# Sign Regulations in New Buffalo Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Buffalo Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/new-buffalo-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/39187198#39187198)

## At a glance

New Buffalo Township, Michigan regulates 20 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Illuminated)s in the AG-R zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 10 feet from ROW setback (Sec. §455-4.4F(2); Freestanding Sign Table). Most commercial signs in New Buffalo Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 90% of valance area | — |
| AG-R | 6 | 14 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| R-1 | 2 | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — |
| R-1: Institutional Uses | 4 | 14 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| R-2 | 3 | 14 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| MR (Developments) | 6 | 14 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| MR (Individual Lots) | 3 | 14 ft | 8 sq ft | — |
| C-1, C-2 | 8 | 14 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| UPV, UPC | 12 | 16 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| I | 5 | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts | 1 | — | 25% of each window | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### AG-R

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Illuminated) | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 feet from ROW | 1 per parcel | On-premises, 10 feet setback from ROW | — | §455-4.4F(2); Freestanding Sign Table |
| Freestanding Sign (Unilluminated) | 12 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 10 feet from ROW | 1 per parcel | On-premises, 10 feet setback from ROW | — | §455-4.4F(2); Freestanding Sign Table |
| Wall Sign | 12 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Building wall | — | §455-4.4G(2); Wall Sign Regulations Table |
| Environmentally Activated Signs | 14 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 3 per parcel | On-premises | — | §455-4.4M(2); Environmentally Activated Signs Table |
| Small Temporary Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §455-4.4N; Small Temporary Signs Table |
| Large Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | No closer to side lot line than principal building | — | On-premises | — | §455-4.4O(2); Large Temporary Signs Table |

### C-1, C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Illuminated) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 feet from ROW | 1 per parcel | Minimum 5 feet setback from ROW | — | §455-4.4F(2); Freestanding Sign Table |
| Freestanding Sign (Unilluminated) | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 feet from ROW | 1 per parcel | Minimum 5 feet setback from ROW | — | §455-4.4F(2); Freestanding Sign Table |
| Wall Sign | 14 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Building wall | — | §455-4.4G(2); Wall Sign Regulations Table |
| Projecting Sign | 14 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | First floor; may encroach ROW with approval | — | §455-4.4J(2); Projecting Sign Regulations Table |
| Environmentally Activated Signs | 14 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 3 per parcel | — | — | §455-4.4M(2); Environmentally Activated Signs Table |
| Small Temporary Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | May be in ROW (must be removed at close of business) | — | §455-4.4N; Small Temporary Signs Table |
| Large Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §455-4.4O(2); Large Temporary Signs Table |
| Electronic Display Sign (Freestanding Only) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft (counts toward allowable freestanding signage) | — | — | 1 per parcel | Freestanding sign location | — | §455-4.4L(2); Electronic Display Sign Regulations Table |

### UPV, UPC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Illuminated) | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 feet from ROW | 1 per parcel | Minimum 5 feet setback from ROW | — | §455-4.4F(2); Freestanding Sign Table |
| Freestanding Sign (Unilluminated) | 5 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 feet from ROW | 1 per parcel | Minimum 5 feet setback from ROW | — | §455-4.4F(2); Freestanding Sign Table |
| Wall Sign | 14 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | Building wall | — | §455-4.4G(2); Wall Sign Regulations Table |
| Projecting Sign | 10 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | First floor; may encroach ROW with approval | — | §455-4.4J(2); Projecting Sign Regulations Table |
| Temporary Sign (Off-premises commercial advertising, No Permit) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Outside ROW only | — | §455-4.4P; Temporary Signs in Union Pier Table |
| Temporary Sign (Off-premises commercial advertising, Permit) | 3 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Outside ROW only | — | §455-4.4P; Temporary Signs in Union Pier Table |
| Banner | 16 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 (or 2 for corner lots) | Corner lots: 1 facing each street may be permitted | — | §455-4.4P; Temporary Signs in Union Pier Table |
| Sandwich Board | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 | Outdoor, 3 ft clear of sidewalk | — | §455-4.4P; Temporary Signs in Union Pier Table |

## Prohibited signs in New Buffalo Township

- No sign shall be placed in the right-of-way except permitted awning, canopy, marquee, and temporary signs with approval by the agency managing the right-of-way.
- No sign above three feet in height shall be placed in any required clear vision area.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained which simulates or imitates in size, color, lettering, or design any traffic sign or signal or other word phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, confuse, or create a visual impediment or safety hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- No sign shall include reflective materials.
- No sign shall be illuminated by other than electrical means or devices, and wiring shall be installed underground in accordance with the National Electrical Code.
- No sign or banner shall be placed across any public right-of-way except by permission of the Township and the applicable road agency.
- Signs incorporating any manner of flashing, strobe, or moving lights, except for approved electronic display signs, are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited, including mechanically activated and flashing animated signs, except for permitted electronic message signs as defined.
- Signs affixed to benches, trees, or utility poles are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Pole- or pylon-mounted signs are prohibited, except when associated with the installation of an approved billboard sign.
- Portable and vehicle signs parked primarily for the purpose of attracting attention to the message are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Buffalo Township

- Address signs bearing only the property numbers, post box numbers, name of occupants, or other identification of the premises, limited to one per building entrance and two square feet of area, are exempt from permit.
- Historical signs designated by the state or federal government, limited to 10 square feet per parcel, are exempt from permit.
- Government signs erected on behalf or pursuant to the authorization of a government body, including street signs, legal notices, informational signs, and regulatory signs, are exempt from permit.
- The standards of this section do not apply to any sign not visible from a public right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Prior to the erection or structural alteration of a sign, a land use permit shall be secured from the Zoning Administrator. Where several signs are proposed for the same use, all such signs may be included in a single permit application.
- Application for a land use permit to erect, alter, or move a sign shall include a plot plan with dimensions of the sign, location on the lot, illumination source, method of construction, attachment to the building or placement in the ground, and other information as required to establish compliance. There is no explicit mention of a 'master sign plan' or required variance meeting in this section.
- Addition of an electronic display sign into an existing conforming sign requires a zoning permit; prohibited if the sign is already nonconforming.

## 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 11 zoning districts in New Buffalo Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=New+Buffalo+Township+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-new-buffalo-township

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