# Sign Regulations in Monroe, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Monroe, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/monroe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-30
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/37894477#37894477)

## At a glance

Monroe, Michigan regulates 32 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Sandwich Board Signs in the Zone C: Monroe Street, Orchard East, Elm Avenue, Orchard East, Battlefield/Heritage Corridor and Waterfront District zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall, 12 sq ft, and 2 ft wide, with a Min 10 ft from nearest other sandwich board. setback (Sec. §8.01.I(1)-(3) and Sign Zone Requirements (Zone C)). Most commercial signs in Monroe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Zone A: I-75 Corridor and Dixie Highway/I-75 interchange | 7 | 25 ft (Zone A) | 672 sq ft (Zone A) | — |
| Zone B: Telegraph Road, Dixie Highway and part of West Front Business District | 7 | 25 ft (Zone B) | 300 sq ft (Zone B) | — |
| Zone C: Monroe Street, Orchard East, Elm Avenue, Orchard East, Battlefield/Heritage Corridor and Waterfront District | 7 | 8–10 ft (includes base and frame) | 100 sq ft (cap) | — |
| Zone D: Central Business District | 7 | 5–6 ft (includes base and frame) | 100 sq ft (cap) | — |
| Zone E: All Other Areas | 5 | 8–10 ft (includes base and frame) | 100 sq ft (cap) | — |
| I-1 Zoning District | 1 | 25 ft (both Zone A and Zone B) | Zone A areas: 672 sq ft; Zone B areas: 300 sq ft | — |
| I-2 Zoning District | 1 | 25 ft (both Zone A and Zone B) | Zone A areas: 672 sq ft; Zone B areas: 300 sq ft | — |
| Historic District (Historic Overlay District) | 4 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | Nonresidential real estate signs ≤8 ft above grade | Changeable copy area ≤40% (≤50% if matching background color) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Zone A: I-75 Corridor and Dixie Highway/I-75 interchange

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banners & Feather Flags | — | — | — | — | Max 1 per building frontage; multi-tenant buildings: 1 per tenant if displayed directly in front of the tenant space. | Must not create a hazardous situation; one per building frontage; each frontage’s banner must face that frontage. | — | §8.01.B(1)-(6) |
| Billboard (Special Use in I-1 or I-2 only) | 25 ft (Zone A) | 672 sq ft (Zone A) | — | 1,250 ft min spacing on same side of ROW between billboards; 500 ft min setback from residential use; For ROW width ≥300 ft: 200 ft min and 400 ft max setback; From property lines: setback equal to height of billboard, 25 ft min; 25 ft min from any other structure (on or off premise). | — | Allowed only as a special use within I-1 or I-2 districts located in Zone A. | — | §8.01.C (Billboard) Tables and text; Billboards Sign Zone Requirements |
| Electronic Message Center Sign (Freeway Frontage) | 14 ft | 70 sq ft (digital display area) | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 | Freeway frontage only. | — | §8.01.D(1)-(6); §8.01.D(7) Sign Zone Requirements (Zone A Freeway) |
| Electronic Message Center Sign (Street Frontage) | 5 ft | 30 sq ft (digital display area) | — | Assume 10 ft from ROW consistent with Zone A EMC table heading. | 1 per street frontage with ingress/egress | Street frontage. | — | §8.01.D(1)-(6); §8.01.D(7) Sign Zone Requirements (Zone A Street) |
| Monument Sign (Freeway Frontage) | 20–25 ft (includes entire structure, base and frame) | 140 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 | Freeway frontage. | — | §8.01.F(1)-(4) (Monument Sign) Sign Zone Requirements (Zone A Freeway) |
| Projecting Sign | Cannot extend vertically beyond second-story window sill. | 25 sq ft (buildings with ≤10 ft setback); add 1 sq ft per additional 1 ft of setback, max 50 sq ft | Projection ≤4 ft; min 6 in separation from wall | — | Not specified; general spacing limit applies. | Mounted to building facade; min ground clearance 8 ft; 90° to wall; bracket mount (no support chains). | — | §8.01.H(1)-(4) |
| Wall Sign | Top of first story wall or sill of second-level windows | 150 sq ft (cap) | — | — | 1 per street frontage with ingress/egress; plus secondary frontage sign for corner tenants (≤50% of primary). | Front, rear, or side wall; multistory buildings limited to sign band, store window, awning, first story panel, or between first floor and second-story windowsill (or within first 4 ft of second-story level if no second-story windows). | — | §8.01.J(1)-(5) |

