# Sign Regulations in Clio, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clio, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/clio
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-12
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/mi/vienna_charter_township,_(genesee_co.)/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXAZO_ART24SI)

## At a glance

Clio, Michigan regulates 26 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Sale, Lease or Rent Sign (Temporary)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 12 sq ft, with a Minimum 5 ft setback in any yard abutting a private or public street or freeway. setback (Sec. Sec. 2435(1); Sec. 2415(2)(d); Sec. 2440(2)). Most commercial signs in Clio require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | Up to 15 ft | Limited to the smallest maximum area permitted for freestanding signs in the district per Sec. 2420(2)(a); except in RSA, RU-1, RMC, RM, MHP and AR: max 32 sq ft. | — |
| One-family residential suburban district (RSA), One-family residential urban district (RU-1), Agricultural residential district (AR) | 4 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Multiple-family condominium residential district (RMC), Multiple-family residential district (RM), Mobile home park district (MHP) | 4 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Office service transition district (OST) | 5 | Up to 30 ft, but not above the highest point of roof/parapet of any building on the lot | 75 sq ft cap per sign and for total of wall signs | — |
| Office research district (OR) | 6 | Up to 30 ft, but not above the highest point of roof/parapet of any building on the lot | 150 sq ft cap per sign and for total of wall signs | — |
| Local commercial district (C-1), General commercial district (C-2) | 3 | Up to 30 ft, but not above the highest point of roof/parapet of any building on the lot | 100 sq ft | — |
| Shopping center commercial district (C-3) | 4 | Up to 30 ft, but not above the highest point of roof/parapet of any building on the lot | 100 sq ft (200 sq ft allowed on parcels of 5 acres or more) | — |
| Highway commercial district (C-4) | 5 | 40 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Limited industrial district (I-1) | 7 | Up to 30 ft, but not above the highest point of roof/parapet of any building on the lot | 200 sq ft | — |
| General industrial district (I-2) | 4 | Up to 30 ft, but not above the highest point of roof/parapet of any building on the lot | 200 sq ft | — |
| Shopping center commercial district (C-3), Highway commercial district (C-4) — Real Estate Development Sign Illumination Note | 1 | Up to 15 ft | Up to 64 sq ft (see general regulations entry) | — |
| Local commercial district (C-1), General commercial district (C-2) — Real Estate Development Sign Illumination Note | 1 | Up to 15 ft | Up to 64 sq ft (see general regulations entry) | — |
| Office research district (OR) — Real Estate Development Sign Illumination Note | 1 | Up to 15 ft | Up to 64 sq ft (see general regulations entry) | — |
| Vehicular parking district (P-1) | 3 | Up to 15 ft | 64 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-site Directional Traffic Sign (Vehicular/Pedestrian) | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | No explicit overall limit; within 25 ft of street ROW: max 2 per driveway entrance/exit. | Within a zoning lot solely to provide directions or instructions for vehicular or pedestrian traffic. | — | Sec. 2410(7) |
| Temporary Sign (Institutional/quasi-public/charitable/public uses) | — | — | — | — | — | Any zoning district for institutional, quasi-public, charitable or public use. | — | Sec. 2410(8)a |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | Not within the public street right-of-way. | — | Any zoning district; not within public street right-of-way. | — | Sec. 2445(1) |
| Sale, Lease or Rent Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft setback in any yard abutting a private or public street or freeway. | One per road frontage. | On the land or building being rented, leased, or sold; any yard. | — | Sec. 2435(1); Sec. 2415(2)(d); Sec. 2440(2) |
| Real Estate Development Sign (Temporary) | Up to 15 ft | Up to 64 sq ft (larger than 32 sq ft requires compliance with all Art. 18 setbacks; ≤32 sq ft allowed within front yard setback) | — | If ≤32 sq ft and ≤8 ft high, may be within front yard setback; if >32 sq ft up to 64 sq ft, must comply with all setback requirements of Article 18. | On-premises: one per major thoroughfare/collector frontage and one per freeway frontage (one oriented toward each). Off-premises: one per zoning lot. | On the premises described OR off-premises subject to conditions. | — | Sec. 2405 (definition); Sec. 2435(2)(a)-(f) and (4)(a)-(e) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | Up to 15 ft | 64 sq ft | — | Need not meet setback requirements. | One per major/secondary thoroughfare or collector street frontage (one oriented toward each). | Only on the zoning lot upon which construction is taking place. | — | Sec. 2435(3)(a)-(d) and (4)(a)-(e) |
| Wall Sign (All Zones - General Conditions) | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall; may be placed on roofs that are so nearly vertical as to resemble a wall. | — | Sec. 2415(2)(a)-(d); Sec. 2410(6) |
| Entranceway Structure Sign | Structure up to 10 ft high | Limited to the smallest maximum area permitted for freestanding signs in the district per Sec. 2420(2)(a); except in RSA, RU-1, RMC, RM, MHP and AR: max 32 sq ft. | Structure up to 20 ft long | ≥10 ft from any street right-of-way; must meet corner clearance (Sec. 2025). | — | At entrance roads to subdivisions, site condominiums, multiple-family developments, mobile home parks or other planned developments; may be within public/private street right-of-way with approvals. | — | Sec. 2430(1)-(8) |

