# Sign Regulations in Northville Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Northville Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/northville-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8499913#8499913)

## At a glance

Northville Township, Michigan regulates 19 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding (Ground) Signs in the Sign District A, Sign District B, Sign District D zoning district are capped at 8 ft. tall and 48 sq. ft., with a 10 ft from ROW; 50 ft from residential; clear vision triangle 25 ft setback (Sec. §145-6F; Schedule of Sign Regulations). Most commercial signs in Northville Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign District A, Sign District B, Sign District D | 6 | 35 ft. pole | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Sign District C, Sign District E | 6 | 30 ft. pole | 48 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential District | 4 | 30 ft. pole | 60 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Sign District A, Sign District B, Sign District D

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Shall not extend above roofline; must be installed at least 8 ft above ground or sidewalk | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | One per tenant/lot; possible additional by Planning Commission discretion | Front of building only; within architectural elements; name/logo/address/type of business only | — | §145-6G; Schedule of Sign Regulations; §145-6B, §145-6E |
| Freestanding (Ground) Sign | 8 ft. | 48 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from ROW; 50 ft from residential; clear vision triangle 25 ft | One per lot; more as per frontage—see sign size restrictions | Min 10 ft from ROW; 50 ft from residential zoning; clear vision triangle 25 ft from intersection; not on berm/elevation. | — | §145-6F; Schedule of Sign Regulations |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Any doors/windows facing façade | — | §145-6H |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft. | 3 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 2 per lot; more possible w/ engineering approval | Behind parking setback; on-site circulation only | — | §145-6I |
| Menu/Order Board (Drive-through Only) | — | — | — | — | — | Interior of lot, not visible/legible off-site | — | §145-6J |
| Flag | 35 ft. pole | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | Max 3 per lot | On private property; not in ROW | — | §145-5E(3) |

### Sign District C, Sign District E

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Shall not extend above roofline; must be installed at least 8 ft above ground or sidewalk | 48 sq. ft. | — | — | One per tenant/lot; possible additional by Planning Commission | Front of building only; within architectural elements; name/logo/address/type of business only | — | §145-6G; Schedule of Sign Regulations; §145-6B, §145-6E |
| Freestanding (Ground) Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. (C); 48 sq. ft. (E) | — | 10 ft from ROW; 50 ft from residential; clear vision triangle 25 ft | One per lot; additional per 300 ft of frontage (see rules) | Min 10 ft from ROW; 50 ft from residential zoning; clear vision triangle 25 ft from intersection; not on berm/elevation. | — | §145-6F; Schedule of Sign Regulations |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Any doors/windows facing façade | — | §145-6H |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft. | 3 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 2 per lot; more with engineering/traffic approval | Behind parking setback; on-site circulation only | — | §145-6I |
| Menu/Order Board (Drive-through Only) | — | — | — | — | — | Interior of lot, not visible/legible off-site | — | §145-6J |
| Flag | 30 ft. pole | 40 sq. ft. | — | — | Max 3 per lot | On private property; not in ROW | — | §145-5E(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Regulatory and Street Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §145-5A |
| Name Plate or Directory Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building, 2 for multiple entrances/thoroughfares | At pedestrian entry | — | §145-5C |
| Memorial Sign/Tablet or Building Name/Date | — | — | — | — | — | On building, cut into masonry/constructed of bronze/noncombustible material | — | §145-5G |
| Institutional Bulletin Board | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | 20 ft from property line/ROW | — | — | — | §145-5H |
| Temporary Sign (Election/Seasonal/Civic) | 4 ft. (Districts A-E); 2.5 ft. (elsewhere) | 16 sq. ft. (Districts A-E); 6 sq. ft. (elsewhere) | — | — | — | Not in public ROW | — | §145-5M |
| Informational Sign (Pedestrian Menu/Hours etc.) | 6 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Attached to building | — | §145-5J |
| Temporary Now-Hiring Sign | — | Complies with sign area for sign district | — | — | — | Inside of window | — | §145-5L |
| Ground Sign (Real Estate/Marketing Nonresidential or Development) | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per side | — | 10 ft from ROW/easement | 1 per street entrance/frontage | Set back at least 10 ft from ROW/easement | — | §145-6L |

