# Sign Regulations in Montrose, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Montrose, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/montrose
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Montrose/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH52SI)

## At a glance

Montrose, Michigan regulates 29 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Business District zoning district are capped at 28 feet tall and 100 square feet, with a Minimum of 5 feet from adjacent property, 4 feet outside of the right-of-way, minimum of 12 inches from the sidewalk setback (Sec. Sec. 52-18. General Business District—Permitted Signs). Most commercial signs in Montrose require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Business District | 7 | 48 inches (4 feet) | 200 square feet | — |
| IND - Industrial District | 5 | 8 feet | 60 square feet | — |
| SF-1, SF-2, MFR, MHP Zoning Districts | 5 | 6 feet | 28 square feet | — |
| Central Business District | 8 | 48 inches | 24 square feet per storefront (no sign or combination of signs may exceed 24 square feet per storefront) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | — | Permit required if over 20 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 28 feet | 100 square feet | — | Minimum of 5 feet from adjacent property, 4 feet outside of the right-of-way, minimum of 12 inches from the sidewalk | 1 per 300 feet of lineal road frontage | Minimum of 5 feet from adjacent property, 4 feet outside of the right-of-way, minimum of 12 inches from the sidewalk | — | Sec. 52-18. General Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Business Center Sign | 28 feet | 100 square feet | — | Minimum of 5 feet from adjacent property, 4 feet outside of right-of-way, minimum 12 inches from sidewalk | 1 per 300 feet of lineal road frontage | Minimum of 5 feet from adjacent property, 4 feet outside of right-of-way, minimum 12 inches from sidewalk | — | Sec. 52-18. General Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 100 square feet | — | Minimum of 5 feet from adjacent property, 4 feet outside of right-of-way, minimum 12 inches from sidewalk | 1 per 300 feet of lineal road frontage | Minimum of 5 feet from adjacent property, 4 feet outside of right-of-way, minimum 12 inches from sidewalk | — | Sec. 52-18. General Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per tenant; a secondary sign allowed if aggregate signage does not exceed 8% of main face | On wall of the building facing the street | — | Sec. 52-18. General Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | Minimum of 5 feet from adjacent property, 4 feet outside of right-of-way | 1 per lot or parcel; 1 additional during construction | Minimum of 5 feet from adjacent property, 4 feet outside of right-of-way | — | Sec. 52-18. General Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Sidewalk Sign | 48 inches (4 feet) | — | 24 inches (2 feet) | Minimum of 12 inches from the sidewalk | 1 per storefront or per tenant | Minimum of 12 inches from the sidewalk | — | Sec. 52-5(m), Sec. 52-18. General Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Billboard | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — | Minimum 30 feet from all property lines; minimum 1,000 feet from other billboards; minimum 200 feet from property line if abutting residential | — | Minimum of 30 feet from any property line; minimum 1,000 feet from other billboards on same street; not within 200 feet from property line of abutting residential district | — | Sec. 52-10(2) |

### SF-1, SF-2, MFR, MHP Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | Minimum of 8 feet outside of right-of-way | 1 per major entrance | Minimum of 8 feet outside of right-of-way | — | Sec. 52-18. SF-1, SF-2, MFR, MHP Zoning Districts—Permitted Signs |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | Minimum of 8 feet outside of right-of-way | 1 per major entrance | Minimum of 8 feet outside of right-of-way | — | Sec. 52-18. SF-1, SF-2, MFR, MHP Zoning Districts—Permitted Signs |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupations) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot parcel | On wall of building facing street | — | Sec. 52-18. SF-1, SF-2, MFR, MHP Zoning Districts—Permitted Signs |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses) | — | 28 square feet | — | — | 1 per street front | On wall of building facing street | — | Sec. 52-18. SF-1, SF-2, MFR, MHP Zoning Districts—Permitted Signs |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet | — | Minimum of 8 feet outside of right-of-way | 1 per issue or candidate | Minimum of 8 feet outside of right-of-way | — | Sec. 52-18. SF-1, SF-2, MFR, MHP Zoning Districts—Permitted Signs |

### Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner Sign | — | 24 square feet per storefront (no sign or combination of signs may exceed 24 square feet per storefront) | — | — | 1 per business, plus 1 secondary sign facing a parking area, side street, or alley | On wall of building facing street, alley or parking area | — | Sec. 52-18. Central Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 square feet per storefront (no sign or combination of signs may exceed 24 square feet per storefront) | — | — | 1 per business, plus 1 secondary sign facing a parking area, side street, or alley | On wall of building facing street, alley or parking area | — | Sec. 52-18. Central Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | Minimum of 8 feet outside of right-of-way | Only one per lot or parcel | Minimum of 8 feet outside of right-of-way | — | Sec. 52-18. Central Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Freestanding Sign | 21 feet | 24 square feet | — | Minimum of 8 feet outside of right-of-way | Only one per lot or parcel | Minimum of 8 feet outside of right-of-way | — | Sec. 52-18. Central Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Marquee Sign | — | No greater than 24 square feet per storefront or 40% of marquee face | — | — | 1 per business | On face of marquee | — | Sec. 52-18. Central Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Suspended Sign | — | No greater than 24 square feet per storefront | — | — | 1 per business | Suspended from plane | — | Sec. 52-18. Central Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Awning Sign | — | No greater than 24 square feet per awning face | — | — | 1 per business | On face of awning | — | Sec. 52-18. Central Business District—Permitted Signs |
| Sandwich Board Sign / A-Frame / Menu Sign | 48 inches | — | 24 inches | Minimum of 24 inches from curb on sidewalk | 1 per storefront or per tenant | Minimum of 24 inches from the curb, on sidewalk, only during business hours | — | Sec. 52-5(m) |

## Prohibited signs in Montrose

- No person shall erect, alter, place, or replace any sign or commercial message without first obtaining a sign permit, unless expressly exempt elsewhere in this chapter.
- Signs shall be maintained free of peeling paint or paper, fading, staining, rust, or other condition, which impairs legibility, safety or security.
- Sign supports, braces, guys and anchors shall be maintained so as not to cause a hazard and must be installed per the most recently adopted building construction code.
- No sign shall be placed in, upon, or over any public right-of-way, alley, or other public place, unless otherwise permitted.
- No light pole, utility pole, or other supporting member shall be used for the placement of any sign unless specifically designed and approved for such use.
- No sign shall be placed where it might, due to its position, shape, color, or other characteristic interfere with, or obstruct the view of, or be confused with a traffic signal, sign, or device.
- No wall sign shall extend beyond the edge of the wall to which it is affixed or beyond the roof line.
- No sign shall be erected over the roof line.
- Removal of city owned trees is prohibited for construction of, or visibility to, any sign. Any tree trimming to gain visibility for advertisement must be approved by the city.
- No signs shall be placed on any city owned trees.
- Signs must be anchored in a safe and secure manner. The anchoring of signs by tying or attaching weighted objects (such as cinder blocks or tires) is prohibited.
- A sign shall not be displayed if it is torn, bent, faded, not upright, unreadable, or otherwise unsightly.
- Temporary signs held by a person shall not be displayed in the road right-of-way and shall not hamper the visibility of a driver on or off the site.
- All signs shall be set back at least eight feet from the property line in all zoning districts, unless provided for elsewhere in this chapter.
- Billboards are prohibited in all districts except the general business district.
- Temporary signs shall only be internally illuminated.

## Signs exempt from permit in Montrose

- Governmental signs are exempt from permit requirements but must conform with all other provisions of this chapter.
- Name plates (two feet square or less) are exempt from permit requirements but must conform with all other provisions of this chapter.
- Interior building signs, not visible from the exterior, are exempt from permit requirements but must conform with all other provisions of this chapter.
- Directional signs (six square feet or less) are exempt from permit requirements but must conform with all other provisions of this chapter.
- Window signs are exempt from permit requirements but must conform with all other provisions of this chapter.
- Historical markers are exempt from permit requirements but must conform with all other provisions of this chapter.
- Memorial signs or tablets are exempt from permit requirements but must conform with all other provisions of this chapter.
- Murals are exempt from permit requirements but must conform with all other provisions of this chapter.
- Signs for essential services are exempt from permit requirements but must conform with all other provisions of this chapter.
- Flags of any nation, state, city, not for profit organization, educational institution, or company emblems providing no other advertisement is present, are exempt from permit requirements but must conform with all other provisions of this chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must include a rendering of the sign, dimensions, site location, and any other criteria required by the building inspector and zoning administrator.
- Permit applications for billboards must be submitted to the building department along with a landscaping plan.
- Appeals and variances relating to placement, area, height, or construction of a sign may be made to the zoning board of appeals, which may grant a variance following a public hearing based on stated criteria.

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

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