# Sign Regulations in Charlotte, Michigan

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

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

## 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.

## Sign rules by zoning district (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 (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### CBD (Central Business District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building wall; minimum clearance of 8 ft above grade | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | — | § 82-461(C)(4); § 82-461(E)(3)(e) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window or exterior glass door | — | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Comprehensive Sign Plan | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | 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 | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | — | § 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 | — | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window or exterior glass door | — | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Comprehensive Sign Plan | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 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 | 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 | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | — | § 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 | — | § 82-461(C)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window or exterior glass door | — | § 82-461(C)(4) |

## Prohibited 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.

## Signs exempt from permit 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

- 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.

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

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