Sign Regulations in Howell, Michigan
Howell, Michigan has specific sign regulations covering 37 sign types across 23 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Wall Sign, Monument Sign, Electronic Message Sign (Monument). Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: February 11, 2026
Sign Regulation Overview for Howell, Michigan
Sample Sign Requirements in Howell
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign - General Projection Limits | — | — | General sign setback: 10 ft minimum from any public street right-of-way or property line; maintain 25 ft clear vision triangle at intersections. |
| Awning Sign | — | — | Building-mounted. |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | Building-mounted. |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for HowellFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
37
- Wall Sign
- Monument Sign
- Electronic Message Sign (Monument)
- Electronic Message Sign (Window)
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
23
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Howell
Other Cities in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Howell vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Howell, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Howell, regulated sign types include Wall Sign, Monument Sign, Electronic Message Sign (Monument), Electronic Message Sign (Window), and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Howell vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Howell are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Howell has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Howell, Michigan Sign Rules at a Glance
Howell, Michigan regulates 37 sign types across 23 zoning districts. Directional Sign (On-site)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall and 4 sq ft per sign, with a General sign setbacks and clear vision requirements apply. setback (Sec. Sec. 16.02.07; Sec. 16.07.05). Most commercial signs in Howell require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Howell, Michigan
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Howell (23 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 6 ft | Individual window sign ≤ 200 sq ft; combined area of all window signs ≤ 500 sq ft. | — |
| Agricultural Districts (AG, CE) | 4 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (RR, LDR, SR, UR, LRR, MDR, HDR, MHP) | 4 | 6 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| Single Family Residential | 3 | 6 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| Multiple Family Residential | 4 | 6 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| Manufactured Home District (MHP) | 3 | 6 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Service District (NSD); Town Center Overlay District (TCOD) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see additional options. | — |
| Town Center Overlay District (TCOD) (Neighborhood Street Frontage) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see additional options. | — |
| Town Center Overlay District (TCOD) (Grand River Street Frontage) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (plus possible increases per Footnote (2)). | — |
| Town Center Overlay District (TCOD) (Dorr Road Street Frontage) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (plus possible increases per Footnote (2)). | — |
| Town Center Overlay District (TCOD) (Town Center Street Frontage) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (plus possible increases per Footnote (2)). | — |
| General Commercial District (GCD); Regional Commercial District (RCD) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft, subject to 10% facade cap; see Footnote (2) options. | — |
| Office Service District (OSD); Public and Recreational Facilities District (PRF) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see Footnote (2) options. | — |
| Industrial District (IND) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see Footnote (2) options. | — |
| Nonresidential Districts (PRF, NSD, OSD, GCD, RCD, IND) | 7 | 6 ft | 20 sq ft per menu board | — |
| Planned Industrial and PUD Districts (PID, R-PUD, MU-PUD, NR-PUD, RD-PUD, ICPUD, CAPUD) | 4 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see Footnote (2) options. | — |
| Residential Planned Unit Development (R-PUD) Overlay District | 4 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see Footnote (2) options. | — |
| Mixed Use Planned Unit Development (MU-PUD) District (Residential) | 4 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see Footnote (2) options. | — |
| Mixed Use Planned Unit Development (MU-PUD) District (Nonresidential) | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see Footnote (2) options. | — |
| Non-residential Planned Unit Development (NR-PUD) District | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see Footnote (2) options. | — |
| Redevelopment Planned Unit Development (RD-PUD) Overlay District | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see Footnote (2) options. | — |
| Interchange Commercial (ICPUD) District | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see Footnote (2) options. | — |
| Interchange Campus (CAPUD) District | 6 | 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see Footnote (2) options. | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Howell(sample of 3 of 23 zones)
General Regulations For All Zones
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign - General Projection Limits | — | — | — | General sign setback: 10 ft minimum from any public street right-of-way or property line; maintain 25 ft clear vision triangle at intersections. | — | Attached parallel to building wall; painted signs, individual letters, cabinet signs, and signs mounted on the face of a mansard roof are considered wall signs. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.07.131; Sec. 16.02.23; Sec. 16.06.05; Sec. 16.03.01 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | Building-mounted. | Counts against wall sign allowances. | Mounted, painted, or applied on the face of an awning over a door/entrance/window wholly supported by the building. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.02.01; Sec. 16.07.01; Sec. 16.06.01(c) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | Building-mounted. | Counts against wall sign allowances. | Mounted on the roof, fascia, soffit or ceiling of a rigid, permanently attached canopy projecting from the building (not an awning). | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.02.05; Sec. 16.07.02; Sec. 16.06.01(c) |
