# Sign Regulations in Montrose Charter Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Montrose Charter Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/montrose-charter-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Montrose Charter Township, Michigan regulates 29 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (General)s in the Commercial District, Industrial District zoning district are capped at Up to 25 ft (see location-dependent rules) tall and 75 sq ft, with a At least 25 ft from any adjoining non-residential district; at least 49 ft from any adjoining residential district. setback (Sec. § 153.299(E)). Most commercial signs in Montrose Charter Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District, Agricultural District | 9 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft (aggregate) | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District | 4 | Up to 25 ft (see location-dependent rules) | 99 sq ft (75 + 24) maximum | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District, Agricultural District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Sign or Nameplate Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises; nameplate sign may be located anywhere in the front yard. | — | § 153.298(A), (E) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises | — | § 153.298(B) |
| Church Identification and Activity Sign | — | 32 sq ft (aggregate) | — | — | Aggregate area limit of 32 sq ft applies to all such signs | On church premises | — | § 153.298(C) |
| Subdivision Sale Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision | On site of subdivision | — | § 153.298(D) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign or Wall Sign (Farm Product Sales) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises where farm products are grown | — | § 153.298(F) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign (Primary Entrance) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per primary entrance | Primary entrance of subdivision | — | § 153.298(G) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign (Secondary Entrance) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per secondary entrance | Secondary entrance of subdivision | — | § 153.298(G) |
| Home Occupation Identification Sign (Ground Mounted) | — | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft minimum from front right-of-way (ground-mounted only) | 1 per premises | Front yard area, ground-mounted | — | § 153.298(H) |

### Commercial District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign, Window Sign, Canopy Sign (Aggregate) | 12 ft | Wall: 15% of area of wall; Canopy: 50% of surface of canopy; Total: 150 sq ft (aggregate). | 60% of the width of the wall | — | Aggregate area restrictions; number not specified. | Exterior wall areas, windows, and/or canopies. | — | § 153.299(D), § 153.297(C) |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | Up to 25 ft (see location-dependent rules) | 75 sq ft | — | Varies: At least 25 ft from any adjoining non-residential district; at least 49 ft from any adjoining residential district. | 1 per business location or shopping center complex | On premises of business location or shopping center complex; subject to clear vision zone and setback requirements. | — | § 153.299(E) |
| Freestanding Sign (with Changeable/Animated Display) | Up to 25 ft | 99 sq ft (75 + 24) maximum | — | 25 ft from adjoining non-residential; 49 ft from adjoining residential. | 1 per qualifying site | On premises with minimum 100 ft frontage. | — | § 153.299(E)(3) |
| Petroleum Product Dispenser Sign | — | 4 sq ft (each pump) | — | — | 4 sq ft per pump | On dispensing pumps | — | § 153.299(F) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Highway Sign (Governmental) | — | — | — | — | — | As erected by public agency | — | § 153.300(A) |
| Governmental Use Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Parks, parking lots, recreational areas, governmental buildings | — | § 153.300(B) |
| Directional Sign (Private Traffic Direction) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Drives or off-street parking areas. | — | § 153.300(C) |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property (owner's permission required) | — | § 153.300(H) |
| Political Campaign Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property (owner's permission required) | — | § 153.300(I) |
| Construction Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On site under construction (includes construction shed or trailer) | — | § 153.300(K) |
| Portable Sign, Pennant, Spinner, Streamer (Temporary Events) | 10 ft | 15 sq ft (per side) | — | Minimum 10 ft from street ROW | Not specified | On private property, not within ROW | — | § 153.300(L) |
| Flag or Banner | — | — | — | — | 10 per lot maximum (unless more approved) | On a zoning lot | — | § 153.300(N) |

## Prohibited signs in Montrose Charter Township

- Permanent inflatable signs and beacons.
- Signs that incorporate, in any manner or are illuminated by, any flashing or moving lights other than for the conveyance of noncommercial information requiring periodic change, such as temperature or stock averages, unless approval has been granted for the sign as allowed in § 153.299.
- Permanent exterior banners, pennants, spinners and streamers, other than a sign as permitted by § 153.300.
- Permanent signs painted directly on structures, or signs painted on, attached, or affixed to any tree, rock, or similar organic or inorganic natural matter or feature.
- Exterior string lights used in connection with a commercial premise, other than holiday decorations.
- Any sign that is structurally or electrically unsafe.
- Any business sign or sign structure, now or hereafter existing, that no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold.
- Any sign on a trailer or unlicensed motor vehicle parked in front of a business for the purpose of advertising a business, product or service of a business located on the premises where the vehicle or trailer is parked.
- Any sign structure or frame no longer containing a sign.
- Marquee and roof signs.
- Off-site and billboard signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Montrose Charter Township

- Highway signs erected by the United States government, State of Michigan, Genesee County, or Charter Township of Montrose.
- Governmental use signs erected by governmental agencies to designate hours of activity or conditions of use for parks, parking lots, recreational areas, other public space, or for governmental buildings.
- Directional signs in conjunction with drives or off-street parking areas, provided any such sign does not exceed 4 square feet in area, is limited to traffic control functions, and does not obstruct traffic vision.
- Historic markers or signs designating sites recognized by federal, state, or local historical commissions and/or organizations, as centennial farms, historic sites, or historical landmarks.
- Placards posted to control or prohibit hunting and/or trespassing within the township.
- Essential service signs denoting utility lines, railroad lines, hazards, and precautions.
- Memorial signs or tablets that are either cut into the face of a masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material, when located flat on the face of a building.
- Temporary signs, not exceeding 4 square feet, may be placed for no more than 2 weeks, advertising noncommercial rummage sales, garage sales, or other similar used merchandise sales, as long as the sign is placed on private property with the owner's permission.
- Political signs promoting political parties, candidates or millage issues, not exceeding 32 square feet, may be placed on private property with the owner’s permission for no more than 45 days prior to an election, with such signs being removed within 3 days after the completion of the election.
- Special decorative displays or signs used for holidays, public demonstrations or promotion of civic welfare or charitable purposes, when authorized by the Planning Commission.
- Construction signs showing names of building contractors, professional firms, and lending institutions on sites under construction, not to exceed 24 square feet in area, and removed prior to final approval or occupancy permit.
- Portable signs, pennants, spinners and streamers, for a period of not more than 30 days for a total of 3 special events per year, under certain conditions.
- Temporary signs (up no more than 30 days) announcing a community event.
- Flags and banners, up to a maximum of 10 on a zoning lot (requests for more require Planning Commission approval).
- Building markers.
- Incidental signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Prior to the erection or structural alteration of a sign, a building/zoning compliance permit shall be secured from the administrative/building official.
- A scale drawing of the outside dimensions of the sign, or the total area encompassed by a line around all lettering or symbols, shall be presented to the administrative official.
- Evidence must be provided that the sign will be securely attached and will not present a hazard.
- For freestanding signs, a site development plan of the intended location of the sign and a scale drawing of the total sign structure shall be presented to the administrative official.
- Signs, including those projecting into or overhanging a public right-of-way, require written permission from the appropriate jurisdiction and must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission.
- Freestanding signs that include animation or changeable copy in commercial and industrial districts must be reviewed and approved by both the Building Official and the Planning Commission.

## Full detail

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

---

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