# Sign Regulations in Flat Rock, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Flat Rock, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/flat-rock
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Flat_Rock/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXAZO_ART27.00SIOR)

## At a glance

Flat Rock, Michigan regulates 36 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Construction Sign (Temporary)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 15 feet tall and 64 square feet, with a Setback per district (see [a]) setback (Sec. Sec. 27.05.C, Table: Temporary Sign Standards). Most commercial signs in Flat Rock require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 15 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| Residential District, Residential Estate District (RE) | 10 | 8 feet | 36 square feet (parsonage or similar residential facility: 16 square feet) | — |
| Office District (O-1) | 6 | 20 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3, HR) | 12 | 30 feet | Up to 90 sq ft (C-1, C-2); up to 125 sq ft (C-3, HR) | — |
| Industrial District (M-1, M-2, M-3) | 6 | 20 ft | 125 square feet | — |
| Planned Unit Development District (PUD), General Manufacturing District (M-2), General Commercial District (C-3), High Rise District (HR) | 4 | 27 ft (C-3, M-2); 20 ft in other districts | 300 square feet per sign face | — |
| Central Business District (C-2) | 8 | 20 ft | 90 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 15 feet | 64 square feet | — | Setback per district (see [a]) | 1 (2 on corner parcel) | Freestanding or Wall; must comply with district setback | — | Sec. 27.05.C, Table: Temporary Sign Standards |
| Real Estate Sign (Unplatted Vacant Land, Temporary) | 10 feet | 64 square feet | — | Setback per district (see [a]) | 1 (2 on corner parcel) | Portable Freestanding; must comply with district setback | — | Sec. 27.05.C, Table: Temporary Sign Standards |
| Real Estate Development Sign (Temporary) | 10 feet | 64 square feet | — | Setback per district (see [a]) | 1 (2 on corner parcel) | Portable Freestanding; not within 100 feet of any occupied dwelling unit | — | Sec. 27.05.C, Table: Temporary Sign Standards, footnote [h] |
| Community Special Event Sign (Temporary) | Subject to planning commission approval | Subject to planning commission approval | — | Setback per district (see [a]) | Subject to planning commission approval | Freestanding, Wall, Banner, Pennant, or similar (number, size, height subject to planning commission) | — | Sec. 27.05.C, Table: Temporary Sign Standards [e] |
| Noncommercial Message Sign (Temporary) | 5 feet | 10 square feet | — | [d] (see footnote: may be in required setback area but not in right-of-way) | Unlimited | Portable Freestanding or Wall; may be located in required setback, not within road right-of-way | — | Sec. 27.05.C, Table: Temporary Sign Standards |
| Non-motorized Pathway Signs - Upright (Kiosk) | 12 feet | Up to 3 panels, each no larger than 12 square feet | — | 5 feet from edge of designated trail | 1 per 0.5 mile | Along designated non-motorized pathways (see city pathway plan) | — | Sec. 27.05.E.2.a |
| Non-motorized Pathway Signs - Low Profile | 5 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 2 per privately owned property | Privately owned property along designated non-motorized pathways | — | Sec. 27.05.E.2.b |
| Non-motorized Pathway Signs - Trail-side | — | Panel: 5.5 inches x 11.5 inches | 5.5 inches | 3 feet from trail edge | — | Designated non-motorized pathways (public or private property) | — | Sec. 27.05.E.2.c |

### Residential District, Residential Estate District (RE)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | At dwelling or residential structure | — | Sec. 27.07.A; Generalized Schedule of Sign Standards for Residential Uses |
| Street Address | 6 inches (residences) | — | — | — | 1 | At dwelling or residential structure | — | Sec. 27.07.A; 27.05.A.1 |
| Real Estate Sign - Individual Lot/Home (Temporary) | 5 feet | 10 square feet | — | Setback per district (see [a]) | 1 (2 on corner parcel) | Portable Freestanding; must comply with district setback | — | Sec. 27.05.C, Table: Temporary Sign Standards; 27.07.B |
| Garage Sale Sign (Temporary) | 5 feet | 10 square feet | — | [d] (may be located in required setback area, not in right-of-way) | 2 | Freestanding or Wall; may be in required setback area but not in the public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 27.05.C, Table (Garage Sale); Sec. 27.07.C |
| Residential Entranceway Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance to a subdivision or residential development | — | Sec. 27.07.D; Generalized Schedule of Sign Standards for Residential Uses |
| Wall Sign (Nonconforming Nonresidential Use - Residential District) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Wall-mounted | — | Sec. 27.07.E |
| Freestanding Sign (Special Approval Nonresidential Use) | 8 feet | 36 square feet (parsonage or similar residential facility: 16 square feet) | — | 25 feet from ROW, 15 feet from other property lines, driveways, and approaches | 1 (2 on corner parcel) | 25 feet from any right-of-way line, 15 feet from other property lines, driveways, approaches | — | Sec. 27.07.F.3-5 |
| Wall Sign (Special Approval Use in Single-Family) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Wall-mounted | — | Sec. 27.07.F.6 |

### Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3, HR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 1/3 building height, with maximum as per district standards | Up to 90 sq ft (C-1, C-2); up to 125 sq ft (C-3, HR) | 3/4 width of building | — | 1 per street frontage or per tenant | Per street frontage/tenant, including corner tenants | — | Sec. 27.08.C; Table: Generalized Schedule |
| Freestanding Sign (Pedestal or Pole) | 20 feet (C-1, C-2, HR); 27 feet (C-3) | 90 sq ft (C-1, C-2); 150 sq ft (C-3); HR: 125 sq ft (+25 sq ft if pedestal) | — | 15 ft from ROW (may be closer if sign <=32 sq ft); 50 ft (C-1, C-2)/100 ft (C-3, HR) from residential | 1 per street frontage | In required front yard; one per street frontage; not within 15 ft of ROW unless <= 32 sq ft. See setback from residential. | — | Sec. 27.08.D; Table: Generalized Schedule; Table: Setback from Residential |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Only in C-2 (Central Business District); mounted at least 8 ft above sidewalk; not to encroach on ROW without review | — | Sec. 27.08.L; Table: Generalized Schedule |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 25% of visible awning area | — | Subject to district setback requirements | 1 | On awning/canopy | — | Sec. 27.08.F; Table: Generalized Schedule |
| Sandwich Sign (Temporary) | 4 feet | 12 square feet each side | — | [d] (See table footnotes) | 1 (2 on corner parcel) | Portable Freestanding; not in ROW; zero setback allowed in downtown development area | — | Sec. 27.05.C, Table: Temporary Sign Standards |
| Banner Sign (Temporary) | 15 feet | 32 square feet | — | [d] (See table footnotes) | 2 | Banner/Plastic or Fabric; not in ROW | — | Sec. 27.05.C, Table: Temporary Sign Standards |
| Balloon/Inflated Devices (Temporary) | 30 feet | — | — | [a] | 1 | Freestanding or roof mounted | — | Sec. 27.05.C, Table: Temporary Sign Standards |
| Electronic Message Center Sign | See freestanding sign | Included in max for freestanding sign; EMC must be ≤80% of sign area | — | See freestanding sign setbacks | 1 per parcel | Freestanding sign only | — | Sec. 27.08.J |

## Prohibited signs in Flat Rock

- Any sign not expressly permitted.
- Signs which incorporate flashing or moving lights, except time and temperature or stock market signs.
- Banners, pennants, festoons, spinners, and streamers, except where specifically permitted elsewhere in this ordinance.
- String lights used for commercial purposes, other than holiday decorations and as otherwise permitted.
- Moving signs, including any sign which has visible moving parts, revolving parts, mechanical movement, intermittent electric pulsations or movement caused by wind.
- Any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe, constitutes a hazard to safety or health by inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment, is capable of causing electric shock, or is not kept in good repair (e.g., broken parts, missing letters, or non-operational lights).
- Any sign erected on a tree or utility pole, except government or utility signs.
- Obsolete signs.
- Portable signs, except where expressly permitted.
- Signs affixed to a parked vehicle or truck trailer being used principally for advertising rather than transportation.
- Any sign which obstructs free access to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exit.
- Any sign which makes use of words, phrases, symbols, or characters such as 'Stop', 'Look', or 'Danger' in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic.
- Any sign containing obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained.
- Roof signs.
- Projecting signs (unless specifically permitted, e.g., C-2 as per later provisions).
- Real estate signs no longer valid due to the sale, rental, or lease of the property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Flat Rock

- Address numbers with a numeral height no greater than six inches for residences and 18 inches for businesses.
- Nameplates identifying the occupants of the building, not to exceed two square feet.
- Memorial signs or tablets.
- Signs on buses, trucks, trailers, or other vehicles while operated and used for transport in the normal course of a business, provided the primary use of the vehicle is not advertising a business on the premises where parked.
- Public signs, including authorized signs of a government body or public utility (traffic signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, warnings of a hazard, and similar signs).
- Flags bearing the official design of a nation, state, municipality, educational institution, or noncommercial organization.
- Incidental signs, provided total area does not exceed two square feet.
- Private traffic control signs conforming to the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- One private parking lot and driveway identification sign, not exceeding three square feet per sign and six feet in height.
- Permanent signs on vending machines, gas pumps, or ice containers indicating contents, not exceeding six square feet per device.
- Real estate signs advertising the rental, sale, or lease of the property they're located on, subject to specified requirements.
- Portable real estate 'open house' signs with area no greater than four square feet.
- 'Help wanted' signs soliciting employees for the posting business, with maximum area of six square feet for all such signs.
- Any sign located completely within an enclosed building and not visible from outside.
- Plaques or signs designating a building as a historic structure.
- 'No Trespassing,' 'No Hunting,' and 'No Dumping' signs.
- Directional signs for vehicular or pedestrian traffic to parking areas, loading areas, buildings, or locations on site, provided they do not contain logos/advertising, do not exceed four square feet or four feet in height, and may be located in the front setback area.
- Temporary window signs, subject to specified requirements.
- Temporary sandwich signs, subject to specified requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permit applications for proposed construction of a new building or addition to an existing building are reviewed by the planning commission as part of required site plan review—proposed signs shall be shown on the site plan.
- Sign permits are required for any sign to be erected, altered, relocated, or structurally changed, unless specifically exempted.
- A permit is not required for ordinary servicing, repainting, cleaning, or changing the message on pre-designed changeable copy signs.
- A permit is not required for certain exempt signs as listed in Sec. 27.05(A).
- Planning commission approval is required for community special event signs regarding number, size, and height.
- The location and spacing of certain sign types (e.g., non-motorized pathway low profile signs, number of signs in parks) are subject to planning commission approval.
- Panels for non-motorized pathway signs subject to planning commission approval.
- Appeals for sign permit refusals may be brought to the zoning board of appeals (variance request).

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

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