# Sign Regulations in Michiana, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Michiana, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/michiana
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28826912#28826912)

## At a glance

Michiana, Michigan regulates 13 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Temporary Sign - Open House/Announcements in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 3 feet tall, 5.1 square feet, and 3 feet wide, with a At least 5 feet from improved portion of right-of-way setback (Sec. §279-4(B)). Most commercial signs in Michiana require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 9 | 8 feet (structure) | 32 square feet (exclusive of architectural features) | — |
| Commercial District | 6 | 3 feet | 10 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (Wall Type) | 1 foot | 3 square feet (1 ft height x 3 ft length) | 3 feet | — | Maximum one per dwelling | Flat or wall type secured in place, not above first-floor level | — | §279-1 (A)-(E) |
| Nameplate (Post-Mounted) | — | 3 square feet (1 ft height x 3 ft length) | — | — | Maximum one per dwelling | Supported on post in front yard area, not over public property or within traffic sight lines | — | §279-1 (C)-(E) |
| Bulletin Board (Institutional Use) - Freestanding | 8 feet (structure) | 32 square feet (exclusive of architectural features) | — | 15 ft from right-of-way (can be 10 ft by special exception); never in required rear/interior side yards | 1 per main use per frontage | One per main use per frontage | — | §279-2(A) |
| Bulletin Board (Institutional Use) - Wall Mounted | — | 10 square feet | — | — | 1 per main building | On outside face of main building, not above first-floor level | — | §279-2(B) |
| Temporary Sign - For Sale/For Rent | 3 feet | 5.1 square feet | 3 feet | — | 1 per dwelling unit or buildable lot | On dwelling or lot for sale or rent | — | §279-4(A) |
| Temporary Sign - Open House/Announcement | 3 feet | 5.1 square feet | 3 feet | At least 5 feet from improved portion of right-of-way | 1 per event | Off-premises | — | §279-4(B) |
| Temporary Sign - Garage Sale | — | 3 square feet | — | At least 5 feet from improved portion of right-of-way | Maximum six per event | Off-premises | — | §279-4(B) |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event Announcement | — | 10 square feet | — | — | Per event | — | — | §279-4(C)(1) |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Business) | — | 0.4 sq ft per linear foot of frontage or 37.5 sq ft (whichever is less) per frontage | — | — | Per building frontage with public entrance: one sign permitted; separate calculation for separate entrances | Flat/wall sign attached to building; not above first-floor. Allowed on front, side, and rear if each has a public entrance; no corner signs. | — | §279-3(A)-(B) |
| Temporary Sign - For Sale/For Rent | 3 feet | 5.1 square feet | 3 feet | — | 1 per space/unit | On premises for sale or rent; 1 sign per buildable or rental space | — | §279-4(A) |
| Temporary Sign - Open House/Announcement | 3 feet | 5.1 square feet | 3 feet | At least 5 feet from improved portion of right-of-way | 1 per event | Off-premises | — | §279-4(B) |
| Temporary Sign - Garage Sale | — | 3 square feet | — | At least 5 feet from improved portion of right-of-way | Maximum six per event | Off-premises | — | §279-4(B) |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event Announcement | — | 10 square feet | — | — | Per event | — | — | §279-4(C)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event Directional | — | 3 square feet | — | — | Per event | — | — | §279-4(C)(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Municipal/Government Sign or Bulletin Board | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §279-5 |
| Temporary Sign - Flags, Banners, Balloons and Paraphernalia (for Temporary/Special Events) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §279-4(D) |
| Temporary Sign - Placement Standard | — | — | — | At least 5 feet from public right-of-way | — | — | — | §279-4(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Michiana

- No blinking, flashing, rotating or animated signs shall be permitted that are visible from the exterior of a building or other structure.
- Nameplates shall not extend over public property.
- Signs shall not be erected so as to obstruct street sight lines or traffic control lights, signs at street intersections, or signals at railroad crossings.
- Signs visible from the sight lines along a street shall not contain an arrow or such words as "stop," "go," "slow," etc., or in any other manner resemble highway traffic signs.
- No nameplates shall be permitted above the first-floor level.
- Projecting business signs shall not be permitted.
- Business signs shall not extend over a public sidewalk or right-of-way.
- Business signs shall not obscure street sight lines or traffic control devices.
- No sign shall be installed above the first-floor level.
- No business signs shall be erected which are freestanding, projecting, on poles, the ground, above marquees, on top of buildings, or in any other form or manner, except as specified elsewhere.
- All temporary signs erected under the provisions of this article shall be placed no closer than five feet from the public right-of-way and shall not block vehicle or pedestrian traffic or be situated in a fashion to endanger public safety.
- Flags, banners, balloons and other paraphernalia shall not be allowed with reference to general real estate listing signs for sale or rent.

## Signs exempt from permit in Michiana

- This chapter shall not apply to any municipal sign, bulletin board, traffic control device or any other informational device of the Village or other governmental entity.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Michiana, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Michiana+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-michiana

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