# Sign Regulations in Eastpointe, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Eastpointe, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/eastpointe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Eastpointe/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH12BU_ARTXSIER)

## At a glance

Eastpointe, Michigan regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Monument (Ground Sign)s in the Neighborhood Mixed-Use (MU-1), Main Street Mixed-Use (MU-2), Downtown (DT), Central Downtown Overlay (CD), Gratiot Gateway Overlay (GG) zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 48 SF, with a 10 ft from ROW (or 10 ft from curb along Kelly Rd) setback (Sec. Sec. 10.02.B, Table (Mixed-Use), Sec. 10.04). Most commercial signs in Eastpointe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Low Density Residential (R-1), Medium Density Residential (R-2) | 3 | 6 ft. | 30 SF | — |
| Neighborhood Mixed-Use (MU-1), Main Street Mixed-Use (MU-2), Downtown (DT), Central Downtown Overlay (CD), Gratiot Gateway Overlay (GG) | 9 | 20 ft. | 50 SF; Multi-tenant signs: 75 SF | — |
| Regional Mixed-Use (MU-3), Light Industrial (LI) | 9 | 20 ft. | 60 SF; Multi-tenant: 75 SF | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | Pole max 30 ft | Max 60 SF | — |

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

### Neighborhood Mixed-Use (MU-1), Main Street Mixed-Use (MU-2), Downtown (DT), Central Downtown Overlay (CD), Gratiot Gateway Overlay (GG)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | — | 1 SF per 1.5 linear ft. of building length | — | — | 1 per tenant | Must be an integral and permanent part of the canopy, awning or marquee. | — | Sec. 10.02.B, Table (Mixed-Use), Sec. 10.04 |
| Monument (Ground Sign) | 6 ft. | 48 SF | — | 10 ft from ROW (or 10 ft from curb along Kelly Rd) | 1 per building. Second allowed for corner lots with 200' frontage (each) | Must be set back at least 10 ft from ROW; along Kelly Road set back at least 10 ft from curb line. | — | Sec. 10.02.B, Table (Mixed-Use), Sec. 10.04 |
| Pole (Ground Sign) | 20 ft. | 50 SF; Multi-tenant signs: 75 SF | — | 10 ft from ROW (or curb on Kelly Rd) | 1 per building | Set back at least 10 ft from ROW (or curb on Kelly Road). | — | Sec. 10.02.B, Table (Mixed-Use), Sec. 10.04 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 10 SF per sign; max 2 faces per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant and/or entrance | — | — | Sec. 10.02.B, Table (Mixed-Use); Sec. 10.04.H |
| Wall Sign (Secondary Frontage, Two Entrances) | — | — | — | — | 1 per qualifying tenant | On street where second entrance exists. | — | Sec. 10.02.B, Table (Mixed-Use) |
| Wall Sign (Directory, Multi-tenant) | — | 12 SF | — | — | 1 per building | — | — | Sec. 10.02.B, Table (Mixed-Use) |
| Wall Sign (Public Alleyway) | — | — | — | — | 1 per building/tenant | 1 per building/tenant with public access to a functional public alleyway. | — | Sec. 10.02.B, Table (Mixed-Use) |
| Window Sign | — | ⅓ of the total window area | — | — | — | Interior, visible from exterior. | — | Sec. 10.02.B, Table (Mixed-Use) |

### Regional Mixed-Use (MU-3), Light Industrial (LI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | — | 1 SF per 1.5 linear ft. of building length | — | — | 1 per tenant | Must be an integral and permanent part of the canopy, awning or marquee. | — | Sec. 10.02.C, Table (LI/MU-3) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft. | 60 SF; Multi-tenant: 75 SF | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 per building or 2 if qualifying corner lot | Cannot be located closer than 10 ft to existing/planned ROW | — | Sec. 10.02.C, Table (LI/MU-3) |
| Pole Sign | 20 ft. | 50 SF; Multi-tenant: 75 SF | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 per building | Cannot be located closer than 10 ft to existing/planned ROW | — | Sec. 10.02.C, Table (LI/MU-3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 10 SF per sign (2 faces max) | — | — | 1 per tenant and/or entrance | — | — | Sec. 10.02.C, Table (LI/MU-3) |
| Wall Sign (Secondary Frontage, Multiple Tenants/Frontages) | — | — | — | — | 1 per qualifying frontage | Designated frontage with additional street frontage. | — | Sec. 10.02.C, Table (LI/MU-3) |
| Wall Sign (Directory, Multi-tenant) | — | 12 SF | — | — | 1 per multi-tenant building | — | — | Sec. 10.02.C, Table (LI/MU-3) |
| Wall Sign (Public Alleyway) | — | 12 SF | — | — | 1 per qualifying building/tenant | 1 per building/tenant with public access to a functional public alleyway. | — | Sec. 10.02.C, Table (LI/MU-3) |
| Window Sign | — | ⅓ of the total window area | — | — | — | Interior, visible from outside. | — | Sec. 10.02.C, Table (LI/MU-3) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Commercial, incl. Banners and A-Frame/Sandwich Board) | 6 ft. max (A-frame/sandwich boards: max 5 ft) | 32 SF (A-frames: 12 SF/side) | — | — | Max 3 sign permits/year per lot; in shared buildings, max 2 per business/year | On private property. Not in ROW. Must not impede or endanger movement. | — | Sec. 10.05; Sec. 10.06 |
| Flag | Pole max 30 ft | Max 60 SF | — | — | 1 per residential lot, 3 per non-residential | Not in ROW | — | Sec. 10.06.B.6 |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 4 SF | — | — | — | Typically on private property, as needed. | — | Sec. 10.06.B.7 |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 10.06.B.1 |

