# Sign Regulations in Flushing, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Flushing, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/flushing
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Flushing/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIXVLAUS_CH156SI)

## At a glance

Flushing, Michigan regulates 27 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Development Entry Sign (Single-family or Two-family)s in the Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3A, R-4, R-3B, MDR, PRD, MHP, HDR) zoning district are capped at 4 ft (plus up to 4 ft berm) tall and 20 sq ft, with a Face of sign not less than 20 ft from nearest existing or future curb line or edge of pavement setback (Sec. 156.05(b)(1)b). Most commercial signs in Flushing require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3A, R-4, R-3B, MDR, PRD, MHP, HDR) | 9 | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Institutional uses in Residential Districts | 2 | 15 ft (for ground sign) | 32 sq ft (total for one or two signs) | — |
| Fraternity/Sorority Houses in Residential Districts | 1 | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (B-1, OS-1, OS, Neighborhood Commercial, Office Services) | 7 | 8 ft | 50% of area of awning/canopy/marquee surface containing the sign | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 5 | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| General Business District (CC, B-2, B-3) | 6 | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District (LI, I-1) | 5 | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts (all commercial districts) | 3 | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3A, R-4, R-3B, MDR, PRD, MHP, HDR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Sign (Single-family or Two-family Dwellings) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises; wall or ground sign | — | 156.05(b)(1)a |
| Development Entry Sign (Single-family or Two-family) | 4 ft (plus up to 4 ft berm) | 20 sq ft | — | Face of sign not less than 20 ft from nearest existing or future curb line or edge of pavement | 1 per entrance | At each entrance to subdivision; wall or ground sign | — | 156.05(b)(1)b |
| Residential Sign (Medium Density Multiple Family, Planned Residential, Mobile Home (R-3A, MDR, PRD, MHP)) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises; wall or ground sign | — | 156.05(b)(2)a |
| Development Entry Sign (Medium Density Multiple Family, Planned Residential, Mobile Home (R-3A, MDR, PRD, MHP)) | 4 ft (plus up to 4 ft berm) | 20 sq ft | — | Face of sign not less than 20 ft from nearest curb or edge of pavement | 1 per entrance | At each entrance; wall or ground sign | — | 156.05(b)(2)b |
| Residential Sign (High Density Multiple Family, HDR, R-3B) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises; wall or ground sign | — | 156.05(b)(3)a |
| Development Entry Sign (High Density Multiple Family, HDR, R-3B) | 4 ft (plus up to 4 ft berm) | 20 sq ft | — | Face of sign not less than 20 ft from curb or edge of pavement | 1 per entrance | At each entrance to the complex; wall or ground sign | — | 156.05(b)(3)b |
| Ground Sign (Recreational Uses in Residential) | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — | Not less than 20 ft from nearest right-of-way line | 1 | On premises; ground sign | — | 156.05(e)(1)a,b |
| Incidental Sign (All Residential Districts) | 4 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | As required | On premises, as needed | — | 156.05(b)(2)a, (3)a, (e)(3) |

### Commercial District (B-1, OS-1, OS, Neighborhood Commercial, Office Services)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | At least 20 ft from curb or edge of pavement | 1 | Per lot or premises, not in public right-of-way | — | 156.05(d)(1)a |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft (per sign, up to 2) | — | — | Up to 2 | On building | — | 156.05(d)(1)b |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area containing the sign | — | — | Up to 2 | On or in window | — | 156.05(d)(1)c |
| Awning, Canopy, or Marquee Sign | — | 50% of area of awning/canopy/marquee surface containing the sign | — | — | 1 | Affixed to awning/canopy/marquee | — | 156.05(d)(1)d |
| Suspended Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Hung for identification | — | 156.05(d)(1)d |
| Wall or Window Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At multiple or hidden entrances | — | 156.05(c)(1)c |
| Incidental Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | As required | As required | — | 156.05(c)(1)d |

