# Sign Regulations in Harrison Charter Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Harrison Charter Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/harrison-charter-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Harrison_Charter_Township/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH72SI)

## At a glance

Harrison Charter Township, Michigan regulates 21 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Nonresidential Use)s in the Residential zoning districts zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 24 sq ft, with a At least 10 ft to property line; see general ROW setbacks Sec. 72-7(4)d setback (Sec. Sec. 72-5(1)b., Sec. 72-6(d), Sec. 72-7(8)). Most commercial signs in Harrison Charter Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning districts | 5 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Local commercial zoning districts (LC, V-1, V-1A, RW, WF) | 7 | 6 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Commercial zoning district (GC) | 7 | Up to 18 ft (depending on road speed and lanes) | 80 sq ft (general), up to 100 sq ft (10,000-40,000 sq ft retail), up to 250 sq ft (over 40,000 sq ft retail) | — |
| Industrial zoning districts (IND) | 5 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Business zoning districts (LC, V-1, V-1A, GC) | 1 | — | 25% of window surface area per road-facing facade | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts | 2 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign or Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On each dwelling unit with a permitted home occupation | — | Sec. 72-5(1)a., Sec. 72-6(c), Sec. 72-7(1)a.4 |
| Monument Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft to property line; see general ROW setbacks Sec. 72-7(4)d | 1 per approved nonresidential use | For each approved nonresidential use; must be located within a landscaped area | — | Sec. 72-5(1)b., Sec. 72-6(d), Sec. 72-7(8) |
| Subdivision or Apartment Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Must not impede visibility; general setbacks apply | One double-faced or two single-faced per entrance | At each major entrance to a residential subdivision, mobile home park, or multifamily development (major road entrances, not local roads) | — | Sec. 72-5(1)c., Sec. 72-6(l) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft (single-family); 20 sq ft (apartment complex) | — | General setbacks apply | 1 per property; 1 per apartment complex | On property being sold/leased; for apartments, one sign for complex | — | Sec. 72-6(j), Sec. 72-7(1)a.7-8 |
| Temporary Signs | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 at a time | On business or organization property | — | Sec. 72-6(m) |

### Local commercial zoning districts (LC, V-1, V-1A, RW, WF)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign or Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per office unit | Each office unit within a multi-tenant professional office development, at entrance | — | Sec. 72-5(2)a., Sec. 72-6(c) |
| Wall Sign (Professional Office Use) | — | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site (professional office use) | On principal front of building; 1 per site for professional office uses | — | Sec. 72-5(2)b., Sec. 72-6(n) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | 1 per site for professional office and general/retail uses | — | Sec. 72-5(2)b-c, Sec. 72-6(d), Sec. 72-7(8) |
| Wall Sign (General Office and Retail Use) | — | 80 sq ft, up to 100 sq ft (over 10,000 but < 40,000 sq ft retail), up to 250 sq ft (over 40,000 sq ft retail) | — | — | 1 per tenant with entrance; if shared entrance, 1 per entrance | For each tenant with separate unit and individual exterior public entrance; if shared, 1 per entrance | — | Sec. 72-5(2)c., Sec. 72-6(n) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per applicable frontage | On principal front of building, in lieu of wall sign | — | Sec. 72-6(a) |
| Temporary Signs | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 at a time | On business/organization property | — | Sec. 72-6(m) |
| Window Signs | — | 25% of window surface area on each road facade | — | — | — | On or inside window, facing road | — | Sec. 72-6(o) |

### Commercial zoning district (GC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Tenant) | — | 80 sq ft (general), up to 100 sq ft (10,000-40,000 sq ft retail), up to 250 sq ft (over 40,000 sq ft retail) | — | — | 1 per building or 1 per tenant w/entrance | Each building or each tenant with individual public entrance | — | Sec. 72-5(3)b., Sec. 72-6(n) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Street Frontages) | — | As above | — | — | 1 per facade per major/secondary/collector street | Each facade facing a major, secondary, or collector street; only one wall sign per street facade | — | Sec. 72-5(3)c., Sec. 72-6(n) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site (2 for large retail per above) | 1 per site | — | Sec. 72-5(3)a., Sec. 72-6(d) |
| Pylon Sign | Up to 18 ft (depending on road speed and lanes) | Up to 80 sq ft (depending on road speed and lanes) | — | Must not impede vision; general setbacks apply | 1 per site | 1 per site | — | Sec. 72-5(3)a., Sec. 72-6(i) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | Principal front of building, in lieu of wall sign | — | Sec. 72-6(a) |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 at a time | On business/organization property | — | Sec. 72-6(m) |
| Window Signs | — | 25% of window area per facade | — | — | — | On or behind window, facing street | — | Sec. 72-6(o) |

## Prohibited signs in Harrison Charter Township

- No sign may be erected, displayed or substantially altered or reconstructed except in conformance with the ordinance regulations.
- Cloth signs, balloon signs or displays, streamers, flags, windblown devices, spinners, portable signs, trailer signs and pennants are prohibited.
- No flashing, animated, moving or bare bulb-type signs or displays are allowed.
- Signs affixed to or painted on street furniture are prohibited.
- Signs affixed to or worn by people as a means to advertise (including costumes) are prohibited.
- Banner signs, window signs, A-frame signs, temporary signs stuck into the ground and any other sign not specifically authorized are prohibited.
- Signs painted directly onto wall surfaces are prohibited.
- Vehicle business signs and trailer signs are prohibited.
- Signs mounted on roofs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be located in, project into, or overhang a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement, or be attached to a utility pole, except as otherwise permitted.
- No sign, except government-established/maintained, shall be located within the triangle formed by the intersection of any road right-of-ways and/or access drive at points 25 feet distant from the intersection.
- No signs shall be located so as to impede pedestrian or automobile traffic.
- No sign shall be closer than ten feet to any property line.
- Signs must not create a width-to-length or length-to-width ratio exceeding 4:1 (except wall signs, which may be up to 8:1).

## Signs exempt from permit in Harrison Charter Township

- Address numbers consistent with the ordinance (section 72-7(6)).
- Handicap signs.
- Official historical marker signs.
- Identification signs or nameplates.
- "Open" and "Closed" signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Political signs.
- Real estate signs for a single-family home or a single-family unit.
- Other real estate signs (not real estate development signs) are exempt from building official approval, but require a building permit.
- Resurfacing an existing sign frame (not including any changes to the frame or structure), though a building permit may be required.
- Wall signs of three inches in height or less, not to exceed three per building.
- Warning signs and other non-advertising signs not exceeding six square feet.
- Township, county, state, or federal road or traffic control signs.
- Flags of the United States, State of Michigan, political subdivisions, or other flags/banners specifically approved for general display, as long as not primarily commercial in nature.
- Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which they are located, or from any public thoroughfare or right-of-way (such signs are not counted toward the maximum permitted number, but remain subject to approval, permits, inspections, and other requirements).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application must be submitted with a site plan, sign drawing, and sign data for any sign unless exempted in the ordinance. Wall sign applications are exempt from submitting a site plan but must meet all other submission requirements.
- In shopping centers or developments with multiple tenants, all signage must be coordinated as to size, location, color and character; a coordinated sign package must be submitted for the entire complex prior to individual permits being granted.
- The building official may require additional information or require planning commission review at their discretion.
- A variance may be applied for before the zoning board of appeals if a sign permit is denied.
- All new signs not otherwise exempt must be reviewed and approved by the building official prior to erection.

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

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