# Sign Regulations in Cannon Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cannon Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/cannon-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34245096#34245096)

## At a glance

Cannon Township, Michigan regulates 42 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Construction Sign - Option 1s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft setback (Sec. § 450-25.06/Table 450-25.06). Most commercial signs in Cannon Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 22 | 6 ft for ground sign | 32 sq ft | — |
| MHC District | 2 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| RR District, R-1 District, R-2 District, R-3 District, LR District, R-PUD District | 9 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| B-1 District, B-2 District, I District | 7 | 35 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| M-PUD District | 4 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Help-Wanted Sign (Exempt) | 6 ft for ground sign | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 450-25.04/Table 450-25.04 |
| Historic Landmark Sign (Exempt) | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 450-25.04/Table 450-25.04 |
| Nameplate Sign (Exempt, Residential Only) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 450-25.04/Table 450-25.04 |
| Directional Sign, On Premises Only - Option 1 | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from property lines | — | At least 5 ft away from all property lines, not in any street right-of-way. | — | § 450-25.06/Table 450-25.06 |
| Construction Sign - Option 1 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per development/project | At least 10 ft from all property lines. | — | § 450-25.06/Table 450-25.06 |
| Real Estate Sign - Option 1 (Residential) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per property | On premises, at least 10 ft from all property lines. | — | § 450-25.06/Table 450-25.06 |
| Real Estate Sign - Option 2 (Nonresidential/Subdivision/Condominium) | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per property | On premises, at least 10 ft from all property lines. | — | § 450-25.06/Table 450-25.06 |
| Temporary Sign (Community Special Event) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per special event | On premises, at least 10 ft from property lines. | — | § 450-25.06/Table 450-25.06 |

### RR District, R-1 District, R-2 District, R-3 District, LR District, R-PUD District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Principal Use) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage | At least 10 ft from all property lines. | — | § 450-25.07/Table 450-25.07 |
| Wall Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Principal Use) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Affixed flat against building wall. | — | § 450-25.07/Table 450-25.07 |
| Garage, Estate or Yard Sale Sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 3 (1 on-premise, 2 off-premise) | At least 10 ft from all property lines, both on or off premises. | — | § 450-25.07/Table 450-25.07 |
| Farm Identification Sign (RR District Only) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per farm | At least 10 ft from all property lines. | — | § 450-25.07/Table 450-25.07 |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Wall sign only, affixed flat against building wall. | — | § 450-25.07/Table 450-25.07 |
| Address Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Wall sign only, affixed flat against building wall. | — | § 450-25.07/Table 450-25.07 |
| Subdivision Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage | At least 10 ft from all property lines. | — | § 450-25.07/Table 450-25.07 |
| Electronic Changeable Message Sign (Nonresidential Principal Use) | Must be within permitted sign area/height | Up to 50% of sign it is a part of (max 50 sq ft for most signs) | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel (must be part of a ground or wall sign) | Must be included within a permitted ground or wall sign; may not be located within 100 ft of side lot line. | — | § 450-25.07/Table 450-25.07 |

### B-1 District, B-2 District, I District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per property/business center or per street frontage | At least 10 ft away from all property lines. | — | § 450-25.08/Table 450-25.08 |
| Wall Sign (Individual Business) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Affixed to front wall of each establishment (individual building or in business center). | — | § 450-25.08/Table 450-25.08 |
| Wall Sign (Business Center or Individual Building, Alternative Option) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Affixed to wall of building/business center; used in place of multiple wall signs. | — | § 450-25.08/Table 450-25.08 |
| Subdivision Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage | At least 10 ft from all property lines. | — | § 450-25.08/Table 450-25.08 |
| Electronic Changeable Message Sign | Contained within permitted sign area | Up to 25 sq ft in a 50 sq ft sign (most cases) | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel (must be part of a ground or wall sign) | Must be included within a permitted ground or wall sign. May not be located within 100 ft of a residential district on same side of street. | — | § 450-25.08/Table 450-25.08 |
| Temporary Sign (Commercial Special Sales Event, Ground Sign Only) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage, max 4 times/year | On premises, at least 10 ft from property lines. | — | § 450-25.08/Table 450-25.08 |
| Existing Lawful Billboard | 35 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Only in B-1 and B-2 Districts, parcel must be adjacent to a state highway and meet zone lot width/area requirements. | — | § 450-25.08/Table 450-25.08; § 450-25.10 |

