# Sign Regulations in Lowell Charter Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lowell Charter Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/lowell-charter-township
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-12
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cms8.revize.com/revize/lowelltwpmi/Document%20Center/Departments/Planning%20&%20Zoning/Zoning%20Ordinance%20Adopted%20by%20Board%2005-16-2023%20FINAL%20PDF%20VERSION.pdf?t=202412301817200&t=202412301817200#page=195)

## At a glance

Lowell Charter Township, Michigan regulates 46 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Community Special Event Sign (Portable)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft above ground level tall and 32 sq ft, with a Minimum 15 ft from any side or rear property line setback (Sec. SEC 18.04(i)(1)(g)(6)(i)-(vi)). Most commercial signs in Lowell Charter Township 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 | 13 | 25 ft maximum height; minimum 10 ft clearance from ground to bottom of sign | Up to 64 sq ft per street frontage | — |
| Prime Agricultural (AG-1); Rural Agricultural (AG-2); Rural Low Density Residential (R-1); Medium Density Residential (R-2); High Density - Multiple Family (R-3); Mobile Home Park (MHP); Residential PUD | 10 | 25 ft maximum; 10 ft minimum clearance to bottom of sign | Up to 75% of host sign’s allowable area | — |
| General Commercial (C) | 22 | If pole-mounted: 25 ft maximum height and 10 ft minimum clearance; if ground-mounted: 5 ft maximum height | 500 sq ft maximum (any single wall sign or cumulative square footage of all wall signs for the establishment) | — |
| Light Industry (LI) | 21 | Up to 25 ft above the higher of (1) natural ground grade or (2) abutting roadway grade | 500 sq ft maximum (any single wall sign or cumulative square footage of all wall signs for the establishment) | — |
| Industrial Planned Unit Development (IPUD) | 11 | If over/above an entrance drive: minimum 14 ft above grade | 32 sq ft (portable signs; festoons not subject to this limitation) | — |
| Commercial PUD | 10 | If over/above an entrance drive: minimum 14 ft above grade | 32 sq ft (portable signs; festoons not subject to this limitation) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - General Standards (Pole-mounted) | 25 ft maximum height; minimum 10 ft clearance from ground to bottom of sign | — | — | Set back behind property line; must not obstruct view | — | Set back behind property line on private property (except certain ID signs in medians) | — | SEC 18.04(f)(1)-(2)(iv); SEC 18.04(b); SEC 18.05(d) |
| Freestanding Sign - General Standards (Ground-mounted) | 5 ft maximum height | — | — | Set back behind property line; must not obstruct view | — | Set back behind property line on private property (except certain ID signs in medians) | — | SEC 18.04(f)(1)-(2)(iv); SEC 18.04(b); SEC 18.05(d) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign - General Standards | 5 ft maximum height | — | — | Set back behind property line unless in approved median | — | May be placed in approved boulevard median strips; otherwise set back behind property line on private property with owner permission | — | SEC 18.04(f)(1)-(2)(v); SEC 18.05(d) |
| Development/Building Identification Sign - General Standards | 5 ft maximum height | — | — | Set back behind property line unless in approved median | — | May be placed in approved boulevard median strips; otherwise set back behind property line on private property with owner permission | — | SEC 18.04(f)(1)-(2)(v); SEC 18.05(d) |
| Community Special Event Sign (Portable) | 6 ft above ground level | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 15 ft from any side or rear property line | More than one allowed per parcel | May be located either on or off the lot where the event is held | — | SEC 18.04(i)(1)(g)(6)(i)-(vi) |
| Construction Sign | — | Up to 64 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | One per street frontage of a construction project | On private property with owner permission | — | SEC 18.05(b); SEC 18.04(c)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Parcels < 2 acres) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | One per lot or premises | On private property with owner permission | — | SEC 18.05(c); SEC 18.04(c)(6); SEC 18.05(d) |
| Real Estate Sign (Parcels ≥ 2 acres) | — | Up to 64 sq ft | — | — | One per lot or premises | On private property with owner permission | — | SEC 18.05(c); SEC 18.05(d) |

