Sign Regulations in Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte, Michigan has specific sign regulations covering 24 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Temporary Sign, Wall Sign, Comprehensive Sign Plan. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 19, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Charlotte, Michigan
Sample Sign Requirements in Charlotte
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — |
| Institutional Sign | 5 ft | 18 sq ft; increase to 32 sq ft if located along state trunk line or major street | — |
| Subdivision Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for CharlotteFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
24
- Temporary Sign
- Wall Sign
- Comprehensive Sign Plan
- Institutional Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
7
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Other Cities in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Charlotte vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Charlotte, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Charlotte, regulated sign types include Temporary Sign, Wall Sign, Comprehensive Sign Plan, Institutional Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Charlotte vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Charlotte are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Charlotte has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Charlotte, Michigan Sign Rules at a Glance
Charlotte, Michigan regulates 24 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Institutional Signs in the B-1 (Neighborhood Business), OS-1 (Office), MX-1 (Mixed Use) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 20 ft from adjacent residential district setback (Sec. § 82-461(C)(4)). Most commercial signs in Charlotte require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Charlotte, Michigan
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Charlotte (7 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-1, R-2, R-T (Single and Two-Family Residential) | 5 | 36 inches | 32 sq ft | — |
| RM-1, RM-2, MH (Multi-Family Residential and Mobile Home) | 6 | 36 inches | 32 sq ft; reduced to maximum 10 sq ft when abutting single family use or Zone District R-1, R-2, R-T | — |
| CBD (Central Business District) | 8 | 12 ft above sidewalk or grade (maximum); minimum clearance of 8 ft above grade; maximum projection 6 ft from wall | 32 sq ft | — |
| B-1 (Neighborhood Business), OS-1 (Office), MX-1 (Mixed Use) | 8 | 96 inches (8 ft) | 100 sq ft or 10% of the front wall area, whichever is less | — |
| B-2 (Business/Commercial), B-3 (Business/Commercial) | 9 | 96 inches (8 ft) | 150 sq ft | — |
| IRO (Industrial), I-1 (Industrial), I-2 (Industrial) | 4 | 8 ft | 100 sq ft or 10% of the front wall area, whichever is less | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | — | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Charlotte(sample of 3 of 7 zones)
CBD (Central Business District)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building wall; minimum clearance of 8 ft above grade | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4); § 82-461(E)(1) |
| Projecting Sign | 12 ft above sidewalk or grade (maximum); minimum clearance of 8 ft above grade; maximum projection 6 ft from wall | 8 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited, not closer than 15 ft to adjacent projecting signs | Projecting from wall | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited, not closer than 10 ft to adjacent awning/canopy signs | Attached to or constructed underneath awning/canopy; minimum clearance of 8 ft above sidewalk | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Freestanding or Ground Sign, including Institutional Signs | Ground 5 ft; Freestanding 20 ft; Minimum clearance 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage, approval required by Planning Commission | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 1 up to 32 sq ft per parcel; 4 per business up to 8 sq ft | — | — | 1-4 per business | — | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4); § 82-461(E)(3)(e) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window or exterior glass door | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Comprehensive Sign Plan | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4); § 82-461(G)(3) |
| Sidewalk Sign | — | 2.5 ft x 3 ft (7.5 sq ft) | — | — | — | On pedestrian walkway; must not interfere with pedestrian passage or create a safety hazard and must be removed at close of business day | — | Unlock | § 82-461(E)(3)(a)1. |
B-1 (Neighborhood Business), OS-1 (Office), MX-1 (Mixed Use)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft or 10% of the front wall area, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business unit | 1 per each business unit occupying building; minimum clearance of 8 ft above grade where abutting sidewalk | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Institutional Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 20 ft from adjacent residential district | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage; minimum 20 ft from adjacent residential district | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 20 ft from adjacent residential district | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage; 20 ft from adjacent residential district | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft; minimum clearance 8 ft above grade | 64 sq ft | — | 100 ft from adjacent residential district | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage; minimum 100 ft from adjacent residential district | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 1 up to 32 sq ft per parcel; 4 per business up to 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 to 4 | — | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4); § 82-461(E)(3)(e) |
| Restaurant Menu Sign | 96 inches (8 ft) | 100 sq ft | — | — | 2 per drive | 2 per drive | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window or exterior glass door | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Comprehensive Sign Plan | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4); § 82-461(G)(3) |
B-2 (Business/Commercial), B-3 (Business/Commercial)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign, Canopy Sign, or Awning Sign | — | 100 sq ft or 10% of the front wall area, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business unit | 1 per each business unit occupying the building | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Institutional Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 20 ft from adjacent residential district | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage; minimum 20 ft from adjacent residential district | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 100 ft from adjacent residential district | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage; minimum 100 ft from adjacent residential district | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft; minimum clearance 8 ft above grade | 100 sq ft | — | 100 ft from adjacent residential district | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage; minimum 100 ft from adjacent residential district | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Development Identification Sign | 20 ft; minimum clearance 8 ft above grade | 150 sq ft | — | 100 ft from adjacent residential district | 1 per shopping center/plaza | 1 per shopping center/plaza; minimum 100 ft from adjacent residential district | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 1 up to 32 sq ft per parcel; 4 per business up to 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 to 4 | — | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4); § 82-461(E)(3)(e) |
| Restaurant Menu Sign | 96 inches (8 ft) | 100 sq ft | — | — | 2 per drive | 2 per drive | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window or exterior glass door | — | Unlock | § 82-461(C)(4) |
PermitPal covers all 7 zoning districts in Charlotte — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 7 zones for Charlotte — start freeProhibited Signs in Charlotte
- Abandoned signs, as defined in division (B) of this section.
