# Sign Regulations in Parchment, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Parchment, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/parchment
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Parchment/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXAZO_ART15SI)

## At a glance

Parchment, Michigan regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign)s in the Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Industrial (I-M) District, General Business (C-3) District zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and Up to 75 sq ft (lots <200 ft frontage); Up to 100 sq ft (lots 200–399.99 ft frontage)., with a Cannot extend into public right-of-way. Anchored 3 ft below ground, embedded in concrete. setback (Sec. Sec. 15.7.a). Most commercial signs in Parchment require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 6 sq ft per side | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Industrial (I-M) District, General Business (C-3) District | 11 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential-Transitional (R-T) District, Central Business (C-1) District, Service Business (C-2) District | 11 | 12 ft | As calculated; max 50% of front wall area. | — |
| Residential Districts | 7 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

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

### Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Industrial (I-M) District, General Business (C-3) District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign) | 20 ft | Up to 75 sq ft (lots <200 ft frontage); Up to 100 sq ft (lots 200–399.99 ft frontage). | — | Cannot extend into public right-of-way. Anchored 3 ft below ground, embedded in concrete. | 1 per building/center, 2 if ≥3 streets or 200+ ft on one street | On the same parcel as the building/use to which it is accessory. | — | Sec. 15.7.a |
| Wall Sign (Front of Building) | — | Calculated as 3 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage; not to exceed 50% of wall area | — | Cannot project more than 18 inches from building surface. | — | Parallel to building wall; may not cover openings or project beyond wall ends/tops. | — | Sec. 15.7.b, 15.5, 15.6 |
| Wall Sign (Other Than Front) | — | 100 sq ft | — | Cannot project more than 18 inches from building surface. | — | Other than front of building. | — | Sec. 15.7.b.4 |
| Roof Sign | 3 ft (must not extend above peak of roof) | 3 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage | — | — | — | Parallel with front wall; not above peak of roof; not allowed if there is a marquee sign. | — | Sec. 15.7.c |
| Projecting Sign | 10 ft above roof line | 15 sq ft (max); >10 sq ft or >50 lbs not allowed on wood-frame buildings | — | — | Not within 20 ft of other projecting signs; 1 per business minimum | Cannot project past property line or into right-of-way; attached to building | — | Sec. 15.7.d |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | +20% of allowed ground sign area if substituted | — | — | As substitute for allowed ground (freestanding) sign(s) | In place of a ground sign; on the same parcel as the business/use | — | Sec. 15.7.f |
| Temporary Sign | 10 ft (business/industrial districts); lower edge at least 18 in above ground | Single face max 24 sq ft; total max 48 sq ft; For Sale/For Rent: 32 sq ft; Yard Sale: 4 sq ft | — | Projection into right-of-way prohibited without BZA approval. | 1 per use (general); 2 per lot (For Sale/For Rent) | On-premises only; not allowed strung across right-of-way. | — | Sec. 15.7.h, 15.7.k |
| Fence Sign | Max height of fence: 6 ft | Same as for wall signs | — | — | — | Affixed to fence on property. Cannot project above top/ends of fence. | — | Sec. 15.7.j |

