# Sign Regulations in Kentwood, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kentwood, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/kentwood
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-20
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/mi/kentwood/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADEOR_APXAZO_CH16SI)

## At a glance

Kentwood, Michigan regulates 48 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Pole Sign (> 190 ft lot frontage)s in the Community Commercial (C-2); Regional Commercial (C-3); Office/Business (C-4) zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 100 sq ft (cap), with a Behind ROW; 10 ft clear space under sign setback (Sec. Sec. 8.03.D (Freestanding pole—lots > 190 LF)). Most commercial signs in Kentwood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Community Commercial (C-2); Regional Commercial (C-3); Office/Business (C-4) | 15 | 35 ft measured from surface of resting point or tie-down point | 100 sq ft (cap) | — |
| Regional Commercial (C-3) (Regional Shopping Centers) | 10 | 25 ft (maximum) | 300 sq ft (maximum) | — |
| Neighborhood Corridor Commercial (C-5) | 9 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial (I-1); General Industrial (I-2) | 10 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Open Space, Public, Semi-Public (OS) | 6 | 4 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | If placed within ROW directly on the ground, not to exceed 30 inches in height from mean grade unless clear vision is maintained | Up to 100 sq ft | — |

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

### Community Commercial (C-2); Regional Commercial (C-3); Office/Business (C-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Pole Sign (≤ 190 ft lot frontage) | 25 ft | — | — | Behind ROW; 10 ft clear space under sign | 1 per lot | Behind the public right-of-way (ROW) | — | Sec. 8.03.D (Signs Permitted—C-2, C-3, C-4 Districts) |
| Freestanding Pole Sign (> 190 ft lot frontage) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft (cap) | — | Behind ROW; 10 ft clear space under sign | 1 per lot | Behind the public ROW | — | Sec. 8.03.D (Freestanding pole—lots > 190 LF) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (≤ 190 ft frontage) | 4 ft above mean grade if < 10 ft from ROW; 10 ft above mean grade if ≥ 10 ft from ROW | — | — | If < 10 ft from ROW: max 4 ft height; if ≥ 10 ft from ROW: max 10 ft height | 1 per street frontage | On private property; proximity to ROW dictates allowable height | — | Sec. 8.03.D (Freestanding ground—lots ≤ 190 LF) |
| Noncommercial Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Behind ROW | 1 per issue or candidate per street frontage | Behind ROW | — | Sec. 8.03.D (Noncommercial) and Sec. 16.03.D |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | ≥ 10 ft from side or rear lot line; behind ROW by implication | 1 | On premises; setback at least 10 ft from any side or rear lot line | — | Sec. 8.03.D (Real estate) |
| Institutional Bulletin Board | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | ≥ 25 ft from front property line | 1 | Setback at least 25 ft from front property line | — | Sec. 8.03.D (Institutional bulletin board) |
| Shopping Center Banner | 25 ft; minimum 10 ft clear space from bottom of banner to ground | 100 sq ft | — | ≥ 100 ft from front lot line; 10 ft clear space under banner | 1 banner for every 100 parking spaces | Setback at least 100 ft from front lot line | — | Sec. 8.03.D (Shopping center banner) and Sec. 16.03.H |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft above mean grade if < 10 ft from ROW; 10 ft above mean grade if ≥ 10 ft from ROW | 32 sq ft | — | Behind ROW; height tied to distance from ROW as stated | 1 per lot | Behind ROW and where driver visibility is not impaired | — | Sec. 8.03.D (Portable) and Sec. 16.06.A.2 |

### Regional Commercial (C-3) (Regional Shopping Centers)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign for Shopping Center | 25 ft (maximum) | 200 sq ft (maximum) | — | Outside ROW | Not more than 1 per street frontage | Outside of the public ROW | — | Sec. 8.03.D (Regional Shopping Centers—Monument sign) |
| Freestanding Entrance Sign (RSC) | 25 ft (maximum) | 100 sq ft (maximum) | — | Outside ROW; ≥ 400 ft spacing between such signs | Maximum 1 per driveway or street entrance | Outside of the public ROW at each driveway or street entrance to RSC | — | Sec. 8.03.D (RSC—Freestanding entrance sign) |
| Directional Sign (RSC) | 10 ft maximum, but greater height may be approved by zoning administrator | 25 sq ft (maximum) | — | Outside ROW | As needed consistent with approved plan and standards | Outside of ROW within RSC | — | Sec. 8.03.D (RSC—Directional sign) |
| Banner (RSC) | 25 ft; at least 10 ft of clear space from bottom of banner to ground | 100 sq ft | — | ≥ 100 ft from front lot line; 10 ft clear space under banner | 1 banner for each 100 off-street parking spaces | Setback at least 100 ft from front lot line | — | Sec. 8.03.D (RSC—Banner) and Sec. 16.03.H |
| Entrance Wall Sign—Commercial Establishment > 50,000 sq ft | Cannot extend above roofline | 70 sq ft (maximum) | — | — | 1 per entrance of the establishment | On wall at each entrance of the large commercial establishment | — | Sec. 8.03.D (RSC—Entrance sign >50,000 sq ft) |
| Wall Sign (in addition to permitted entrance sign) — Commercial Establishment > 50,000 sq ft | Cannot extend above roofline | 5% of that wall area | — | — | 1 on each exterior wall (in addition to entrance sign) | On each exterior wall of the commercial establishment | — | Sec. 8.03.D (RSC—Wall sign for >50,000 sq ft establishments) |
| Wall Sign—Commercial Establishment > 20,000 sq ft without an Exterior Entrance | Cannot extend above roofline | 70 sq ft (maximum) | — | — | 1 | On an exterior wall of the building housing the establishment | — | Sec. 8.03.D (RSC—Wall sign for >20,000 sq ft without exterior entrance) |
| RSC Identification Wall Sign at Pedestrian Entrance | Cannot extend above roofline | 300 sq ft (maximum) | — | — | 1 per pedestrian entrance | At each pedestrian entrance of the RSC | — | Sec. 8.03.D (RSC—Identification sign at pedestrian entrance); Sec. 16.07 (Special exceptions for RSC signs) |

