# Sign Regulations in Hudsonville, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hudsonville, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/hudsonville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Hudsonville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH28SI)

## At a glance

Hudsonville, Michigan regulates 27 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Pole-Mounted Signs in the Highway Commercial District (HUD HC), Highway Commercial (HC), Neighborhood Commercial (NC) zoning district are capped at 25 ft (35 ft in HUD HC) tall and Varies by Table 4.05.01 and frontage/speed (see additional requirements), with a 10 ft from property line. setback (Sec. Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.12 B). Most commercial signs in Hudsonville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Central Business Zone District (CBD) | 13 | 38 inches | 32-38 inches high (display surface height) | — |
| Traditional Neighborhood Center (TNC), Traditional Residential Neighborhood (TRN), Mixed-Use District (MU) | 19 | 38 inches | 32-38 inches high (display surface height) | — |
| Highway Commercial District (HUD HC), Highway Commercial (HC), Neighborhood Commercial (NC) | 2 | 25 ft (35 ft in HUD HC) | Varies by Table 4.05.01 and frontage/speed (see additional requirements) | — |
| Industrial and Manufacturing District (HUD IND G) | 2 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 2 | 6 ft | 6 sq ft (individual); total 24 sq ft (combined) | — |
| Nonresidential zone districts | 1 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft (individual); total 64 sq ft (combined) | — |
| Form Generating Zoning Districts | 2 | — | 15% of wall area, max 150 sq ft | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Central Business Zone District (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per tenant | Perpendicular to building wall; front or side elevations below second story floor. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; Section 4.05.11 A |
| Sign Band | 38 inches | 32-38 inches high (display surface height) | — | — | 1 per ground floor tenant | Horizontal band above storefronts at front elevation. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; Section 4.05.11 C |
| Window Sign - Surface Applied | 12 inches (first row), 9 inches (second row) | 12 inches high first row, 9 inches high second row, 90% glass length (per window) | 90% of glass length | — | 1 per window pane | Windows of any Retail, Commercial, or Service Use, first or side elevations. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; Section 4.05.11 D |
| Window Sign - Neon | — | 2 square feet/window | — | — | 1 per window | Inside window, first and upper floors at front or side elevations, non-residential only. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; Section 4.05.11 D |
| Wall Sign - Painted | — | 15% of wall area, max 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Secondary exterior wall, not front elevation. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; Section 4.05.11 E |
| Roof Sign | 2 feet | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Above the cornice/roof – not on walls. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; Section 4.05.11 G |
| Temporary Sign - Bonus Residential Temporary & Bonus Commercial | 8 ft (commercial) | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | On-premises (yard or building face). Not in public ROW. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.12 D |
| Temporary Sign - Bonus Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On-premises, outside ROW. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.12 D |

### Traditional Neighborhood Center (TNC), Traditional Residential Neighborhood (TRN), Mixed-Use District (MU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Perpendicular to building wall; front or side elevations below second story floor. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; Section 4.05.11 A |
| Sign Band (Mixed-Use and Retail Type) | 38 inches | 32-38 inches high (display surface height) | — | — | 1 per ground floor tenant | Horizontal band above storefronts at front elevation. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.11 C |
| Sign Band (Cottage Retail or Flex Type) | 36 inches | 24-36 inches high (display surface height) | — | — | 1 per ground floor tenant | Horizontal band above storefronts at front elevation. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.11 C |
| Window Sign - Surface Applied | 12 inches (first row), 9 inches (second row) | 12 inches high first row, 9 inches high second row, 90% of glass length (per window) | 90% of glass length | — | 1 per window pane | Windows of any Retail, Commercial, or Service Use, first/side elevations. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.11 D |
| Roof Sign | 2 feet | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Above cornice line/roof area, not on wall. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.11 G |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (speed, frontage & lanes variations see additional requirements) | 6 feet | — | — | 10 feet from property line (exception: if building <20ft from line, minimum half the distance). | 1 per parcel | Minimum 10 ft setback from property line; not in clear vision area. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.12 A; Table 4.05.03 |
| Temporary Sign - Bonus Residential Temporary & Bonus Commercial | 8 ft (commercial) | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant space | On-premises (yard or building face). Not in public ROW. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.12 D |
| Temporary Sign - Bonus Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On-premises, outside ROW. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.12 D |

### Highway Commercial District (HUD HC), Highway Commercial (HC), Neighborhood Commercial (NC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole-Mounted Sign | 25 ft (35 ft in HUD HC) | Varies by Table 4.05.01 and frontage/speed (see additional requirements) | — | 10 ft from property line. | 1 per parcel | Minimum 10 ft setback from property line, not in clear vision area. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.12 B |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (see variations in additional requirements) | 6 feet | — | — | 10 ft from property line (see exception if building < 20 ft) | 1 per parcel | Minimum 10 ft setback from property line; not in clear vision area. | — | Table 4.05.01; Table 4.05.02; 4.05.12 A |