### Zone C: Monroe Street, Orchard East, Elm Avenue, Orchard East, Battlefield/Heritage Corridor and Waterfront District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awnings/Attached Canopies/Marquees | Height of wall to which attached | 10% of first story wall (max 100 sq ft) | — | Street curb line setback ≥3 ft (for projection); general sign setbacks §7.03 apply for freestanding elements. | — | On sides of building with public entryway or pedestrian sidewalk immediately adjacent (for back-lit). | — | §8.01.A(1)-(5) (Awning/Canopy/Marquee) Sign Zone Requirements |
| Banners & Feather Flags | — | — | — | — | Max 1 per building frontage; multi-tenant: 1 per tenant. | Must not create hazardous situation; one per building frontage; each frontage’s banner must face that frontage. | — | §8.01.B(1)-(6) |
| Electronic Message Center Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage with ingress/egress | As part of permitted sign types, subject to EMC standards. | — | §8.01.D(1)-(7) (Zone C permitted) |
| Monument Sign | 8–10 ft (includes base and frame) | 80 sq ft | — | General front yard 10 ft from ROW unless otherwise approved (§7.03). | 1 per street frontage with ingress/egress | Freestanding monument along frontage. | — | §8.01.F(1)-(4) Sign Zone Requirements (Zone C) |
| Projecting Sign | Not beyond second-story windowsill. | 25 sq ft (≤10 ft setback); add 1 sq ft per additional 1 ft of setback; max 50 sq ft | Projection ≤4 ft; min 6 in from wall | — | 1 per street frontage with ingress/egress | Mounted to building; clearance ≥8 ft; 90° to wall; bracket-mounted. | — | §8.01.H(1)-(4) and Sign Zone Requirements (Zone C) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 12 sq ft | 2 ft | Min 10 ft from nearest other sandwich board. | 1 | On sidewalk within pedestrian ROW in front of business. | — | §8.01.I(1)-(3) and Sign Zone Requirements (Zone C) |
| Wall Sign | Top of first story wall or sill of second-level windows | 100 sq ft (cap) | — | — | 1 per street frontage with ingress/egress; plus secondary frontage sign (≤50% of primary) for corner tenants. | Front/rear/side wall; multistory restrictions per §8.01.J(3). | — | §8.01.J(1)-(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | Residential: 8 sq ft per sign; Commercial/Industrial/Mixed-Use/Special District: 32 sq ft per sign | — | Must not encroach visibility triangle (§7.04.C). | Max 8 per lot | Confined within private property; not within public ROW; must not encroach visibility triangle. | — | Ordinance 24-004 §2 (amending §3.02.1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | Nonresidential real estate signs ≤8 ft above grade | Residential: 6 sq ft; Nonresidential: 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises; not in public ROW. | — | §3.02.2(a)(i)-(v) |
| Open House Sign (Temporary, Ground/Post Type) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per intersection (to first major street) | May be placed in public street ROW if all conditions met; 1 per intersection out to first major street. | — | §3.02.2(a)(vi)(a)-(e) as amended by Ordinance 24-004 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Sign (Exempt) | 3 ft (if freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Mounted to building or within 5 ft of building if freestanding. | — | Ordinance 24-004 §1 (amending §3.01.1(1)) |
| Directional Sign (On-Premises, Exempt) | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per driveway; 2 for two one-way drives; additional internal signs allowed (outside front yard) | At entries/exits; may identify businesses and provide parking/driving info. | — | §3.01(3) |
| Menu Board (Exempt) | — | 16 sq ft each (up to 2) | — | — | Up to 2 | Not in front yard; at approved drive-through restaurant. | — | §3.01(12) |
| Flags (Exempt, General) | Flagpoles/posts: not to exceed max allowable building height of zoning district | — | — | — | Max 4 flags per property | From building fronts: shall not extend >3 ft into walking surface; min 8 ft clearance over walking surface; may not extend beyond property line >8 ft and must be anchored. Poles/posts separate from building allowed within height limit. | — | §3.01(4)(a)-(f) |
| Pole Sign (By CPC approval only) | Min 8 ft clearance to bottom of sign; total height as approved but not exceeding building height and minimum necessary for visibility | Changeable copy area ≤40% (≤50% if matching background color) | — | General setbacks §7.03 apply unless waived in CBD. | 1 per pole; overall number by CPC determination | Only when CPC finds monument sign would block vision or wall sign cannot be legally established on a street-facing side. | — | §8.01.G(1)-(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Monroe

- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Animated, flashing, or moving signs are prohibited.
- Balloons, pennants, inflatables, and other permanent objects are prohibited (may be permitted temporarily in non-commercial instances).
- Exterior string or rope lights used in connection with commercial purposes are prohibited, except holiday decorations during the specified holiday period and overhead string lights for outdoor seating areas.
- Illegal signs are prohibited (unlawfully installed/maintained or advertising illegal activities).
- Illegally lit signs are prohibited, including excessive lighting; moving or blinking lights; rotating searchlights or similar devices.
- Illegally located signs are prohibited, including: signs placed in or projecting into any public street right-of-way (except expressly permitted cases), signs located in clear vision areas, logos on radio/television/cellular/water towers (except the name of the municipality), and signs attached to utility poles, trees, fences, rocks, or attached in an unauthorized manner to walls or other signs.
- Signs that imitate or could be confused with emergency vehicle lighting or official traffic signs/signals, or that contain words such as stop, caution, warning, etc., are prohibited.
- Mural signs are prohibited, except one per property not exceeding 9 square feet.
- Signs that obstruct free access or egress from any building, including fire escapes, required exit ways, windows or door openings, or that prevent firefighter roof access, are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except as otherwise provided in the ordinance and when compliant with the State Highway Act.
- Portable or nonstructural signs are prohibited except as allowed under other sections of the ordinance.
- Roof signs are prohibited except under the standards provided in Section 8.
- Street furniture/bench signs are prohibited (except signage on table umbrellas used for outdoor café-style dining).
- Unsafe signs are prohibited (structurally unsafe, hazardous due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment, not kept in good repair, or capable of causing electrical shock).
- Vehicular signs are prohibited when the vehicle is used primarily for the purpose of the advertising display on the premises.
- No sign shall be located within, project into, or overhang a public right-of-way, except as otherwise permitted in the ordinance.
- No sign or other structure higher than three feet is allowed within the clear vision sight triangle at intersections and applicable driveways/alleys.
- Sign illumination that exceeds 0.5 foot-candle at the property line is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Monroe

