# Sign Regulations in Decatur, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Decatur, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/decatur
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Decatur/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_CH28STSIOTPUPL_ARTVISTSI)

## At a glance

Decatur, Michigan regulates 12 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Ground Signs in the All Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet above grade tall and 32 square feet per sign face; maximum 2 sign faces, with a Front yard setback for the respective zoning district setback (Sec. Sec. 42-183(g), (k), (l)). Most commercial signs in Decatur require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Zoning Districts | 3 | 6 feet above grade | 32 square feet per sign face; maximum 2 sign faces | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 24 square feet each | — |
| Residential zoning districts, Residential zone | 3 | — | 6 square feet (property identification and noncommercial residential) | — |
| Nonresidential districts | 3 | 6 feet above grade | 32 square feet per sign face; maximum 2 sign faces | — |

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

### All Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 6 feet above grade | 32 square feet per sign face; maximum 2 sign faces | — | Front yard setback for the respective zoning district | Up to 2 sign faces per sign | — | — | Sec. 42-183(g), (k), (l) |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 square feet per wall sign | — | — | — | Wall of building | — | Sec. 42-183(g), (k), (l) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 square feet per sign face; maximum 2 sign faces | — | — | Maximum 2 sign faces | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 42-183(g), (k), (l) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Banner or Commercial Advertising Flag | — | 24 square feet each | — | — | Total of 2 (banners and/or commercial advertising flags) | — | — | Sec. 42-183(d)(9) |
| Mailbox/Informational/Warning Sign | — | 2.5 square feet (mailbox/newspaper), 1 square foot (informational), 6 square feet (residential identification), 4 square feet (traffic guidance) | — | — | — | Mailbox/newspaper tube/private property/traffic/parking | — | Sec. 42-183(d)(1)-(2),(7)-(8) |
| Governmental or Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As installed by governmental body or public utility | — | Sec. 42-183(d)(3)-(5), (10) |
| Decorative or Architectural Feature (Non-Sign) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 42-183(d)(6) |

### Nonresidential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 6 feet above grade | 32 square feet per sign face; maximum 2 sign faces | — | Front yard setback for the respective zoning district | Up to 2 sign faces per sign | — | — | Sec. 42-183(g), (k), (l) |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 32 square feet per sign | — | — | — | Wall of building | — | Sec. 42-183(g), (k), (l) |
| Projecting Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 16 square feet per sign face; maximum 2 sign faces | — | — | Maximum 2 sign faces | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 42-183(g), (k), (l) |

## Prohibited signs in Decatur

- No sign may be constructed, erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated or substantially altered unless a zoning permit has been issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, except as otherwise provided.
- Signs that are not consistent with the standards of this chapter are prohibited.
- Signs which are not clean or in good repair are prohibited.
- Signs that are not securely affixed to a substantial structure are prohibited.
- Signs that resemble any official traffic sign or appear to attempt to direct the movement of traffic, or are located where they interfere with motorists' view of intersections or driveways are prohibited.
- Revolving, moving, or flashing signs (except time, date and weather signs), pennants, streamers, and airborne devices are prohibited.
- Signs other than utility company signs attached to utility poles are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Signs may not extend above any parapet or be placed upon any roof surface, except that roof surfaces at an angle of 75 degrees or more from horizontal shall be regarded as wall space (not applicable to holiday displays on residential roofs).
- No wall sign attached to a building may project more than 12 inches from the building wall.
- No sign within 150 feet of a residential zone may be illuminated between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m.
- Illuminated signs are not permissible in residential zoning districts, except as provided.
- Illuminated tubing or strings of lights that outline property lines, building facades, sign faces, sales areas, roof lines, doors, windows, or similar areas are prohibited.
- No sign may contain or be illuminated by flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity, except signs indicating the time, date, or weather conditions.
- Signs remaining after a business or activity has terminated must be removed within 90 days.

## Signs exempt from permit in Decatur

- One sign not exceeding six square feet in sign face area customarily associated with residential use and not of a commercial nature, such as signs giving property identification, is permitted without a zoning permit.
- Signs not exceeding 2½ square feet in sign face on mailboxes or newspaper tubes and signs posted on private property relating to private parking, or warning the public against trespassing or danger from animals, are permitted without a zoning permit.
- Signs erected by or on behalf of, or pursuant to the authorization of, a governmental body, including legal notices, identification, informational signs, historical markers, traffic, directional, and regulatory signs, are permitted without a zoning permit.
- Official signs of a noncommercial nature erected by public utilities are permitted without a zoning permit.
- Flags or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising service are permitted without a zoning permit.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings or works of art, as long as such features do not contain letters, trademarks, moving parts, or lights, are permitted without a zoning permit.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic on private property that do not exceed four square feet each and bear no advertising matter are permitted without a zoning permit.
- Informational signs not exceeding one square foot in sign face are permitted without a zoning permit.
- A total of two banners, one banner and one commercial advertising flag, or two commercial advertising flags, each not to exceed 24 square feet in sign face, used to attract attention to a community activity or event, are permitted without a zoning permit.
- Street name signs located in accord with the village and/or county road commission standards at street intersections, not to exceed one square foot in sign face, are permitted without a zoning permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except as otherwise provided in this section, no sign may be constructed, erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated or substantially altered unless a zoning permit has been issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
- Permits from state authorities (MDOT) are required for off-premises highway advertising signs along state and federal highways.
- Compliance with this chapter does not relieve the applicant of the responsibility for compliance with other village, state or federal sign regulations; a zoning permit does not grant permission to place signs on property not owned or legally controlled by the applicant.

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

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