## Prohibited signs in Hudsonville

- No sign shall be structurally unsafe or poorly maintained.
- No sign shall cause unsafe traffic conditions or distract motorists from the road.
- No sign shall create confusion with traffic signs or hinder vision.
- No sign shall impede safe movement of pedestrians or safe ingress and egress from buildings or sites.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, installed, placed, re-built, modified, or maintained without compliance with the ordinance.
- It is unlawful to erect, construct, install, place, re-build, modify, or maintain a sign without a permit obtained from the Zoning Director, except as otherwise exempted.
- No sign or supporting mechanism shall be located closer than ten feet to a street right-of-way line, unless specifically indicated in other sections.
- No sign or supporting mechanism shall extend beyond any lot lines of the property on which it is located, unless specifically indicated in other sections.
- No sign shall be erected within six feet of any electrical conductor, electric light pole, street lamp, traffic light, or other public utility pole or standard.
- No sign, except those established and maintained by the city, county, state, federal governments, or transportation authority, shall be located in, project into, or overhang a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement unless otherwise prohibited.
- No sign shall be located within, project into, or overhang any clear-vision area as defined by the ordinance.
- Pennants, streamers, banners, balloons, revolving or feather signs are prohibited as permanent signs, except as placed by government.
- No sign shall employ any flashing, moving, oscillation, blinking, or variable intensity light, such as rolling, fading, moving, or animated parts designed to give the appearance of movement.
- No billboards or off-premises advertising signs, except as specifically reviewed under special land use.
- No signs containing off-premises advertising except for billboards approved as special land use.
- No signs advertising the sale or lease of off-premises land.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall be painted on or attached to a motor vehicle used primarily for the display of such sign; this does not prohibit standard business identification decals on vehicles used and parked in the normal course of business.
- Any sign not specifically permitted by the Article is prohibited.
- Illumination creating glare or unduly illuminating surrounding areas is prohibited.
- Sign illumination that could distract motorists or create other safety concerns is prohibited.
- Externally, internally illuminated, and neon signs are not allowed in residential districts.
- Wiring for illumination fixtures shall not be exposed on a building face or other adjacent surfaces.
- Temporary signs must not use anchoring methods such as tying weighted objects like cinder blocks or tires.
- Temporary signs must not obstruct views of motorists.
- Wheeled signs are not allowed within public frontages or parking lots.
- Billboards are not permitted unless approved as a Special Land Use Permit and only in designated zones.
- Billboards shall not use moving parts or be illuminated.
- Billboards shall not be erected above any building.
- Moveable freestanding signs and flags are not permitted as nonconforming signs.
- Neon signs are not allowed in residential districts.
- Standard for changeable message signs: flash, undulate, pulse, explode, fireworks, blinking, chasing lights, bouncing, rotating, spinning, twisting, or similar movements are prohibited if distracting.
- Illumination (all forms) must be shielded and directed away from all residential property and Residential Districts.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hudsonville

- Address numbers with a numerical height no greater than 12 inches.
- Signs posted by Governmental Units for temporary special events, as long as event signs and banners do not exceed stipulated sizes, duration, or conflict with traffic/view.
- Flags (up to three per lot, with limits on size and placement).
- Bonus temporary signs placed in conjunction with construction of a new facility or with site plan approval, up to 50 square feet, removed at construction end or occupancy; one per street frontage.
- Holiday decorations for nationally recognized holidays, removed within 15 days after the holiday.
- Minor signs intended to direct traffic flow (not exceeding 6 sq. ft. or 6 ft. height), and gas pump signs (not exceeding 3 sq. ft.).
- Building structure name signs and date signs, integral to the building, not exceeding 12 sq. ft.
- Temporary interior window signs affixed for easy removal, up to 10% of window glass area.
- Interior window signs for credit card insignias (1 sq. ft. or less total).
- Interior window signs for product logos (6 sq. ft. or less total, related to business).
- Murals as works of art without commercial message, not advertising, and not relating to the business (subject to review and determination per Section 4.05.08.A.12).
- Traffic, street, and parking signs erected by a public agency.
- Sandwich board signs that comply with subsection 4.05.12 C.
- Bonus Residential Temporary signs that comply with subsection 4.05.12 C.
- Bonus Commercial Temporary signs that comply with subsection 4.05.12 C.
- Historical plaques and memorials.
- Non-commercial message signs that comply with specified requirements for residential and non-residential districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any sign unless specifically exempted (e.g., sign face replacement with no other changes).
- Permit applications must be submitted on city-provided forms with all required information.
- Special Land Use Permit is required for billboards and certain other signage types (e.g., some wall signs on frontage for mixed-use buildings over 25,000 sq ft).
- Murals: Prior to installation, a property owner or tenant must apply for a determination from the Zoning Director or designee as to whether an art design is a sign, a Type 1 mural, or a Type 2 mural.
- For changeable message signs, the sign permit application shall include copy of manufacturer specifications on luminosity and a certification of compliance with City Codes.
- All signs are subject to compliance inspection after installation.
- Removal, repair, or modification deadlines are enforced by written notice for non-compliant signs.
- For nonconforming signs, replacement or alteration may trigger requirements; some exceptions apply as listed.
- Bonus Temporary Residential and Commercial Signs do not require a permit, as stated in 4.05.12.D.13.e and 4.05.12.D.14.e.
- A sign plan/master sign plan or variance meeting is not explicitly referenced in these sections; allusions to plans are referenced through permitting and sign permit application requirements.

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

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