# Sign Regulations in Niles Charter Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Niles Charter Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/niles-charter-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-03
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cms6.revize.com/revize/nileschartertownship/Niles%20Twp%20Zoning%20Ordinance%20as%20Amended%2005.23%20rev_01.24.2023.pdf#page=211)

## At a glance

Niles Charter Township, Michigan regulates 34 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Billboard (GB and HB Districts Only)s in the LB Local Business District, GB General Business District, HB Highway Business District zoning district are capped at 40 ft tall, 400 sq ft, and Horizontal dimension maximum 42 ft; vertical dimension maximum 12 ft wide, with a Minimum setback equal to the required setback distance for the district; minimum separation of 1,000 ft from any other billboard setback (Sec. §25.09(B) “Billboard (within the GB and HB Districts only)”). Most commercial signs in Niles Charter Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 19 | 8 ft | Not more than 50% of window area within 1 ft of glass | — |
| AP Agricultural Preservation District, RP Rural Preservation District, R-1A Low Density Single Family District, R-1B Medium Density Residential District, R-2 High Density Residential District, R-3 Manufactured Housing Community District | 5 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| OS Office Service District | 2 | 4 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| LB Local Business District, GB General Business District, HB Highway Business District | 6 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| I Industrial District | 3 | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address and Name Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to a mailbox, light fixture, or exterior wall | — | §25.03(F) |
| Real Estate For Sale or Lease Sign (Residential Property) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale or lease | — | §25.03(J) |
| Real Estate For Sale or Lease Sign (Commercial or Industrial Property) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale or lease | — | §25.03(J) |
| Construction Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | On the site where work is scheduled to begin | — | §25.06(G) |
| Community Special Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | Cannot be placed in the right-of-way; must maintain clear vision. | Up to 5 per event | Not in right-of-way and not located so as to obstruct clear vision of drivers or pedestrians | — | §25.02(F); §25.06(H) |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from any right-of-way line | — | — | — | §25.06(I) |
| Incidental Sign (Accessory Activity) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | Mounted flat against a building wall | — | §25.06(M) |
| Real Estate Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | Set back from the road right-of-way at least one-half the required setback distance for the district in which it is located. | — | On some portion of the development being advertised for sale | — | §25.06(P) |

### AP Agricultural Preservation District, RP Rural Preservation District, R-1A Low Density Single Family District, R-1B Medium Density Residential District, R-2 High Density Residential District, R-3 Manufactured Housing Community District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 15 ft from any right-of-way or property line | 1 per entrance road, max 2 per development | At entrance road(s) for a subdivision, multifamily or manufactured housing development | — | §25.08, table row “Subdivision identification sign” |
| Ground Sign - Non-Residential Use in Residential District | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Ground sign setback minimum 15 ft from any right-of-way or property line | 1 ground sign per lot or parcel | On lot or parcel containing the non-residential use | — | §25.08, table row “Signs for non-residential uses in Residential Districts” |
| Wall Sign - Non-Residential Use in Residential District | — | 10% of wall area, not exceeding 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 wall sign per lot or parcel | On building wall of the non-residential use | — | §25.08, table row “Signs for non-residential uses in Residential Districts” and note “Wall signs for home occupations – See Section 3.20”; §25.06(J) |
| Wall Sign - Home Occupation (Residential District) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §25.08, note “Wall signs for home occupations – See Section 3.20” |
| Produce Sale / Agricultural Information Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | Minimum setback of 15 ft from any right-of-way or property line | 1 per parcel | On parcel where produce is grown or where agricultural information is provided | — | §25.08, table row “Signs indicating sale of produce grown on the premises or providing agricultural information” |

