# Sign Regulations in Buchanan Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Buchanan Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/buchanan-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33990518#33990518)

## At a glance

Buchanan Township, Michigan regulates 10 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the AG District zoning district are capped at 20 sq ft (Sec. § 300-21.05A(1)). Most commercial signs in Buchanan Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | — | — |
| AG District | 1 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| R-1 District, R-2 District, R-3 District, R-4L District, R-4R District, R-5 District | 1 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| RE District | 1 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| MU District | 1 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| CS District | 6 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| IND District, RS District | 1 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial/Service District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Industrial District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Municipal District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs | — | — | — | Minimum setback of 1/2 the minimum front yard setback; minimum 10 feet from any other property line, no sign within 20 feet of road edge. No sign shall obstruct clear vision. | — | Must conform to all applicable codes and ordinances. Must be approved by Building Inspector or Zoning Administrator, permit issued under § 300-21.06. | — | § 300-21.02A, § 300-21.02F |
| Wall Sign | — | — | No more than 90% of width of wall to which sign is attached | — | — | Affixed to wall | — | § 300-21.02H |
| Projecting Sign, Awning Sign, Canopy Sign, Suspended Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Over sidewalk or walkway | — | § 300-21.02I |
| Electronic Message Board | — | — | — | — | — | Same parcel as principal use; permitted in Commercial/Service, Industrial, Municipal Districts, or for churches, schools, government buildings in any district. | — | § 300-21.02K |

### AG District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel (plus 1 for >100 ft/frontage) | On parcel | — | § 300-21.05A(1) |

### CS District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On parcel | — | § 300-21.05A(9) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Per building entrance | — | § 300-21.05A(9) |
| Suspended Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Per building entrance | — | § 300-21.05A(9) |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per road frontage | Per road frontage | — | § 300-21.05A(9) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per road frontage | Per road frontage | — | § 300-21.05A(9) |
| Window Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per road frontage | Per road frontage | — | § 300-21.05A(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Buchanan Township

- Signs which are illegal under state laws or regulations and applicable local ordinances or regulations, and which are not consistent with the standards in this chapter.
- Signs affixed to public utility poles within the right-of-way, which are not public notices, or traffic control or warnings required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Animated or moving signs, as defined herein.
- Signs that are not clean and in good repair and signs that are out of compliance with applicable building and electrical codes.
- Signs not securely affixed to a supporting structure.
- Signs that are not official traffic signs which interfere with any official traffic sign, signal, or device and which may obstruct a motorist's vision.
- Pole signs, bench signs and roof signs, as defined herein.
- No sign shall be painted on or be attached to a motor vehicle used primarily for the display of such sign, including, but not limited to, a billboard truck.
- Use of glaring undiffused lights or bulbs shall be prohibited. Lights shall be shaded so as not to project onto adjoining properties or roads.
- Sign illumination that could distract motorists or otherwise create a traffic hazard shall be prohibited. Illumination shall not be installed or designed to be confused with, or appear similar to, a highway sign or traffic safety device.
- There shall be no strobing, oscillating or intermittent sign.
- A sign shall not extend beyond the edge of the wall to which it is affixed nor above the roof line of a building to which it is attached.

## Signs exempt from permit in Buchanan Township

- Any public notice, traffic control or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Property address and owner identification up to three square feet in area.
- Any sign wholly located within a building and not visible from outside the building. This does not include window signs.
- Holiday lights and decorations.
- Works of art.
- Directional signs including stop, yield, one-way, and similar signs, provided they do not exceed six square feet in area or six feet in height and the number permitted is the minimum necessary to provide adequate orientation.
- Flags up to 24 square feet in area.
- All yard signs, as defined, limited to one sign per frontage, not greater than 12 square feet in area. One additional sign permitted per frontage if lot or parcel has more than 100 feet of frontage.
- One temporary sign or portable sign, limited to a maximum of 15 days, not exceeding 32 square feet in sign area per frontage and not exceeding six feet in height.
- Special event signage on public property.
- All yard signs, as defined, limited to one sign per frontage, not greater than 12 square feet in area. One additional sign permitted per frontage if lot or parcel has more than 100 feet of frontage. Such signs shall be removed after seven days from which the event occurs.
- Flags or insignia of any nation, state, local government, community organization, educational institution.
- Farm crop hybrid signs.
- One temporary sign or portable sign for special event activities by churches, nonprofit or educational institutions, displayed no more than two weeks prior to event and removed within two days after, not exceeding 32 square feet in sign area per frontage and not exceeding six feet in height.
- Land and building For Sale or For Lease signs, provided such signs do not exceed six square feet in area in AG, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4L, R-4R, R-5 and RE Districts or 20 square feet in the CS and IND Districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs shall conform to all applicable codes and ordinances of the Township of Buchanan and shall be approved by the Building Inspector or Zoning Administrator and a permit issued under § 300-21.06.
- A photometric plan shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator prior to the placement of an electronic message board.
- It shall be the responsibility of the owner on whose property an electronic message board is located to present to the Township Zoning Administrator documentation that the brightness is compliant with the ordinance within 10 days of installation.

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

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