### Office research district (OR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Nameplate (Exterior Building Entrance) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per exterior building entrance. | At each exterior building entrance (customer/patron entrances only; excludes service/employee entrances). | — | Sec. 2415(1)a (table: OR Nameplate (3)); Footnote (3); area per Footnote (6). |
| Wall Sign - Accessory (With Freestanding Sign) | — | 100 sq ft cap per sign and for total of wall signs | — | — | 1 per facade; max 4 total; only on up to two facades. | On building facades. | — | Sec. 2415(1)a (table: OR Accessory (4), (8)); Footnotes (4), (5), (8). |
| Wall Sign - Accessory (Without Freestanding Sign) | — | 150 sq ft cap per sign and for total of wall signs | — | — | 1 per facade; max 4 total; only on up to two facades. | On building facades. | — | Sec. 2415(1)a (table: OR Accessory (4), (13)); Footnotes (4), (5), (13). |
| Freestanding Sign - Accessory (Option a) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | From street: 25 ft; From RSA or RU-1 district: 50 ft. | One for each major thoroughfare frontage and one for each freeway frontage (one oriented toward each) (Footnote (3)). | On zoning lot. | — | Sec. 2420(2)a (table: OR Accessory - a). |
| Freestanding Sign - Accessory (Option b) | Up to 30 ft, but not above the highest point of roof/parapet of any building on the lot | Up to 100 sq ft (if sign ≤8 ft high); otherwise max 50 sq ft (if sign >8 ft high) | — | From street: 50 ft; From RSA or RU-1 district: 50 ft. | One for each major thoroughfare frontage and one for each freeway frontage (one oriented toward each). | On zoning lot. | — | Sec. 2420(2)a (table: OR Accessory - b); Footnotes (3), (6), (7), (8). |
| Accessory Flags | — | 24 sq ft per flag | — | — | Max two flags per zoning lot. | On zoning lot in addition to other signs and flags permitted. | — | Sec. 2445(2) |

### Limited industrial district (I-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Accessory | — | — | — | — | Allowed on only two facades (number per facade not specified). | On building facades. | — | Sec. 2415(1)a (table: I-1 Accessory (5) (11)); Footnotes (5), (11). |
| Wall Sign - Nameplate (Exterior Building Entrance) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per exterior building entrance. | At each exterior building entrance (customer/patron entrances only; excludes service/employee entrances). | — | Sec. 2415(1)a (table: I-1 Nameplate (3) (6)); Footnotes (3), (6). |
| Freestanding Sign - Accessory (Option a) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | From street: 25 ft; From RSA or RU-1 district: 50 ft. | 1 per zoning lot (see Footnote (2) exceptions). | On zoning lot. | — | Sec. 2420(2)a (table: I-1 Accessory - a). |
| Freestanding Sign - Accessory (Option b) | Up to 30 ft, but not above the highest point of roof/parapet of any building on the lot | 150 sq ft | — | From street: 50 ft; From RSA or RU-1 district: 50 ft. | 1 per zoning lot (see Footnote (2) exceptions). | On zoning lot. | — | Sec. 2420(2)a (table: I-1 Accessory - b); Footnote (7). |
| Nonaccessory Sign (Freestanding) | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per zoning lot. | On zoning lot (I-1 only), where erection/maintenance will not be detrimental to adjoining commercial or residential land. | — | Sec. 2425(1)-(3) |
| Accessory Flags | — | 24 sq ft per flag | — | — | Max two flags per zoning lot. | On zoning lot in addition to other signs and flags permitted. | — | Sec. 2445(2) |
| Temporary Signs (Freestanding/Wall/Window) – I-1 | — | — | — | — | — | Any use in the I-1 district. | — | Sec. 2410(8)b |

## Prohibited signs in Clio

- Signs (except those established and maintained by governmental units) are prohibited from being located in, projecting into, or overhanging any public right-of-way or dedicated public easement.
- Illuminated signs are prohibited from being flashing or intermittent.
- Nonaccessory signs are prohibited in all districts except I-1, unless specifically permitted for real estate development signs under the temporary sign provisions.
- Moving a permitted sign to another location or structurally altering it without approval from the original permitting authority is prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited and must be removed (including signs on property vacant 90+ days or that no longer pertain to a time, event, or purpose; with a 180-day exception for temporarily suspended businesses).
- Altering, relocating, or replacing a nonconforming sign in a way that makes it less compliant is prohibited and triggers immediate compliance or removal.

## Signs exempt from permit in Clio

- Items not considered 'signs' and thus exempt: identification signs ≤1 square foot bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, or names of occupants; flags and insignia of any government (except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion); legal notices, identification information, or directional signs erected by governmental bodies.
- Directional/orientation signs established by governmental units are permitted in all districts.
- On-site internal traffic direction/instruction signs that do not advertise or identify a business (except by logo) are exempt from the general conditions; limited to 4 square feet in area and 6 feet in height, and within 25 feet of any street right-of-way no more than two per driveway entrance/exit.
- Political signs are exempt from the sign regulations provided they are not located within a public street right-of-way, are not placed more than 90 days before an election, and are removed within 14 days after the election.
- Residential dwelling nameplates, sale/lease/rent signs (for property on which they are placed), and political signs are exempt from sign permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or formal sign plan requirement is specified in the provided text.
- Nonaccessory signs are permitted only in I-1 districts and only with approval of the zoning board of appeals; permits are issued for two-year periods and may be renewed (inspection fee required).
- Entranceway structures supporting identification signs may be located in a public or private street right-of-way only with approval from the entity/owner having jurisdiction over the right-of-way and the zoning board of appeals; building inspector approval and a sign permit are required.
- Real estate development signs may be erected only after final plat approval of a subdivision, final plan approval of a site condominium, or issuance of a building permit for a residential development; a permit, inspection fee, and cash bond are required.
- Temporary construction signs may be erected only after site plan approval and must be removed prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit; a permit, inspection fee, and cash bond are required.
- Most wall, freestanding accessory, and nonaccessory signs require approval by the building inspector and a sign permit; moving or altering a permitted sign later also requires approval. Exceptions from permit requirements: residential dwelling nameplates, sale/lease/rent signs, and political 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 14 zoning districts in Clio — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Clio+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-clio

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