# Sign Regulations in Manton, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Manton, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/manton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Manton/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH38ZO_ARTIXSI)

## At a glance

Manton, Michigan regulates 12 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Monument only)s in the Medium Density Residential (MDR) zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 16 square feet, with a 10 feet from all lot lines setback (Sec. Sec. 38-507; Sec. 38-506; Sec. 38-502-503). Most commercial signs in Manton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Low Density Residential (LDR) | 1 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| Medium Density Residential (MDR) | 2 | 8 feet | 16 square feet | — |
| Mixed Residential (MR) | 2 | 8 feet | 25 square feet | — |
| Multiple-Family Residential (MFR) | 2 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Residential Commercial (RC) | 2 | 8 feet | 25 square feet | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 2 | 8 feet | 25 square feet | — |
| Commercial (C) | 2 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Industrial (I) | 3 | 45 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| Public (P) | 2 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 8 feet | 40 square feet per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Medium Density Residential (MDR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | Up to two wall signs per lot, premises, building or site. | Attached flat against building; must be on premises | — | Sec. 38-507; Sec. 38-506; Sec. 38-502-503 |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument only) | 8 feet | 16 square feet | — | 10 feet from all lot lines | One freestanding sign per lot, premises, building or site. | Minimum 10 feet setback from all lot lines; must be on premises | — | Sec. 38-507; Sec. 38-506; Sec. 38-502-503 |

### Industrial (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Up to two wall signs per lot, premises, building or site. | Attached flat against building; must be on premises | — | Sec. 38-507(2); Sec. 38-506; Sec. 38-502-503 |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — | 10 feet from all lot lines | One freestanding sign per lot, premises, building or site. | Minimum 10 feet setback from all lot lines; must be on premises | — | Sec. 38-507; Sec. 38-506; Sec. 38-502-503 |
| Billboard Sign (Nonaccessory) | 45 feet | 300 square feet | — | Same as I district: front 25 ft, side 10 ft, rear 15 ft | — | Minimum 200 feet from residential, 1,000 feet from other billboards on same side of ROW, same setback as principal structure in I district. | — | Sec. 38-509; Sec. 38-505(b); Sec. 38-506 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 square feet per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | On construction site | — | Sec. 38-504(1) |
| Directional Sign | — | 5 square feet | — | — | By determination | On-premises | — | Sec. 38-504(2) |
| Political Sign | — | 20 square feet per sign | — | — | — | On private property with owner permission | — | Sec. 38-504(3) |
| Public Sign or Notice | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-504(4) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 32 square feet per side | — | — | One per premises/site | One per premises/site | — | Sec. 38-504(5) |
| Nameplate | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per premises/site | One per premises/site | — | Sec. 38-504(6) |
| Special Sale Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-504(7) |
| Portable or Temporary Sign | 8 feet | 40 square feet per side | — | 10 feet from public right-of-way | One per lot/parcel/site | Not closer than 10 feet to a public right-of-way | — | Sec. 38-506(j) |

## Prohibited signs in Manton

- Any sign not specifically permitted is prohibited.
- Permanent exterior banners, pennants, spinners, and streamers are prohibited.
- Exterior string lights used in connection with a commercial premises, other than holiday decorations, are prohibited.
- Any sign which is structurally or electrically unsafe is prohibited.
- Signs painted directly on structures, or signs painted on, attached, or affixed to any tree, rock, or similar organic or inorganic natural matter are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected or relocated without first obtaining a sign erection permit.
- No sign or billboard shall be repaired or altered without a zoning permit if one-half of the replacement value of the sign or billboard will be exceeded.
- No sign shall exceed the height limitation of the district in which it is located or as otherwise regulated by this chapter.
- No freestanding sign shall be set back less than ten feet from all lot lines, except where otherwise allowed by this chapter.
- No signs shall be placed in required clear vision areas.

## Signs exempt from permit in Manton

- Temporary construction signs: One per street frontage, not exceeding 32 square feet per sign, permitted up to 30 days before construction commences and to be removed within 30 days after completion.
- On-premises directional signs not exceeding five square feet per sign, with number approved by the zoning administrator.
- Political signs not exceeding 20 square feet in area per sign, only on private property and with owner’s permission, removed within 14 days after the election or referendum.
- Public signs or notices of the city, county, state, or United States Government as deemed necessary and appropriate by the unit of government.
- One real estate sign per premises or site not exceeding 32 square feet of display area per side.
- One nameplate sign per premises or site not to exceed four square feet in area.
- Special sale signs (e.g., garage, yard, rummage, and estate) that must be removed within 24 hours after the sale.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit must be obtained from the city zoning administrator prior to the construction or placement of any sign, unless exempt per Section 38-504.
- No person shall erect, relocate, repair or alter any sign or billboard (exceeding one-half of replacement value) without first obtaining the appropriate permit.
- Signs not specifically allowed or whose classification is in doubt may be referred to the zoning board of appeals.
- There is no explicit requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan for an entire site; requirements are administered via individual zoning/sign permits.
- Site plan review is required for uses and construction authorized by special use permit, as well as for certain uses, buildings, and structures, but not generally for standard signage except as otherwise required by the zoning administrator.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/manton