# Sign Regulations in Charlevoix, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Charlevoix, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/charlevoix
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Charlevoix, Michigan regulates 23 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the GC (General Commercial) zoning district are capped at 16 ft tall and 20 sf, with a Min 4 ft from ROW setback (Sec. §153.213(B)(3), §153.219). Most commercial signs in Charlevoix require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 48 in | 15 sf | — |
| R1 (Residential Low Density), R2 (Residential Medium Density), R2A, R4 (Residential Planned High Density), PC (Residential Private Clubs), SR (Scenic Reserve) | 3 | 16 ft | 36 sf | — |
| PUD (Planned Unit Development) | 5 | 16 ft | 36 sf | — |
| PF (Public Facilities) | 5 | 16 ft | 36 sf | — |
| GC (General Commercial) | 7 | 16 ft | 36 sf | — |
| CM (Commercial Mixed Use) | 6 | 16 ft | 36 sf | — |
| CBD (Central Business District) | 9 | 16 ft | 36 sf | — |
| CBD (Bridge Park subzone) | 2 | 7 ft | 60 sf or 20 sf per business, whichever is less | — |
| I (Industrial) | 7 | 16 ft | 36 sf | — |
| PO (Professional Office), MC (Marine Commercial) | 6 | 16 ft | 36 sf | — |
| CH (Commercial Hospitality) | 6 | 16 ft | 36 sf | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### GC (General Commercial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (≤16 sf) | — | 16 sf | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §153.213(A)(2), §153.219 |
| Temporary Sign (>16 sf up to 36 sf) | 8 ft | 36 sf | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §153.213(B)(1), §153.219 |
| Wall Sign | 8 ft | 30 sf | — | — | 1 per parcel | First floor of building | — | §153.213(B)(5), §153.219 |
| Ground Sign | 16 ft | 20 sf | — | Min 4 ft from ROW | 1 per public frontage | On-premises, minimum setback 4 ft from ROW | — | §153.213(B)(3), §153.219 |
| Projecting Sign | 8 ft min to bottom, 12 ft to top | 16 sf | — | — | 1 per parcel | Shall not be located in ROW | — | §153.213(B)(4), §153.219 |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee Sign | 8 ft | 16 sf | — | — | 1 per awning, canopy, or marquee | On awning/canopy/marquee; not in ROW | — | §153.213(B)(2), §153.219 |
| External Neon Sign | 8 ft | 2 sf | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | §153.213(A)(3), §153.219 |

### CBD (Central Business District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (≤16 sf) | 8 ft | 16 sf | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §153.215(A)(2), §153.219 |
| Temporary Sign (>16 sf up to 36 sf) | 8 ft | 36 sf | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §153.215(B)(1), §153.219 |
| Wall Sign | 8 ft | 30 sf | — | — | 1 per parcel | First floor of building | — | §153.215(B)(5), §153.219 |
| Ground Sign | 16 ft | 16 sf | — | Min 4 ft from ROW | 1 per public frontage | On-premises, minimum setback 4 ft from ROW | — | §153.215(B)(3), §153.219 |
| Projecting Sign | 8 ft min clearance; 12 ft max | 16 sf | — | — | 1 per parcel | Shall not be located in ROW | — | §153.215(B)(4), §153.219 |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee Sign | 8 ft | 16 sf | — | — | 1 per awning, canopy, or marquee | On awning/canopy/marquee; not in ROW | — | §153.215(B)(2), §153.219 |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft | 6 sf | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | §153.215(A)(5), §153.219 |
| External Neon Sign | 8 ft | 2 sf | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | §153.215(A)(3), §153.219 |

### I (Industrial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (≤16 sf) | 8 ft | 16 sf | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §153.216(A)(2), §153.219 |
| Temporary Sign (>16 sf up to 36 sf) | 8 ft | 36 sf | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §153.216(B)(1), §153.219 |
| Temporary Banner Sign (Golf Course Only) | 16 ft | 30 sf | — | — | — | Adjacent to city golf course. Not in ROW. | — | §153.219 (I row) |
| Wall Sign | 8 ft | 30 sf | — | — | 1 per parcel | First floor of building | — | §153.216(B)(5), §153.219 |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee Sign | 8 ft | 16 sf | — | — | 1 per awning, canopy, or marquee | On awning/canopy/marquee; not in ROW | — | §153.216(B)(2), §153.219 |
| Ground Sign | 16 ft | 16 sf | — | Min 4 ft from ROW | 1 per public frontage | On-premises, minimum setback 4 ft from ROW | — | §153.216(B)(3), §153.219 |
| Projecting Sign | 8 ft min clearance; 12 ft max | 16 sf | — | — | 1 per parcel | Shall not be located in ROW | — | §153.216(B)(4), §153.219 |

## Prohibited signs in Charlevoix

- Signs that are not consistent with the standards of this chapter.
- Signs that are not clean or in good repair (including signs covered with materials that obscure the message, signs with broken foundations, bases or supports, broken lighting fixtures, and/or having a faded appearance).
- Signs that are structurally unsafe or dangerous (i.e., in a state of disrepair or likely to collapse).
- Signs that are not securely affixed to a substantial structure to hold the sign in a fixed position under normal weather conditions.
- Signs attached to any natural growth, such as trees, shrubs or other natural foliage.
- Signs (other than official utility company signs) affixed to power utility poles or other utility structures or fixtures.
- Signs located so as to interfere with the view necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections or to enter onto or exit from public streets or private roads.
- Signs in public rights-of-way other than those allowed by the state’s TODS program.
- External neon signs other than in the GC, CBD or CH Districts.
- All types of pennants, streamers and airborne devices attached to the ground or buildings.
- Billboards.
- Internally lighted signs.
- Off-premises signs.
- Roof signs.
- Signs containing an electronic sign face other than allowed by § 153.209(A).
- Signs may not extend above any parapet or be placed upon any roof surface, except on walls at 75 degrees or more from horizontal.
- Illumination of off-premises signs is prohibited (except for off-premises kiosks as specified in the code).
- No person may own or maintain any sign or advertising device that is structurally unsafe.

## Signs exempt from permit in Charlevoix

- Signs on private property less than or equal to two square feet in sign face area.
- Signs erected by, or on behalf of, a governmental body for purposes of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare.
- Official signs erected by public utilities.
- Flags or insignia.
- Any sign located wholly within a building and not visible from outside the building.
- Window signs located on the interior of a building (note: exterior window signs are considered wall signs and not exempt).
- Public signs or signs sanctioned by a public body on public land (not subject to this chapter).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any sign that is constructed, erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated or otherwise altered, unless specifically exempted by the ordinance (see § 153.206(B)).
- Repainting or changing the message of a sign is not considered an alteration requiring a permit.
- A sign permit must be issued before the erection of any sign(s) after review and approval by the Zoning Administrator and payment of the permit fee.
- Applications for sign permits must provide specified details (applicant info, type, scale drawing, location, etc.) to the Zoning Administrator.
- Appeals on sign permit decisions may be made to the zoning board of appeals.
- Unsafe sign determinations can be appealed to City Council, with further appeal rights to circuit court.
- Some specific signs, such as non-conforming signs, require actions to bring them into compliance if moved, replaced, or significantly repaired.
- There is no explicit reference to a 'master sign plan' or general sign plan requirement for all developments, but sign permit and approval processes apply citywide to non-exempt signs.

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

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