### General Business District (CC, B-2, B-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — | At least 20 ft from curb or edge of pavement | 1 | Per lot or premises, not in public right-of-way | — | 156.05(g)(1)a |
| Wall Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | Up to 2 | On building wall | — | 156.05(g)(1)b |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of the area of the window containing the sign | — | — | Up to 2 | On or in window | — | 156.05(g)(1)c |
| Awning, Canopy, or Marquee Sign | — | 50% of the portion of the surface containing the sign | — | — | 1 | Affixed to awning/canopy/marquee | — | 156.05(g)(1)d |
| Suspended Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Hung for identification | — | 156.05(g)(2) |
| Plaza/Mini-mall Ground Sign | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — | At least 20 ft from curb or edge of pavement | 1 | Identifies plaza/mini-mall and all businesses | — | 156.05(g)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Flushing

- A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained in the city only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions, and other requirements of this chapter.
- All signs not expressly permitted by this chapter or exempt from regulation are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to display upon any sign or advertising structure any obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
- Illumination of signs shall be directed or shaded downward so as not to interfere with the vision of persons on the adjacent street or adjacent property owners.
- No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct free and clear vision of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Signs must comply with applicable building and electrical codes at all times.
- All signs and components must be kept in a neat, clean, and attractive condition, and be maintained in good structural condition.
- No signs shall be allowed in the public right-of-way, except as specifically permitted.
- No sign permit shall be issued for any sign unless it is consistent with the requirements of this chapter in every respect.
- Signs in violation of any plan or permit governing the sign or lot are prohibited.
- Flashing or moving lights on signs are prohibited.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- Signs with visible moving or revolving parts, or visible mechanical movement, except for the conveyance of noncommercial information which requires periodic change, are prohibited.
- Signs mounted or displayed on vehicles parked for the purpose of displaying the sign are prohibited.
- Signs painted directly upon walls, sidewalks, or driveways are prohibited.
- Structurally unsafe, hazardous, dilapidated, abandoned, or poorly maintained signs are prohibited.
- Signs that may be confused with or obstruct traffic control signs, signals, or traffic visibility are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs (signs advertising activities not on the premises) are prohibited, except for certain exceptions like prior to initial business opening.
- Signs not expressly permitted under this chapter or exempt are prohibited in the city.
- Full motion digital video images on digital signs are prohibited.
- Audio output from digital signs is prohibited.
- Temporary signs cannot be illuminated, either by the sign itself or with external lighting.

## Signs exempt from permit in Flushing

- Public notices or warnings required by valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the lot or parcel on which such sign is located.
- Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, for 60 days before and 30 days after the appropriate holiday.
- Traffic control signs on private property that meet department of transportation standards and contain no commercial message.
- Certain small, unobtrusive, and incidental signs that are subject to substantive requirements but do not require permits.
- Building markers or memorial signs or tablets denoting the name or date of erection of a building when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other non-combustible material, permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Flags bearing the official design of a unit of government, education-institution, civic league or organization, fraternal benefit societies, order or association, or organization operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or education purposes, are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Gas station price signs incorporated into the canopy over gas pumps, provided they do not exceed four square feet in area, are exempt from the maximum number of signs allowed.
- Community information signs operated by the municipality, provided they are approved by the city council, are exempt from requirements.
- Time and temperature signs, provided they do not exceed two square feet in area, are exempt from the maximum number of signs allowed.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for the construction, erection, installation, or modification of most signs as detailed in section 156.05 and subject to the procedures in section 156.10–156.12.
- Detailed drawings showing dimension, design, structure, and location of each sign must be submitted with the permit application (one application can cover multiple signs for a lot).
- The city zoning board of appeals conducts hearings for sign-related appeals and variances; applicants must file within specified time frames and present their case.
- Variances may be applied for through the board of appeals in cases of practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, and require a hearing process.
- No indication of a required master sign plan is found in this ordinance; however, permit and variance application processes for multiple or complex sign situations are administered through the building inspector or zoning board of appeals as per sections 156.11–156.12 and 156.18.
- City council sets permit and plan fee schedules by resolution, as per Sec. 156.17.

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

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