- Bed-and-breakfast signs: One sign up to 6 square feet; must be building-mounted or within 5 feet of the building if freestanding; freestanding sign max 3 feet high.
- Business affiliation signs: Up to 3 square feet total per business (e.g., credit cards, open/closed), attached to a permitted sign, exterior wall, building entrance, or window.
- Directional signs: One per driveway (or two for two one-way drives), additional on-site circulation signs allowed (not in front yard); max 4 feet high and 4 square feet; internal illumination only; may identify businesses and provide parking/driving info.
- Flags: Maximum of four per property; only one of each type (state, national, corporate, etc.); minimum 8-foot clearance over walking surfaces; may not extend beyond property line more than 8 feet; pole-mounted flags not to exceed maximum building height of the zoning district; must be maintained and removed if tattered or damaged; government/park properties exempt from the count.
- Gas station pump island signs: Identifying self-serve or full-serve; no business identification/advertising; max two per pump island; max 4 square feet each.
- Historical markers: Plaques or signs describing historic designation and/or narrative.
- Historical signs incorporated into building construction: Not counted toward total permissible sign area.
- Home occupation signs: One sign per property up to 4 square feet; must be building-mounted (no freestanding signage).
- Integral signs: Names/dates/monumental citations/commemorative tablets carved into stone, concrete, or similar materials, or made of bronze/aluminum/other noncombustible material as an integral part of the structure.
- Menu boards: Up to two signs per approved drive-through, each no greater than 16 square feet; not in front yard.
- Miscellaneous signs: On vending machines, gas pumps, and ice containers indicating contents or on-premises sales; max 3 square feet per device.
- Noncommercial signs: Restroom locations, smoking restrictions, building entrance restrictions; max 2 square feet.
- Owner/Tenant signs: Address or occupant name up to 2 square feet mounted on the wall of a commercial building.
- Parking lot signs: Indicating parking restrictions; max 6 feet high; max 9 square feet.
- Public signs: Noncommercial signs erected by or on the order of a public officer/Zoning Administrator in the performance of public duty (directional, regulatory, warning, informational).
- Regulatory, directional, and street signs: Erected by a public agency in compliance with the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Street address signs: Street numbers up to 2 square feet on dwelling or mailbox.
- Temporary signs: Permitted without a permit when confined within private property, when not encroaching into the visibility triangle at street intersections, and in accordance with Section 3.02 standards (size, time, number, and location limits).
- Warning signs: No trespassing or warnings of electrical currents or animals; max 6 square feet.
- Window signs: Exempt if they occupy no more than 25% of window space and do not interfere with storefront window transparency requirements.
- Open house signs: Exempt and may be placed in the public street right-of-way subject to limits (one per intersection out to the first major street; max 4 square feet; same-day removal and no more than two days per week; max 3 feet high; ground or post type).
- Holiday or special event decorations: Allowed when strung no more than 45 days before the holiday and removed within 30 days after the holiday.
- Community special event signs: Institutional or nonprofit signs approved by the City Council for special events.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require a permit unless specifically exempt; permit application requirements are listed in Section 4.02.
- Electronic changeable message signs are subject to site plan review and approval per Section 6.15 Site Plan Approval of the City of Monroe Zoning Code.
- Billboards are a special use in I-1 or I-2 zoning and require review and approval of a site plan by the Citizens Planning Commission; special conditions may be imposed.
- Pole signs may be permitted only upon Citizens Planning Commission approval and findings that a monument sign would block drivers’ vision or a wall sign cannot be legally established on a side facing a street; CPC may permit only the minimum height necessary.
- The Zoning Board of Appeals serves as the Sign Board of Appeals; hearings for appeals are per the Zoning Code; the ZBA may reduce front yard setback requirements by up to four feet where existing conditions make compliance difficult or where sight distance would be improved.
- Signs within a Historic District must submit required permits and are reviewed by an enforcement official; they may also be reviewed by the Historic District Commission or Historic Preservation at the discretion of the Economic and Community Development Director.
- Banners and feather flags require permits; installations without a permit are subject to fines set by City Council.

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

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