## Prohibited signs in Cannon Township

- Signs shall not be constructed or maintained in a manner that causes a hazard or nuisance.
- Signs may not be placed in, upon, or over any public right-of-way, public alley, or other public place, except as permitted by the County Road Commission or Michigan Department of Transportation.
- A wall sign shall not extend past the face of the wall to which it is affixed.
- A sign or its supporting structure shall not extend beyond a lot line of the property on which it is located.
- Light poles, power poles, or other supporting members shall not be used for the placement of a sign, except as permitted by ordinance.
- Signs shall not contain any moving or animated parts, nor appear to have moving or animated parts, except for time and temperature signs and barber pole signs.
- Except as permitted, all signs shall be stationary and pertain only to the business or activity on the premises, except for specified off-premises signs.
- No vehicle intended to serve primarily as a sign shall be parked in areas abutting a street unless no other location is available.
- Illuminated signs (unless specifically permitted) must use external, shielded light fixtures; restrictions apply to the use of internal illumination based on district and sign type.
- No sign shall have blinking, flashing, moving, oscillating, scrolling, or fluttering lights, nor devices with changing light intensity or appearance, except as specifically required for time/temperature signs with instantaneous image change.
- Direct or reflected light from sign elements shall not be visible from vehicles on adjacent streets and parking lots.
- Signs must be properly maintained; defective or damaged signs must be repaired or replaced or may be ordered removed if unsafe.
- A sign not expressly permitted by the terms of the ordinance is prohibited in all districts.
- Strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, ribbons, flags, sequins, discs, banners or similar devices or materials used for commercial purposes are prohibited, except noncommercial flags/banners and customary holiday decorations.
- Balloon signs are prohibited.
- Any sign located in a public or private street right-of-way or a clear-vision corner is prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Signs with flashing, moving, oscillating, or blinking lights are prohibited, except for time and temperature signs and barber pole signs.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited except lawful nonconforming ones existing prior to the effective ordinance date, subject to specific requirements.
- Multivision signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except community special event signs and permitted lawful existing billboards.
- Feather signs are prohibited.
- Pedestrian signs are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited except registered vehicles/trailers lawfully parked and regularly used by a business on the premises.
- Any sign which is structurally or electrically unsafe is prohibited.
- Lights and devices not part of a sign, but used to highlight a building or land use, including illuminated features not part of a sign, are prohibited.
- Any sign structure or frame that no longer supports a sign is prohibited.
- No sign, banner, leaflet, or similar object may be suspended above, affixed to, or placed within the easement of a nonmotorized pathway, except with prior approval from the Township Zoning Administrator or authorized official.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cannon Township

- Address signs not more than 2 square feet in area are exempt from permit requirements.
- Construction signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Directional signs (on premises only) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Essential services signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Farm identification signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Flags of any country, state, local government, or public or private school are exempt from permit requirements.
- Garage sale, estate sale, or yard sale signs (residential only) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Governmental signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary help-wanted signs, not larger than 6 square feet and not higher than 6 feet if ground sign, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Historic landmark signs not more than 6 square feet in area and 5 feet in height are exempt from permit requirements.
- Nameplate signs not more than 6 square feet in area and up to 6 feet high are exempt from permit requirements.
- Placards are exempt from permit requirements.
- Political signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Real estate sale signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Window signs, on the inside of a window only, as long as not obscuring more than 25% of the window area, are exempt from permit requirements.
- No permit is required for ordinary servicing, repainting of existing sign message, or cleaning of a sign.
- No permit is required for change of message of a sign designed for occasional message change without change of sign structure.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permit applications must include two copies of sign plans and specifications for method of construction and attachment, including all pertinent data such as sign heights and areas. If required for public safety, plans must include the certificate or seal of a registered structural or civil engineer.
- All signs proposed within an M-PUD District which are approved as part of an M-PUD approval must be included in the M-PUD signage plan, as submitted by the applicant or as otherwise approved in the M-PUD ordinance.
- All signs proposed within an R-PUD District which are approved as part of an R-PUD approval must be included in the R-PUD signage plan, as submitted by the applicant or as otherwise approved in the R-PUD ordinance.
- For any special exception use involving nonconforming billboards, the applicant must submit an accurate site plan and other written materials describing the proposed action with the special exception use application.
- Permit applications for new or altered signs must be made on Township forms and accompanied by required fees and plans.

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

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