### Light Industrial (I-1); General Industrial (I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Main building front wall width < 150 ft) | 15 ft | 48 sq ft | — | ≥ 17 ft behind ROW | 1 per main building | At least 17 ft behind the public ROW | — | Sec. 10.03.E (Freestanding—<150 ft wall width) |
| Freestanding Sign (Main building front wall width ≥ 150 ft) | 15 ft | 100 sq ft (cap) | — | ≥ 17 ft behind ROW | 1 per main building | At least 17 ft behind the public ROW | — | Sec. 10.03.E (Freestanding—≥150 ft wall width) |
| Industrial Park Identification Sign | 15 ft | 48 sq ft | — | ≥ 17 ft behind ROW | 1 per park entrance | At least 17 ft behind the public ROW at each park entrance | — | Sec. 10.03.E (Industrial park identification sign) |
| Wall Sign (Main buildings with wall width up to 250 ft) | Cannot extend above roof line | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On wall; 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 10.03.E (Wall—up to 250 ft wall) |
| Noncommercial Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Behind ROW | 1 per issue/candidate per street frontage | Behind ROW | — | Sec. 10.03.E (Non-Commercial) |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 ft above mean grade if < 10 ft from ROW; 6 ft above mean grade if ≥ 10 ft from ROW | 32 sq ft | — | Behind ROW; additional 10 ft distance governs height | 1 per premise or building | Behind ROW | — | Sec. 10.03.E (Real estate) |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft above mean grade if < 10 ft from ROW; 6 ft above mean grade if ≥ 10 ft from ROW | 32 sq ft | — | Behind ROW; height tied to distance from ROW | 1 per lot | Behind ROW and where driver visibility is not impaired | — | Sec. 10.03.E (Portable) and Sec. 16.06.A.2 |
| Billboard (Principal Use Only) | 25 ft | 300 sq ft | — | ≥ 100 ft from street ROW; ≥ 200 ft from freeway ROW; ≥ 1,000 ft from any residential structure | 1 per lot (as principal use) | As a principal use only; setback 100 ft from street ROW; not within 200 ft of freeway ROW; not within 1,000 ft of a residential structure | — | Sec. 10.03.E (Billboard); Sec. 16.03.J (Billboards) |

## Prohibited signs in Kentwood

- A sign not expressly permitted by the ordinance is prohibited.
- Off‑premises advertising is prohibited except for billboards, official signs, and noncommercial signs.
- No sign is permitted within the public right‑of‑way or on any utility pole, except official signs, directional signs, and plat entry signs placed within a boulevard under specified conditions.
- All signs must be stationary; visible moving parts, alternating/moving messages, flashing, blinking, chasing lights, or effects that appear to move are prohibited (except as specifically allowed for electronic message centers and time/temperature with a minimum interval).
- Sign illumination may not be flashing, moving or intermittent (except electronic message centers); lighting must be continuous indirect white light, illuminate only the sign face, and must not create a safety hazard or be detrimental to surrounding properties.
- Signs may not contain depictions or descriptions of specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activities.
- No sign may exceed 25 feet in height, except as otherwise provided in the ordinance; freestanding signs must maintain at least ten feet of clear space from the bottom of the sign to the ground.
- Wall signs must be placed flat against the building and may not project more than one foot beyond a wall or architectural feature.
- Nonconforming signs may not be converted, altered, expanded, enlarged, or extended; if destroyed by more than 50% of their value they may not be rebuilt; signs abandoned for one year or more (no longer advertising a bona fide business/product) must be removed.
- Signs must not be placed at locations where minimum lot width is not attained; signs placed on public property or in the right‑of‑way may be removed immediately by the city.
- All signs must be properly maintained and may not be allowed to become unsightly or hazardous through disrepair or action of the elements.
- Dynamic display signs may not change content more frequently than once every one minute (except where a shorter interval is expressly allowed in the C‑3 district); brightness may not exceed 0.2 foot‑candles over ambient light within 150 feet of the sign; and the dynamic display portion of an on‑premises sign may not exceed 60% of total sign area or 100 square feet, whichever is smaller.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kentwood

- Official signs are allowed in all zoning districts and are permitted in addition to other on‑site advertising provisions; they may be illuminated and may be placed in the public right‑of‑way subject to height and clear‑vision limits.
- Noncommercial signs are allowed in all zoning districts (subject to district size and placement rules) and may remain until deemed unsightly through disrepair or action of the elements.
- Incidental signs are permitted in any district.
- Construction signs are permitted in any zone district, subject to number, size, height, location and duration limits.
- Exception to the right‑of‑way prohibition: official signs, directional signs, and plat entry signs may be placed within a boulevard/right‑of‑way under specified conditions and required permits.
- A sign permit is not required for signs six square feet or less.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Directional signs across multiple districts require zoning administrator determination for traffic safety and are subject to an approved plan for design, number, and location.
- Special exceptions for signs in regional shopping centers (C‑3) may be approved by the Planning Commission as part of site development plan approval, including variations in size, placement, number, and height.
- Billboards may be permitted only as the principal use after approval as a special land use in accordance with Chapter 15.
- Plat entry signs placed within a boulevard require a sign permit and a highway permit; improper maintenance may result in removal by the city.
- Dynamic display signs require certification at permitting that brightness controls are pre‑set to meet ordinance limits and may be subject to reinspection and recalibration.

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

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