# Sign Regulations in North Muskegon, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Muskegon, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/north-muskegon
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/North_Muskegon/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXAZO_CH21SI)

## At a glance

North Muskegon, Michigan regulates 15 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Traditional Mixed-Use District (TMD), Planned Unit District (PUD), Industrial District (ID) zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 24 sq. ft. (50 sq ft. on lots with at least 90 ft frontage on Causeway/Whitehall Rd and Holton Rd), with a Not in right-of-way; must comply with corner clearance requirements setback (Sec. Section 14.08 Nonresidential Districts: TMD, PUD, ID; Section 14.03.F). Most commercial signs in North Muskegon require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Traditional Residential District (TRD), Mixed Residential District (MRD) | 3 | — | 18 sq. ft. | — |
| Traditional Mixed-Use District (TMD), Planned Unit District (PUD), Industrial District (ID) | 7 | 6 ft. | Not to exceed 50% of stationary sign area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Traditional Residential District (TRD), Mixed Residential District (MRD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Mounted flat against the wall of the main building | — | Section 14.08 Residential Districts: TRD, MRD; Section 14.03.D.14, Section 14.03.F |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 18 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per frontage | Flat against building wall | — | Section 14.08 Residential Districts: TRD, MRD; Section 14.03.F |
| Ground Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 18 sq. ft. | — | Must not be located in the right of way; must comply with corner clearance requirements | 1 per frontage | Front yard or frontage of nonresidential use; not in right-of-way | — | Section 14.08 Residential Districts: TRD, MRD; Section 14.03.F |

### Traditional Mixed-Use District (TMD), Planned Unit District (PUD), Industrial District (ID)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage | Flat against the wall parallel to public way | — | Section 14.08 Nonresidential Districts: TMD, PUD, ID; Section 14.03.F |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage | On the awning over door/window on façade | — | Section 14.08 Nonresidential Districts: TMD, PUD, ID; Section 14.03.F, H |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. (maximum area per Section 14.03.F) | — | — | 1 per frontage | Mounted perpendicular to wall; may project over sidewalk subject to clearances and insurance requirements | — | Section 14.08 Nonresidential Districts: TMD, PUD, ID; Section 14.03.F |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft. | 24 sq. ft. (50 sq ft. on lots with at least 90 ft frontage on Causeway/Whitehall Rd and Holton Rd) | — | Not in right-of-way; must comply with corner clearance requirements | 1 per frontage | Front yard, not within public right-of-way | — | Section 14.08 Nonresidential Districts: TMD, PUD, ID; Section 14.03.F |
| Gas Station Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 (1 per side of canopy) | On canopy above fuel pumps | — | Section 14.08 Nonresidential Districts: TMD, PUD, ID; Section 14.03.F |
| Multi-Tenant/Mixed-Use Wall Sign (per building entrance) | — | — | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Building entrance | — | Section 14.08 Nonresidential Districts: TMD, PUD, ID; Section 14.03.F |
| Electronic Message Board/Animated Sign (TMD and ID; Causeway/Whitehall Rd only) | — | Not to exceed 50% of stationary sign area | — | — | 1 per lot | Allowed only on Causeway/Whitehall Rd in TMD and ID | — | Section 14.06 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to or near window, visible from outdoors | — | Section 14.04.D |
| Temporary Yard Sign (Residential Use) | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | 2 ft from property line where sidewalk present; 15 ft from curb/road edge if no sidewalk; 30 ft from edge of roadway on specified corridors | 1 per street frontage | Yard; must not be in right-of-way (see setbacks) | — | Section 14.04.K |
| Temporary Yard Sign (Nonresidential Property) | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | 2 ft from property line where sidewalk present; 15 ft from curb/road edge if no sidewalk; 30 ft from edge of roadway on specified corridors | 1 per street frontage | Yard; not in right-of-way; see setbacks | — | Section 14.04.K |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Residential) | 10 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | 1 ft from property line and right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | On construction site, not in right-of-way | — | Section 14.04.L |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Nonresidential) | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | 1 ft from property line and right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | On construction site, not in right-of-way | — | Section 14.04.L |

