# Sign Regulations in Ithaca, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ithaca, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/ithaca
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34308452#34308452)

## At a glance

Ithaca, Michigan regulates 31 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Subdivision Signs in the R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District, R-3 Residential District zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 30 square feet, with a At least 15 feet from any property or right-of-way line setback (Sec. § 28.05:1(e)). Most commercial signs in Ithaca require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District, R-3 Residential District | 7 | 10 feet | 144 square inches (1 sq ft) | — |
| Mobile home parks, Multifamily dwellings | 8 | 10 feet | 144 square inches (1 sq ft) | — |
| RO District | 2 | — | 25 square feet | — |
| C-1 Commercial District, C-2 Commercial District | 15 | Less than 20 feet | 350 square feet per face | — |
| I-1 District | 5 | No maximum height | 750 square feet per face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District, R-3 Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-premises Advertising Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | Not nearer to the front lot line than one-half the distance of the required front yard setback; not located in required side yard setback | No more than one sign at any one time | Principal uses other than dwellings; not located nearer to the front lot line than one-half the distance of the required front yard setback; not located in required side yard setback | — | § 28.05:1(a) |
| Identification Sign (Dwelling Unit) | — | 144 square inches (1 sq ft) | — | — | One per dwelling unit | One per dwelling unit | — | § 28.05:1(b) |
| Identification Sign (Business) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | One per business | One per business | — | § 28.05:1(b) |
| Institutional Bulletin Board | — | 40 square feet | — | At least 15 feet from the front lot line | One per public/semi-public institution | On-premises, one per public/semi-public institution | — | § 28.05:1(c) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | At least five feet from the front lot line | One per premises or building | On same premises or building only while on market | — | § 28.05:1(d) |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 feet | 30 square feet | — | At least 15 feet from any property or right-of-way line | One per subdivision | Primary entrance to subdivision | — | § 28.05:1(e) |
| Temporary Sign (Subdivision Real Estate) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | Reasonably necessary to direct the public | On or off-premises, for real estate in subdivision being for sale, rent or lease | — | § 28.05:1(f) |

### Mobile home parks, Multifamily dwellings

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-premises Advertising Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | No more than one sign at any one time | Principal uses other than dwellings; see R-1-R-3 for further locational requirements | — | § 28.05:2(a) referencing § 28.05:1(a) |
| Identification Sign (Dwelling Unit) | — | 144 square inches (1 sq ft) | — | — | One per dwelling unit | One per dwelling unit | — | § 28.05:2(a) referencing § 28.05:1(b) |
| Identification Sign (Business) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | One per business | One per business | — | § 28.05:2(a) referencing § 28.05:1(b) |
| Institutional Bulletin Board | — | 40 square feet | — | At least 15 feet from the front lot line | One per public/semi-public institution | On-premises, one per public/semi-public institution | — | § 28.05:2(a) referencing § 28.05:1(c) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | At least five feet from the front lot line | One per premises or building | On same premises or building only while on market | — | § 28.05:2(a) referencing § 28.05:1(d) |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 feet | 30 square feet | — | At least 15 feet from any property or right-of-way line | One per subdivision or mobile home park | Primary entrance to subdivision or mobile home park | — | § 28.05:2(a) referencing § 28.05:1(e) |
| Temporary Sign (Subdivision Real Estate) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | Reasonably necessary to direct the public | On or off-premises, for real estate in subdivision being for sale, rent or lease | — | § 28.05:2(a) referencing § 28.05:1(f) |
| Wall Sign (Development Name) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per housing development | One per housing development | — | § 28.05:2(b) |

### C-1 Commercial District, C-2 Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign | — | — | — | Minimum 10 feet from front lot line | No more than three per business establishment facing any one street | Attached to or standing in front of building; set back at least 10 ft from front lot line | — | § 28.05:4(b) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | Minimum 10 feet from front lot line | — | See 'Advertising Sign' | — | § 28.05:4(b) |
| Billboard | 10 feet | 150 square feet (10 ft height x 15 ft length) | 15 feet | At least 20 feet from any right-of-way line | — | — | — | § 28.05:4(c) |
| Pylon Sign (Freestanding, Special Setback) | — | 150 square feet per side | — | At least 7 ft from right-of-way, at least 40 ft from adjacent property (except for uses regulated under 28.05:4e) | One per permitted use | Lot with principal building set back 25 feet more than required, width >=90 ft | — | § 28.09 (a)-(e) |
| Off-site Sign (C-2 Only) | — | 350 square feet per face | — | Not located in required yard area | — | Not in required yard area, minimum 300 ft from another off-site sign | — | § 28.07 |
| Service Station Signs (Freestanding or Pylon) | Not less than 10 or more than 20 feet above ground | 3 square feet per side | — | Hung within five feet of property line | One per gas station, car lot, or public garage | Gasoline stations, used car lots, and public garages only | — | § 28.05:4(e)(1) |
| Service Station Signs (Temporary, Seasonal Auto Service) | — | 7 square feet | — | Inside property line | One per business | Inside property line | — | § 28.05:4(e)(2) |
| Service Station Directional Signs | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One directional sign per bay/entrance | Over individual entrance doors or bays | — | § 28.05:4(e)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Ithaca

- Signs containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character such as will offend public morals or decency.
- Signs containing or imitating an official traffic sign or signal or containing the words 'stop', 'go slow', 'caution', 'danger', 'warning,' or similar words. (Traffic directional signs in a private parking area are exempted from this provision.)
- Signs that are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or emergency vehicle.
- Signs that obstruct a motorist's view of any traffic signs, street sign, or traffic signal.
- Signs containing or consisting of banners, pennants, pinwheels, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs (other than holiday decorations), or similar devices. (Upon site plan review, the City Planning Commission may approve specific modifications of this provision.)
- Signs that have a moving part, except for the conveyance of noncommercial information.
- Freestanding exterior signs that are not anchored or secured to a building or the ground.
- Signs that are part of a structure designed to be moved from one location to another with a change in message.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ithaca

- Traffic directional signs in a private parking area are exempted from the prohibition regarding imitation of official traffic signs or use of specific 'stop', 'caution', etc. wording.
- Directional signs for orientation of the general public, when erected by the township, county, or state, are permitted in all districts.
- Upon site plan review, the City Planning Commission may approve specific modifications to the prohibition on banners, pennants, pinwheels, ribbons, streamers, and strings of light bulbs other than holiday decorations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a permit to construct or locate a permanent sign (except real estate signs) must be submitted to the City Zoning Administrator and include (a) property map, (b) elevation drawing, (c) proposed date of construction, (d) other information required by the Zoning Administrator.
- Wall signs require an elevation of the wall showing the sign at scale, including dimensions of the building wall and the sign.
- Temporary signs require information on the length of time the proposed sign will be on site.
- A sign shall not be erected or installed until a permit is first obtained from the City Zoning Administrator and from the Building Inspector.
- Billboards in C-1 and C-2 Commercial Districts are subject to Board of Appeals' approval for periods of up to 36 months.
- The Board of Appeals may, upon application by a property owner, modify the specifications of this article where no good purpose would be served by strict compliance.

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

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