- Animated, flashing, rotating signs and festoons, portable changeable copy signs, inflatable signs, tethered balloons, pennants, flutter flags, searchlights, streamers, exposed light bulbs, strings of lights, and any clearly similar features, except those specifically exempt as decorative displays.
- Roof signs, as defined in division (B) of this section.
- Signs located on vacant or unused property except permitted billboards, including signs on vehicles when the vehicle is parked at a vacant or unused property.
- Any sign containing any words, colors, lighting, or symbols that would cause confusion to pedestrian or vehicular traffic because of their resemblance to public safety traffic control or direction signals.
- Signs located on trees, utility poles, public benches or any other form of public property or within any public right-of-way unless explicitly permitted by these regulations.
- Other signs or similar structures that raise concerns for public safety or welfare substantially similar to those listed above.
- No sign shall be located in, project into, or overhang a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement without permission from the governmental unit controlling the right-of-way or easement except for a permitted projecting sign or canopy sign.
- No sign shall be placed in a location that obstructs the view of traffic or pedestrians on streets or sidewalks, or the view of persons entering or exiting the premises. Signs shall not be permitted where they obstruct a motorist's view of regulatory signs, traffic control devices, or street signs.
- Use of glaring undiffused lights or bulbs shall be prohibited. Lights shall be shaded so as not to project onto adjoining properties or thoroughfares.
- Sign illumination that could distract motorists or otherwise create a traffic hazard shall be prohibited.
- Illumination by bare bulbs or flames is prohibited.
Exempt Signs in Charlotte
- Any public purpose or public safety sign and any other notice or warning required by federal, state, or local law, regulation, or resolution, including directional signs.
- Works of art that do not include a commercial message, including murals.
- Decorative displays provided that the display does not exceed 75 days.
- Flags of any country, state, municipality, university, college or school.
- Building markers, such as historical designations or construction dates; house or building numbers or names.
- Historical signs shall not be considered an abandoned sign after review and designation by the Planning Commission following a public hearing as required per § 82-33A, Notice.
- Signs designed and installed so as to be visible only to patrons of an establishment when they are on the premises of the establishment.
- Instructional or 'way-finding' signs installed by a federal, state, or local unit of government.
- Time and temperature signs.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Charlotte
- A Comprehensive Sign Plan (CSP) is a coordinated plan of all signs for a business or businesses located on a development site; it includes locations, dimensions, colors, letter styles, and sign types of all signs to be installed on a site.
- A Comprehensive Sign Plan may be submitted for consideration of unique conditions, flexibility, and creativity, subject to approval by the Planning Commission, who may permit additional signs and/or sign area based on an applicant's demonstration.
- Once a Comprehensive Sign Plan has been approved, subsequent applications for specific signs on the site shall be approved administratively when the proposed sign is in compliance with the approved CSP.
- For certain districts (such as IRO, I-1, I-2 Industrial), a Comprehensive Sign Plan is required and signs are permitted as granted by the Planning Commission in the required Comprehensive Sign Plan.
- Comprehensive Sign Plans may be allowed as permitted by the Planning Commission in RM-1, RM-2, MH (multi-family and mobile home), CBD (Central Business District), B-1, OS-1, MX-1 (neighborhood business, office, mixed-use), and B-2, B-3 (business/commercial) districts.
- All appeals and variances regarding the sign ordinance will be heard by the Planning Commission.
- Sign variances must be requested in writing and are heard at a Planning Commission meeting following the procedures of § 82-59.