# Sign Regulations in Lapeer, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lapeer, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/lapeer
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32986162#32986162)

## At a glance

Lapeer, Michigan regulates 33 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Churches, schools, public/non-profit institutions)s in the Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2) zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 20 square feet (may be up to 50 sq ft if setback further from property line; see requirements), with a Set back min 1/3 of distance from property line to nearest building, not to exceed 100 ft setback (Sec. § 7-17.07B(3)(a)). Most commercial signs in Lapeer require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | 50 square feet per flag | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2) | 7 | 10 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| OS-1, B-1, B-2, B-3, CBD-1, I-1, I-2 | 3 | 15 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-3, CBD-1, CBD-2, I-1, I-2 | 1 | — | Determined by Building Official | — |
| OS-1, B-1, B-2, B-3, CBD-1, CBD-2, I-1, I-2 | 8 | 16 feet (CBD-1: 10 feet) | 100 square feet | — |
| CBD-1, CBD-2 | 2 | Not higher than wall; bottom at least 8 ft above ground/sidewalk | 8 square feet per side; 16 square feet total | — |
| B-2 | 2 | 30 feet for multiple tenants | 250 sq ft for two businesses, add 50 sq ft per additional business, not to exceed 400 sq ft per side | — |
| I-2 | 1 | See I-2 district height regulation | 175 sq ft per side (350 sq ft total for double sided) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Device Sign | — | 3 square feet per device | — | — | 1 per device | On vending machines, ATMs, gas pumps, or other containers. | — | § 7-17.02A |
| Flag | — | 50 square feet per flag | — | — | 3 per lot | On flagpoles complying with height limitations. | — | § 7-17.02C |
| Employment Sign | — | Maximum area for all such signs not to exceed 6 square feet | — | — | — | At the business where posted | — | § 7-17.02D |
| Enclosed Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Completely within a building and not visible from outside | — | § 7-17.02E |
| Historical Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 7-17.02F |
| Identification Sign | — | 1 square foot not counted; over 1 square foot counted in total sign area | — | — | — | — | — | § 7-17.02G |
| Incidental Sign | — | 2 square feet total for all such signs | — | — | — | — | — | § 7-17.02H |
| Noncommercial Message Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any permitted sign | — | § 7-17.02J |

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Garage Sale Sign (Temporary) | 4 feet | 5 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot; 2 on corner lot | — | — | § 7-17.03, Table 7.17.1 |
| Small Temporary Sign (For Sale/Lease) | 4 feet | 5 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot; 2 on corner lot | — | — | § 7-17.03, Table 7.17.1 |
| Ground or Wall Sign (Advertising rental/sale/lease) | — | — | — | — | — | On property for rent/sale/lease | — | § 7-17.07A(1)(b) |
| Nameplate (Dwelling) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per unit | — | — | § 7-17.07A(2) |
| Subdivision/Development Sale Sign (Sign advertising subdivision or multi-family development) (Temporary) | 10 feet | 64 square feet | — | — | 1 per subdivision | Subdivision or multi-family development | — | § 7-17.07B(1) |
| Monument Sign (Development name) | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | At development entrance | — | § 7-17.07B(2) |
| Monument Sign (Churches, schools, public/non-profit institutions) | 8 feet | 20 square feet (may be up to 50 sq ft if setback further from property line; see requirements) | — | Set back min 1/3 of distance from property line to nearest building, not to exceed 100 ft | 1 per institution | — | — | § 7-17.07B(3)(a) |

### OS-1, B-1, B-2, B-3, CBD-1, CBD-2, I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed maximum building height; not higher than wall; bottom at least 8 ft above ground/sidewalk | — | — | — | — | Front, side, or rear of building | — | § 7-17.05 Table 7.17.3; § 7-17.06A |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 56 sq ft per side; 112 sq ft total (except CBD-1: 20 sq ft/side, 40 total) | — | — | 1 per street | At each side of parcel facing a street | — | § 7-17.05 Table 7.17.3; § 7-17.06B |
| Directional Sign | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | As determined by Building Official | — | — | § 7-17.05 Table 7.17.3 |
| Business Center Sign | 16 feet (CBD-1: 10 feet) | 64 sq ft per face; 128 sq ft both sides | — | — | 1 per business center | At business/shopping center | — | § 7-17.05 Table 7.17.3 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | On or inside window | — | § 7-17.05 Table 7.17.3 |
| Marquee Sign | Not to exceed building height; bottom at least 8 ft above ground/sidewalk | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per parcel | Attached to building | — | § 7-17.05 Table 7.17.3; § 7-17.06E |
| Rear Entry Sign (Wall or Projecting) | Min 8 ft above ground/sidewalk | Wall: 6 sq ft; Projecting: 6 sq ft per side (12 sq ft total) | — | — | 1 per business | Rear entrance | — | § 7-17.05 Table 7.17.3 |
| Electronic/Manual Changeable Message Sign | See monument sign requirements | 24 square feet (must be part of monument sign) | — | — | 1 per parcel | — | — | § 7-17.05 Table 7.17.3; § 7-17.06H |

