# Sign Regulations in Jonesville, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Jonesville, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/jonesville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Jonesville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH24SI)

## At a glance

Jonesville, Michigan regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Plat Entry Sign (Housing Development Entry Sign)s in the Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD, MHP) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 15 ft from side/rear, 10 ft from front property line setback (Sec. R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD And MHP Residential Districts - Permitted Signs table). Most commercial signs in Jonesville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | n/a (Residential zones); 6 ft (All other zones) | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD, MHP) | 7 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 6 | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — |
| Highway Commercial District (HC) | 8 | 25 ft | 200 sq ft per side | — |
| Light Industrial District (L-1) | 5 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD, MHP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Plat Entry Sign (Housing Development Entry Sign) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from side/rear, 10 ft from front property line | 1 per major entrance | At major entrance, min 15 ft from side/rear lot line, 10 ft from front | — | R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD And MHP Residential Districts - Permitted Signs table |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from side/rear, 10 ft from front property line | 1 per major entrance | At major entrance, min 15 ft from side/rear lot line, 10 ft from front | — | R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD And MHP Residential Districts - Permitted Signs table |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel | On wall of house facing street | — | R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD And MHP Residential Districts - Permitted Signs table |
| Wall Sign (Non-Residential Uses Other Than Home Occupations) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On wall of building facing street | — | R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD And MHP Residential Districts - Permitted Signs table |
| Ground Sign (Non-Residential Uses) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line, 1 ft from ROW | 1 per lot/parcel/use | Min 10 ft from any property line, 1 ft from right-of-way | — | R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD And MHP Residential Districts - Permitted Signs table |
| Political Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft (unoccupied lots); 16 sq ft (vacant lots over 1 acre) | — | 15 ft from side/rear, 1 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage/issue/candidate per lot/parcel | Min 15 ft from side/rear lot line, 1 ft from right-of-way | — | R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD And MHP Residential Districts - Permitted Signs table |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft (unoccupied lots); 16 sq ft (vacant lots over 1 acre) | — | 15 ft from side/rear, 1 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage | Min 15 ft from side/rear lot line, 1 ft from right-of-way | — | R-1, R-2, R-3, PUD And MHP Residential Districts - Permitted Signs table |

### Central Business District (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pylon Sign | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel | Anywhere except in right-of-way | — | CBD Central Business District - Permitted Signs table |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage plus 1 per non-street parking-facing side | On wall of building facing street or public/private parking area | — | CBD Central Business District - Permitted Signs table |
| Business Center Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 1 ft from property line, 1 ft from ROW | 1 per lot/parcel | Min 1 ft from any property line, 1 ft from right-of-way | — | CBD Central Business District - Permitted Signs table |
| Political Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 15 ft from side/rear, 1 ft from ROW | 1 per issue/candidate per lot/parcel | Min 15 ft from side/rear property line, 1 ft from right-of-way | — | CBD Central Business District - Permitted Signs table |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 15 ft from side/rear, 1 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage | Min 15 ft from side/rear property line, 1 ft from right-of-way | — | CBD Central Business District - Permitted Signs table |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 48 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel | Anywhere except right-of-way. Bottom of sign minimum 1 ft from ground | — | CBD Central Business District - Permitted Signs table |

### Highway Commercial District (HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 12 ft | 48 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from property lines | 1 per parcel, or 2 for parcels with 2+ qualifying street frontages | Min 10 ft from front/side/rear property line | — | HC Highway Commercial District - Permitted Signs table |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage plus 1 per non-street parking side | On wall facing street or parking area | — | HC Highway Commercial District - Permitted Signs table |
| Political Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft from front, 15 ft from side/rear property line | 1 per issue/candidate per lot/parcel | Min 5 ft from front property line, 15 ft from side/rear line | — | HC Highway Commercial District - Permitted Signs table |
| Awning/Canopy, Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage or marquee face | On face of marquee | — | HC Highway Commercial District - Permitted Signs table |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from front, 15 ft from side/rear, 1 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage | Min 5 ft from front lot line, 15 ft from side/rear, 1 ft from ROW | — | HC Highway Commercial District - Permitted Signs table |
| Pylon Sign | 25 ft | 120 sq ft per side | — | 15 ft from side/rear, 1 ft from ROW | 1 per lot/parcel, or 2 if eligible | Min 15 ft from side/rear property line, 1 ft from right-of-way | — | HC Highway Commercial District - Permitted Signs table |
| Business Center Sign | 25 ft | 200 sq ft per side | — | 15 ft from side/rear, 1 ft from front ROW | 1 per lot/parcel or 2 if eligible | 15 ft from side/rear, 1 ft from front ROW | — | HC Highway Commercial District - Permitted Signs table |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft (with 1 ft min clearance of bottom from ground) | 48 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel, or 2 if eligible | Anywhere except right-of-way. If two signs, must be 300 ft apart. | — | HC Highway Commercial District - Permitted Signs table |