## Prohibited signs in Northville Township

- No signs shall constitute a traffic hazard or interfere with the visibility of any traffic control device due to its size, location, context, color or manner of illumination.
- No sign shall have any visible moving parts, visible mechanical movement or any other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic, or kinetic means, intermittent electrical pulsations or wind currents.
- A sign that does not meet the provisions of this chapter or does not identify or advertise a bona fide business, tenant, owner, activity conducted or product available on the premises where the sign is displayed shall be considered an obsolete sign. When such a sign exists for a period of 180 consecutive days, it shall conclusively be presumed to be abandoned and shall be removed.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door opening used as a means of passage from one part of a roof to another or as access for fire-fighting purposes.
- The following signs shall not be permitted and are subject to removal: festoon signs, flashing/animated/moving signs, inflatable signs, portable signs, projecting signs, snipe signs, pole/pylon signs, off-premises signs, temporary window signs, marquee signs, obsolete and abandoned signs, banners, sandwich board signs, internally illuminated awnings or canopies, internally illuminated panel and box signs with light reflective backgrounds, home occupation signs, vehicle signs, awning/canopy signs, swinging signs, painted wall signs, signs on gas station canopies, billboards, time-temperature signs, any other sign not specifically permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Northville Township

- Regulatory and street signs.
- Decorative displays for holidays, public demonstrations, promotions, civic welfare or charitable purposes when authorized by the Township Board, provided that the display does not contain any advertising material.
- Name plates or directory signs at the pedestrian entry of a building listing occupants and tenants or the address, subject to specific size and number limitations.
- Municipal signs installed or approved by the Township Board, including legal notices, emergency signs, special events, or other signs sanctioned by the Township.
- Flags bearing the official design of the United States, State of Michigan, a public educational institution, or official corporation/award flags, subject to limits on number, size, and height.
- Flags to market new developments or homes within residential districts, provided they do not contain advertising or names of individual firms/builders, and subject to number and display duration limitations.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when signs are cut into a masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material.
- Institutional bulletin boards for religious institutions, schools, libraries, community centers, or similar institutions, subject to size and location restrictions.
- Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of residential property, generally limited to one sign per lot, size/location restrictions, and removal after sale/lease.
- Temporary signs advertising residential open houses, subject to size, duration, and location restrictions.
- Informational signs (such as menus, hours of operation) attached to a building and sized for pedestrian viewing, subject to size/height limits.
- Garage sale signs in residential districts, subject to maximum duration, size, and location restrictions.
- Temporary now-hiring signs for new businesses, provided they comply with area restrictions, display duration, and are located inside the window.
- Temporary signs related to an election, to identify seasonal events or civic functions, subject to duration, location, and size restrictions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a sign permit must include a site plan drawn to a specified scale, showing existing/proposed signs and structures, sign dimensions, color representation, method and color of illumination, a photometric plan, wall or window dimensions (for wall/window signs), a landscape plan (for ground signs), and other information as required by the Planning Department, Planning Commission, or Chief Building Official.
- Directional signs for vehicular and pedestrian traffic on a site must be planned, coordinated, and approved for the entire site, not individual tenants.
- For certain ground and wall signs, especially in multiple-tenant developments, standards require coordination (e.g., the style of name plates or directory sign must be consistent in multiple building developments).
- Approval of sign permits may be conditioned on compliance with regulations or limitations regarding sign character and surroundings.
- Additional information may be required by the Planning Department, Planning Commission, or Chief Building Official as part of the application process.
- Variances from sign requirements may be granted only by the Zoning Board of Appeals following a public hearing, when practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships are demonstrated.

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

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