs for one occupancy or tenant; max two building walls; max 5% of wall or 96 sq ft, whichever is less, per sign/wall | — | — | Maximum 3 per occupancy/tenant | On building walls | — | Sec. 50-456(3)b.4(viii) |
| Wall Sign | Cannot project above roof line | 100 sq ft (absolute max); see formula for specific calculation | — | — | See formula (by tenancy and frontage) | Front, street side, or parking lot side of principal building; multiple businesses use proportionate share of frontage | — | Sec. 50-456(3)b.5 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (Government Established) | — | — | — | — | — | Any district, as required for orientation | — | Sec. 50-456(2)c |
| Directional Sign (Churches/Public Service) | — | — | — | — | — | Any use district | — | Sec. 50-456(2)c |
| Sign advertising land/buildings for rent, lease, or sale | — | — | — | — | — | On land or building being offered | — | Sec. 50-456(2)i |
| Permitted signs accessory to churches, schools, nonprofit, government, utilities | — | — | — | — | — | On premises of institution | — | Sec. 50-456(3)d |

## Prohibited signs in Algonac

- No sign, except those established and maintained by the city, county, state or federal governments, shall be erected, located or placed in, project into or overhang a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement.
- No sign otherwise permitted shall project above or beyond the maximum height limitation of the use district in which it is located.
- No freestanding sign shall exceed three feet in height, unless specifically authorized for districts other than residential.
- No sign above a height of two feet shall be located within, project into or overhang the triangular area at the intersection of street right-of-way lines as defined (25 feet along each line from their point of intersection).
- Nonaccessory signs shall be permitted only in I district, except as indicated for temporary real estate development signs.
- Flashing or intermittent type signs shall not be permitted.
- Portable signs must not obstruct parking spaces or automobile/pedestrian travel lanes, flash, or obstruct traffic vision.
- No temporary sign shall be strung across any public right-of-way, nor project beyond the property line except as authorized by the city council.
- String lights used for business premises for commercial purposes (other than holiday decorations) are prohibited.
- Business signs erected on any post, tree, utility pole, public right-of-way, dedicated public easement or other object within any area, public or private, are prohibited.
- Signs or banners erected upon or across any public right-of-way or dedicated public easement are prohibited, except by city council permission.
- Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing lights are prohibited.
- Any sign or advertising structure which displays obscene, indecent or immoral matter is prohibited.
- Rotating signs are prohibited.
- Signs on park-type benches are prohibited.
- Freestanding signs are prohibited (except as specifically allowed in business/industrial districts; in context, this usually applies to residential areas).
- Signs on the roof of any building are prohibited.
- Marquee signs are prohibited.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- Any sign type not defined within this article requires review and approval by the city.
- All signs erected, repaired, painted, altered or relocated require a permit from the building inspector, unless specifically exempted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Algonac

- Wall signs used as nameplates not exceeding two square feet in area; occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of the occupant in a commercial, public or institutional building and not exceeding two square feet in area do not require a permit.
- Bulletin boards not over 20 square feet in area for governmental, educational and religious institutions on said premises do not require a permit (if not electrically illuminated).
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection, cut into masonry surface or constructed of bronze or aluminum, do not require a permit.
- Traffic or municipal signs, legal notices, danger, and temporary emergency or non-advertising signs approved by the city do not require a permit.
- Signs advertising the rental, sale, lease or open house of the property upon which they are located do not require a permit.
- Flags of recognized federal, state, county or city governments do not require a permit.
- Decorative displays are exempt, but if occupying a public right-of-way require city council approval.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs shall conform to all codes and ordinances of the city and, where required, shall be approved by the building inspector and a permit issued.
- A sign permit application requires blueprints or drawings (plans and specifications, methods of construction, and attachment) to be submitted for review by the building inspector, subject to all codes and ordinances.
- All plans for the erection of signs must be submitted to the building inspector for review and approval, subject to all codes and ordinances of the city.
- A permit is not required for specifically exempted signs (see general_exemptions); for all others, including alterations (except certain routine repainting or changeable matter), a permit is required.
- No mention is made in this section of a master sign plan or multi-tenant sign plan, nor of a requirement for sign plan review by the planning commission; however, sign permits require submission of plans to the building inspector.

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

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