# Sign Regulations in Gaines Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gaines Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/gaines-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-28
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/gaines/departments/docs/Chapter%2024%20Signs.pdf?t=202504281353030&t=202504281353030)

## At a glance

Gaines Township, Michigan regulates 33 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign: Ground Sign (Bed and Breakfast)s in the Residential Zoning Districts (ARR, RS, VR, MFR) zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 16 s.f., with a 10 ft from street right-of-way or easement; 20 ft from all other property lines. setback (Sec. Section 24.80, Table 24.80). Most commercial signs in Gaines Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 4 ft. | Freestanding sign supporting structure area shall not exceed 100% of the measured sign face area. | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (ARR, RS, VR, MFR) | 11 | 6 ft. | 48 s.f. | — |
| Commercial and Mixed-Use Zoning Districts (NC, GC, OS) | 16 | 20 ft. | Up to 500 s.f. per individual sign with distance-based increments. | — |
| Industrial Districts (MB, LI, HI) | 17 | 45 ft. | 672 s.f. | — |

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

### Residential Zoning Districts (ARR, RS, VR, MFR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign: Ground Sign (Bed and Breakfast) | 6 ft. | 16 s.f. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way or easement; 20 ft from all other property lines. | 1 per lot | Non-residential use or bed and breakfast on lots in ARR, RS, VR, MFR. | — | Section 24.80, Table 24.80 |
| Freestanding Sign: Ground Sign (All Other Nonresidential Uses) | 6 ft. | 32 s.f. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way or easement; 20 ft from all other property lines. | 1 per lot | Non-residential uses in residential districts (ARR, RS, VR, MFR). | — | Section 24.80, Table 24.80 |
| Freestanding Sign: Ground Sign for Residential Development Entry Point | 6 ft. | 48 s.f. | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | 1 per entry | Entry points to residential developments. | — | Section 24.80, Table 24.80 |
| Wall Sign (Bed and Breakfast or Major Home Occupation) | — | 8 s.f. | — | — | 1 per building | On building for bed and breakfast or major home occupation; must face street or parking areas. | — | Section 24.80, Table 24.80; Section 24.30 E.3 |
| Wall Sign (All Other Nonresidential Uses) | — | 32 s.f. | — | — | 1 per building | On building; must face street or parking areas. | — | Section 24.80, Table 24.80; Section 24.30 E.3 |
| Temporary Event - Banner Sign or Portable Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | 6 ft. | 32 s.f. | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | 1 per lot | Permitted for nonresidential uses on lots in residential zoning districts. | — | Section 24.70, Table 24.70 (Temporary Event - Banner/Portable) |
| Temporary Use - Banner Sign or Portable Sign (Approved Temporary Land Use) | 6 ft. | 32 s.f. | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | 1 per lot | Only authorized for approved temporary land uses. | — | Section 24.70, Table 24.70 (Temporary Use - Banner/Portable) |
| Temporary Yard Signs (Exempt) | 4 ft. | 16 s.f. total sign area | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | Outside election season: 2; Election season: no limit | Residential lots. | — | Section 24.60, Table 24.60 (Temporary Yard Signs) |

### Commercial and Mixed-Use Zoning Districts (NC, GC, OS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Access Point Sign | Subject to clear vision corner height limitation (Section 15.90 C); if outside clear height area, 4 ft max. | NC: 3 s.f.; GC: 4 s.f.; OS: 4 s.f. | — | 2 ft from street right-of-way or easement; 10 ft from all other property lines. | 1 per driveway access | At driveway access points. | — | Section 24.90, Table 24.90 |
| Freestanding Sign: Ground Sign (Option 1) | NC: 6 ft; GC: 8 ft; OS: 8 ft | NC: 48 s.f.; GC: 64 s.f.; OS: 64 s.f. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way or easement; 20 ft from all other property lines. | 1 per lot or 1 per street frontage | Along street frontages subject to setbacks. | — | Section 24.90, Table 24.90; Section 24.30 E.2 |
| Freestanding Sign: Pylon Sign (GC only) (Option 2) | 20 ft. | Up to 100 s.f. (subject to 1.5 s.f./lf of lot frontage formula). | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | 1 per lot (alternative to ground sign) | GC district only. | — | Section 24.90, Table 24.90; Section 24.30 E.2 |
| Interior Site Signs | 5 ft. | NC: 4 s.f.; GC: 12 s.f.; OS: 8 s.f. | — | 25 ft from all property lines; 10 ft if not visible from residential zoned property. | No limit | Interior to the site. | — | Section 24.90, Table 24.90 |
| Sandwich Board Signs (Exempt) | 4 ft. | 6 s.f. | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | 1 per tenant space | On sidewalks or pedestrian areas; must maintain at least 5 ft of passage between street and sign. | — | Section 24.60, Table 24.60 (Sandwich Board Signs) |
| Small Freestanding Signs (Exempt) | 3 ft. | 2 s.f. | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | No limit | On the lot; must meet setbacks. | — | Section 24.60, Table 24.60 (Small Freestanding Signs) |
| Temporary Event - Banner Sign or Portable Sign | 6 ft. | 32 s.f. | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | 1 per lot | On lots in Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts. | — | Section 24.70, Table 24.70 (Temporary Event - Banner/Portable) |
| Temporary Use - Banner Sign or Portable Sign (Approved Temporary Land Use) | 6 ft. | 32 s.f. | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | 1 per lot | Only authorized for approved temporary land uses in these districts. | — | Section 24.70, Table 24.70 (Temporary Use - Banner/Portable) |

