# Sign Regulations in Elsie, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Elsie, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/elsie
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Elsie/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH40ZO_ARTIVSI)

## At a glance

Elsie, Michigan regulates 12 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Use Lot)s in the Industrial districts zoning district are capped at No more than 3 ft above structure height; not exceeding 25 ft above grade tall and 35 sq ft per face (single); 70 sq ft (double-sided), with a Min 25 ft from front lot line; min 20 ft from other property lines setback (Sec. Sec. 40-145(4)b,c). Most commercial signs in Elsie require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 6 ft above curb level | 24 sq ft per face; max 2 faces | — |
| R-1 residential district, R-2 residential district | 4 | — | 32 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces) | — |
| Multifamily R-3 district | 1 | 4 ft | 12 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces); total area both faces: 24 sq ft | — |
| Commercial districts, General commercial district | 4 | No higher than 20 ft above average grade; never higher than max structure height | Up to 180 sq ft per face | — |
| Industrial districts | 4 | 20 ft off grade | Up to 180 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### R-1 residential district, R-2 residential district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Residential Use) | — | 4 sq ft total per premises | — | — | One per parcel | Mounted flat on principal structure or on permanent wall/fence | — | Sec. 40-145(1)a/1d |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Use except Church/School) | — | 24 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces) | — | — | One per parcel | Mounted flat on principal structure or on permanent wall/fence | — | Sec. 40-145(1)b/1d |
| Wall Sign (Church/School Use) - Option 1 | — | 32 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces) | — | — | One per parcel | Mounted flat on principal structure or on permanent wall/fence | — | Sec. 40-145(1)c/1d |
| Freestanding Sign (Church/School Use) - Option 2 | — | 32 sq ft per sign face (max 2 faces) | — | Setback one-half front yard requirement | One per parcel | Setback one-half the required front yard for the district | — | Sec. 40-145(1)c |

### Commercial districts, General commercial district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall face (max 200 sq ft total) | — | — | One per building face fronting public street | Flat, attached, and parallel to face of building wall fronting public street | — | Sec. 40-145(3)a,d |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per building face fronting public street | Each side of principal structure facing public street | — | Sec. 40-145(3)b |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Use Lot) | No higher than 20 ft above average grade; never higher than max structure height | 35 sq ft per face (single side) or 70 sq ft (double-sided) | — | — | One per property | Anywhere on property on which the principal use is located | — | Sec. 40-145(3)c,d |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Center) | No higher than 20 ft above average grade; never higher than max structure height | Up to 180 sq ft per face | — | — | One per business center | Anywhere on property on which the business center is located | — | Sec. 40-145(3)e |

### Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall face (max 200 sq ft per wall) | — | — | One wall sign per wall facing public street | Each side of principal structure facing public street | — | Sec. 40-145(4)a |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Use Lot) | No more than 3 ft above structure height; not exceeding 25 ft above grade | 35 sq ft per face (single); 70 sq ft (double-sided) | — | Min 25 ft from front lot line; min 20 ft from other property lines | One per property | Anywhere on site, but not closer than 25 ft from front lot line, 20 ft from other property lines | — | Sec. 40-145(4)b,c |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Center) | No more than 3 ft above structure height; not exceeding 25 ft above grade | Up to 180 sq ft per face | — | — | One per business center | Anywhere on property on which the business center is located | — | Sec. 40-145(4)d |
| Off-Premises Sign | 20 ft off grade | 100 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — | — | — | Only in industrial districts; min 1,500 ft from nearest other off-premises sign | — | Sec. 40-147(2)(a-e) |

## Prohibited signs in Elsie

- Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving lights or which have a source of light visible from any street or adjoining property.
- Temporary string lights used in connection with a commercial premises for commercial purposes.
- Any sign which has any visible moving part, visible revolving parts or visible mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic or mechanical means, including intermittent electrical pulsations or by action of natural wind currents.
- Any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe, constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment, or is not kept in good repair, or is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it or which does not meet the requirements of the village building codes.
- Any sign which, by reason of its size, location, content, coloring or manner of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers or by obstructing or detracting from the visibility of any traffic sign or control device on public streets or roads.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required exit way.
- Signs which make use of words such as 'stop,' 'look,' 'danger,' or any other words, phrases, symbols or characters, in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- Any sign or other advertising structure containing any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected or maintained.
- Any sign now or existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or product sold.
- Any sign which is not accessory to the business being conducted on the property on which the sign is located.
- Temporary or portable signs (except as listed in section 40-145(b)).
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except as specifically permitted in section 40-147.
- Structural alterations to a nonconforming sign are prohibited.
- A nonconforming sign shall not be repaired, altered, reconstructed, relocated, or expanded in any manner unless or until the sign is made to conform with the ordinance, except for ordinary maintenance and minor repairs which do not increase the normal life of the sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Elsie

- Signs erected by an official governmental body or agency and deemed necessary to inform the public or for the protection of the public health, safety, welfare and morals.
- Signs not visible from any public way or from any point off the lot on which they are located.
- Flags, as defined in section 40-2, not exceeding 18 square feet in size.
- Holiday decorations and greetings in season.
- One sign per premises not exceeding one square foot in area and having no letter or symbol exceeding two inches in any dimension and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations.
- Traffic directional signs erected for the purposes of improving traffic circulation and safety, provided they are not used for advertising purposes.
- Legal notices; identification, informational, or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.
- No permit is required for ordinary servicing, repainting of existing sign message, or cleaning of a sign.
- No permit is required for change of message of a sign without change of structure, including a bulletin board or billboard, but not including a sign to which a new permanent face may be attached.
- Signs included as part of a site plan review do not require a separate sign erection permit application.
- Certain temporary portable signs do not require a permit, such as construction signs, real estate signs, election campaign signs, and community or special event signs, subject to specific conditions described in Sec. 40-146(a).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, unless otherwise exempt, require a permit before erection, placement, structural alteration, painting, or addition, as specified in Sec. 40-143.
- Permits require submission of a plan or drawing detailing location, placement, construction, and other particulars.
- No separate sign permit is required if the sign is included as part of a site plan review—such signs may be reviewed as part of the site plan application.
- Applications must contain sufficient information to show full compliance with this and all other applicable state law and village ordinances.
- If a permit is denied, the applicant may appeal to the village council as described in Sec. 40-143(4).

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

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