### General Commercial (C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 1 (Per Development) | If pole-mounted: 25 ft maximum height and 10 ft minimum clearance; if ground-mounted: 5 ft maximum height | Up to 125 sq ft (absolute maximum) | — | Set back behind property line | One per development | Per development, on private property | — | SEC 18.07(b); SEC 18.04(f)(2)(iv); SEC 18.07 (4 Mar 2009 off-premise content allowance) |
| Point-of-Sale Sign - Option 2 (Per Development) | — | Up to 125 sq ft (absolute maximum) | — | — | One per development (in lieu of freestanding sign) | Per development | — | SEC 18.07(b) |
| Development/Building Identification Sign | 5 ft (ground-mounted) | 32 sq ft | — | Set back behind property line unless in approved median | One per development or building (whichever is more restrictive) | One per development or per building, whichever is most restrictive | — | SEC 18.07(c); SEC 18.04(f)(2)(v) |
| Wall Sign (Street-facing/Entrance Walls) | Subject to general wall sign height limit (≤ top of wall or window sills or 20 ft above grade, whichever is lowest) | 500 sq ft maximum (any single wall sign or cumulative square footage of all wall signs for the establishment) | — | — | More than one allowed per qualifying wall | On exterior walls facing a public street or above an entrance not facing a public street | — | SEC 18.07(d)(1)(i)-(ii); SEC 18.04(f)(2)(i)-(iii) |
| Wall Sign (Other Exterior Walls) | Subject to general wall sign height limit (≤ top of wall or window sills or 20 ft above grade, whichever is lowest) | Up to 24 sq ft per wall (maximum size of any single wall sign or cumulative total per wall) | — | — | More than one allowed per wall (within 24 sq ft per wall cap) | On other exterior walls (not street-facing or entrance walls) | — | SEC 18.07(d)(1)(iii); SEC 18.04(f)(2)(i)-(iii) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One awning/canopy sign per establishment | On street-facing/entrance exterior wall(s) of the commercial establishment | — | SEC 18.07(d)(2) |
| Directory Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per development or building | On private property | — | SEC 18.07(e) |
| Nameplate or Under-Canopy Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One per premises | On private property | — | SEC 18.07(f) |

### Light Industry (LI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 1 (Per Development) - Pole signs prohibited | Ground-mounted: 5 ft maximum height | Up to 125 sq ft (absolute maximum) | — | Set back behind property line | One per development | Per development, on private property | — | SEC 18.08(a) (permits 18.05 and 18.07 signs except pole signs); SEC 18.07(b); SEC 18.04(f)(2)(v) |
| Point-of-Sale Sign - Option 2 (Per Development) | — | Up to 125 sq ft (absolute maximum) | — | — | One per development (in lieu of freestanding sign) | Per development | — | SEC 18.08(a); SEC 18.07(b) |
| Development/Building Identification Sign | 5 ft (ground-mounted) | 32 sq ft | — | Set back behind property line unless in approved median | One per development or building | One per development or per building, whichever is most restrictive | — | SEC 18.08(a); SEC 18.07(c); SEC 18.04(f)(2)(v) |
| Wall Sign (Street-facing/Entrance Walls) | Subject to general wall sign height limit | 500 sq ft maximum (any single wall sign or cumulative square footage of all wall signs for the establishment) | — | — | More than one allowed per qualifying wall | On exterior walls facing a public street or above entrance not facing a public street | — | SEC 18.08(a); SEC 18.07(d)(1)(i)-(ii); SEC 18.04(f)(2)(i)-(iii) |
| Wall Sign (Other Exterior Walls) | Subject to general wall sign height limit | Up to 24 sq ft per wall (max per wall) | — | — | More than one allowed per wall (within cap) | On other exterior walls | — | SEC 18.08(a); SEC 18.07(d)(1)(iii); SEC 18.04(f)(2)(i)-(iii) |
| Directory Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per development or building | On private property | — | SEC 18.08(a); SEC 18.07(e) |
| Billboard (Monopole) - LI only | Up to 25 ft above the higher of (1) natural ground grade or (2) abutting roadway grade | Up to 378 sq ft per face | — | Spacing: ≥1000 ft from any adjacent/other billboard | Subject to spacing and Township-wide maximum of 18 | Within Light Industrial zoning district; not farther than 200 ft from I-96 public right-of-way | — | SEC 18.08(b) (5 Dec, 2011); Township-wide cap (18 June, 2018) |
| Off-Premise Sign (Farm Products) | Top of sign not more than 6 ft above grade | 12 sq ft | — | Not in road right-of-way; must not interfere with traffic sight lines | No more than four per parcel | Only in LI and IPUD zoning districts; placed only with permission of property owner | — | SEC 18.08(c)(1)-(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Lowell Charter Township