| Window Sign | — | Individual window sign ≤ 200 sq ft; combined area of all window signs ≤ 500 sq ft. | — | N/A (interior window). | Not numerically limited; subject to area limits. | Affixed to an inside surface of a window or positioned within 2 ft of inside of a window so visible from outside. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.02.24; Sec. 16.07.14 |
| Directional Sign (On-site) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft per sign | — | General sign setbacks and clear vision requirements apply. | 1 per approved driveway | On-site, assisting motorists/pedestrians with enter/exit/one-way, etc. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.02.07; Sec. 16.07.05 |
| Pole Sign (General) | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | Subject to principal building setbacks; maintain clear vision areas. | — | On-site; typical use includes general directive or informational nature within lots. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.02.16; Sec. 16.07.10 |
| Temporary Sign - General Conditions (All Districts) | — | — | — | As above. | As per zone-specific tables. | Minimum setbacks from back of curb/edge of gravel; outside clear vision areas; with property owner permission. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.03.02(f)(1)-(6) |
| Address Sign (Required) | — | — | — | — | 1 per building (address identifier) | Visible from adjacent street. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.05 |
Neighborhood Service District (NSD); Town Center Overlay District (TCOD)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | — | Up to 100 sq ft (subject to 10% facade cap); see additional options. | — | Building-mounted. | 1 per establishment (see additional allowances for second sign) | On façade facing a public street (including I-96) or another façade with a public entrance; must be attached only to portion of building occupied by the establishment. | — | Unlock | Table 16.1 (NSD/TCOD); Footnotes (1) and (2) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 72 sq ft (may increase by 10% with enhanced landscaping and decorative brick base) | — | ≥10 ft from ROW; maintain clear vision. | 1 (possible PC-approved second sign per Footnote (3)) | Freestanding, solid base-mounted. | — | Unlock | Table 16.1 (NSD/TCOD); Footnotes (3), (4), (5); Sec. 16.07.08 |
| Electronic Message Sign (Monument) | — | Up to 1/3 of approved monument sign area (e.g., ≤24 sq ft if 72 sq ft monument). | — | Monument sign setback applies (≥10 ft from ROW). | 1 per establishment (changeable/EMS) | Within the face of a permitted monument sign. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.07.03(a)-(d); Sec. 16.07.04(a)-(j) |
| Electronic Message Sign (Window) | — | 2 sq ft (per sign) | — | N/A (inside window). | 1 per establishment (2 for corner units/lots) | Affixed or hung in a window. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.07.03(d); Sec. 16.07.04(a)-(j) |
| Menu Board | — | 20 sq ft per menu board | — | Prohibited in front yard; otherwise general setbacks apply. | ≤2 per drive-through order lane | At drive-through food service order lanes; not located in the front yard. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.02.10; Sec. 16.07.07 |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential Districts) | Standard: 4 ft; Extra: 6 ft | Standard: 6 sq ft; Extra: 32 sq ft | — | Per general temporary sign conditions. | Standard: 1 + extras per frontage; Extra: ≤2 | On-site per general temporary sign conditions. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.03.02(f)(6) – Nonresidential/NRPUD/RDPUD/ICPUD/CAPUD/MUPUD-Nonres/TCOD (Grand River, Dorr, Town Center) table |
Nonresidential Districts (PRF, NSD, OSD, GCD, RCD, IND)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Message Sign (Monument) - General Allowance | — | ≤1/3 of approved monument sign area for the district (e.g., 72 sq ft districts vs. 60 sq ft in IND). | — | Monument setbacks apply. | 1 per establishment | Within a permitted monument sign. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.07.03; Sec. 16.07.04(a)-(j) |
| Electronic Message Sign (Window) - General Allowance | — | 2 sq ft (per sign) | — | N/A | 1 (2 for corner units/lots) | Affixed or hung in a window. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.07.03(d); Sec. 16.07.04 |
| Incidental/Informational Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | Principal building setbacks apply to freestanding incidental signs. | — | On the same building site as the principal use; freestanding versions must meet setbacks for principal buildings. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.02.11; Sec. 16.03.02(h); Sec. 16.07.06 |
| Menu Board - General Allowance | — | 20 sq ft per menu board | — | Not in front yard; otherwise general. | ≤2 per lane | Drive-through order lanes; not in front yard. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.07.07 |
| Directional Sign (On-site) - General Allowance | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | General setbacks and clear vision apply. | 1 per approved driveway | On-site at driveways/parking circulation points. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.07.05 |
| Pole Sign (General) - Nonresidential | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | Principal building setbacks; maintain clear vision. | — | On-site; subject to principal building setbacks. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.07.10 |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential Districts) - General | Standard: 4 ft; Extra: 6 ft | Standard: 6 sq ft; Extra: 32 sq ft | — | Per general temporary sign conditions. | Standard: frontage-based; Extra: ≤2 | On-site per general temporary sign conditions. | — | Unlock | Sec. 16.03.02(f)(6) – Nonresidential table |
PermitPal covers all 23 zoning districts in Howell — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 23 zones for Howell — start freeProhibited Signs in Howell
- Vehicle signs are prohibited except when parked/placed in compliance with principal-building setbacks, only if no other on-premises placement options exist, and in the least visible location from the public right-of-way.