### Industrial Districts (MB, LI, HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Access Point Sign | Subject to clear vision corner height limitation (Section 15.90 C); if outside clear height area, 4 ft max. | 4 s.f. | — | 2 ft from street right-of-way or easement; 10 ft from all other property lines. | 1 per driveway access | At driveway access points. | — | Section 24.100, Table 24.100 |
| Freestanding Sign: Ground Sign for Industrial Park Entry Point | 8 ft. | 64 s.f. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way or easement; 20 ft from all other property lines. | 1 per park entry; 2 max per park | At industrial park entries. | — | Section 24.100, Table 24.100 |
| Freestanding Sign: Ground Sign | 8 ft. | 64 s.f. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way or easement; 20 ft from all other property lines. | 1 | On industrial lots subject to setbacks. | — | Section 24.100, Table 24.100; Section 24.30 E.2 |
| Interior Site Signs | 5 ft. | 12 s.f. | — | 25 ft from all property lines; 10 ft if not visible from residential zoned property. | No limit | Interior to the site. | — | Section 24.100, Table 24.100 |
| Billboard (LI, HI on lots with frontage on M-6) | 45 ft. | 672 s.f. | — | From M-6 ROW: max 100 ft, min 10 ft; Min 50 ft from any other cross-street ROW; Min 50 ft from any other property line. | No more than 6 Township-wide; per site subject to spacing/separation rules | Only in LI and HI on lots with frontage on M-6; perpendicular or angled toward the highway ROW; on structures with two faces, no more than one face oriented toward the same direction of traffic. | — | Section 24.110 A, Table 24.110 A; Section 24.40 D (ECM) |
| Sandwich Board Signs (Exempt) | 4 ft. | 6 s.f. | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | 1 per tenant space | On sidewalks or pedestrian areas; must maintain at least 5 ft of passage between street and sign. | — | Section 24.60, Table 24.60 (Sandwich Board Signs) |
| Small Freestanding Signs (Exempt) | 3 ft. | 2 s.f. | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | No limit | On the lot; must meet setbacks. | — | Section 24.60, Table 24.60 (Small Freestanding Signs) |
| Temporary Event - Banner Sign or Portable Sign | 6 ft. | 32 s.f. | — | 10 ft from all property lines. | 1 per lot | On lots in Industrial Districts. | — | Section 24.70, Table 24.70 (Temporary Event - Banner/Portable) |

## Prohibited signs in Gaines Township

- Any sign not expressly allowed by the ordinance is prohibited.
- Signs shall not interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device; constitute a nuisance; or cause a hazard to vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
- Signs shall not be placed in, upon, or over any public right-of-way, alley, or other public place except as may be otherwise permitted by the Kent County Road Commission or Michigan Department of Transportation; signs shall not be placed in, upon, or over any private street easement.
- Signs shall not obstruct free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exit way.
- Adjustment of lot lines that will cause a sign to become nonconforming is prohibited.
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- Prohibited sign types/characteristics: signs with moving parts; inflatable signs; banners and balloons; feather flag signs; signs with flashing, animation, moving, oscillating, blinking, intermittent illumination, or variable intensity light; signs held by or supported by a person for commercial advertising purposes; signs mounted on roofs; signs mounted on vehicles parked in a location for the primary purpose of advertising; signs attached to a utility pole, street sign, traffic control device, or similar object; signs attached to any natural growth such as trees, shrubs, or other natural foliage.
- Threatening, sexually explicit, or profane signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Gaines Township

- Governmental and regulatory signs are not subject to the requirements of this chapter.
- Religious symbols are not considered signs and are not subject to the requirements of this chapter; religious symbolism incorporated into signs is not exempt.
- Permits are not required for maintenance activities (painting, repainting, cleaning, maintenance, repair, and change of a sign face, message, or graphics) provided no structural alterations or additions to the display area are made.
- Permits are not required for re-lettering or rewording changeable copy on signs designed for changeable copy.
- Permits are not required for sign types listed as exempt in Section 24.60 (they must still comply with Section 24.60 requirements).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign plan must accompany sign permit applications and shall include the checklist requirements in Section 35.20 (the text also references a submittal checklist in Section 36.20).
- Sign permits are reviewed administratively as zoning permits per Section 25.40.
- Permits are required for all signs unless specifically exempted by this chapter (see Section 24.20 D and Section 24.60).
- No master sign plan or variance hearing requirement is specified in the provided sections.

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

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