## Prohibited signs in Eastpointe

- Any sign not expressly permitted.
- Signs that by reason of position, shape, illumination, location, or color obstruct vision of drivers or pedestrian traffic.
- Signs which incorporate flashing, moving, oscillating, and/or blinking lights.
- The following signs are only permitted on a temporary basis: exterior pennant strings, flutter flags, spinners, banners, and streamers.
- Any obscene, indecent, or immoral content.
- Any sign or object, including inflatable objects, which has any visible motion, moving or animated parts or image, whether movement is caused by machinery, wind, or otherwise, except for permitted digital message signs and exempt flags.
- Any sign structure or frame that no longer contains a sign.
- Rope lights.
- Roof signs or a sign which projects above the roof line.
- Signs that prevent the free ingress and egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No sign can be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Any sign erected on any property, public or private, without the consent of the property owner.
- Any sign which simulates or imitates in size, color, lettering, or design, any traffic sign or signal or other word, phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse the drivers of motorized vehicles.
- Off-premises signs, including, but not limited to billboards or vehicle business signs.
- Tube lights, whether LED, neon, or any other type of light, including those that line windows and doors.
- Signs which are structurally or electrically unsafe, in the opinion of the building official.
- Signs which have deteriorated to the point where they have become a blight on surrounding properties.
- No sign can be placed, strung, or located within the right-of-way.
- Temporary signs may not be illuminated.
- Signs may not use day-glo, fluorescent, or reflective color materials that give the appearance of changing color or brilliant luminescent colors.
- Illumination by bare bulbs or flames is prohibited (except bare bulbs on EMC and theater marquees).

## Signs exempt from permit in Eastpointe

- Government signs, including those used to identify public facilities, government buildings, parks, and temporary government signs used for decoration or for seasonal events or holidays. This includes highway and street signs, and signs authorized by a road agency in conjunction with infrastructure improvements.
- Address numbers, with a numeral height of no greater than 12 inches.
- Historic markers under the authority/designated authority of the local, state, or federal organization.
- Essential service signs and signs required by law.
- Placard/building markers, no larger than two square feet in area.
- Flags, subject to the following: flags and flagpoles cannot be located within any right-of-way; flag poles have a maximum height of 30 feet; no more than one flag is permitted per lot in a residential district, and no more than three flags are permitted per lot in other districts; maximum flag size is 60 square feet.
- Directional signs, no larger than four square feet in area and four feet in height.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Within a project, buildings, or clusters of buildings, which have more than one tenant must submit a master sign plan with the sign permit application. The master sign plan must include the location, area, height, color, and font of all ground and wall signs, including the area designated for individual tenant signs. Elevations of ground signs must be included. The sign plan must be designed so that it establishes a common theme or design, uses similar construction methods, and is compatible in color, size, and scale.
- All signs developed for one building, structure or shopping center must incorporate a theme using similar methods of display and construction, which limits the number of fonts, colors, and sign face sizes. Signs must be compatible with the architectural style, elements, and materials of the principal building or structure.
- Permit required: it is unlawful for any person to erect, alter, or structurally change a sign (unless the sign is specifically exempt), without first obtaining a permit from the city. Any sign that makes use of electricity must, in addition to a sign permit, have an electrical permit.
- Permit not required for exempt signs (see general_exemptions).
- Applications for a sign permit are made to the building department and must include: property owner's approval, location information, plans and specifications, structural calculations (if required), and other data needed to confirm compliance with ordinance.
- All multi-tenant buildings or clusters must submit a master sign plan at the time of sign permit application.

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

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