# Sign Regulations in Chesterfield Charter Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chesterfield Charter Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/chesterfield-charter-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28247435#28247435)

## At a glance

Chesterfield Charter Township, Michigan regulates 17 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Nonresidential Districts zoning district are capped at 8 ft (If over 64 sq ft area, max height increases to 12 ft) tall and 64 sq ft (may increase for larger buildings, see additional requirements)., with a 10 ft minimum from property lines; per Table 6A setback (Sec. Sec. 52-6(a) Table 6A and associated notes). Most commercial signs in Chesterfield Charter Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonresidential Districts | 6 | 42 inches | 160 sq ft; up to 400 sq ft if building is set back greater than 200 ft, per formula | — |
| Residential Districts | 5 | No higher than top of awning; for canopy or projection above entryways, no higher than top of projection; individual metal letters/numbers up to 12 inches high may be above edge | 32 sq ft per parcel | — |
| C-3, C-4, RT, M-1, M-2, Township-owned property | 1 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| C-1, C-2 | 2 | — | 15% of window area per facade | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 6 ft for nonresidential; 5 ft for residential lots | 20 sq ft per building for nonresidential; 3 sq ft for single-family res.; 12 sq ft for multi-family res. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | Minimum 8 feet above grade; Maximum 30 feet above grade but not above the top of the building's highest wall plate | — | — | — | 1 per business facade | The outside edge of the sign shall not project more than 4 feet from a wall of a building | — | Sec. 52-6(a) Table 6A |
| Hanging Sign | Must be minimum 8 feet above grade; not permitted above top of building's highest wall plate | — | — | — | 1 per business facade | Under a first floor canopy, awning, or similar projecting structure above an entryway | — | Sec. 52-6(a) Table 6A |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft (If over 64 sq ft area, max height increases to 12 ft) | 64 sq ft (may increase for larger buildings, see additional requirements). | — | 10 ft minimum from property lines; per Table 6A | 1 per street frontage (2 if permitted under special criteria) | 10 ft min from property lines; min spacing of 200 ft diagonal between freestanding signs | — | Sec. 52-6(a) Table 6A and associated notes |
| Driveway Sign | 42 inches | 3 sq ft per sign | — | At least 10 feet from property line and driveway | 1 per driveway | Adjacent to driveway(s), at least 10 feet from property line and driveway | — | Sec. 52-6(a) Table 6A |
| Wall Sign | — | 160 sq ft; up to 400 sq ft if building is set back greater than 200 ft, per formula | — | — | 3 per building | Shall not project more than 12 inches horizontally beyond the wall; placed per note (between appropriate architectural elements per number of stories) | — | Sec. 52-6(a) Table 6A and notes |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | No higher than the top of the awning; for canopies and similar, no higher than the top of projection | No more than 25% of awning/canopy area | — | — | 1 per business facade | Awnings: on awning surface, drip edge preferred; Canopies and other projections above entryways: on face; individual metal letters/numbers up to 12 inches high may be placed above edge | — | Sec. 52-6(a) Table 6A, notes |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single- and Two-Family Dwellings) | Shall be below the eave line for the ground floor. For single-story, no higher than two feet above front door. | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Entire sign within 4 feet of the front door | — | Sec. 52-6(b) Table 6B and notes |
| Wall Sign (Multiple-Family Dwellings) | Placement as per note: depends on number of stories (between top of ground floor windows and bottom of cornice/eave, or as specified for multi-story buildings) | 12 sq ft per building | — | — | 1 per building | Per placement note in Table 6B | — | Sec. 52-6(b) Table 6B and notes |
| Wall Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Uses) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | — | — | Sec. 52-6(b) Table 6B |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple-Family Dwellings and Nonresidential Uses) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per parcel | — | 10 ft minimum from all property lines | 1 per parcel | 10 ft minimum from all property lines | — | Sec. 52-6(b) Table 6B |
| Awning and Canopy Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | No higher than top of awning; for canopy or projection above entryways, no higher than top of projection; individual metal letters/numbers up to 12 inches high may be above edge | 25% of awning/canopy area (counts toward wall sign max) | — | — | 1 per business or institutional facade | Awnings: surface, drip edge preferred; Canopies above entry: face or above edge (up to 12 in letters) | — | Sec. 52-6(b) Table 6B; notes |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Wall Sign | Not higher than eave/roof or bottom of other building top element (like cornice) | 20 sq ft per building for nonresidential; 3 sq ft for single-family res.; 12 sq ft for multi-family res. | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 52-8(a) Table 8A, Sec. 52-8(b) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign | 6 ft for nonresidential; 5 ft for residential lots | 20 sq ft per sign for nonresidential; 6 sq ft for residential | — | 5 ft min from all property lines | — | Min 5 ft from property lines | — | Sec. 52-8(a) Table 8A, Sec. 52-8(b) |
| Window Sign (General) | — | 3 sq ft per dwelling unit (residential); 15% of window area on any facade (all other districts) | — | — | — | Window of dwelling unit or facade | — | Sec. 52-7 |

