# Sign Regulations in Kalamazoo, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kalamazoo, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/kalamazoo
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44675109#44675109)

## At a glance

Kalamazoo, Michigan regulates 15 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Directional Sign for Vehicles in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 6 sq ft, with a Min 2 ft from property lines setback (Sec. § 50-9.3E(2)(e)). Most commercial signs in Kalamazoo require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 4 ft | 1,000 sq ft (unlimited in Nodes, D1, D2, D3, M1, M2) | — |
| Residential District (R), Planned Unit Development District (PUD), Institutional Campus District (IC) | 2 | 6 ft; up to 8 ft on City Connector streets | 36 sq ft | — |
| Institutional Campus District (IC), Planned Unit Development District (PUD) | 1 | 25% increase over base standard | 25% increase over base standard | — |
| Downtown Districts (D1, D2, D3) | 3 | 12 ft | up to 200 sq ft | — |
| Community Commercial District (CC), Light Industrial District (M1), Heavy Industrial District (M2), Business, Technology & Research District (BTR) | 3 | 18 ft; up to 25 ft in CC; up to 80 ft for freeway sign | Up to 200 sq ft | — |
| Live/Work 1 District (LW1), Live/Work 2 District (LW2), Node Districts (Nodes), Community Commercial 2 District (CC2) | 3 | 10 ft in Neighborhood Node | Up to 150 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of ground floor windows; 30% of upper floor windows | — | — | — | Ground floor, second and third floor windows | — | § 50-9.5G |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Directly in front of the building containing the use associated with the sign | — | § 50-9.5H |
| Mural | — | 1,000 sq ft (unlimited in Nodes, D1, D2, D3, M1, M2) | — | — | — | Building façade | — | § 50-9.5I |
| Nameplate, Street Number, Street Name | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 50-9.3E(2)(a) |
| Hours of Operation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 50-9.3E(2)(b) |
| Rear Entrance Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On façades not fronting a public right-of-way, such as those at rear entrance | — | § 50-9.3E(2)(c) |
| Directional Sign for Vehicles | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | Min 2 ft from property lines | 1 per parking area, driveway, or drive-through | One per parking area, driveway, and/or drive-through | — | § 50-9.3E(2)(e) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | — | — | § 50-9.3E(2)(h) |

### Downtown Districts (D1, D2, D3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | Up to 75 sq ft | — | 2 ft | 1 per lot (D2, D3 only) | Per lot | — | Table 9.5-1 |
| Wall, Canopy and Awning, Projecting, Ledge Signs | — | up to 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Building façade | — | Table 9.5-1 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | 1 per building | — | Table 9.5-1 |

### Community Commercial District (CC), Light Industrial District (M1), Heavy Industrial District (M2), Business, Technology & Research District (BTR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 18 ft; up to 25 ft in CC; up to 80 ft for freeway sign | Up to 200 sq ft | — | 2 ft; Freeway sign: 10 ft | 1 per lot frontage; 2 permitted if frontage > 300 ft; 1 freeway sign if within 200 ft of highway ROW | Per lot frontage; freeway sign only with special use permit within 200 ft of highway ROW | — | Table 9.5-1; § 50-9.5A |
| Wall, Canopy and Awning, Projecting, Ledge Signs | — | Up to 150 sq ft; up to 200 sq ft for CC, M, and BTR (2 per 1 ft building frontage per use) | — | — | — | Building façade | — | Table 9.5-1 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | 1 per building | — | Table 9.5-1 |

## Prohibited signs in Kalamazoo

- No sign may be installed or altered without a permit except as exempted by the ordinance.
- All signs must conform to the standards set forth in the Building Code and other applicable city codes.
- Signs are not permitted in the right-of-way or on other public property unless expressly permitted.
- Blinking or flashing lights on on-premises signs are only permitted in certain districts and must not change more than once every 10 seconds.
- Beacon and strobe lights are prohibited on all signs.
- Colored lights that could be confused with traffic control devices are prohibited.
- No sign lighting shall create a hazard to those traveling in the public rights-of-way.
- On off-premises signs, no external light source may be directly visible from adjacent residential property or right-of-way.
- No sign lighting may adversely affect driver visibility or adjacent public thoroughfares.
- No advertising signs of wood or any flammable material, or of such dimensions as to obstruct the view of traffic or hinder access, may exist on gasoline filling station premises.
- No owner shall display on a vehicle any official designation, sign or insignia of a public or governmental entity without authority.
- Off-premises signs may not be located on the roofs or attached/painted on the walls of buildings.
- Off-premises signs may not be stacked on top of each other.
- No part of the advertising copy for a sign shall protrude beyond the sign frame.
- No blinking, flashing, flaring, or fluttering lights, and no signs held or supported by a human or animal, are permitted for Class B temporary signs.
- Signs that are unsafe, insecure, or constructed/maintained in violation of the ordinance are considered in violation and must be corrected.
- Public Act 106 of 1972 (Highway Advertising Act) and Public Act 342 of 2010 (sexually oriented businesses) are adopted by reference and signs must conform to their provisions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kalamazoo

- Nameplates, street numbers, and street names not exceeding two square feet.
- Signs indicating hours of operation not exceeding two square feet.
- Signs on facades not fronting a public right-of-way that do not exceed four square feet.
- Signs not legible beyond the property line, not exceeding two square feet, and for the information of employees, staff, residents, or visitors.
- One sign per parking area, driveway, or drive-through for vehicle direction, no larger than six square feet, four feet high, set back two feet from property lines, and may be illuminated.
- Historical markers, memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and dates of construction.
- Neighborhood identification signs located on public property or right-of-way with a temporary encroachment agreement.
- A single home occupation sign not exceeding one square foot and not internally illuminated.
- Class A temporary signs as specified in §50-9.4A.
- Window signs in all districts, not counting against overall sign allowance, with no permit required.
- Sandwich board signs in all districts, not counting against overall sign allowance, with no permit required, and only displayed during business hours.
- Murals in all districts, not counting against overall sign allowance, with sign permit only required if mural exceeds 200 square feet and owner permission required.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for the installation or alteration of any sign except as specifically exempted.
- A temporary encroachment permit is required for signs in or projecting over the public right-of-way or other public property.
- For Class B temporary signs, a plan showing site layout, sign quantity and area (number, size, location, illumination, banners, flags, balloons), and utility locations must be submitted with the permit application.
- Institutional Campus Master Plans or PUD Plans may permit increases in sign allowances and must be referenced for those districts.

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

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