# Sign Regulations in Dearborn, Michigan

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

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

## At a glance

Dearborn, Michigan regulates 31 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Temporary Ground Sign (Non-residential use)s in the Residential zoning districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 24 sq ft per face, 48 sq ft total (up to 6 signs); up to 96 sq ft for >400 ft frontage, with a At least 3 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 5-1336(c)(2)). Most commercial signs in Dearborn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-D District | 10 | Text: 36 inches (3 ft) | 3 feet width x 4 feet height (per side) | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 7 | Must not extend above top of wall; min 8.5 ft above sidewalk, min 14 ft above alley | 100 sq ft each (max); also, 10% of building face | — |
| O-S, B-A, B-B, B-C, I-A, I-B, I-C, I-D, T-R, PUD (Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts) | 13 | 30 feet | 100 sq ft per sign, 15% of building face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | Flagpoles may not exceed building height | Minimum 18" x 24" | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### B-D District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Sign Bands | 1.5 feet (vertical dimension) | — | — | — | — | Façade between first and second floors. | — | Sec. 17.06.D.2 |
| Board Sign (Wall Sign) | Text: 36 inches (3 ft) | — | — | — | — | On façade, as single anchored unit. | — | Sec. 17.06.D.3 |
| Wall Sign - Halo Illuminated Letters | Text: 36 inches (3 ft); Sides: max 3 inches | — | — | — | — | On façade | — | Sec. 17.06.D.4 |
| Wall Sign - Internally Illuminated Letters | Text: 36 inches (3 ft); Sides: max 3 inches | — | — | — | — | On façade | — | Sec. 17.06.D.5 |
| Wall Sign - Dimensional Letters | Text: 36 inches (3 ft); Sides: max 3 inches | — | — | — | — | Pin mounted to building façade | — | Sec. 17.06.D.6 |
| Electronic Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Secondary signage only, as part of permitted primary sign | — | Sec. 17.06.D.7 |
| Projecting Sign - Pedestrian Level | Mounted between 8 and 12 feet above walkway, must not project above roofline | 2 feet width x 2 feet height (per side) | 2 feet | — | — | Mounted perpendicular (90°) to façade, max 6 in from wall | — | Sec. 17.06.F.1 |
| Projecting Sign - Upper Level | Mounted between 12 feet and top of façade; not above roofline | 3 feet width x 4 feet height (per side) | 3 feet | — | — | Perpendicular to building; max 1 ft from wall | — | Sec. 17.06.F.2 |

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Flush Mounted | Must not extend above top of wall | 100 sq ft each (max); also, 10% of building face | — | — | One per building; extra for corner/rear | Building façade | — | Sec. 5-1336(b)(1)(a) |
| Wall Sign - Projecting | Must not extend above top of wall; min 8.5 ft above sidewalk, min 14 ft above alley | — | — | — | One per building; extra for rear/parking lot | Building, projecting; may face parking lot at rear; may not extend over top of wall | — | Sec. 5-1336(b)(1)(b) |
| Monument Sign | 5 feet | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/abutting parcels | On lot or abutting parcels under common ownership | — | Sec. 5-1336(b)(2)(b) |
| Electronic Sign (Non-residential uses only) | — | — | — | — | 1 per permitted non-residential property | On property of non-residential use | — | Sec. 5-1336(b)(3) |
| Temporary Ground Sign (Residential use) | — | 9 sq ft per side | — | At least 3 ft from property line | — | On premises only; at least 3 ft from property line; not in public right of way | — | Sec. 5-1336(c)(1) |
| Temporary Ground Sign (Non-residential use) | 6 feet | 24 sq ft per face, 48 sq ft total (up to 6 signs); up to 96 sq ft for >400 ft frontage | — | At least 3 ft from property line | Up to 6 | On premises only; at least 3 ft from property line; not in public right of way | — | Sec. 5-1336(c)(2) |
| Temporary Decorations (Including Projected Signs) | Not to exceed max allowable height within district | — | — | — | — | On premises, securely attached | — | Sec. 5-1336(d) |

