# Sign Regulations in Commerce Charter Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Commerce Charter Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/commerce-charter-township
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-12
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.commercetwp.com/media/l2fjo02e/article-30-signs.pdf)

## At a glance

Commerce Charter Township, Michigan regulates 33 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Portable Sign (A-frame/Sandwich Board)s in the Local Business (B-1); Community Business (B-2); General Business (B-3); Technology and Light Manufacturing (TLM); Industrial (I) zoning district are capped at 45 inches overall tall, 6 sq ft per sign (max sign area); overall height ≤45 inches; overall width ≤24 inches; sign area height ≤36 inches; supports ≤9 inches in height, and 24 inches overall wide, with a Must maintain required clearances; not in public ROW setback (Sec. Article 30, Section 30.04.D.5 (i–xiv)). Most commercial signs in Commerce Charter Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | All districts except B, TLM, I: 30 inches; B, TLM, I: 6 ft | Total of all wall signs ≤ 200 sq ft (unless adjusted by other provisions); see formula | — |
| Large Lot Single Family Residential (R-1A); Single Family Residential (R-1B); Single Family Cottage Residential (R-1C); Single Family Neighborhood Residential (R-1D); Attached Residential (R-2); Multiple Family Residential (RM); Mobile Home Park (MHP) | 4 | 6 ft (general ground sign height limit) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Special Purpose (SPD) | 2 | 6 ft (general ground sign height limit) | 32 sq ft total area | — |
| Office (O) | 2 | 6 ft (general ground sign height limit) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Local Business (B-1); Community Business (B-2); General Business (B-3); Technology and Light Manufacturing (TLM); Industrial (I) | 8 | 45 inches overall | 200 sq ft maximum for any single sign; exceptions for buildings >600 ft from frontage road: letters up to 5 ft high and total sign area may exceed 200 sq ft but ≤ lesser of 500 sq ft or 1 sq ft per linear ft of building frontage; Buildings with <20 linear ft frontage may have a sign up to 20 sq ft | — |
| Union Lake Road Overlay (ULR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commerce Village Overlay (CV) | 2 | — | 20 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Town Center Overlay (TC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Haggerty Road Corridor Overlay (HRC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Public Recreation (PRD) | 1 | As above per sign type | Standard Temporary: 6 sq ft (30" high); Election Date Total: 12 sq ft (4 ft high); Parcel Temporary: 6 sq ft (4 ft high); Property Development Temporary: 32 sq ft (6 ft high); Closed Road: 12 sq ft (6 ft high); Private Traffic: 8 sq ft (6 ft high) | — |
| Hospital Facilities (HF) | 1 | As above per sign type | Standard Temporary: 6 sq ft (30" high); Election Date Total: 12 sq ft (4 ft high); Parcel Temporary: 6 sq ft (4 ft high); Property Development Temporary: 32 sq ft (6 ft high); Closed Road: 12 sq ft (6 ft high); Private Traffic: 8 sq ft (6 ft high) | — |
| Hospitality (HOS) | 1 | As above per sign type | Standard Temporary: 6 sq ft (30" high); Election Date Total: 12 sq ft (4 ft high); Parcel Temporary: 6 sq ft (4 ft high); Property Development Temporary: 32 sq ft (6 ft high); Closed Road: 12 sq ft (6 ft high); Private Traffic: 8 sq ft (6 ft high) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Temporary Sign | All districts except B, TLM, I: 30 inches; B, TLM, I: 6 ft | All districts except B, TLM, I: 6 sq ft; B, TLM, I: 32 sq ft | — | — | One per parcel | On a non-vacant parcel | — | Article 30, Section 30.03.A |
| Election Date Temporary Signage | All districts except B, TLM, I: 4 ft; B, TLM, I: 6 ft | All districts except B, TLM, I: total 12 sq ft; B, TLM, I: total 24 sq ft | — | — | Not specified; regulated by total area | On a parcel; display allowed 45 days before an election or any time between a primary and general election | — | Article 30, Section 30.03.B |
| Parcel Temporary Sign | All districts except B, TLM, I: 4 ft; B, TLM, I: 6 ft | All districts except B, TLM, I: 6 sq ft; B, TLM, I: 32 sq ft | — | — | Single additional temporary sign per parcel | On parcel offered for sale or lease (MLS number assigned) | — | Article 30, Section 30.03.C |
| Property Development Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per qualifying parcel | At parcels proposed for rezoning, under construction, or residential developments not yet fully occupied | — | Article 30, Section 30.03.D |
| Site Entryway Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from ROW or curbline of internal drive | Max two signs per qualifying entrance | At entrance to: residential subdivision, condominium, multiple-family development; elderly/senior housing; manufactured housing park; or office, research, industrial park | — | Article 30, Section 30.03.E |
| Closed Road Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | One temporary ground sign per affected establishment | Located upon or adjacent to a closed road | — | Article 30, Section 30.03.G |
| Private Traffic Sign | 6 ft | 8 sq ft per sign | — | — | As specified: one per 50 ft; one per thoroughfare intersection entry | On sites with privately maintained pedestrian or vehicle thoroughfares | — | Article 30, Section 30.03.H |
| Rezoning Sign (Public Hearing Notice) | 6 ft above grade (including posts) | Sign face size minimum 4 ft (vertical) by 6 ft (horizontal) | — | Base located 6 ft from Road Right-of-Way (per illustration) | At 700 ft intervals along frontage; minimum one per road frontage | Prominently placed at 700 ft intervals along property frontage adjacent to the public right-of-way; corner lots require at least one per frontage; at midpoint for parcels with <700 ft frontage | — | Article 3, Section 3.03.C |

