# Sign Regulations in Kingsford, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kingsford, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/kingsford
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Kingsford/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH4AD_ARTIIPLSIPO)

## At a glance

Kingsford, Michigan regulates 11 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Name Plates in the R districts (R-1A through RM-1) zoning district are capped at 2 square feet (Sec. Sec. 44-369, Table: R districts (R-1A through RM-1), 'one name plate not exceeding two square feet in area'.). Most commercial signs in Kingsford require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R districts (R-1A through RM-1) | 3 | — | 18 square feet | — |
| O-S districts | 3 | — | 18 square feet | — |
| B-1 district | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 25% of surface area of mounting wall (ground story only) | — |

_2 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### R districts (R-1A through RM-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Per dwelling unit | — | Sec. 44-369, Table: R districts (R-1A through RM-1), 'one name plate not exceeding two square feet in area'. |
| Identification Sign (Structures Other Than Dwelling Units) | — | 18 square feet | — | — | 1 per structure | On the structure | — | Sec. 44-369, Table: R districts, 'one identification sign not exceeding 18 square feet in area' for structures other than dwelling units. |
| Identification Sign (Tourist Homes, Apartment House Rental or Management Offices) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | On tourist home or apartment house rental/management office | — | Sec. 44-369, Table: R districts, 'one identification sign not exceeding six square feet in area.' |

### O-S districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign or Nameplate (per Office Unit) | — | — | — | — | 1 per office unit | On or at each office unit occupying a building | — | Sec. 44-369, Table: O-S districts, 'For each office unit occupying a building, one sign or nameplate.' |
| Wall Sign and/or Freestanding Sign (per Office Building) | — | 18 square feet | — | — | 1 wall sign and/or 1 freestanding sign per building | On the wall or as freestanding for the building | — | Sec. 44-369, Table: O-S districts, 'For each office building, one wall sign and/or one freestanding sign, not to exceed 18 square feet in area.' |
| Wall Sign (Projection Restriction) | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | Sec. 44-369, O-S and B-1 districts, 'No sign shall project beyond or overhang the wall, or any permanent architectural feature, by more than one foot, and shall not project above or beyond the highest point of the roof or parapet. Canopy-mounted nameplates excepted.' |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (General Maximum Area) | — | 25% of surface area of mounting wall (ground story only) | — | — | — | On ground-level story of building wall | — | Sec. 44-369 (b)(1), 'Wall-mounted signs shall not exceed an overall size equivalent to 25 percent of the surface area of the mounting wall as computed only on the basis of the ground level story.' |
| Freestanding Sign (Accessory) | — | — | — | Not closer than 100 feet to a residential district (for O-S, B-1, B-2, and I districts) | — | In required front yard for the use or building (except as limited elsewhere) | — | Sec. 44-369, O-S, B-1, B-2 and I districts, 'Freestanding accessory signs or advertising pylons may be located in a front yard, but shall not be placed closer than 100 feet to a residential district.' (also see (b)(6): 'Freestanding accessory signs may be located in the required front yard provided for the use or building.') |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As established by city council, state, or federal government | — | Sec. 44-369 (b)(3), 'Necessary directional signs required for the purpose of orientation, when established by the city council, state, or federal government, shall be permitted in all use districts.' |
| Accessory Sign (General) | — | — | — | — | — | In any use district | — | Sec. 44-369 (b)(4), 'Accessory signs shall be permitted in any use district.' |
| For Sale/Rent/Lease Sign (Temporary) | — | 20 square feet or less without permit; over 20 square feet requires temporary permit | — | — | — | On the land or building to be rented, leased, or sold | — | Sec. 44-369 (b)(5), 'Signs used for advertising land or buildings for rent, lease, and/or for sale shall be permitted when located on the land or building intended to be rented, leased, and/or sold, provided that such signs, exceeding 20 square feet, shall be subject to obtaining a temporary permit from the administrative officer.' |

## Prohibited signs in Kingsford

- No wall-mounted sign shall exceed 25 percent of the surface area of the ground level story of the mounting wall.
- No sign shall be located in, project into, or overhang a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement, unless approved by the governmental unit having jurisdiction.
- No fence, wall, shrubbery, sign or other obstruction to vision shall be permitted within the triangular area (clear vision area) at street intersections, except as specified regarding height and vision obstruction limits.
- No sign shall project beyond or overhang the wall, or any permanent architectural feature, by more than one foot, and shall not project above or beyond the highest point of the roof or parapet, except canopy-mounted nameplates.
- Freestanding accessory signs or advertising pylons may not be placed closer than 100 feet to a residential district.
- The illumination portion of a sign and any other outdoor features shall not be of a flashing type, although a sign may revolve or move.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kingsford

- Necessary directional signs required for the purpose of orientation, when established by the city council, state, or federal government, shall be permitted in all use districts.
- Accessory signs shall be permitted in any use district.
- Signs used for advertising land or buildings for rent, lease, and/or for sale shall be permitted when located on the land or building intended to be rented, leased, and/or sold, provided such signs exceeding 20 square feet shall be subject to a temporary permit.
- Provided a sense of scale is retained, the board of zoning appeals may waive the maximum area of sign permitted for reasons of unusual building size, extra-large site area, extra deep setbacks, or multiple structures or uses compared with other permitted uses in the same district.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Waivers or variances to maximum sign area (for reasons such as unusual building size, extra large site area, extra deep setbacks, or multiple number of structures or uses) may be granted by the board of zoning appeals.
- All exterior lighting, including that associated with signs, must be shielded or low intensity to prevent glare and is subject to consideration regarding adjacent properties.
- There is no explicit requirement for a master sign plan or general sign plan submission for approval in the ordinance text; however, variances or waivers must go before the board of zoning appeals.

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

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