### O-S, B-A, B-B, B-C, I-A, I-B, I-C, I-D, T-R, PUD (Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Flush Mounted (Building Sign) | Not above top of wall | 100 sq ft per sign, 15% of building face | — | — | One per building; extra for corner/rear | Building façade | — | Sec. 5-1337(b)(1)2 |
| Wall Sign - Flush Mounted (Tenant Sign) | Not above top of wall | 50 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per elevation per tenant | Building façade | — | Sec. 5-1337(b)(1)3 |
| Projecting Wall Sign | Not above top of wall; min 8.5 ft above sidewalk, 14 ft above alley | — | — | — | One per building; extra for rear | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 5-1337(b)(2) |
| Pole Mounted Ground Sign | 30 feet | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per lot/abutting parcels | One per lot/ abutting parcels; on private property | — | Sec. 5-1337(b)(3)a |
| Monument Ground Sign | 12 feet | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per lot/abutting parcels | One per lot/ abutting parcels; on private property | — | Sec. 5-1337(b)(3)b |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 feet (plus stanchion/support up to 12 in) | 3 ft height x 2 ft width per side | 2 feet | — | — | Private property preferred; may be on public property with Director's permission | — | Sec. 5-1337(e) |
| Vertical Banner (Pole Mounted) | Mounted at least 12 ft above sidewalk or parking lot | 30 in x 94 in | 30 in | — | — | Light/utility poles on private property | — | Sec. 5-1337(f) |
| Temporary Sign (not window) | 6 feet (ground mounted) | 24 sq ft per face (sign); 48 sq ft total (up to 6); up to 96 for large frontage | — | At least 3 ft from property line | Up to 6 per property | Not in right-of-way; at least 3 ft from property line | — | Sec. 5-1337(h) |

## Prohibited signs in Dearborn

- No sign shall be erected, altered, relocated, or posted without first obtaining a permit, except as otherwise noted in the ordinance.
- No person shall erect, alter, relocate or post any sign without a sign erector license (except for temporary signs, temporary decorations or sandwich board signs).
- No sign shall be installed or maintained in a structurally unsafe condition or if it constitutes a hazard to public health, safety, or welfare.
- No sign or decoration may be attached to a door, window casing or tree, nor placed where it may obstruct a fire escape, door, window, passageway or other means of egress.
- No sign or decoration may block access for public safety personnel or create a public hazard.
- No sign or decoration may be erected on public poles or columns or within ten feet of a fire hydrant, traffic light, fire or police box, or any area where it imperils public safety or interferes with police or fire duties.
- No sign or decoration is permitted within the sight triangles at intersections as required in the Zoning Ordinance.
- No sign or decoration may obstruct parking spaces, maneuver aisles, or walkways.
- Permanent signs must pertain only to the use of the premises or business activity conducted there (off-premises signs are prohibited).
- Billboards are prohibited except as provided by the Highway Advertising Act.
- No placard, poster, circular, handbill or similar signs (snipe signs) shall be attached in any way to public property (fences, walls, trees, sidewalks, poles, etc.), except for official city notices.
- Roof signs and any signs mounted above or over the roof of any building or structure are prohibited.
- No sign may have more than two faces.
- No sign may display obscene, vulgar, lewd, pornographic, or profane content.
- Message-casting or projected signs are prohibited except as temporary decorations under the ordinance.
- Signs must not create glare or excessive illumination, nor distract motorists, nor exceed 0.5 foot-candles at the nearest residential property line.
- Sign lighting must only be steady, non-flashing, stationary, shielded light sources; exposed bulbs are prohibited except as allowed in electronic signs.
- Signs with more than one face not allowed; only two faces permitted.
- Nonconforming signs may not be enlarged, expanded, or altered to increase nonconformity.
- No sign shall be erected in imitation of, or that resembles, or obstructs view of any traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, nor direct traffic movement, nor contain commercial advertising on a traffic sign or signal.
- No sign shall obstruct or interfere with walkways or parking lots.
- No sign in a park (city parks) unless pursuant to regulations or a permit.
- No person may remove, alter, deface, or destroy any official condemnation or safety sign posted by city authority.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dearborn

- Official notices of the city may be posted on public property as deemed appropriate by the city.
- City-sponsored temporary decorations on public property are exempt from sign ordinance requirements if displayed for no more than 60 days.
- Temporary decorations, including message-casting/projected signs, are allowed for up to 60 consecutive days, subject to conditions.
- A sign erector license is not required for temporary signs, temporary decorations, or sandwich board signs.
- Permanent window or door signs under one square foot for accessory information (street numbers, hours of operation, menus, etc.) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Directional signs for traffic control (less than four square feet and under 30 inches in height) are exempt from permit fees.
- The permit requirements do not apply to electronic open signs (see definition in the ordinance).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All new and replacement signs require submission of plans, details, elevations, and samples for administrative review and approval by city officials (Plan Reviewer, Zoning Administrator, Director of Economic Development or equivalent), regardless of zone.
- As part of sign permitting, photometric studies may be required (particularly for illuminated signs) at the discretion of the building official or zoning administrator.
- A detailed schedule may be required for the installation of banners on rights-of-way, subject to approval by the Director of Public Works.
- Revised plans may require additional fees.
- Master sign plans are referenced in the ordinance’s intent and may relate to the character and orderly development goals of the master plan, but no explicit mandatory submission of a 'master sign plan' found except as part of general permitting and administrative review.
- Variance requests from sign ordinance requirements may be submitted and heard by the Building Board of Appeals, which can review for practical difficulty and issue relief if strict application creates unnecessary hardship.

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

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