# Sign Regulations in Hudson, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hudson, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/hudson
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Hudson/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTICOOR_CH19ZO_ARTVISURE_DIV1GE_S19-117SIRE)

## At a glance

Hudson, Michigan regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Office)s in the Agricultural district (AG-1), Single-family residential district (R-1), Two-family residential district (R-2), Medium density residential district (RM-1), Office district (O-1) zoning district are capped at 40 sq ft, with a No closer to front, side, or rear yard than half required setback setback (Sec. Sec. 19-117(b)(7)). Most commercial signs in Hudson require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural district (AG-1), Single-family residential district (R-1), Two-family residential district (R-2), Medium density residential district (RM-1), Office district (O-1) | 8 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| Mobile home residential district (MH-1) | 3 | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| General commercial district (C-1), Light industrial district (I-1), General industrial district (I-2) | 3 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| Highway service commercial district (C-2) | 5 | — | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 40 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Agricultural district (AG-1), Single-family residential district (R-1), Two-family residential district (R-2), Medium density residential district (RM-1), Office district (O-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Onsite Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On one lot only | — | Sec. 19-117(b)(1) |
| Onsite Home Occupation Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On same premises as home occupation | — | Sec. 19-117(b)(2) |
| Onsite Subdivision/Development Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision/development | For recorded subdivision or development | — | Sec. 19-117(b)(3) |
| Onsite Building/MHP/Multiple Family Identification Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building/development | At building, development, or mobile home park | — | Sec. 19-117(b)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (School, Church, Public/Nonresidential Use) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 (1 wall + 1 freestanding) | At school, church, public building, or other authorized nonresidential use | — | Sec. 19-117(b)(5) |
| Wall Sign (School, Church, Public/Nonresidential Use) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 (1 wall + 1 freestanding) | Flat against wall of school, church, public building, other nonresidential use | — | Sec. 19-117(b)(5), (9) |
| Wall Sign (Office) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | Affixed flat to wall in office district | — | Sec. 19-117(b)(6), (9) |
| Freestanding Sign (Office) | — | 40 sq ft | — | No closer to front, side, or rear yard than half required setback | 1 per office | Identification sign for office district | — | Sec. 19-117(b)(7) |

### General commercial district (C-1), Light industrial district (I-1), General industrial district (I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flat) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Affixed flat against wall or projecting (not more than 48 inches). Min 7 ft clearance from ground for projecting signs. | — | Sec. 19-117(c)(1), Sec. 19-117(a)(10) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Enterprise) | — | 100 sq ft | — | No closer to the front, side or rear yard than half the required setback. | 1 per enterprise | For each separate enterprise on an individual lot not within a shopping center | — | Sec. 19-117(c)(2), Sec. 19-117(a)(10) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Shopping Center/Integrated Buildings) | — | 200 sq ft | — | No closer to the front, side or rear yard than half the required setback. | 1 per shopping center/group | For shopping center or integrated group of commercial buildings | — | Sec. 19-117(c)(3), Sec. 19-117(a)(10) |

### Highway service commercial district (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flat) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per enterprise | Affixed flat against wall | — | Sec. 19-117(d)(1), Sec. 19-117(a)(10) |
| Wall Sign (Projecting) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per enterprise | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 19-117(d)(1)a-b, Sec. 19-117(a)(10) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Shopping Center/Integrated Buildings) | — | 200 sq ft | — | No closer to the front, side or rear property line than half the required building setback. | 1 per shopping center/group | Shopping center or group of commercial buildings | — | Sec. 19-117(d)(2), Sec. 19-117(a)(10) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Individual Enterprise) | — | 100 sq ft | — | No closer to the front, side or rear property line than half the required building setback. | 1 per enterprise | Individual enterprise not in shopping center | — | Sec. 19-117(d)(3), Sec. 19-117(a)(10) |
| Billboard (Off-premises Advertising Sign) | — | 300 sq ft | — | Not closer to the front property line than 66 ft. | 1 per 500 ft frontage | Vacant lot/parcel in C-2 | — | Sec. 19-117(e)(1)-(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Hudson

- No sign shall be erected at any location where, by reason of position, size, shape, color, movement, or illumination, it may interfere with or obstruct the view of traffic or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exitway, window, or door opening used as a means of passage from one part of a roof to another or as access thereto for firefighting purposes.
- No sign other than a time and temperature sign shall have any visible moving parts, visible mechanical movement, or any other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic, kinetic means, intermittent electrical pulsations, or wind currents.
- No sign shall be allowed which is unsightly through disrepair or action of the elements; all signs must be properly maintained.
- No sign may be erected, constructed, or altered without a building permit, except as specifically provided by ordinance.
- All signs must conform to the yard and height requirements of the district in which they are located unless otherwise specifically stated.
- No sign shall be placed in such a manner as to endanger public safety, be dangerous or defective; such signs must be removed or repaired.
- No sign shall obstruct visibility between heights of three feet and eight feet in the triangular area at street intersections, as defined in Sec. 19-125.
- Unlawful or non-compliant signs are subject to removal by the zoning inspector.
- Abandoned signs, as defined by signs remaining after discontinuance of business or event for 90 consecutive days or more, must be removed.
- Installation of a commercial satellite dish in residential areas is prohibited.
- No sign shall violate federal, state, or local laws or ordinances.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hudson

- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations are not regulated as signs.
- Flags and insignias of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion, are not regulated as signs.
- Legal notices, identification, information or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies are not regulated as signs.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except for letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights, are exempt from sign regulations.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking to private property, but bearing no advertising matter, are not regulated as signs.
- All directional signs required for the purpose of orientation, when established by city, county or state governments, are permitted in all use districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A building permit is required for the erection, construction, or alteration of any sign, except as provided for exempted signs.
- All signs must be approved by the zoning inspector as to their conformity with the zoning district requirements and sign ordinance.
- Any new sign or change to sign copy must comply with the regulations of the district in which it is located.
- The board of appeals may modify the area permitted for a sign upon application by the property owner and in unusual circumstances.
- Provision is made for zoning inspector and board of appeals review of appeals for denied sign permits.
- Site plan review requirements apply to all buildings and structures; while not specified for individual signs, large-scale building projects (including signs as part of a broader site development) may require site plan approval.
- In cases of dispute regarding temporary sign permits, applicants may appeal to the board of appeals, and the sign must meet district regulations.
- No explicit 'master sign plan' is mentioned; variances from sign regulations are handled via the board of appeals.

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

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