# Sign Regulations in Highland Charter Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Highland Charter Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/highland-charter-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Highland_Charter_Township/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_CH25ZOOR_ART14SI)

## At a glance

Highland Charter Township, Michigan regulates 21 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant)s in the OS Office Service District, C-1 Local Commercial District, C-2 General Commercial District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 36 sq ft per face, with a 20 ft side lot line, 10 ft road right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 14.07.I.1, Table 14.2). Most commercial signs in Highland Charter Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ARR Agricultural Residential District, R-3 Single Family Residential District, R-1.5 Single Family Residential District, LV Single Family Residential District, RM Multiple Family Residential District, MH Manufactured Home Park | 4 | Vertical dimension max 6 ft | 32 sq ft (ARR, R-3, R-1.5, RM, MH); 20 sq ft (LV) | — |
| OS Office Service District, C-1 Local Commercial District, C-2 General Commercial District | 12 | 10 ft | 75% of glass for non-opaque background; 35% for opaque background | — |
| TR Technology and Research District, IM Industrial Manufacturing District | 5 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft per face | — |
| PUD districts/developments | 2 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Highland Station District (HS) | 2 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 6 ft | 75% (non-opaque), 35% (opaque) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### OS Office Service District, C-1 Local Commercial District, C-2 General Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant) | 6 ft | 36 sq ft per face | — | 20 ft side lot line, 10 ft road right-of-way | 1 per parcel | On lot frontage | — | Sec. 14.07.I.1, Table 14.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Tenants) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft per face | — | 20 ft side, 10 ft ROW | 1 per parcel | On lot frontage | — | Sec. 14.07.I.1; Table 14.2 |
| Directory Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Wall-mounted | — | Sec. 14.07.D |
| Drive-Through Menu Board | 10 ft | — | — | 20 ft side lot line; none in front yard | 2 per use | Minimum 20 ft from side lot line, not in front yard; oriented toward drive-through | — | Sec. 14.07.E |
| Temporary Commercial Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Within 5 ft of doorway of represented business; at least 10 ft from other temporary signs; on interior sidewalk with at least 5 ft clear passage | — | Sec. 14.06.G.2 |
| Temporary Commercial Special Event Sign (Periodic/Grand Opening/Coming Soon) | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 15 ft from edge of travel; 10 ft minimum for inflatables + 1 ft per ft of height | 1 per parcel/event type | On parcel of event, min 15 ft from edge of road; not in right-of-way/clear vision area | — | Sec. 14.07.G |
| Temporary Sign | 3 ft freestanding; wall sign not above wall | 12 sq ft aggregate per site | — | 15 ft from street | Total area 12 sq ft per site | Min 15 ft from road; not on sidewalk or R-O-W | — | Sec. 14.06.F |
| Illuminated Entrance/Exit Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit | At entrance or exit of nonresidential parcel | — | Sec. 14.07.F |

### TR Technology and Research District, IM Industrial Manufacturing District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant) | 6 ft | 36 sq ft per face | — | 20 ft side/road right-of-way | 1 per parcel | On lot frontage | — | Sec. 14.07.I, Table 14.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Tenants) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft per face | — | 20 ft side/road right-of-way | 1 per parcel | On lot frontage | — | Sec. 14.07.I, Table 14.2 |
| Wall Sign | 6 ft vertical | — | — | — | Multiple as allowed by allocated area | Exterior walls; see wall sign section | — | Sec. 14.07.J |
| Temporary Commercial Special Event Sign | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 15 ft from edge of road | 1 per parcel/event | On parcel of event; 15 ft min from edge of traveled roadway; not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 14.07.G.4.a |
| All other sign types listed under OS/C1/C2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Generally permitted |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (General, By Right) | 3 ft freestanding, wall sign no higher than wall | 12 sq ft total per site | — | 15 ft from roadway edge | Aggregate area only | Not within or overhanging right-of-way; not on sidewalk; min 15 ft from roadway edge. | — | Sec. 14.06.F |
| Non-Illuminated Parking/Directional Sign | 3 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | Parking, loading areas, as approved by Planning Commission | — | Sec. 14.06.D |
| Name/Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building entrance | At every building entrance | — | Sec. 14.06.B |
| Window Sign (Non-Residential Districts) | — | 75% (non-opaque), 35% (opaque) | — | — | Aggregate area only | Ground floor, street-facing window | — | Sec. 14.06.C |
| Agricultural Retail Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | 20 ft from road edge | 4 per farm market onsite; 1 per offsite parcel, max 4 offsite | At least 20 ft from edge of traveled roadway; not in clear vision area | — | Sec. 14.07.A |
| Development Construction Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | Freestanding on development parcel | — | Sec. 14.07.B |
| Real Estate Sign for Development (Temporary) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development (additional if entrances >1000 ft apart) | Common space or lot adjacent to entrance to subdivision/condo/multitenant dev. | — | Sec. 14.07.C |