### Large Lot Single Family Residential (R-1A); Single Family Residential (R-1B); Single Family Cottage Residential (R-1C); Single Family Neighborhood Residential (R-1D); Attached Residential (R-2); Multiple Family Residential (RM); Mobile Home Park (MHP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Home Occupation | — | 1 sq ft total area | — | — | One per dwelling | On one-family or two-family residential dwelling with lawful home occupation | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.A.1 |
| Ground Sign - Multiple Family Residential | 6 ft (general ground sign height limit) | 32 sq ft | — | Freestanding signs must be ≥15 ft from any setback line (Section 30.02.F) | One per parcel | On multiple-family residential parcel | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.A.2; Section 30.02.E (height) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign - Non-Residential Use | 6 ft (general ground sign height limit) | 32 sq ft total area | — | ≥15 ft from any setback line | One per lot or unified development site | At non-residential uses within R, RM, MHP districts | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.A.3; Section 30.02.B (illumination); Section 30.02.E (height) |
| Wall or Ground Sign - Bed and Breakfast | Ground sign height max 6 ft | 12 sq ft total area | — | Freestanding signs must be ≥15 ft from any setback line | One per facility | At bed and breakfast facility | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.A.4; Section 30.02.E |

### Local Business (B-1); Community Business (B-2); General Business (B-3); Technology and Light Manufacturing (TLM); Industrial (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign - Major Thoroughfare Frontage | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — | Freestanding signs must be ≥15 ft from any setback line | One per major thoroughfare frontage (subject to multi-tenant limitation) | For each frontage on a major thoroughfare | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.D.1; Section 30.02.E |
| Wall Sign - Primary (Per Building) | May not extend above roofline or eaves; max letter height 5 ft only for buildings located >600 ft from frontage road | 200 sq ft maximum for any single sign; exceptions for buildings >600 ft from frontage road: letters up to 5 ft high and total sign area may exceed 200 sq ft but ≤ lesser of 500 sq ft or 1 sq ft per linear ft of building frontage; Buildings with <20 linear ft frontage may have a sign up to 20 sq ft | — | — | One primary wall sign per building | On building elevation corresponding to building frontage | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.D.2.a; Section 30.02.D & 30.02.E; Section 30.02.B.3 |
| Wall Sign - Per Tenant (Multi-tenant Buildings) | Shall not extend above roofline/eaves | Per tenant sign area governed by total building frontage allocation; single sign cap 200 sq ft (with exceptions as applicable) | — | — | One per tenant; subject to aggregate area cap | On tenant’s building elevation facing the addressed frontage | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.D.2.a(iv)&(iii); Section 30.04.D.2.a |
| Wall Sign - Secondary Tenant Additional (Addressed Side) | Shall not extend above roofline/eaves | Up to two additional wall signs not exceeding 20 sq ft per secondary tenant | — | — | Up to two additional wall signs per secondary tenant | Addressed side of the building | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.D.2.a |
| Wall Sign - Rear Door Emergency Identification | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per rear door | On the rear door of any building or unit in a multiple tenant building | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.D.2.b.i |
| Wall Sign - Parking Lot Facing (Non-road-facing, B Districts) | Shall not extend above roofline/eaves | As calculated | — | — | One per tenant (without road-adjacent exterior walls) | Wall facing on-site parking lot (B districts only) | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.D.2.b.ii |
| Window Sign | — | Per window section: 25% of section area; overall cap 50 sq ft for multi-facade buildings | — | — | Limited by area per window section and overall cap | In windows of buildings or tenants (B, TLM, I districts) | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.D.3 |
| Portable Sign (A-frame/Sandwich Board) | 45 inches overall | 6 sq ft per sign (max sign area); overall height ≤45 inches; overall width ≤24 inches; sign area height ≤36 inches; supports ≤9 inches in height | 24 inches overall | Must maintain required clearances; not in public ROW | Max one per building per road frontage; each tenant may have one | On private property or public sidewalk, subject to location and clearance requirements | — | Article 30, Section 30.04.D.5 (i–xiv) |