- Abandoned signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Animated signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Bench signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Rotating signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Snipe signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Video display signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- No sign may be illuminated by flashing, oscillating or intermittent lighting.
- Operating lighting fixtures on or in signs from midnight to sunrise is prohibited unless the premises is open for business.
- Exterior sign lighting shall not emit light rays above the sign's highest horizontal plane.
- No sign shall be placed where it causes a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic by depriving a clear and unobstructed view of approaching, intersecting or merging traffic.
- A sign shall not project into the public right-of-way of any adjacent street.
- All permanent signs shall be set back of the property line (except Development/Building Identification and Subdivision Identification signs in approved boulevard median strips).
- No sign shall be suspended by non-rigid attachments that will allow the sign to swing in the wind.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door opening used as a means of egress.
- No sign shall be attached in any form that will interfere with any opening required for ventilation, except as allowed by applicable building or fire codes.
- No sign shall be installed closer than five feet horizontally or vertically from any overhead electrical conductor or public utility guy wire unless specifically waived by the Township Electrical Inspector.
- Signs may be placed only on private property and only with the permission of the property owner.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lowell Charter Township

- Official traffic or government signs are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- The copy and message of signs are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Signs not intended to be viewed from a public right-of-way are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Window displays are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Product dispensers and point of sale displays are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Scoreboards at athletic fields are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Flags of any nation, government, corporate or noncommercial organization are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Gravestones are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Barber poles are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Religious symbols are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Commemorative plaques are not regulated by this Ordinance.
- The display of street numbers or names is not regulated by this Ordinance.
- Any display or construction not defined herein as a sign is not regulated by this Ordinance.
- No permit is required for the maintenance of a sign or for a change of copy on painted, printed, or changeable copy signs.
- Construction signs of five square feet or less are exempt from permit requirements.
- Directional signs of five square feet or less are exempt from permit requirements.
- Holiday decorations are exempt from permit requirements.
- Political signs not to exceed twenty square feet in sign area are exempt from permit requirements.
- Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency are exempt from permit requirements.
- Real estate signs of five square feet or less are exempt from permit requirements.
- Incidental signs not occupying more than eight square feet of advertising display area are exempt from permit requirements.
- Agricultural Industry Signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Farm Identification Signs are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permits are required for all signs unless otherwise provided (Sec. 18.04(b)).
- Permit applications must include a site plan showing the proposed sign location and the locations and square footage of all existing signs on the same premises (Sec. 18.11(b)(4)).
- Permit applications must include specifications and scale drawings showing materials, design, dimensions, structural supports, and electrical components of the proposed sign (Sec. 18.11(b)(5)).
- The Zoning Administrator is authorized to process applications for permits and variances and to hold public hearings as required (Sec. 18.11(a)).
- Orders alleging violations may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals (Sec. 18.11(g)).
- A final inspection (including electrical and footing inspections for freestanding signs) may be required upon completion (Sec. 18.11(f)).
- For electronic reader board billboards, written certification from the manufacturer demonstrating compliance with maximum illumination requirements must be provided before a permit is issued (Sec. 18.08(b)(4)).

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

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