## Prohibited signs in Chesterfield Charter Township

- Any sign that is not specifically permitted by this chapter is prohibited.
- Any sign that gives the appearance of motion, including moving, scrolling, animated, or flashing elements. This includes changes of illumination levels and color, except as approved by special event permit.
- Exterior pennants, spinners, inflatables, feather signs, and streamers.
- Any sign which is structurally or electrically unsafe.
- Any sign erected on a tree, street furniture, wall surfaces (except permitted wall signs or projecting signs) or utility pole.
- Rope light, string light, neon, or similar lighting attached to, surrounding or otherwise drawing attention to a sign unless expressly permitted in limited applications within this chapter.
- Any sign erected on or projecting into the public right-of-way, except signs expressly permitted in the right-of-way in this chapter.
- Signs that imitate a traffic control device.
- Cloth signs.
- Changeable copy signs, except as part of a permanent sign as provided in this chapter.
- Signs mounted on, painted on, projecting from, or otherwise located on the roof of a building.
- Signs that are created as a result of an illuminated projection.
- No sign shall be located in, project into or overhang a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement unless otherwise expressly permitted.
- No sign shall interfere with the clear vision sight triangle at driveways and intersections.
- All signs shall be affixed to a building or to the ground.
- No signs shall be located so as to impede pedestrian or automobile traffic.
- In no case shall any sign be closer than 10 feet to any property line, road right-of-way or road easement except for permitted projecting and hanging signs and temporary signs.
- Signs, including the face, framing and all supports thereof, shall be kept and maintained in a safe condition, shall be adequately protected against corrosion.
- Signs which are broken, torn, bent or whose supports are broken, bent or damaged, and signs not reasonably level and plumb shall be repaired and reinstalled as prescribed.
- A sign shall have no more than 20% of its surface area covered with disfigured, cracked, rippled or peeling paint, poster paper or other material for more than 30 successive days.
- A sign shall not stand with bent or broken sign facing, with broken supports, with loose appendages or struts, or more than 15° from vertical for more than 30 successive days, unless deemed a safety hazard—then immediate action is required.
- A sign shall not have weeds, vines, or other vegetation growing upon it for more than 30 successive days.
- An internally illuminated sign shall not be allowed to stand with only partial illumination for more than 30 successive days.
- Any sign erected or displayed without a permit, unless expressly exempt, or any sign not in compliance may be deemed a hazard and public nuisance per se.
- All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes, and in conformance with this chapter.
- Any sign structure now or hereafter existing which no longer conveys a message or contains a sign shall be removed.
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- No sign shall have a width-to-length or length-to-width ratio that exceeds 4:1 except that wall signs shall not exceed an 8:1 ratio.
- Signs shall not have any change made that results in different or greater illumination or change a nonluminescent sign to a luminescent sign (for nonconforming signs).
- Signs shall not have any change to add mechanical or electronic features, except monitors to regulate brightness in accordance with the code (for nonconforming signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in Chesterfield Charter Township

- No permit is required for ordinary servicing, repainting of existing sign message, or cleaning of a sign.
- No permit is required for change of message of a sign designed for periodic message change without change of structure, including a bulletin board or billboard.
- Three square feet of temporary freestanding or temporary wall sign area is allowed on each zoning lot at any time and without expiration of display time. No permit is required for this sign.
- Applied or etched lettering or designs that are within the lower eight inches of any ground floor window shall be permitted and shall not be considered part of the total area of window or wall signs, provided requirements are met.
- Addresses 12 inches or less in height in residential districts and 24 inches or less in height in nonresidential districts shall not be included in the calculation of total sign area and may be illuminated without time restrictions.
- Noncommercial messages shall be permitted on any sign constructed or erected in compliance with this chapter.
- Window signs and temporary signs in residential districts, as well as freestanding temporary signs in nonresidential districts, are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications for signs must include copies of drawings, plans, specifications, method of construction and attachment, and may require stress sheets and calculations as deemed necessary by the Township.
- Permanent signs, except temporary signs in residential districts, window signs, and freestanding temporary signs in nonresidential districts, require a permit from the Township.
- Outdoor advertising signs require Planning Commission approval; other signs are approved by the Planning and Zoning Administrator or designee.
- Permit applications for illuminated electronic signs must include a copy of the manufacturer's specifications for luminance.
- The Planning Commission may grant dimensional variances for signs upon meeting specified findings at a variance meeting.
- If an applicant disagrees with the Ordinance Officer's interpretation, they may request an interpretation by the Planning Commission.
- In cases where public safety requires, sign permit applications may require certification by a registered architect or engineer as a condition to issuance of a permit.
- Building Department approval is required for all signs as required by the Township to satisfy building, electrical, fire and other construction codes.
- The number of plans to be submitted with a sign application is established by resolution of the Township Board.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/chesterfield-charter-township