# Sign Regulations in Grosse Pointe, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Grosse Pointe, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/grosse-pointe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Grosse_Pointe/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH58SI)

## At a glance

Grosse Pointe, Michigan regulates 6 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Name/Address)s in the R-T Terrace District (R-T) zoning district are capped at 4 feet above ground level tall and 6 square feet (Sec. Sec. 90-252(5); Sec. 90-38). Most commercial signs in Grosse Pointe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| E-R Estate Residential District (E-R), R-1A Single-Family Residential District (R-1A), R-1B Single-Family Residential District (R-1B) | 1 | — | 12 square feet (R-1A); Not specified in E-R and R-1B, but 12 sq ft is applied where referenced | — |
| R-T Terrace District (R-T) | 1 | 4 feet above ground level | 6 square feet | — |
| RO-1 Restricted Office District (RO-1) | 1 | Not above roof line | 12 square feet for building; 10 sq ft per office/clinic | — |
| C-2 Central Business District (C-2) | 1 | — | — | — |
| P-1 Vehicular Parking District (P-1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| T Transition District (T), T-1 Transition-1 District (T-1), T-2 Transition-2 District (T-2) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

_3 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### E-R Estate Residential District (E-R), R-1A Single-Family Residential District (R-1A), R-1B Single-Family Residential District (R-1B)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | — | 12 square feet (R-1A); Not specified in E-R and R-1B, but 12 sq ft is applied where referenced | — | — | One per premises (for allowed uses) | On the premises. May not overhang public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 90-222(4)e; Sec. 90-38; Sec. 90-3 'Sign, outdoor advertising' definition; Sec. 90-208(1), 90-25 for accessory building signage. |

### R-T Terrace District (R-T)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Name/Address) | 4 feet above ground level | 6 square feet | — | — | Unspecified, but restrictions suggest one per building per use. | On the same lot, pertaining to the use of the building. Must not overhang public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 90-252(5); Sec. 90-38 |

### RO-1 Restricted Office District (RO-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not above roof line | 12 square feet for building; 10 sq ft per office/clinic | — | — | One per office or clinic use in a building | Flat against the side of building, not above roof line | — | Sec. 90-267(5); Sec. 90-38 |

## Prohibited signs in Grosse Pointe

- No sign or outdoor advertising structure (including billboards, signs, and other notices which advertise a business, commercial venture, or name of a person or persons) may be erected, constructed, or altered without approval by the building inspector as to compliance with all applicable city sign regulations and ordinances and all requirements of this chapter (Sec. 90-38).
- Signs, as defined in chapter 58, attached to or painted on satellite dish antenna are prohibited (Sec. 90-43(2)b.6).
- No sign shall be illuminated by other than electrical means, and electrical devices and wiring shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the National Electrical Code and this Code (Sec. 90-159(3)).
- Any sign erected or maintained on parking premises shall comply with the requirements of chapter 58 of this Code and any other city sign regulations (Sec. 90-159(12), Sec. 90-320(5)).
- It shall be a prohibited use in all zoned districts to park or store wrecked or junked vehicles (Sec. 90-26(9)).
- It is not permitted to park or store trailers, mobile homes, travel trailers, boats, boat trailers, junked or wrecked vehicles of any type, or use parking lots as a storage area for industrial equipment or material, or as a dump for refuse of any description (Sec. 90-159(14)).
- No signs, except as provided in the zoning code and city sign regulations, shall be permitted, including in special use, planned unit development, and parking districts.
- No sign is to obstruct the visibility at intersections (referenced generally under Sec. 90-21 and may apply via the sign code).

## Signs exempt from permit in Grosse Pointe

- Essential services (as defined in Sec. 90-3), as authorized by law and regulated elsewhere, are exempt from the application of this chapter (Sec. 90-37(a)).
- Temporary use of any property as a voting place in connection with a municipal or other public election is exempt from the provisions of this chapter (Sec. 90-35).
- The strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any part of any building or structure declared unsafe by the building inspector, or the required compliance with his lawful order, is not prevented by this chapter (Sec. 90-33).
- Construction begun prior to adoption of the chapter that has been diligently carried on does not require change, provided it is completed within one year (Sec. 90-34).
- A satellite dish antenna with a diameter of three feet or less and mounted on the roof of a building is exempt from the satellite dish requirements (Sec. 90-43(1)).
- Painting, cleaning, replacement of like materials, or other actions commonly considered general maintenance are not substantial rebuilding and do not require a permit under the fence article (Sec. 90-402).
- Signs required for the temporary use of property as a voting place or during construction as authorized in other parts of the Code are exempt.
- Site plan review and a building permit are generally not required for painting, re-shingling, window replacement with no structural/dimensional change, replacement of existing diseased/dead landscaping, pothole repair, parking lot re-striping, installation of dumpster screen in accordance with section, or other ordinary maintenance activities (Sec. 90-74(e)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The erection, construction or alteration of all outdoor advertising structures, billboards, signs and other notices which advertise a business, commercial venture or name of a person or persons shall be approved by the building inspector as to compliance with all applicable city sign regulations and ordinances and all requirements of this chapter (Sec. 90-38).
- All applications for a permit to install a satellite dish antenna must include a site plan showing, among other details, the size and exact location of the antenna and all buildings on the site (Sec. 90-43(2)a).
- Applications for special land use approval or planned unit developments (PUDs) shall require a site plan submitted in accordance with section 90-74, and plans must show the location and details of all signs (Sec. 90-75(e), Sec. 90-76(e)(10)).
- For all special land use approvals, a site plan is required in accordance with section 90-74 (Sec. 90-75(e)).
- Any new construction, exterior modification, change of use, or expansion (except single-family residential uses in single-family districts) requires a site plan submitted for review and approval as specified in section 90-74 (Sec. 90-74(c)(1)).
- A site plan must be submitted for review and approval prior to the issuance of building permits for any phase of an approved PUD (Sec. 90-76(e)).
- Construction or renovation in the Hospital Facilities (HF) district involving exterior modifications, new use, or expansion of existing use over 1,000 square feet or representing a major change in use requires a site plan submitted to the planning commission showing the location of all signs (Sec. 90-313, 90-76(e)(10)).
- Plans for parking areas or loading zones must be submitted and kept on file, showing legal descriptions of such lands and including certification of compliance with zoning requirements. Forms are supplied by the building inspector (Sec. 90-156).
- The building inspector may require site plan review for the installation of satellite dish antennas, including for review by planning commission and notice to neighbors within 300 feet (Sec. 90-43(2)c).
- Changes to the exterior, including installation or modification of awnings, may require site plan review or administrative approval per Sec. 90-74.
- In the C-1 and C-2 business districts and mixed-use transition districts (T, T-1, T-2), site plan review is required for new development, expansions over 25% of the building/site, or changes that require planning commission review; all signs must be shown on site plans (Sec. 90-283, 90-297, and respective review sections for T districts).
- Site plan requirements may include a master signage plan or consolidated presentation of all proposed exterior signage depending on project scope.

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

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