# Sign Regulations in Caro, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Caro, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/caro
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Caro/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH44ZO_ARTXXIISI)

## At a glance

Caro, Michigan regulates 25 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (OS-1 - Large)s in the OS-1 zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 100 sq ft, with a Not less than 100 feet from any adjacent residential district setback (Sec. Sec. 44-628(b); Table). Most commercial signs in Caro 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 | — | — | — |
| R Districts (RA-1 through RC) | 2 | — | 18 sq ft | — |
| RC Districts | 2 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| OS-1 | 5 | 30 ft top above grade, bottom at least 10 ft above grade (18 ft if over traffic area) | 400 sq ft | — |
| B-1 | 5 | 30 ft top above grade, bottom at least 10 ft above grade (18 ft if over traffic area) | 400 sq ft | — |
| B-2 | 4 | 30 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| P-1 | 3 | 30 ft top above grade, bottom at least 10 ft above grade (18 ft if over traffic area) | 400 sq ft | — |
| I-1 | 6 | 30 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| I-2 | 6 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| P-2 | 2 | 30 ft top above grade, bottom at least 10 ft above grade (18 ft if over traffic area) | 400 sq ft | — |

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

### OS-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (OS-1) | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per office building | On office building wall | — | Sec. 44-628(b); Table |
| Freestanding Sign (OS-1) | — | 18 sq ft | — | Not less than 100 feet from any adjacent residential district | 1 per office building | For each office building | — | Sec. 44-628(b); Table |
| Freestanding Sign (OS-1 - Large) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Not less than 100 feet from any adjacent residential district | — | Freestanding on property | — | Sec. 44-628(b); Table |
| Temporary Banner Sign | 30 ft top above grade, bottom at least 10 ft above grade (18 ft if over traffic area) | 400 sq ft | — | — | — | OS-1 zoned lots | — | Sec. 44-629 |
| Temporary Off-Premises Portable Illuminated Sign | 6 ft | 4 ft x 6 ft (24 sq ft total including wheels/support) | 4 ft | — | — | OS-1 zoned lots, off-premises | — | Sec. 44-630 |

### B-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (B-1) | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | Sec. 44-628(b); Table |
| Freestanding Sign (B-1) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Not less than 100 feet from any adjacent residential district | — | Freestanding on property | — | Sec. 44-628(b); Table |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 3 ft height x 2 ft width per face (6 sq ft per face) | 2 ft | — | 1 per customer entrance | Outside, next to building wall or adjacent to curb, at each customer entrance | — | Sec. 44-628(c) |
| Temporary Banner Sign | 30 ft top above grade, bottom at least 10 ft above grade (18 ft if over traffic area) | 400 sq ft | — | — | — | B-1 zoned lots | — | Sec. 44-629 |
| Temporary Off-Premises Portable Illuminated Sign | 6 ft | 4 ft x 6 ft (24 sq ft total including wheels/support) | 4 ft | — | — | B-1 zoned lots, off-premises | — | Sec. 44-630 |

### I-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (I-1) | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | Sec. 44-628(b); Table |
| Freestanding Sign (I-1) | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — | Not less than 200 feet from any adjacent residential district | — | Freestanding on property | — | Sec. 44-628(b); Table |
| Freestanding, Non-Accessory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Freestanding, non-accessory | — | Sec. 44-628(b); Table |
| Off-Premises Sign | — | — | — | Minimum 1,000 ft between signs | — | I-1 district only | — | Sec. 44-628(a)(5), (b); Table |
| Temporary Banner Sign | 30 ft top above grade, bottom at least 10 ft above grade (18 ft if over traffic area) | 400 sq ft | — | — | — | I-1 zoned lots | — | Sec. 44-629 |
| Temporary Off-Premises Portable Illuminated Sign | 6 ft | 4 ft x 6 ft (24 sq ft total including wheels/support) | 4 ft | — | — | I-1 zoned lots, off-premises | — | Sec. 44-630 |

## Prohibited signs in Caro

- No sign except those established and maintained by the city, county, state, or federal governments, shall be located in, project into, or overhang a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement (except in the B-1 district with specific limitations).
- No sign otherwise permitted shall project above or beyond the maximum height limitation of the use district in which located.
- Signs shall not be put on trees or utility poles.
- Signs shall not be in the public right-of-way.
- All signs must have a date and cannot be posted for more than 72 hours (applies to off-premises real estate signs).
- No signs shall be allowed that announce a sale outside the city.
- The maximum size of certain signs (off-premises real estate signs) cannot exceed 18 inches by 24 inches.
- Signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights are prohibited if such signs interfere with traffic safety.
- No sign shall be so illuminated or placed so that it interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, device or signal.
- No temporary banner sign or temporary off-premises portable illuminated sign shall be placed without first securing a permit from the zoning administrator.
- No more than three permits per year (or as specified for type) shall be issued for any one zoned lot for temporary banner signs or off-premises illuminated signs.
- No permit for temporary banner signs or temporary off-premises illuminated signs shall be issued in an R (residential) zone.
- No sign shall be designed, illuminated, or placed in a way that resembles or simulates traffic control devices or signs, or that trespasses on another's property.
- Signs must not obscure another business or structure.
- Portable and sandwich board signs, except as permitted, must be removed and replaced by conforming signs upon enactment of these regulations.
- Any illegal nonconforming signs must be removed immediately upon enactment of these regulations and replaced by conforming signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Caro

- Signs established and maintained by the city, county, state, or federal governments are exempt from right-of-way prohibitions.
- All directional signs required for the purpose of orientation, when established by the city, county, state, or federal government, are permitted in all use districts.
- Seasonal banners owned and maintained by the city or governmental entities established by the city and approved by the city are exempt from the general provisions of this section, provided they comply with specific dimensional and mounting standards.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs must conform to applicable codes and ordinances of the city, and where required, shall be approved by the zoning administrator and a permit issued.
- Certain exceptions to sign area coverage may be permitted by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).
- Applications for a permit shall be on a form provided by the zoning administrator and must contain required information; inspection and documentation may be required by the zoning administrator before permit issuance.

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

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