- Exterior string/rope lights are prohibited, except for holiday decorations that comply with the ordinance’s holiday display provision.
- Signs in any public right-of-way are prohibited, except regulatory, directional, and street signs erected by a public agency, street address signs, and temporary signs expressly authorized by the ordinance; the Township may remove violations.
- Portable signs are prohibited, with a one-time exception of up to 14 days after an establishment opens or changes owners, subject to setbacks and permit.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs with moving members/parts or that emit sound are prohibited.
- Signs using high-intensity lights, flashing lights, spinners, or animated devices are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct or impair vision of motorists or non-motorized travelers at intersections, driveways, parking lots, or loading areas are prohibited; no signs may be placed in the public right-of-way except as expressly authorized.
- Signs that simulate or could be confused with emergency vehicle lighting or traffic signals are prohibited.
- Any signage on public or private radio, television, cellular phone, or water towers is prohibited, except the name of the municipality or the name of the property/easement grantor to the Township or Utility Authority.
- Costumed individuals used to advertise a business (wearing a business logo or mascot) are prohibited.
- Any sign that exceeds the height or area limits of the ordinance is prohibited.
- Signs on vacant land are prohibited except for temporary signs as allowed by the ordinance.
- Use of glaring, undiffused lights or bulbs on signs is prohibited.
- Sign illumination that could distract motorists or otherwise create a traffic hazard is prohibited.
- Illumination of signs by bare bulbs or flames is prohibited.
- Signs shall not be constructed from materials that are remnants or manufactured for a different purpose.
Exempt Signs in Howell
- Legal notices (including signs required for proposed zoning changes or variance requests) are not considered signs and are exempt.
- Decorative holiday displays (not exceeding 75 days) are not considered signs and are exempt.
- Signs required by law (e.g., fire or traffic code) are not considered signs and are exempt.
- Flags of any country, state, municipality, university, college, or school are not considered signs and are exempt.
- Historical markers (plaques/signs describing state or national historic designation and/or narrative) up to 12 sq. ft. are exempt from a sign permit (must meet other ordinance requirements).
- Integral signs (names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets) carved into permanent materials or made of noncombustible materials and up to 25 sq. ft. are exempt from a sign permit.
- Parking lot signs regulating on-site vehicle traffic (e.g., no parking, handicapped parking, loading area) up to 6 ft. in height and 4 sq. ft. in area are exempt from a sign permit.
- Regulatory, directional, and street signs erected and maintained by a public agency (including street signs, traffic signals/safety signs, speed limit signs, Township gateway/entry signs, neighborhood identification signs, and directional signs) are exempt from a sign permit and may be located in the public right-of-way if they do not obstruct visibility.
- Street address signs (street numbers) may be located in the public right-of-way if they do not obstruct visibility and are exempt from a sign permit.
- Temporary signs are exempt from a sign permit subject to general conditions: minimum 10-foot setback from back of curb/edge of gravel, not within 25-foot clear-vision areas, property-owner permission required, no illumination, must be durable/well-maintained; dimensional/number/height/duration limits vary by residential vs. nonresidential districts per ordinance tables.
- Warning signs (e.g., no trespassing, electrical current, animals) up to 6 sq. ft. are exempt from a sign permit and may be in required setback areas but not within the public right-of-way and without obstructing visibility.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Howell
- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan appears in the provided sections.
- A sign permit is required for erecting, re-erecting, altering, or relocating any sign unless expressly exempt (Sec. 16.03.01 and 16.03.02).
- Planning Commission discretionary approvals: (a) may permit a second wall sign in special visibility circumstances (Table 16.1 footnote (2)(b)); (b) may increase maximum wall sign area for single-use buildings with extensive frontage and for additional landscaping (Table 16.1 footnote (2)(c)); (c) may permit a second or larger monument sign for sites with secondary street/I-96 frontage or large centers, and approve additional monument signs for qualifying outlots with shared access (Table 16.1 footnote (3)).
- PUD district development agreements may establish specific sign standards (Table 16.1 footnote (7)), which can function similarly to a project-level signage framework.
- No sign-specific variance or master sign plan submittal/meeting requirement is specified in the provided text beyond standard permit and Planning Commission approvals noted above.
Source: other municipal code