# Sign Regulations in Allen Park, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Allen Park, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/allen-park
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Allen_Park/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH10BUBURE_ARTIXSIHA)

## At a glance

Allen Park, Michigan regulates 21 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Changeable Community Facility Display Boards in the RM residential district, RMA residential district zoning district are capped at 16 sq ft, with a Not closer than 8 ft to any R-1A, R-1B, R-2 property setback (Sec. Sec. 52-899(h)(2)). Most commercial signs in Allen Park require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1A residential district, R-1B residential district, R-2 residential district | 2 | — | 12 sq ft (aggregate) | — |
| RM residential district, RMA residential district | 3 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| C-1 neighborhood business district | 1 | — | 64 sq ft | — |
| C-2 general business district, C-3 commercial district, C-4 general business district, C-5 central business district, C-6A regional shopping district, C-6B regional shopping district | 3 | — | 120 sq ft | — |
| RD research and development district, RO-1 restricted office district, SD service district | 1 | — | 64 sq ft (aggregate) | — |
| GI general industrial district, M-1 light industrial district | 1 | — | 300 sq ft (per face, double faced allowed) | — |
| M-2 medium industrial district, M-3 heavy industrial district | 1 | — | 1000 sq ft (per face, double faced allowed) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 48 inches | Up to 50% of window area | — |

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

### RM residential district, RMA residential district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building/Management Name and Address Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises at building or management office | — | Sec. 52-899(h)(2) |
| Temporary Lease Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises where lease is occurring | — | Sec. 52-899(h)(2) |
| Changeable Community Facility Display Board | — | 16 sq ft | — | Not closer than 8 ft to any R-1A, R-1B, R-2 property | 1 | For community facility use; not closer than 8 feet to any property in an R-1A, R-1B, or R-2 district | — | Sec. 52-899(h)(2) |

### C-2 general business district, C-3 commercial district, C-4 general business district, C-5 central business district, C-6A regional shopping district, C-6B regional shopping district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Frontage) | — | 120 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | Wall parallel to, attached to, and facing street of building's mailing/street address | — | Sec. 52-899(h)(4) |
| Wall Sign (Other Street Frontage) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per other frontage | Wall facing other street frontage | — | Sec. 52-899(h)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | Wall sign maximum plus 10% | — | — | 1 | Permitted for single-use occupancy property with own parking lot on premises | — | Sec. 52-899(h)(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | At driveway locations; on-premises only | — | Sec. 52-899(b) |
| Portable Sign | 48 inches | — | 30 inches | Min 2 ft from public driveway, street, alley, sidewalk | — | On property where business or product is located/sold; not closer than 2 feet to public driveway, street, alley, or sidewalk; not on public property | — | Sec. 52-899(n), (p) |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Directory Sign | — | 44 sq ft | — | — | 1 (2 if 300+ ft linear frontage, min 275 ft separation) | On shopping center property with at least 60 ft frontage | — | Sec. 52-899(o) |
| Window Sign (Commercial) | — | Up to 50% of window area | — | — | — | C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6A, C-6B, RD, RO-1, SD, GI, M-1, M-2, M-3 (window area) | — | Sec. 52-899(q)(2) |
| Garage Sale Sign (Residential Zones) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 on-site, plus one per other private property with consent | On property where event occurs; one additional per property with owner consent | — | Sec. 52-899(l) |
| Construction/Development Sign | — | As allowed for the zoning district where located | — | — | 1 | On premises where construction/development is taking place | — | Sec. 52-899(j) |
| Fuel Price Sign (Automobile Service Center) | — | 4 sq ft per fuel type | — | — | As needed (per fuel product) | Attached to existing ground sign if present | — | Sec. 52-899(i) |
| Funeral Home Chapel Sign | — | — | — | — | As needed per number of chapels | On funeral home premises | — | Sec. 52-899(k) |

## Prohibited signs in Allen Park

- It is unlawful to erect, alter, relocate, reassemble, inflate or post any sign without first obtaining a permit from the building department, except as specifically exempted.
- No sign shall be erected or located between the street curb and the sidewalk nor shall any sign be located in, project into or overhang a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement in any zoning district.
- No sign shall be displayed without being an accessory to the business conducted on the premises (where required by district regulations).
- No portable sign shall be placed closer than two feet to any public driveway, street, alley, sidewalk or other public property, nor placed upon any other property other than where the business or product advertised is located or sold.
- No sign shall be installed or maintained in a condition which, in the opinion of the building inspector based on the state construction code, is structurally unsafe or constitutes a hazard to health, safety or the public welfare.
- No sign may emit electrical currents, waves, pulsations or discharges into the surrounding atmosphere which may interfere with radio or television reception.
- All signs pertaining to occupancy of a building must be removed within 120 days if, and at such time as, such occupancy is discontinued.
- It is unlawful to maintain any sign in a state of deterioration of painting or other surface treatment which detracts from the appearance of the sign.
- Any sign constructed or installed not in accordance with the provisions of the ordinance or for which a permit has not been issued or for which use of the sign has ceased may be removed immediately by the building inspector.
- Garage sale signs are not allowed in any commercial, office or industrial zones.
- A sign which is a nonconforming sign or sign structure shall not be reconstructed, remodeled, relocated, or changed in size or content to show a new trade name, different words, letters or numbers, new design, different colors or different logo, unless such action will make the sign conform to the ordinance in all respects.
- Any sign not removed within required time periods (per nonconforming and discontinued use provisions) is deemed a public nuisance and may be removed by the city.

## Signs exempt from permit in Allen Park

- No permit is required for the placement of political campaign signs.
- No permit is required for the placement of political or religious issue signs.
- Noncommercial window signs are allowed in all zoning districts with no restriction on the size; time limits on display are governed by the type of sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must be accompanied by drawings and specifications necessary to fully describe the construction, materials, supports, and anchorage for such signs.
- Drawings for signs exceeding 20 square feet in display area, or exceeding 500 pounds in weight, or ground signs located closer to a public right-of-way than their height above ground, must be prepared and sealed by a registered architect or engineer.
- Sign permit applications for aerial balloons, inflatable figures, portable signs, or outdoor banner signs must include a description or sketch showing how such sign will be affixed to the ground or stationary structure.
- Site plan applications for development must include location, size and specifications of all signs and advertising features.
- If a sign permit application is denied due to noncompliance, the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals handle public hearings and appeals (variance/appeal process for signs).
- Changes in occupancy or use of a property may trigger removal/replacement of nonconforming signs as a condition of site plan or sign plan review.

## 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 Allen Park — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Allen+Park+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-allen-park

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