# Sign Regulations in Fremont, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fremont, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/fremont
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-29
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.cityoffremont.net/DocumentCenter/View/1322/Entire-Ordinance#page=103)

## At a glance

Fremont, Michigan regulates 46 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Directional Sign (General)s in the Downtown Commercial District (C-1) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 20 sq ft, with a minimum 2 ft from right-of-way and 10 ft from side/rear property lines (Section 3.21(H)(5)) setback (Sec. Section 3.21(C)(5)). Most commercial signs in Fremont 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 | 27 | 25 ft (flagpole) | ≤ 50% of device facade (per sign) | — |
| Downtown Commercial District (C-1) | 31 | 25 ft (flagpole) | ≤ 50% of device facade (per sign) | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1A, C-2, C-2A) | 30 | 25 ft (flagpole) | ≤ 50% of device facade (per sign) | — |
| Industrial District (O-IND) | 31 | 25 ft (flagpole) | 64 sq ft per face | — |
| Institutional District (O-INS) | 3 | 8 ft | 64 sq ft per face | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural Districts | 2 | 8 ft | 6 sq ft | — |

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

### Downtown Commercial District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (General) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | General: minimum 2 ft from right-of-way and 10 ft from side/rear property lines (Section 3.21(H)(5)) | 1 per driveway direction | On the lot; one per driveway direction | — | Section 3.21(C)(5) |
| Construction Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 15 ft from any property line or public street right-of-way | 1 per street frontage (not all required to be on that frontage) | On-premise; during construction period only | — | Section 3.21(C)(2) |
| Corporate Flag | 25 ft (flagpole) | 35 sq ft (flag); flagpole height max 25 ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot; NOT on buildings, light poles, or freestanding signs | — | Section 3.21(C)(3) |
| Garage/Yard/Estate Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premise | On-premise only; entirely on private property | — | Section 3.21(C)(6) |
| Government Sign (Community Information Kiosk) | 6 ft | Greatest horizontal dimension ≤ 5 ft (height limit 6 ft) | Up to 5 ft greatest horizontal dimension | — | — | As erected by appropriate governmental agencies | — | Section 3.21(C)(8) |
| Real Estate Model Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | Minimum 15 ft from any property line or public right-of-way | 1 per parcel/unit | On the parcel/unit being modeled | — | Section 3.21(C)(17) |
| Real Estate Open House Sign | 3 ft above grade | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 on-premise sign per street frontage | On-premise only | — | Section 3.21(C)(18) |
| Real Estate Sign (All Other Districts) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel per public street frontage | On the property being sold/rented/leased | — | Section 3.21(C)(19) |

### Commercial Districts (C-1A, C-2, C-2A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (General) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | General: minimum 2 ft from right-of-way and 10 ft from side/rear property lines (Section 3.21(H)(5)) | 1 per driveway direction | On the lot; one per driveway direction | — | Section 3.21(C)(5) |
| Construction Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 15 ft from any property line or public street right-of-way | 1 per street frontage (not all required to be on that frontage) | On-premise; during construction period only | — | Section 3.21(C)(2) |
| Corporate Flag | 25 ft (flagpole) | 35 sq ft (flag); flagpole height max 25 ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot; NOT on buildings, light poles, or freestanding signs | — | Section 3.21(C)(3) |
| Garage/Yard/Estate Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premise | On-premise only; entirely on private property | — | Section 3.21(C)(6) |
| Government Sign (Community Information Kiosk) | 6 ft | Greatest horizontal dimension ≤ 5 ft (height limit 6 ft) | Up to 5 ft greatest horizontal dimension | — | — | As erected by appropriate governmental agencies | — | Section 3.21(C)(8) |
| Real Estate Model Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | Minimum 15 ft from any property line or public right-of-way | 1 per parcel/unit | On the parcel/unit being modeled | — | Section 3.21(C)(17) |
| Real Estate Open House Sign | 3 ft above grade | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 on-premise sign per street frontage | On-premise only | — | Section 3.21(C)(18) |
| Real Estate Sign (All Other Districts) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel per public street frontage | On the property being sold/rented/leased | — | Section 3.21(C)(19) |