## Prohibited signs in Commerce Charter Township

- Signs with wind-actuated elements are prohibited.
- Protruding nails, tacks, or wires on any sign face are prohibited.
- Sign illumination that is flashing, intermittent, moving, or animated is prohibited.
- Directly visible luminous tube lighting (neon, fluorescent, or similar) from any road right-of-way or adjacent lot is prohibited; such lighting may only be used as an indirect source or shielded by translucent panels.
- Wall signs may not project above or beyond a roof or parapet line; freestanding roof signs are not permitted.
- Signs are not allowed to extend beyond the property line.
- Ground or pavement below a sign may not be artificially altered to increase sign height.
- Freestanding signs may not overhang public property.
- Moving or animated signs, devices, or figures are prohibited.
- Inflatable devices (balloons, product representations, or similar) are prohibited except as otherwise permitted in the Ordinance.
- Beacon lights or search lights are prohibited.
- Festoon signs (garlands of flowers, leaves, papers, flags, pennants, or streamers) are prohibited.
- Banners are prohibited except as specifically provided in the Ordinance; banners over public roadways are prohibited.
- Signs painted on or attached to vehicles parked on premises to be visible from a public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Roof signs, or wall signs projecting above the eaves of a pitched roof or above the roofline of a flat or mansard roof, are prohibited except as specifically permitted.
- Projecting or overhanging signs are prohibited except within the Commerce Village Overlay Area and Town Center Overlay as designated.
- Signs containing obscene, indecent, or immoral words or representations are prohibited.
- Signs that may be construed as traffic control devices, or that hide a traffic control device from view, are prohibited.
- Neon lights, string lights, or other devices designed to outline all or part of a building are prohibited, except decorative lights regulated in Article 31.
- Window signs are prohibited except where permitted by the Ordinance.
- No sign may be placed on public property or in the public right-of-way except as permitted by the Ordinance.
- Any sign, banner, or other media attached to a tree or utility pole is prohibited, except signs posted by a utility company that owns the pole.
- Signs with missing letters, non-functioning illumination elements, peeling or faded paint, or that are worn, damaged, or otherwise difficult to read are prohibited.
- Signs not maintained in compliance with issued permits are prohibited.
- Pole or pylon signs are prohibited.
- No sign may be placed within a corner clearance area as defined in Article 6.
- Digital or LED signs are prohibited except as otherwise provided in the Ordinance.
- Any sign not expressly permitted by the Ordinance is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Commerce Charter Township

- Temporary signs generally do not require a sign permit unless otherwise indicated.
- External sign illumination is permitted in any zoning district if light sources are fully shielded, directed to the sign face, and designed to concentrate all light on the sign copy area.
- Internally illuminated signs are permitted on parcels with non-residential uses in all zoning districts except for sites within the Commerce Village Overlay District.
- Existing nonconforming signs may continue until removed or altered, subject to maintenance and limitations on alterations and illumination (nonconformities may not be increased).
- Substitution: Any sign authorized by the Ordinance may display any noncommercial message, and the sign face may be changed between commercial and noncommercial messages, provided dimensional criteria are met and required permits (if any) are obtained.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For new developments, sign locations must be shown on site plans and building elevations and are subject to Building Department approval.
- Sign permit applications must include: applicant/owner/contractor information and written consent; plot plan with parcel survey, easements, dimensions, locations of all structures, and all existing and proposed signs; building elevation drawings showing all existing and proposed building-mounted signs; specifications and drawings for materials, design, dimensions, structural supports, and illumination; proof of appropriate licenses/certifications; and the Building Director may require a signed removal agreement or performance guarantee.
- If a proposed sign would encroach into a road right-of-way, permits/approvals from the Township Board and any other agency with jurisdiction are required.
- Temporary signs generally do not require a sign permit unless otherwise indicated; Closed Road Signs do require a sign permit; window signs require a permit if displayed longer than 30 days where window signs are permitted.
- Nonuse sign variances require a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing (scheduled within 90 days); the ZBA cannot grant use variances or exceptions; the standard is practical difficulty (visibility obstructed by natural or artificial property features not self-created).
- Appeals of permit issuance/removal rulings may be filed by any aggrieved party to the Zoning Board of Appeals within 30 days.

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

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