### LB Local Business District, GB General Business District, HB Highway Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Individual Business) | 6 ft | 48 sq ft | — | Minimum setback equal to half the required setback distance for the district | 1 per street frontage, maximum 2 signs total per lot | On lot or parcel in LB, GB, or HB district, for an individual business not in a Business Center | — | §25.09(B) “LB, GB, HB Districts – Ground Sign or Freestanding Sign” |
| Freestanding Sign (Individual Business) | 25 ft | 60 sq ft | — | Minimum setback equal to half the required setback distance for the district | 1 per street frontage, maximum 2 per lot | On lot or parcel in LB, GB, or HB district, for an individual business not in a Business Center | — | §25.09(B) “LB, GB, HB Districts – Ground Sign or Freestanding Sign” |
| Wall Sign - Individual Business | — | 10% of wall area to which it is affixed, not exceeding 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 wall sign per business per street frontage, max 1 per wall face | Mounted flat against the wall facing the street | — | §25.09(B) “Wall Signs” for LB, GB, HB; §25.06(J) |
| Business Center Ground Sign | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | Minimum setback equal to half the required setback distance for the district | 1 per street frontage, maximum 2 Business Center signs per lot | On lot containing a Business Center in LB, GB, or HB district | — | §25.09(B) “Business Center Sign” |
| Business Center Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 80 sq ft | — | Minimum setback equal to half the required setback distance for the district | 1 per street frontage, maximum 2 Business Center signs per lot | On lot containing a Business Center in LB, GB, or HB district | — | §25.09(B) “Business Center Sign” |
| Billboard (GB and HB Districts Only) | 40 ft | 400 sq ft | Horizontal dimension maximum 42 ft; vertical dimension maximum 12 ft | Minimum setback equal to the required setback distance for the district; minimum separation of 1,000 ft from any other billboard | 1 per parcel | On parcels located within GB or HB districts only | — | §25.09(B) “Billboard (within the GB and HB Districts only)” |

## Prohibited signs in Niles Charter Township

- Any sign that has flashing, moving, oscillating, or blinking lights or full-motion video images is prohibited, except time and temperature signs, barber pole signs, and electronic message panels specifically permitted by the ordinance.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or governmental signs or signals are prohibited.
- Any sign not expressly permitted by the ordinance is prohibited.
- Balloons, strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, or flags (other than governmental flags not used for business advertisement or attraction) hung overhead to draw attention to a business or its merchandise are prohibited.
- Business vehicles or trailers that, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, are intended to function as signs shall not be parked in any area abutting the street unless no other parking area is available.
- Off-premise signs are prohibited, except billboards, political signs, and community special event signs as permitted in the ordinance.
- Flashing, moving or intermittently illuminated signs are prohibited; illumination that changes in intensity, luminosity, color, or message more frequently than once every eight (8) seconds is treated as flashing/moving/intermittent and is prohibited.
- No sign shall be placed in, extend into, or obstruct clear vision in any public right-of-way.
- No wall sign shall project above the roof line.
- No sign shall be erected where, in the judgment of the Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator, an unreasonable amount of land clearing or alteration is required; the Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator may require relocation to avoid such clearing.
- It is unlawful for any person to erect, place, maintain, or continue a sign on any lands in the Township except in accordance with the provisions of the zoning ordinance.
- Permanent nonconforming signs may not be expanded, enlarged, or extended.
- No freestanding or ground sign is permitted for individual businesses within a Business Center in LB, GB, and HB districts (only the Business Center sign is allowed).

## Signs exempt from permit in Niles Charter Township

- Governmental signs on government property are exempt from the provisions of the sign chapter.
- Signs for essential services are exempt from the provisions of the sign chapter.
- Historical markers are exempt from the provisions of the sign chapter.
- Memorial signs or tablets are exempt from the provisions of the sign chapter.
- Political signs are exempt from the provisions of the sign chapter, except they must comply with the time limits in Section 25.06 (may only be placed within 30 days before, and must be removed within 5 days after, the election or referendum).
- Signs with an address and name of the owner or occupant, not more than one (1) square foot in area and attached to a mailbox, light fixture, or exterior wall, are exempt from the provisions of the sign chapter.
- Temporary yard and garage sale signs of four (4) square feet in size or less, located on the property where the sale is conducted, are exempt, subject to placement no earlier than five (5) days before the sale and removal within one (1) day after the sale.
- Window signs are exempt provided the total area of all signs within one (1) foot of the window does not obscure more than fifty (50) percent of the window area.
- Flags or insignia of any nation, state, local government, community organization, or educational institution are exempt.
- Real estate for sale or lease signs not exceeding six (6) square feet for residential properties and sixteen (16) square feet for commercial or industrial properties are exempt, limited to one (1) per street frontage and subject to removal within thirty (30) days after completion of the sale or lease.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for the erection, use, construction, or alteration of all signs, except those specifically exempted by the sign chapter.
- For proposed signs reviewed as part of a site plan, the zoning compliance permit issued for the site plan shall include the sign permit (signs are integrated into the overall site plan review).
- Applications for a sign permit must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator with required information, including plans, location sketches, zoning district identification, and business/use to be identified.
- Signs requiring electrical service must be reviewed for compliance with the Township electrical code as part of the permitting process.
- Temporary signs may only be displayed upon receipt of a temporary sign permit from the Zoning Administrator and are limited in duration and frequency per lot or parcel.

## 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 Niles Charter Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Niles+Charter+Township+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-niles-charter-township

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