## Prohibited signs in North Muskegon

- Signs placed in, upon, or over any public right-of-way, alley or other public place, except for permitted highway and government signs and other signs permitted to be located in the right of way by this Article.
- Signs affixed to a light pole, utility pole, or other supporting member, except for permitted highway and government signs.
- Signs which are obsolete, that do not relate to existing business or products for sale or available on the site.
- Signs which are illegal under state laws or regulations and applicable local ordinances or regulations, and which are not consistent with the standards in this Ordinance.
- Signs that are not clean and in good repair, and signs that are out of compliance with applicable building and electrical codes.
- Air filled balloons, air dancer signs, and lighter than air signs.
- Signs not securely affixed to a supporting structure.
- Signs that are not official traffic signs that appear to or attempt to regulate, warn, or direct the movement of traffic, which interfere with or resemble any official traffic sign, signal, or device, or which may obstruct a motorist's vision.
- Truck or Trailer Mounted Signs: No sign or other advertising structure shall be painted on or be attached to a motor vehicle used primarily for the display of such sign, including, but not limited to a billboard truck. (Except business identification on vehicles operated and parked in a manner appropriate to normal business.)
- Flashing, blinking, intermittent, or on-and-off type lighting for signs is prohibited.
- Illumination of signs must be arranged so that no direct sources of light shall be visible to any motorist or pedestrian located in a public right-of-way or from any adjacent property.
- External lighting of signs must be downward facing and shielded or otherwise directed to illuminate only the sign face.
- Internal illuminated sign faces must be opaque so that individual lamps are muted and cannot be distinguished behind the sign face.
- Backlit illuminated sign individual bulbs and light sources shall not be visible.
- Awnings used for signage must be constructed of opaque material only.
- Window signs shall not cover more than 25% of window area per window.
- Sign must not extend above roof line of a building.
- Any sign in the right of way requires insurance and an encroachment permit; if without insurance or permit, must be removed.
- Projecting signs, marquee signs, suspended signs, or similar elements projecting over public or private sidewalk or walkway must maintain a minimum clearance of nine (9) feet from grade.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Muskegon

- Any public notice, traffic control, or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Placards.
- Property address and owner identification signs up to two (2) square feet in area.
- Window signs (provided window sign coverage does not exceed 25% of window area per building elevation).
- Special event signage on public property.
- Any sign wholly located within a building and not visible from outside the building. (This does not include window signs.)
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message.
- Murals and other works of art that do not contain a commercial message.
- Governmental historical designation signs and markers.
- City wayfinding signs as approved by the Zoning Administrator on public or private property.
- Temporary yard signs: limited to one per street frontage, with additional signs permitted during the period 30 days prior to an election through 7 days after, and during times of emergency to allow business practice notification; signs must not exceed 3 sq ft (residential) or 12 sq ft (nonresidential); must meet setback requirements.
- Temporary yard signs on construction sites: limited to one per street frontage; not to exceed 12 sq ft in residential districts or 24 sq ft in nonresidential; not to exceed 10 feet high; must be removed within 14 days after issuance of occupancy permit; subject to 1-foot setback from property/right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs shall conform to all applicable codes and ordinances of the City and shall be approved by the Building Inspector or Zoning Administrator, and a permit issued. (Section 14.03.A)
- Except as provided elsewhere in this Ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, place, install, display, alter, or relocate a sign without first obtaining a sign permit or permits from the Zoning Administrator. (Section 14.10)
- For buildings with multiple tenants, the sign areas for wall signs, projecting signs and awning signs shall be determined by taking that portion of the front wall of the building applicable to each tenant and computing sign requirements for that portion of the total wall.
- Receipt of a permit from the City is required prior to the installation of any of the signs provided for in Section 14.08 (Signs Permitted by Permit, includes wall, ground, awning, and projecting signs in residential and nonresidential districts).
- A sign permit is not required for signs listed as exempt in Section 14.04, but all general standards still apply.
- If projecting signs, marquee signs, suspended signs, or similar elements project over public property, the owner must keep a public liability insurance policy in the amount of at least $1,000,000 and obtain an encroachment permit, renewed at least every three (3) years.
- Certain sign types (Electronic Message Board and Animated Signs) are restricted to specific locations (Causeway and Whitehall Road in TMD and ID districts) and require compliance with specific standards.
- Any nonconforming sign (a sign legal at the time of ordinance adoption, but not meeting current standards) cannot be altered, expanded, enlarged, or extended, but may be repaired and maintained. If destroyed by more than 50 percent of its value, may not be restored.
- Any sign which for a period of six (6) months or more no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or product sold shall be removed by the owner within thirty (30) days of written notice by the Zoning Administrator.
- Site plan review is not required solely for sign permits, but signs must be included on site plans for developments undergoing site plan or special land use review.

## Full detail

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

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