# Sign Regulations in Gladstone, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gladstone, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/gladstone
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Gladstone/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH30LADERE_ARTVIIIZO_DIV5SI)

## At a glance

Gladstone, Michigan regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the B-1, B-2, O-S zoning district are capped at 5 feet tall and 48 square feet, with a Minimum of 2 feet from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 30-608(2)a). Most commercial signs in Gladstone require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 | 4 | 5 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| B-1, B-2, O-S | 8 | 30 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| I-1, I-2 | 4 | 30 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 10 feet | May not obscure more than 50% of the window area | — |

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

### B-1, B-2, O-S

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 5 feet | 48 square feet | — | Minimum of 2 feet from property line | One per street frontage (max two) | Minimum of 2 feet from property line | — | Sec. 30-608(2)a |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 60 square feet | — | Minimum of 2 feet from property line | See ground sign | Minimum two feet from property line | — | Sec. 30-608(2)a |
| Wall Sign | — | 60 square feet (10% of applicable wall area) | — | — | One per business per street frontage | On wall facing the street | — | Sec. 30-608(2)b |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | One per street frontage | Projecting from building, see dimensional restrictions | — | Sec. 30-608(2)c |
| Awning, Canopy, and Marquee Signs | — | — | — | — | One per street frontage | On awning, canopy, or marquee attached to building | — | Sec. 30-608(2)d |
| Business Center Sign | 25 feet | 80 square feet | — | Minimum two feet from property line | One per street frontage (max two) | Minimum two feet from property line | — | Sec. 30-608(2)e |
| Billboard | 30 feet | 300 square feet | — | Set back 75 feet from ROW, 50 feet from other property line, 300 feet from any other billboard | Not specified; controlled by spacing | Set back 75 feet from right-of-way line, no closer than 50 feet from any other property line, and no closer than 300 feet to any other billboard | — | Sec. 30-608(2)f |
| Sidewalk Sign | 5 feet | 6 square feet per side of A-frame | — | See location above | — | On sidewalk during business hours; must leave at least 6 feet of unobstructed sidewalk between sign and buildings | — | Sec. 30-608(2)g |

### I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 5 feet | 48 sq ft for first sign; 24 sq ft for a second sign | — | Minimum two feet from property line | One per street frontage, max two | Minimum two feet from property line | — | Sec. 30-608(3)a |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 feet | 100 square feet for first sign; 32 square feet for a second sign | — | Minimum two feet from property line | One per street frontage, max two | Minimum two feet from property line | — | Sec. 30-608(3)b |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 square feet (5% of wall area) | — | — | One per street frontage | On wall facing the street | — | Sec. 30-608(3)c |
| Billboard | 30 feet | 300 square feet | — | See above location | See business center as set forth in subsection (2)e | Set back a minimum of 75 feet from the right-of-way, no closer than 50 feet to any other property line and no closer than 300 feet to any other billboard | — | Sec. 30-608(3)d |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | Not closer than 5 feet from any property line fronting a public street | One per lot/parcel at a time | Not closer than 5 feet from any property line fronting a public street | — | Sec. 30-603(m) |
| Window Sign | — | May not obscure more than 50% of the window area | — | — | — | Inside window intended to be viewed from outside | — | Sec. 30-604(4), 30-601 (definition) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On property being sold/leased | — | Sec. 30-603(i) |
| Construction Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from street right-of-way | — | At least 10 feet from the street right-of-way | — | Sec. 30-603(j) |
| Directional Sign | 3 feet | 2 square feet | — | At least 2 feet from any property line | — | At least 2 feet from any property line | — | Sec. 30-603(l) |
| Community Special Event Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | At least 2 feet from any property line | — | At least 2 feet from any property line | — | Sec. 30-603(k) |

## Prohibited signs in Gladstone

- No sign shall be placed in, upon or over any public right-of-way, alley or other public place within the city, except for permitted highway and government signs and signs permitted in the B-2 district, which may project from a building wall over a public way.
- No light pole, utility pole or other supporting member shall be used for the placement of any sign unless it is specifically designed and approved for such use.
- No sign shall be erected in any place where it may, by reason of its position, shape, color or other characteristic, interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or constitutes a nuisance.
- No commercial vehicle which, in the opinion of the zoning administrator, has the intended function of acting as a sign, shall be parked in any area abutting a street unless no other parking area is available.
- No sign shall contain any moving or animated parts, nor have the appearance of having any moving or animated parts, except as provided within this division.
- No wall sign shall extend beyond the edge of the wall to which it is affixed, nor extend above the roofline of the building to which it is attached.
- Subject to constitutional limitations, all signs shall pertain only to the business or activity conducted on the premises, except political signs, special event signs and billboards.
- All signs not specifically allowed under this division, unless exempted by this section, shall be prohibited in the city.
- Balloons, balloon signs, strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, banners or flags, except flags of a noncommercial nature not used for the purposes of commercial advertisement, are prohibited.
- Any sign, including window signs, which have flashing, moving or oscillating lights, excluding time and temperature signs, are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited, except for noncommercial signs, community special event signs and billboards.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter, place, or permit to be placed, or replace any sign within the city without first obtaining a sign and/or building permit, unless such sign is specifically exempted as provided in this article.

## Signs exempt from permit in Gladstone

- Government signs shall not require a sign permit.
- Placards shall not require a sign permit.
- Temporary sale signs which are four square feet or less in size shall not require a sign permit.
- Window signs provided the total area of all signs within one foot of the window shall not obscure more than 50 percent of the window area shall not require a sign permit.
- Current political signs shall not require a sign permit.
- Historical markers shall not require a sign permit.
- Memorial signs or tablets shall not require a sign permit.
- Murals shall not require a sign permit.
- Signs which are not visible from any street shall not require a sign permit.
- Essential services signs shall not require a sign permit.
- Signs containing the address and owner's or occupant's name, which signs are up to one square foot in area and are attached to a mailbox, light fixture or exterior wall, shall not require a sign permit.
- Flags or insignias of a nation, state, local governments, community organization or educational institution shall not require a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In subdivision review, the preliminary plat submission must show the location of any proposed signs, all of which shall be in compliance with article VIII, division 5 (signs), and any other applicable ordinances.
- In site plan review (Sec. 30-509), landscaping plans and sign locations are required to be included as part of the required site plan for new developments in most zoning districts, except single-family and two-family residential.
- A sign permit is required (Sec. 30-610) for any sign unless specifically exempted; the zoning administrator issues sign and/or building permits.
- Variances from sign standards (e.g., projecting sign or awning dimensional limitations) may be granted through the zoning board of appeals (city commission) where noted; otherwise, dimensional limitations may not be waived.
- Billboards require special exception or conditional use approval.
- In some cases, signs for state-licensed child-care homes or centers must meet requirements of chapter 30, division 5, governing signs to identify the facility.
- Signs for some uses (e.g., home occupations, bed & breakfast) are restricted in area and allowed only as wall signs or nonilluminated; these are set by sign code and/or referenced in other 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 Gladstone — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Gladstone+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-gladstone

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