# Sign Regulations in New Buffalo, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Buffalo, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/new-buffalo
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30892898#30892898)

## At a glance

New Buffalo, Michigan regulates 25 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Residential Subdivision Signs in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and Residential PUD Districts zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 40 sq ft, with a 10 ft from street ROW setback (Sec. Section 16-9 R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and Residential PUD Districts Table). Most commercial signs in New Buffalo require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and Residential PUD Districts | 5 | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| CBD, Central Business District | 4 | 4 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| GCD, WM and Commercial PUD Districts | 5 | 25 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| C-4 | 1 | — | — | — |
| I-1 and Industrial PUD Districts | 3 | 4 ft | 100 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Highway Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Placed in, upon or over public right-of-way, alley, or other City property. | — | Section 16-3A, Section 16-4A |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Placed in, upon or over public right-of-way, alley, or other City property. | — | Section 16-3A, Section 16-4A |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | Extends more than 12 inches but not more than 48 inches from wall | — | — | May be placed in, upon or over public right-of-way, provided it otherwise conforms to the ordinance. | — | Section 16-3A, Section 16-9 Projecting Sign, Awning Sign, or Marquee Sign |
| Utility Pole Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Utility pole within public right-of-way or City property (by City Manager authorization only) | — | Section 16-3B, Section 16-4N |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft min from any lot line and edge of driving lane | — | At least 5 ft from any lot line and edge of any driving lane | — | Section 16-3L |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from public street property line | 1 per lot/parcel | — | — | Section 16-3N |
| Special Event Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from side and rear lot lines; district front setback applies | — | On or off lot hosting event. Setback: min 15 ft from side and rear lot lines; front setback as required per district. | — | Section 16-3K |
| Construction Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way line | — | Not closer than 10 ft to street right-of-way line | — | Section 16-3J |

### R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and Residential PUD Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Subdivision Sign | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street ROW | 1 per entrance, max 2 per development | Min 10 ft from street right-of-way line. | — | Section 16-9 R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and Residential PUD Districts Table |
| Institutional Bulletin Board | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from street ROW | 1 per lot/parcel | Min 15 ft from street right-of-way line. | — | Section 16-9 R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and Residential PUD Districts Table |
| Home Occupation Sign | 6 ft if freestanding | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel | Mounted flat against wall and non-illuminated or freestanding in front yard. | — | Section 16-9 R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and Residential PUD Districts Table |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses) - Public/Quasi-Public | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Flat against wall facing street | — | Section 16-9 R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and Residential PUD Districts Table |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses) - Private Offices | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Flat against wall facing street | — | Section 16-9 R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and Residential PUD Districts Table |

### GCD, WM and Commercial PUD Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 4 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street ROW | 1 per street frontage (max 2 if conditions met) | Min 10 ft from street right-of-way line | — | Section 16-9 GCD/WM Table; Section 16-7B |
| Freestanding Sign (GCD, WM, Commercial PUD) | 25 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street ROW | 1 per street frontage (max 2 if conditions met) | Min 10 ft from street right-of-way line | — | Section 16-9 GCD/WM Table; Section 16-7B |
| Business Center Sign | 25 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street ROW | 1 per street frontage, max 2 per business center | Min 10 ft from street right-of-way line | — | Section 16-9 GCD/WM Table; Section 16-7B |
| Wall Sign (Individual Businesses) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Flat against wall facing street | — | Section 16-9 GCD/WM Table; Section 16-7B |
| Billboard (C-4 only as special exception) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Section 16-9 GCD/WM Table |

## Prohibited signs in New Buffalo

- No sign shall be placed in, upon or over any public right-of-way, alley, or other City property, except for highway signs, government signs, and conforming projecting signs.
- No utility pole sign shall be placed on a utility pole located within a public right-of-way or on City property unless specifically designed for such purpose and authorized by the City Manager.
- No sign shall be erected where it may, by reason of its position, shape, color, or other characteristic, interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or constitute a nuisance.
- No commercial vehicle, which is intended to act as a sign, shall be parked in any area abutting the street, unless no other parking area is available.
- No sign shall contain any moving or animated parts, nor have the appearance of having any moving or animated parts.
- No wall sign shall extend beyond the edge of the wall or above the roof line of the building to which it is affixed.
- All signs shall pertain only to the business or activity conducted on the premises, except billboards located adjacent to state or interstate highways, political signs, and special event signs.
- No sign shall employ any flashing, moving, oscillating, blinking, or variable intensity light, except for variable time-temperature signs.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited, except for non-commercial signs, special event signs, and billboards.
- Any sign, including window signs, with flashing, moving, or oscillating lights is prohibited, excluding time and temperature signs.
- Balloons, balloon signs, strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, non-special event banners, or flags (except exempted ones) are prohibited.
- All signs not specifically allowed under this article (unless exempted) are prohibited.
- No person shall construct or place any sign or awning across or supported on any sidewalk, street, avenue, alley, public thoroughfare, or right-of-way, or on any post in such locations.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Buffalo

- Government signs.
- Placards.
- Temporary signs of six square feet in size or less.
- Window signs, provided the total area of all signs within one foot of the window does not obscure more than 50% of the window area.
- Political signs.
- Historical markers.
- Memorial signs or tablets.
- Murals.
- Signs not visible from any street.
- Signs for essential services.
- Signs with address, owner, or occupant name, of up to one square foot in area attached to a mailbox, light fixture, or exterior wall.
- Flags or insignia of any nation, state, local government, community organization, or educational institution; and flags used to notify the public that an establishment is open.
- Special event banners.
- Utility pole signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no explicit mention of a master sign plan, sign plan requirement, or variance meeting related to general sign regulations in the provided ordinance text.

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

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