# Sign Regulations in Charter Township Meridian, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Charter Township Meridian, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/charter-township-meridian
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28

## At a glance

Charter Township Meridian, Michigan regulates 24 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Directional Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 3 sq ft, with a Min. 5 ft from property line setback (Sec. §86-684(l)). Most commercial signs in Charter Township Meridian require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 8 ft | No more than 40% of the window; total not to exceed 10% of the building face of which the window is a part | — |
| Residential District (RR, RAAA, RAA, RA, RB, RX, RD, RDD, RC, RCC, RN, PRD, MP) | 4 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Professional and Office zoning district (PO) | 4 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — |
| C-1, C-2, C-3 Commercial and CR, Commercial Recreation, zoning districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, CR) | 8 | 16 ft | 38 sq ft per side | — |
| RP, Research and Office zoning district (RP), I, Industrial zoning district (I) | 4 | 6 ft | 300 sq ft per side | — |
| AG, Agriculture District | 2 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (for murals) | 1 | — | 100% of exterior wall (1 wall only) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 6 ft | 3 sq ft | — | Min. 5 ft from property line | As approved by Director | On-premises, no less than 5 ft from any property line; not in public right-of-way | — | §86-684(l) |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 40% of the window; total not to exceed 10% of the building face of which the window is a part | — | — | — | Installed on inside or outside of window, not projecting from pane | — | §86-684(m) |
| Flag | — | 24 sq ft per flag | — | Flagpoles: setback from property line equal to pole height | Max 2 in residential districts, 1 elsewhere | On any property | — | §86-684(n) |
| Off-Premises Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft per sign, aggregate 24 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property only | — | §86-690(1) |
| On-Premises Temporary Sign (Construction Project) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — | Min 10 ft from ROW | 1 per construction site | No closer than 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | §86-690(2)(a) |
| On-Premises Temporary Sign (Land for Sale or Lease - Multi-Family and Nonresidential) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft per side, total 32 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft from property line | — | Setback min 5 ft from property line | — | §86-690(2)(b) |
| On-Premises Temporary Sign (Grand Opening) | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §86-690(2)(c) |
| On-Premises Temporary Sign (Other) | — | 24 sq ft in total | — | — | — | — | — | §86-690(2)(d) |

### Residential District (RR, RAAA, RAA, RA, RB, RX, RD, RDD, RC, RCC, RN, PRD, MP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Entry Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft | 1 sign per public entry | At each entrance to a residential development; must be 10 ft back from front property line; in common area or private property, not public ROW unless with approval | — | §86-685(1) |
| Wall Sign (Non-Single-Family Use) | 6 ft (if not attached to building, i.e., for freestanding also) | 25 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from property line | 1 per use | At least 10 ft from any property line; on-premises | — | §86-685(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-Single-Family Use) | 6 ft | 25 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from property line | 1 per use | At least 10 ft from any property line; on-premises | — | §86-685(2) |
| Wall Sign (Single-Family Use) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Flat against wall | — | §86-685(3) |

### C-1, C-2, C-3 Commercial and CR, Commercial Recreation, zoning districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, CR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per facade per tenant | Building facade with public street frontage | — | §86-687(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 ft | 38 sq ft per side | — | Min 10 ft from property line; 250 ft between 2 allowed signs if eligible | 1 per parcel; 2 if frontage and access conditions met | Front yard, leading edge at least 10 ft from property line | — | §86-687(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Service Station Price/Grade) | — | 6 sq ft per side (additional) | — | — | — | As wall sign or attached to freestanding sign | — | §86-687(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 sq ft per side | — | Min 8 ft clearance above sidewalk | — | Must clear sidewalks by 8 ft, project no more than 4 ft; bldg must be 20+ ft wide; not closer than 50 ft to other projecting signs | — | §86-687(4) |
| Drive-Through Accessory Sign (Stacking Lane) | 7 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 per drive-through lane | Stacking lane, not in front yard | — | §86-687(5) |
| Drive-Through Accessory Sign (Speaker) | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per drive-through lane | At speaker, not in front yard | — | §86-687(5) |
| Portable Sign | 4.5 ft | 9 sq ft per side (total 18 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per tenant | Within 5 ft of entrance; sidewalk with Road Dept. approval | — | §86-691 |
| Electronic Message Sign | — | 25% of ground sign area | — | — | — | — | — | §86-693 |

## Prohibited signs in Charter Township Meridian

- It shall be unlawful to display, erect, relocate, alter, or otherwise change any permanent signs without obtaining a permit.
- After a permit is issued, it is unlawful to change, alter, modify, or otherwise deviate from the approved permit without first amending the permit or applying for a new permit.
- Any sign not expressly permitted in a district is prohibited in such district.
- No sign or outdoor advertising structure may have moving parts or moving or flashing lights.
- No banners, streamers, or similar devices shall be permitted, unless otherwise specified herein.
- No wall sign shall be erected to extend above the top of the wall to which it is attached. No signs shall be mounted on a roof.
- Signs shall not revolve or move in any manner.
- No portable sign shall occupy or obstruct the use of any fire lane, required off-street parking space, driveway, doorway, or handicap ramp.
- A-frame signs shall not be attached to a building or any structure, including benches, trash receptacles, bicycle racks, and light poles.
- No flashing or moving illumination shall be permitted.
- Any sign that creates a visual or safety hazard may be ordered to be removed by the Director of Community Planning and Development.

## Signs exempt from permit in Charter Township Meridian

- The replacement of only the sign face, with no other structural, electrical, or other physical changes to the sign, shall not require a permit.
- Traffic control signs purely for traffic regulation or control within the project may be utilized as required, do not require a permit or count against maximum permitted sign areas for a project but shall be installed on private property.
- Flags shall be permitted on any property, without a sign permit, subject to the specified standards.
- A protected message of any type may be substituted for the message displayed on any sign which is already legal or legal nonconforming without consideration of message content and without any additional approval or permitting, provided no changes to the physical structure of the sign are made.
- The provisions of this article shall not apply to any sign installed by the Charter Township of Meridian on premises owned, occupied, or under control or management of the Charter Township of Meridian.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All new or replacement signs for any structure, property, or use shall be reviewed and approved by the Community Planning and Development Director or their designee, unless otherwise specified.
- An application for a sign permit must include site plan and elevation drawings of the proposed sign, showing location, dimensions, construction materials and lighting method.
- Drive-through accessory signs must be approved by the Planning Commission.
- Electronic message signs may be permitted by application for and granting of a special use permit by the Planning Commission.
- On-premises temporary signs not expressly permitted under the temporary sign section may be allowed under the permitting provisions of § 86-683(c).
- Murals are subject to normal permitting requirements, as outlined in this article.

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

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