# Sign Regulations in Meridian Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Meridian Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/meridian-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28783851#28783851)

## At a glance

Meridian Township, Michigan regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Directional Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 3 square feet, with a Minimum 5 feet from property line setback (Sec. § 86-684(l)). Most commercial signs in Meridian 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 | 9 | 8 feet | 40% of window surface area; total not to exceed 10% of building face | — |
| Residential Districts (RR, RAAA, RAAA, RA, RB, RX, RD, RDD, RC, RCC, RN, PRD, MP) | 4 | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Professional and Office District (PO) | 4 | 6 feet | 32 square feet per side | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, CR) | 8 | 16 feet | 100% of one exterior wall surface | — |
| Research Park and Industrial Districts (RP, I) | 4 | 6 feet | 300 square feet per side | — |
| Agriculture District (AG) | 2 | — | 25 square feet | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 6 feet | 3 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from property line | Subject to approval based on entrances, circulation, tenants | Minimum 5 feet from any property line, on private property, not in public right-of-way | — | § 86-684(l) |
| Window Sign | — | 40% of window surface area; total not to exceed 10% of building face | — | — | — | Inside or exterior of window, not projecting from pane | — | § 86-684(m) |
| Flag | — | 24 square feet | — | Flagpole setback equal to height | 2 in specified residential; 1 in others | Not obstructing or projecting into public right-of-way without permission | — | § 86-684(n) |
| Traffic Control Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property | — | § 86-684(h) |
| Temporary Off-Premises Sign | 4 feet | 8 square feet individual; total 24 square feet per side on property | — | — | — | On private property, not in public right-of-way without authorization | — | § 86-690(1) |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign - Construction Project | 8 feet | 32 square feet per side | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way if freestanding | 1 | On construction site with approval or permit | — | § 86-690(2)(a) |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign - For Sale or Lease | 6 feet | Size standards of normal temporary sign in single-family; 16 square feet per side or 32 total in multi-family/nonresidential | — | 5 feet from property line | — | — | — | § 86-690(2)(b) |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign - Grand Opening | 6 feet | 40 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 86-690(2)(c) |

### Residential Districts (RR, RAAA, RAAA, RA, RB, RX, RD, RDD, RC, RCC, RN, PRD, MP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Entry Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet from front property line | 1 per public entry | Common area or private property; not in public right-of-way without approval | — | § 86-685(1) |
| Wall Sign - Non-Single Family Use | 6 feet | 25 square feet | — | 10 feet from property line | 1 per use | 10 feet from any property line; on-premises | — | § 86-685(2) |
| Freestanding Sign - Non-Single Family Use | 6 feet | 25 square feet | — | 10 feet from property line | 1 per use | 10 feet from any property line; on-premises | — | § 86-685(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 86-685(3) |

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, CR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per facade with street frontage; 1 per tenant | On each building facade with public street frontage; no rear facade | — | § 86-687(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 feet | 38 square feet per side | — | Leading edge 10 feet from property line | 1 per parcel; 2 if 500+ feet frontage with 250 feet separation | Front yard | — | § 86-687(2) |
| Service Station Sign - Gas Price | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | — | Attached to freestanding sign or as additional wall sign | — | § 86-687(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 square feet per side | — | — | — | On building; vertical or horizontal | — | § 86-687(4) |
| Drive-Through Accessory Sign | 7 feet | 16 square feet (stacking lane); 32 square feet (speaker); max 48 square feet if modified | — | — | 2 per drive-through lane | Not in front yard | — | § 86-687(5) |
| Portable Sign | 4.5 feet | 9 square feet per side or 18 square feet total | — | — | 1 per tenant | Within 5 feet of primary business entrance; on sidewalk adjacent to right-of-way with approval if applicable | — | § 86-691 |
| Electronic Message Sign | — | 25% of permissible ground sign area | — | — | — | — | — | § 86-693 |
| Mural | — | 100% of one exterior wall surface | — | — | 1 per commercial building | Exterior wall of commercial building | — | § 86-695 |

## Prohibited signs in Meridian Township

- Any sign not expressly permitted in a district is prohibited in such district.
- Commercial signs and advertising structures shall be located on the premises to which the sign is accessory, unless otherwise specified.
- No sign or outdoor advertising structure may have moving parts or moving or flashing lights.
- No banners, streamers, or similar devices shall be permitted, unless otherwise specified.
- No wall sign shall be erected to extend above the top of the wall to which it is attached. No signs shall be mounted on a roof.
- Signs shall not revolve or move in any manner.
- Any sign that creates a visual or safety hazard may be ordered to be removed by the Director of Community Planning and Development.
- It shall be unlawful to display, erect, relocate, alter, or otherwise change any permanent signs without obtaining a permit.

## Signs exempt from permit in Meridian Township

- Traffic control signs conforming to the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD) do not require a permit and do not count against maximum permitted sign areas.
- Flags are permitted without a sign permit, subject to size, location, and flagpole regulations.
- Replacement of only the sign face, with no other structural, electrical, or other physical changes, does not require a permit.
- A protected message may be substituted on any legal or legal nonconforming sign without additional approval or permitting, provided no physical changes to the structure.
- The provisions of this article do not apply to any sign installed by the Charter Township of Meridian on premises owned, occupied, or under the control of the Township.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All new or replacement signs for any structure, property, or use shall be reviewed and approved by the Community Planning and Development Director or their designee, unless otherwise specified.
- All signage for drive-through businesses shall be approved by the Planning Commission.
- Electronic message signs may be permitted by application for and granting of a special use permit by the Planning Commission.
- Murals are subject to normal permitting requirements as outlined in this article.

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

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