### Industrial District (O-IND)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (General) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | General: minimum 2 ft from right-of-way and 10 ft from side/rear property lines (Section 3.21(H)(5)) | 1 per driveway direction | On the lot; one per driveway direction | — | Section 3.21(C)(5) |
| Construction Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 15 ft from any property line or public street right-of-way | 1 per street frontage (not all required to be on that frontage) | On-premise; during construction period only | — | Section 3.21(C)(2) |
| Corporate Flag | 25 ft (flagpole) | 35 sq ft (flag); flagpole height max 25 ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot; NOT on buildings, light poles, or freestanding signs | — | Section 3.21(C)(3) |
| Government Sign (Community Information Kiosk) | 6 ft | Greatest horizontal dimension ≤ 5 ft (height limit 6 ft) | Up to 5 ft greatest horizontal dimension | — | — | As erected by appropriate governmental agencies | — | Section 3.21(C)(8) |
| Real Estate Model Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | Minimum 15 ft from any property line or public right-of-way | 1 per parcel/unit | On the parcel/unit being modeled | — | Section 3.21(C)(17) |
| Real Estate Open House Sign | 3 ft above grade | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 on-premise sign per street frontage | On-premise only | — | Section 3.21(C)(18) |
| Real Estate Sign (All Other Districts) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel per public street frontage | On the property being sold/rented/leased | — | Section 3.21(C)(19) |
| Directional Sign (Industrial) | 8 ft | 64 sq ft per face | — | General setbacks apply (Section 3.21(H)(5)) | — | At locations where direction is needed within Industrial District | — | Section 3.21(C)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Fremont

- Any sign not specifically allowed is prohibited in all districts.
- Signs that obstruct free access or egress from any building, including obstruction of fire escapes, required exit ways, windows, doors, or firefighter roof access, are prohibited.
- Signs with moving, revolving, or animated parts, or the appearance of movement or animation, are prohibited. Other than an electronic display as permitted, no sign may employ flashing, moving, oscillating, blinking, or variable-intensity light. Flashing electronic message boards are prohibited.
- Signs using high-intensity, blinking, or flashing lights; festoons; spinners; or other animated devices are prohibited.
- Exterior string lights used in connection with a commercial enterprise are prohibited except holiday decorations installed no more than 60 days before the holiday and removed within 15 days after; holiday lights that exceed 40 watts are prohibited.
- Signs that simulate or could be confused with emergency vehicle or traffic signal lighting are prohibited; no flashing, oscillating, or intermittent red, yellow, or green illumination on any sign located in the same line of vision as a traffic control system; no words or symbols (e.g., Stop, Look, Danger) that mislead or confuse traffic.
- Signs that obstruct or impair the vision of motorists or non-motorized travelers at intersections, driveways, parking lots, or loading areas are prohibited.
- Temporary devices including inflatable devices, pennants, pinwheels, searchlights, or other devices with similar characteristics are prohibited unless specifically allowed as exempt signs.
- Nongovernmental signs are prohibited in any public right-of-way (except as otherwise provided), and signs may not be attached to a utility pole, tree, street furniture, waste receptacle, or other elements not capable of supporting such signs.
- Off-premise signs (billboards) are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Signs affixed to a parked vehicle or truck trailer used principally for advertising purposes (rather than transportation) are prohibited.
- Any sign or structure that is structurally unsafe; constitutes a hazard due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment; is capable of causing electric shock on contact; or is not kept in good repair (e.g., broken parts, missing letters, non-operational lights) is prohibited.
- Signs affixed to fences or to structural elements not capable of supporting such signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be located within, project into, or overhang a public right-of-way, except as otherwise allowed in the ordinance and as permitted by MDOT.
- Signs constructed from materials that are remnants or manufactured for a different purpose are prohibited.
- Lighting fixtures for sign illumination must not be directly visible from or aimed at adjacent streets, roads, or properties; fixtures must be mounted and directed downward.
- Sign illumination that could distract motorists or otherwise create a traffic hazard is prohibited.
- Illumination by bare bulbs or flames is prohibited.
- No sign may be placed upon a tree or utility pole, except signs of a unit of government or utility.
- No pole, cable, or support of any nature for a sign shall be placed on publicly owned property, a road right-of-way, or a proposed road right-of-way.
- No part of any sign (including cables and guys) may be within four (4) feet of any electrical conductor, electric light pole, road lamp, traffic light, or other public utility pole or standard.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fremont