## Prohibited signs in Jonesville

- A sign not expressly permitted by this chapter is prohibited.
- No person shall erect, alter, place or permit to be placed, or replace any sign without first obtaining a city zoning/sign permit and county building permit, except for specified exempt signs.
- No sign shall be placed in, upon or over any public right-of-way, alley, or other public place, except as may be otherwise permitted by this chapter or other ordinance of the city.
- No light pole, utility pole, tree within a public right-of-way, or other supporting member shall be used for the placement of any sign unless specifically designed and approved by the zoning administrator for such use.
- No sign shall be erected in any place where it may, by reason of its position, shape, color, or other characteristic, interfere with or obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or constitute a nuisance per se.
- Commercial vehicles, which in the opinion of the zoning administrator have the intended function of acting as a sign, shall not be parked in any area abutting the street, unless no other parking area is available.
- No sign shall employ or utilize any flashing, moving, oscillating, blinking, or variable intensity light, except time/temperature signs and signs having changeable copy in a digitized format.
- No sign shall contain any moving or animated parts nor appear to have animated or moving parts except barber poles and, in the HC Highway Commercial district, signs having changeable copy in digitized format.
- No wall sign shall extend beyond the edge of the wall to which it is affixed, or extend above the roof line of a building.
- No roof sign shall be erected above the roof line of a building.
- No sign shall be erected, maintained, or altered in a manner that is inconsistent or not in conformity with any approved plan or permit governing such sign or the property on which it is located.
- No person shall install, create, erect, or maintain any sign requiring a permit without such permit.
- No sign shall be required to be removed which was erected in compliance with this chapter if such sign becomes nonconforming due to changes beyond the owner's control, but if the owner changes the use of the building or the location of any property line or sign so that a sign is rendered nonconforming, such sign must be removed or made to conform to this chapter.
- Whenever the activity, business or use of a primary premises to which a sign is attached or related has been discontinued for a period of 45 days or longer, the sign is considered abandoned and must be removed or brought into compliance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Jonesville

- Directional signs of six square feet or less do not require a zoning or building permit.
- Government signs, 20 square feet or less, do not require a zoning or building permit.
- Placards, 20 square feet or less, do not require a zoning or building permit.
- Window signs, 20 square feet or less, not to exceed 50 percent of window space, do not require a zoning or building permit.
- Political signs, 20 square feet or less, do not require a zoning or building permit.
- Real estate signs, 20 square feet or less, do not require a zoning or building permit.
- Government signs not exceeding the size permitted by similar signs within the same zone district are exempt from this chapter, except section 24-4.
- Historical markers erected by a federal, state, or local government are exempt, except section 24-4.
- Window signs, 20 square feet or less, not to exceed 50 percent of window space, are exempt, except section 24-4.
- Memorial signs or tablets not exceeding 20 square feet are exempt, except section 24-4.
- Murals are exempt, except section 24-4.
- Signs not visible from any street are exempt, except section 24-4.
- Signs for essential services are exempt, except section 24-4.
- Placards not exceeding two square feet are exempt, except section 24-4.
- Signs with address, owner, or occupant name, of up to two square feet in area attached to a mailbox, light fixture or exterior wall are exempt, except section 24-4.
- Flags or insignia of any nation, state, city, community organization, or educational institution are exempt, except section 24-4.
- State tourist-oriented directional signs are exempt, except section 24-4.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for projecting signs shall be subject to approval by the planning commission prior to final approval. The planning commission may accept or reject applications due to size, design, materials, attachment/bracing, or other applicable considerations.
- Any sign shall not be erected, altered, or replaced without a city zoning/sign permit and county building permit unless otherwise exempted.
- A building permit is required for the erection, construction or alteration of any sign exceeding 20 square feet in area, and such signs must be approved by the zoning administrator as to conformance.
- Any petitioner aggrieved by a decision of the zoning administrator may appeal to the zoning board of appeals, which alone may authorize variances or modifications.

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

---

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