# Sign Regulations in Flint, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Flint, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/flint
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Flint, Michigan regulates 15 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Point-of-Sale Sign - Detacheds in the Protected Areas zoning district are capped at Not greater than the height limitation established for the zoning district. tall (Sec. § 50-142.3(b)(2)). Most commercial signs in Flint require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Protected Areas | 4 | Max 30 ft visible from 3 ft above freeway pavement. In line-of-sight obstruction, up to 75 ft max. | 120 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts, Manufacturing Districts | 3 | — | 64 sq ft (combined for project sign and architect/engineer sign) | — |
| Residential Districts, Residentially zoned district | 3 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 100 sq ft (greater only by Council approval) | — |

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

### Protected Areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 120 sq ft | — | — | — | Must be located and oriented to the frontage on the street providing actual access to the property. | — | § 50-142.3(a) |
| Point-of-Sale Sign - Detached | Not greater than the height limitation established for the zoning district. | — | — | — | 2 per business (3 for corner/multi-frontage) | Detached/freestanding, on premises; oriented to the street frontage. | — | § 50-142.3(b)(2) |
| Point-of-Sale Sign - Wall | — | 10% of other wall area, max 80 sq ft | — | — | 2 per business (1 per wall, see additional requirements) | Wall of the building (principal entrance and one other wall), within 200 ft of freeway ROW. | — | § 50-142.3(b)(3) |
| Point-of-Sale Sign - Freestanding, Facing Freeway (Option 1) | Max 30 ft visible from 3 ft above freeway pavement. In line-of-sight obstruction, up to 75 ft max. | — | — | — | 1 per business, industry, or institutional use abutting freeway right-of-way | Single detached sign oriented to the freeway; only for uses abutting the freeway right-of-way. | — | § 50-142.3(c) |

### Commercial Districts, Manufacturing Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Construction Sign) | — | 64 sq ft (combined for project sign and architect/engineer sign) | — | — | 1 construction, 1 project description | Confined to site of construction | — | § 50-142.7(e) |
| Temporary Sign (Real Estate) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 50-142.7(f) |
| Temporary Sign (Political) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises; see general attachment/removal/location requirements | — | § 50-142.7(g) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 30 sq ft (cloth-type panel), 64 sq ft (construction signs combined), 6 or 32 sq ft (real estate/political based on zone) | — | — | — | Cloth-type: wire/rope, securely anchored. Construction/real estate: on premises. | — | § 50-142.7 |
| Nameplate (Professional, Apartments, Institutions) | — | Sized in proportion to building. Subject to guidelines published by Director. | — | — | — | On building serving the use. | — | § 50-142.8 |
| Projecting or Vertical Sign | — | 100 sq ft (greater only by Council approval) | — | — | — | No projection closer than 2 ft horizontally from street; min clearance 16 ft over public drive/alley. | — | § 50-142.9 |
| Column Sign | — | — | Column: 14 in perpendicular to front property line, 21 in parallel (waivable outside clear vision area) | Not within 2 ft of interior property line. | — | Freestanding; may be outside private property line with application. | — | § 50-142.10 |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof or projects above top of wall. | — | § 50-142.11 |
| Poster Board/Billboard | — | — | — | 7 ft min from street ROW, 2 ft min from side lot line. | — | Free standing framework, independent of building. | — | § 50-142.12(b) |
| Portable Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property only; not in ROW/street/alley/parkway/sidewalk/path. | — | § 50-142.13 |
| Mobile/Trailer Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises, 1 per year | On vehicle or free-standing, on premises only. | — | § 50-142.13.1 |

## Prohibited signs in Flint

- It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to act as, engage in the business of, to advertise, or to represent themselves as a Licensed Bonded Sign Hanger in the City of Flint, unless licensed.
- It is unlawful to install, erect, alter, maintain, service, repair, replace, move or remove any sign in the City of Flint for which a permit is required unless licensed.
- No sign shall be erected on or over public property within ten feet of any fire hydrant, traffic light, fire alarm box, or street light pole.
- No sign shall be erected where traffic conditions, fire, explosion hazard would imperil public safety or interfere with Fire Department functions.
- No person shall attach any notice, sign, placard, carpet, or other encumbrance to any tree, fountain, post, railing, fence or other structure in or surrounding any public park ground or boulevard.
- Signs which contain or are an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal or contain words such as 'Stop,' 'Go Slow,' 'Caution,' 'Danger,' 'Detour,' 'Warning,' or similar words, or any other words, phrases, symbols, or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic are prohibited.
- Signs of a size, location, movement, content, coloring or illumination, including flashing lights, which may be confused with or construed as a traffic-control device or which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal, are prohibited.
- Signs that advertise any activity, business, product or service once conducted or available on the premises but which is no longer conducted or available on the premises must be removed within 30 days.
- Signs containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character are prohibited.
- No colored lights may be used at any location or in any manner so as to be confused with or construed as traffic-control device.
- No sign not in conformance with the ordinance shall be replaced, restored, reconstructed, extended, or substituted except in accordance with the ordinance.
- It is unlawful to attach any sign or notice upon any property, public or private, without consent, authorization, or ratification in writing of the owner, holder, occupant, lessee, agent, or trustee.
- It is unlawful to install any sign or notice upon public or private property unless affixed on either lower corner a notice, in letters not less than one-quarter inch high, stating the name and address of the installer.
- No portable sign shall be placed in a public right-of-way, street, alley, parkway, sidewalk or path, or in any location which causes or creates a dangerous or hazardous condition.
- Signs on a motor vehicle or trailer parked solely for advertising a business or product or service of a business located on the premises or abutting the premises are prohibited, except under specific conditions.
- No roof signs are permitted within 200 feet of a freeway right-of-way.
- No person shall put up, erect, keep, use, or maintain any sign, awning, or advertisement device extending on or over the sidewalk more than three feet from the building, and not approaching nearer than eight feet to the sidewalk.
- No person shall put up, erect, keep, use, or maintain any post or fixture for the support of any sign, awning, or advertisement on a city sidewalk without City Council permission.
- No unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device resembling an official traffic-control device or railroad sign may be displayed that attempts to direct movement of traffic or hides/interferes with effectiveness of an official traffic-control device or railroad sign.
- No person shall hang, post, place, or put any sign, placard, etc., on any tree, fountain, post, railing, fence, or structure in or surrounding public grounds or boulevards (unless municipal golf course with written approval).

## Signs exempt from permit in Flint

- Political signs (temporary) are exempt from requirements for permits under the Building Code, exempt from installation by a licensed bonded sign hanger, and exempt from requirements for written authorization or ratification from the property owner (although oral permission is required).
- This prohibition against signs on public grounds does not apply to advertisements on municipal golf courses, provided written approval is obtained and the sign conforms to Department of Parks and Recreation standards.
- Distribution of handbills, advertisements, or other printed matter that are not securely affixed to the premises is not subject to some posting prohibitions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Nameplate (Type 2) sign installations require review and approval by the Director of Building and Safety Inspection, who determines appropriateness of size.
- Projecting or vertical signs larger than 100 square feet require written application through the Division of Building and Safety Inspection and approval by the City Council.
- No indication (in this text) of a required master sign plan or general sign plan for all properties or developments; approvals appear to be on a case-by-case or type-by-type basis.

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

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