## Prohibited signs in Lapeer

- Any sign not expressly permitted.
- String lights, spinners, strings of light bulbs, pennants, or streamers hung overhead to draw attention to a business or its merchandise, except for holidays or religious events.
- Moving or animated signs, including signs with flashing, moving, oscillating, blinking, or variable-intensity lights, or lights resembling emergency or traffic signals, or with lighting so bright as to be blinding or distracting.
- Inflatable signs comprised in part or wholly of a balloon or any other inflated object or character.
- Obsolete signs.
- Off-premises signs (other than billboards).
- Pole signs.
- Portable or movable signs, except where expressly permitted.
- Signs which obstruct free access or egress from a required door, window, or other required exit.
- Signs that obstruct any approved traffic control device, road sign, or signal from view, interfere with sight distance for traffic safety, or distract from visibility of traffic signs or devices.
- Any sign which makes use of the words 'stop', 'look', or 'danger', or any similar words or symbols, in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic.
- Signs simulating or confused with emergency or traffic signal lighting, or using red, yellow, or green illumination in the same line of vision as traffic signals.
- Illegal signs — any sign unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained.
- Snipe signs — signs attached to a utility pole, fence, or affixed to a tree, except as otherwise permitted.
- Roof signs, unless no practical available wall area exists and a waiver is obtained.
- Signs on street furniture (benches, trash receptacles), except commemorative plaques or engravings not larger than 1/2 square foot.
- Any sign not attached to a building and erected within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.
- No sign, except those established by governmental entities, to be located in or overhang any public right-of-way or on City-owned property without municipal consent.
- Motor vehicle signs parked, placed, or stored for the purpose of advertising or directing to a business; including conditions presumed to violate, unless rebutted.
- Unsafe signs: those structurally unsafe, hazardous due to maintenance, blocking views, capable of electric shock, unlawfully installed, located in ROW, in disrepair, or not meeting Building Code.
- Search lights.
- No sign shall be erected, maintained, or attached so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, or to a stand pipe or fire escape.
- No sign to be erected at an intersection or other location that obstructs vision, confuses with any authorized traffic sign or uses similar wording or graphics.
- No sign to be located within, project into, or overhang a corner clearance area.
- No nails, tacks, or wires may protrude from the front of any sign, except for allowed devices.
- It is unlawful to remove, deface, or conceal any sign or notice posted by a City officer or employee relating to public health, safety, or housing without permission.
- It is unlawful to erect, place, post, affix, nail or fasten any sign or advertising to any pole, tree, lamp post, building, or other object on City property, unless by a governmental, nonprofit, or charitable organization with City Commission consent.
- No post or fixture for a sign, awning, or canopy may be placed on or in any sidewalk without permission of the City Manager.
- No awning or canopy may extend more than eight feet over a sidewalk or come nearer than seven feet five inches to the sidewalk, or have any part less than six feet five inches above the sidewalk.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lapeer

- Permanent signs on vending machines, ATMs, gas pumps, and similar devices indicating contents or purpose (not exceeding three square feet, one per device).
- Directional signs not bearing advertising other than logos.
- Flags (maximum three per lot, 50 square feet each, flag poles must comply with height limits).
- 'Help Wanted' employment signs for the premises (up to six square feet total).
- Any sign located completely within a building and not visible from outside.
- Plaques or signs designating a building or premises as historic (not exceeding six square feet).
- Identification signs designating house number, owner, occupant, or building name (exempt up to one square foot, excess counts toward total allowed area).
- Incidental signs (small, totaling no more than two square feet), stating goods, facilities, or services available on premises.
- Legal nonconforming signs existing on the effective date (until removed or altered).
- Any permitted sign may display a lawful noncommercial message (subject to certain exceptions such as traffic and emergency signs).
- Public signs authorized or erected by government body or public utility (traffic signs, legal notices, hazard warnings, etc.).
- Changing the advertising copy or message on an approved painted/printed sign, theater marquee, or similar approved replaceable copy sign does not require a permit.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, or normal maintenance of a sign or its structure, provided no structural change is made, does not require permit.
- Reader boards owned by government entities, public agencies, and community organizations displaying community information are exempt from area limitations for changeable message signs.
- Electronic signs of private and parochial schools (public schools are exempt by statute) are exempt from provisions for changeable message signs.
- Time and temperature displays are exempt from changeable message sign area limitations.
- Temporary signs such as garage sale, residential sale/lease, and some small temporary signs in residential districts (within specified size, number, and duration limits) do not require a permit.
- Signs for governmental, nonprofit, or charitable organizations on City property, provided City Commission consent is secured.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit reference to a 'Master Sign Plan' or required sign plan submission covering multiple signs was found in the ordinance sections provided.
- All permanent or temporary signs, unless otherwise exempted, require review and approval (permit) from the City of Lapeer Building Department. Permit application requires submission of design and location drawings/sketches and stakes placed for location inspection.
- For temporary signs requiring a permit (banners, pennants, larger construction or wall signs, etc.), permit application is required per Table 7.17.1.
- For Billboards and Interstate Corridor Signs, MDOT permitting may also be required if within regulated areas; documentation of MDOT status may be requested with City permit application.
- Variances or administrative waivers (e.g., for roof signs without available wall area) require action by Planning Department or Board of Zoning Appeals; appeals process is available for decisions on dimensions and locations.
- Permit application requires provision of detailed sign information; for certain sign types (such as ICS with tenants), approvals or leases may need to be documented with the application.

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

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