## Prohibited signs in Highland Charter Township

- No sign shall be erected, altered, refaced or relocated without a Sign Permit approved by the Zoning Administrator and the Building Official, unless otherwise specified in this Article.
- Signs must not corrode, rust, peel, break up or otherwise reach a state of disrepair that creates an unsightly or dangerous condition.
- All signs must be placed so as not to interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any official traffic sign or signal, driver vision at any access point or intersection, or pedestrian movement on any public sidewalk or safety path.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained in a manner that obstructs access to any door, window, fire escape or other required exit way.
- The following signs are prohibited in all districts: roof signs; signs containing scrolling, flashing, moving lights or moving or revolving parts and other forms of animation; signs affixed to bushes, trees or utility poles; signs on vehicles parked in a manner to attract attention to a business or product or to increase the area of signage on a parcel (with some exceptions); signs which are located within or overhang any road right-of-way or on public property (except as permitted by township/road authorities); signs located within the clear vision area; signs imitating traffic signals, traffic direction signs, or similar devices; signs with words, symbols, or characters that might mislead or confuse traffic; any sign containing obscene, indecent or immoral matter; pennants, streamers and permanent banners; all internally lit translucent or fabric canopy awning signs; any abandoned or obsolete sign; any sign unlawfully installed, erected or maintained; and any sign not expressly permitted by this Ordinance.
- No sign shall be illuminated by other than electrical means.
- The light from illuminated signs shall be directed and of such brightness and intensity that it will not interfere with vehicular traffic or the enjoyment or use of adjacent properties.
- Any conforming sign in disrepair must be removed or restored within fifteen (15) days of notice; any non-conforming sign in disrepair may only be replaced by a fully compliant sign.
- No sign shall be located within or overhanging any right-of-way, or located in a manner that distracts or obstructs the vision or movement of motorists or pedestrians.
- Temporary signs may not be located within, or overhanging, any road, pedestrian or public right-of-way, or erected so as to present a traffic hazard or public safety issue.
- Temporary signs may not be placed on a public sidewalk.
- Obsolete sign messages and structures must be removed within thirty (30) days upon vacating a commercial establishment.
- Signs that are obsolete or blank and non-conforming after one (1) year are considered abandoned and must be removed within fifteen (15) days of such determination.
- Changeable copy signs may not have scrolling, flashing, intermittent movement, or animation.
- Electronic changeable copy signs may display text only and must remain static, changing only in one minute intervals or less frequently.

## Signs exempt from permit in Highland Charter Township

- The following signs are allowed without a Sign Permit in all districts, except the Highland Station District: time and temperature signs (when included on a permitted sign); required name and/or address signs; non-illuminated window signs (subject to standards); one illuminated open/close sign per business (subject to size/animation standards); non-illuminated parking area directional and related signs (subject to area/height limits and Planning Commission approval); historical markers awarded by recognized preservation organizations (may be placed on the historical structure or property); temporary signs (subject to location, size, height, type, and duration standards, and not in a right-of-way or public safety hazard); and certain non-commercial, political, election, holiday, construction, and civic/charitable event signs as outlined in 14.06(F).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For uses subject to site plan review under Article 5, the site plan shall include a comprehensive sign plan, including freestanding, wall-mounted, and directional sign locations, subject to Planning Commission approval.
- Within Planned Unit Development (PUD) districts/developments, additional freestanding signs and wall mounted sign quantity/size may be approved subject to Planning Commission review and approval.
- For businesses applying for a sign permit, a plot plan with sign location and drawings indicating size, copy, graphics, colors, and materials is required.
- For civic, benevolent, religious, cultural or charitable organizations seeking annual temporary sign activity, a list of events and dates must be submitted for an annual temporary sign permit.
- The Zoning Administrator reviews sign permit applications for existing businesses.

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

---

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