- Address numbers with numeral height no greater than 6 inches for residences and 18 inches for businesses.
- Construction signs: one per street frontage; maximum height 6 feet; maximum area 32 square feet; minimum setback 15 feet from any property line or public street right-of-way; erected only during construction and removed within 14 days of final approval for occupancy.
- Corporate flags: maximum flagpole height 25 feet (measured from average surrounding grade); maximum flag size 35 square feet; no more than one corporate flag per lot; corporate flags and banners are prohibited on buildings, light poles, and freestanding signs; lowest part of flag at half-staff not less than 8 feet.
- Flags or insignia of any nation, state, city, community organization, educational institution, noncommercial enterprise, college or university; any American flag shall not be used for advertising purposes.
- Directional signs: one per driveway direction; not more than 5 feet in height and 20 square feet in size. In residential districts, directional signs are permitted only for multiple-family and non-residential uses. In the Institutional and Industrial districts, directional signs not more than 8 feet in height and 64 square feet in area are permitted where direction is needed.
- Garage, yard, and estate sale signs: one per premises; placed on-premise only and entirely on private property; maximum area 6 square feet; erected no more than 5 business days before and removed within 1 business day after the sale. Within Township areas, additional signs are allowed on private property with property owner permission.
- Gas station pump signs on pump islands or supports identifying self-serve or full-serve: no business identification or advertising copy; no more than two signs per pump island; each sign not exceeding 4 square feet in area.
- Governmental signs for essential services and governmental purposes, including community information kiosks: kiosks no higher than 6 feet, may be flat or round, not exceeding 5 feet at greatest horizontal dimension, and shall not block building entrances or sidewalks; may include an electronic display for community events and information.
- Historical plaques and signs describing state or national designation and/or containing narrative not exceeding 12 square feet in area.
- Incidental signs including placards not exceeding 2 square feet each (e.g., open/closed, help wanted, hours, accepted credit cards, affiliations), attached to a permitted sign, exterior wall, building entrance, or window; or signs not intended to be seen from off-site.
- Integral signs including memorial signs, names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets carved into stone, concrete, or similar material, or made of bronze, aluminum, or other noncombustible material and integral to the structure, not exceeding 25 square feet in area.
- Interpretive signs: maximum height 5 feet including base or pedestal; maximum face area 12 square feet.
- Parking lot signs indicating parking restrictions or handicap accessible spaces when placed within a permitted parking lot: maximum height 6 feet; maximum area 3 square feet.
- Permanent signs on ATMs, vending machines, gas pumps, and ice containers indicating contents: sign on each device does not exceed 50% of the sign facade; limit of one sign per device.
- Political signs: property must contain an occupied structure; signs not placed within the public street right-of-way; spaced at least 10 feet apart; maximum area 6 square feet.
- Public warning signs (e.g., no trespassing, warning of electrical currents or animals) not exceeding 2 square feet in area.
- Real estate model signs directing the public to a model home or unit: temporary; minimum setback 15 feet from any property line or public right-of-way; placed on-premise only; maximum of one model sign per parcel and/or residential unit; maximum area 6 square feet.
- Real estate open house signs: one on-premise sign per street frontage; maximum size 6 square feet and maximum height 3 feet above grade; not affixed to other signs, utility poles, fire hydrants, or trees; written permission required from property owners where signs are placed; removed within 1 hour after closing of the open house.
- Real estate signs: one per parcel for each public street frontage; maximum height 6 feet; maximum area 6 square feet in Residential Districts and 12 square feet in all other districts.
- Residential nameplates and home occupation signs: limited to one per dwelling; not to exceed 2 square feet in area; not illuminated; must be attached to an exterior building wall. In agricultural districts, a monument sign not to exceed 6 square feet may be erected on the premises.
- Roadside stand signs: one sign up to 6 square feet in area; not more than 8 feet in height; must adhere to clear vision standards.
- Traffic control signs (regulatory and directional traffic control and street signs) erected by a public agency in compliance with the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or sign plan requirement is stated in the provided ordinance text (Section 3:21).

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/fremont