# Sign Regulations in Farmington, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Farmington, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/farmington
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Farmington/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH25SI)

## At a glance

Farmington, Michigan regulates 12 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Signs as permitted by underlying zoning or as modified via PUD agreements in the Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district are capped at Variable (per PUD agreement, not to exceed underlying zone standards unless approved) tall and Variable (per PUD agreement, not to exceed underlying zone standards unless approved), with a As established in PUD agreement, with reference to underlying district requirements setback (Sec. Sec. 35-53.E, Sec. 35-134, Sec. 35-135). Most commercial signs in Farmington require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Residential District (R1, R1A, R1B, R1C, R1D), Two-Family Residential District (R2), Multiple-Family Residential District (R3), Townhouse Residential District (R5), Single-Family Cluster Residential District (R6), Single-Family Parking District (R1P) | 2 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| Office District (O), Office Service District (OS) | 1 | 30 ft (max building height) | — | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Community Commercial District (C2), General Business District (C3) | 1 | 35 ft (max building height) | — | — |
| Industrial District (IND) | 1 | 40 ft (max building height, but verify against sign code for stricter limit) | — | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD) | 1 | Variable (per PUD agreement, not to exceed underlying zone standards unless approved) | Variable (per PUD agreement, not to exceed underlying zone standards unless approved) | — |
| Redevelopment Overlay District (RO) | 1 | Per underlying zone | Per underlying zone, unless Planning Commission approves modification for innovative design in accordance with RO plan | — |
| Grand River Corridor Overlay District (GRC - MDR, RMU, MU) | 1 | Per underlying zone or overlay-approved maximum | Per underlying zone, except Planning Commission may allow innovative/integrated signage as part of high-quality corridor design (Sec. 35-145.B.7) | — |
| River Valley Floodplain Overlay District | 1 | Per underlying zone | Per underlying zone | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Single-Family Residential District (R1, R1A, R1B, R1C, R1D), Two-Family Residential District (R2), Multiple-Family Residential District (R3), Townhouse Residential District (R5), Single-Family Cluster Residential District (R6), Single-Family Parking District (R1P)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Wall Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Mounted flat against the wall of the dwelling | — | Sec. 35-27.C. |
| Temporary/Construction Signs (for permitted construction activity) | — | — | — | — | — | On lot where construction occurs | — | Sec. 35-28 (generally), see also permit process in Sec. 35-224E |

### Planned Unit Development (PUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs as permitted by underlying zoning or as modified via PUD agreement | Variable (per PUD agreement, not to exceed underlying zone standards unless approved) | Variable (per PUD agreement, not to exceed underlying zone standards unless approved) | — | As established in PUD agreement, with reference to underlying district requirements | As approved in PUD agreement | As approved by Planning Commission in PUD agreement, often building-mounted or site entrances. | — | Sec. 35-53.E, Sec. 35-134, Sec. 35-135 |

### Grand River Corridor Overlay District (GRC - MDR, RMU, MU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs as permitted in underlying zoning; may be modified for overlay district by Planning Commission | Per underlying zone or overlay-approved maximum | Per underlying zone, except Planning Commission may allow innovative/integrated signage as part of high-quality corridor design (Sec. 35-145.B.7) | — | Per overlay and underlying district; subject to incentive scheme if recognized benefit is provided (see Table 35-144) | Determined by site plan and overlay approval | Location per project site plan, subject to overlay approval | — | Sec. 35-145.B.7, Sec. 35-146.B.5, Sec. 35-147.B-C |

## Prohibited signs in Farmington

- No sign, hedge, fence, wall, screen, or any planting shall be erected or maintained to obstruct vision between a height of three (3) feet and eight (8) feet within the triangular area formed by the intersection of the street right-of-way lines and a line connecting two (2) points which are located on those intersecting right-of-way lines twenty (20) feet from the point of intersection of the right-of-way lines. (Sec. 35-56, Intersection Visibility)
- No sign or other use is permitted that is contrary to or in violation of local, state, or federal law, ordinances, or other regulations. (Sec. 35-3.F., Conflicting Regulations)
- Sign lighting shall not produce glare which is a nuisance or annoyance to residents, businesses, or traveling public, nor adversely affect driver or pedestrian visibility, nor affect adjacent property. (Sec. 35-40.E. and Sec. 35-48, Exterior Lighting)
- Luminous tube (neon) and exposed bulb lighting is prohibited as an architectural detail on buildings except as part of a sign meeting requirements of Chapter 25, Signs. (Sec. 35-48.F.1-2)
- Use of laser light source, searchlights or any similar high intensity light for outdoor advertisement or entertainment is prohibited unless approved as part of a special event. (Sec. 35-48.G.3)
- Lighting shall not be of a flashing, moving, or intermittent type except as may be permitted for special events. (Sec. 35-48.G.4)
- No sign (or fence, wall, hedge, or other planting) may be erected or maintained such that it obstructs intersection visibility as defined under Sec. 35-56.
- No commercial vehicle may be parked on business or industrial premises for a period exceeding 48 hours for the intended purpose of advertising a product or serving as a business sign. (Sec. 35-36.D.)
- No sign, hedge, wall, screen, or any planting may be maintained to obstruct vision within specified sight triangles at intersections. (Sec. 35-56, Intersection Visibility)

## Signs exempt from permit in Farmington

- Conventional VHF and UHF television antennae are excluded from the regulations of Sec. 35-46 (Reception Antenna Facilities). (Sec. 35-46.F.)
- The keeping of domesticated animals/pets is permitted as regulated elsewhere in the Code of Ordinances; only the keeping of exotic or vicious animals is prohibited. (Sec. 35-58)
- The temporary use of any property as a voting place in connection with a municipal or other public election is exempt from this chapter's provisions. (Sec. 35-33)
- The parking or storage of essential public service vehicles where the vehicle is operated by the homeowner or occupant is exempt from commercial vehicle provisions. (Sec. 35-36.B.)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs must be shown on a site plan when part of a proposed development that requires site plan review. (Sec. 35-40.B., Awnings and Canopies; Sec. 35-51.G., Waste Receptacles—sign details; Article 13, Site Plan Review)
- Site plan review (including sign placement and design) is required for new construction, material renovations, changes in use, special land uses, and PUDs, as outlined in Article 13, Site Plan Review (esp. Sec. 35-162: Uses Subject to Site Plan Review).
- A master sign plan is required as part of the site plan application when proposed signs fall under the scope of related building, façade, or site changes reviewed by planning commission. (Implied from Article 13 and from standard municipal sign regulation integration with site plan approval; see cross-references in Sec. 35-40.D., 35-53.E., and Table of Uses in each district referencing sign ordinance compliance)
- Revisions to an approved sign plan require administrative review or planning commission approval as guided by Sec. 35-167 (Amendment to Approved Plans), depending on whether changes are minor or major.
- Signs on awnings and canopies are subject to sign ordinance requirements and must be noted on a site plan for nonresidential developments. (Sec. 35-40.D., 35-40.B.)
- In Planned Unit Developments (PUDs), the site plan for the PUD includes locations, design, and standards for signs, subject to approval by the planning commission (see Article 10 and Article 13, Site Plan Review).
- For any development that triggers planning commission review, a detailed sign plan (or inclusion of sign information in the overall site plan) is part of the required application package, consistent with cross-references to Chapter 25, Signs.

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

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