### Residential-Transitional (R-T) District, Central Business (C-1) District, Service Business (C-2) District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign) | 12 ft | 32 sq ft (single face); 64 sq ft (multi-face). | — | Post supports must be sunk at least 3 ft and embedded in concrete. | 1 per building/center | On same parcel as the building/use. | — | Sec. 15.9.a |
| Wall Sign (Front of Building) | — | As calculated; max 50% of front wall area. | — | Projection max 18 in from surface. | — | Parallel to building wall; not covering wall openings or projecting above/beyond wall. | — | Sec. 15.9.b, 15.5, 15.6 |
| Wall Sign (Other Than Front) | — | 50 sq ft | — | Projection max 18 in from wall. | — | Other than front of building. | — | Sec. 15.9.b.4 |
| Roof Sign | 3 ft; must not extend above roof peak | Same as formula | — | — | — | Parallel to front wall; not above peak; not if marquee exists. | — | Sec. 15.9.c |
| Projecting Sign | No higher than roof line | 15 sq ft | — | — | Not within 20 ft of another projecting sign | Not to project over property line or into right-of-way. | — | Sec. 15.9.d |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | — | — | — | As substitute for allowed ground sign(s) | In place of ground sign on same parcel. | — | Sec. 15.9.f |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft | Single face max 20 sq ft; total max 40 sq ft; For Sale/For Rent: 20 sq ft; Yard Sale: 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use; 2 per lot (For Sale/For Rent). | On premises; not strung across/across right-of-way. | — | Sec. 15.9.h, 15.9.k |
| Fence Sign | 6 ft (max fence height) | Max 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Affixed to fence on property. | — | Sec. 15.9.j |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign | — | 2 sq ft lot total | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 15.5.a, 15.10.a |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale/For Rent) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot | On the property being advertised. | — | Sec. 15.10.d |
| Temporary Sign (Subdivision Sale Sign) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 10+ lots for sale by broker/builder; more by approval. | On site where 10+ lots are for sale. Lower edge must be at least 3 ft above ground. | — | Sec. 15.10.e |
| Temporary Sign (Building Under Construction) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On building/lot under construction. | — | Sec. 15.10.f |
| Permanent Institutional Sign (Church, School, Government) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On property of institution | — | Sec. 15.10.g |
| Permanent Multifamily Residential Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per multifamily unit | On property. | — | Sec. 15.10.h |
| Permanent Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 32 sq ft per entrance (max 2 signs/entrance) | — | — | 2 per entrance | At major entrances (not in right-of-way) | — | Sec. 15.10.i |

## Prohibited signs in Parchment

- Prohibition of signs that imitate or approximate official highway signs or that carry words, phrases, symbols, or characters likely to confuse or mislead traffic.
- Prohibition of signs that obscure public authority signs or interfere with, obstruct, or confuse authorized traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- Prohibition of flashing or intermittent lights, or lights of changing degrees or intensity (unless each interval is five seconds or more and does not constitute a traffic hazard).
- Prohibition of signs that obstruct any window or door opening used as a means of egress, or prevent free passage on roofs or interfere with openings required for legal ventilation.
- Prohibition of illumination causing direct glare into or upon buildings other than the building to which the sign is accessory.
- Prohibition of swinging signs.
- Prohibition of moving signs or parts, except as explicitly allowed elsewhere.
- Prohibition of abandoned signs.
- Prohibition of signs that may be confused with, or construed as, a traffic control device, or which hide traffic or street signs, or obstruct sight at intersections.
- Prohibition of signs containing statements, words, or pictures of obscene, indecent, pornographic, or immoral character.
- Prohibition of signs emitting audible sound, odor, or visible matter.
- Prohibition of exterior string lights in connection with commercial premises, except for holiday decoration.
- Prohibition of signs placed or painted on any tree or rock.
- Prohibition of signs placed on utility poles, light poles, telephone poles, stop signs, or traffic signs, except for utility identification or similar purpose.
- Prohibition of vehicles or trailers used as signs.
- Billboards are prohibited in the city.
- No sign shall be constructed or maintained which does not advertise a business transacted or goods sold or produced on the premises on which the sign is located (for commercial and industrial zones).
- Signs are prohibited in public rights-of-way or projecting into public rights-of-way, unless specifically permitted.
- No sign illumination may exceed 0.08 foot-candles, or a luminary brightness of 2,400 foot-lamberts, when measured from the nearest or adjacent residentially zoned property.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape, or attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No ground sign shall be erected at an intersection so as to obstruct vision, or placed within a clear triangle at corners.
- No signs, signals, markings, or blinking/blinking, oscillating, or rotating lights may be erected adjacent to public rights-of-way so as to create a traffic hazard.
- No nails, tacks, or wires may protrude from the front of any sign (except for necessary block letters, reflectors, or similar devices).
- No person shall display obscene, indecent, or immoral matter on any sign or advertising structure.
- No sign shall be erected, repaired, altered, relocated, or maintained without first obtaining a permit, except for specifically listed exceptions.
- Temporary signs cannot be strung across public rights-of-way or project beyond property lines except by specific approval.
- Temporary yard/garage sale signs cannot be attached to utility poles, meter posts, or trees, or property of another person without the owner's consent.
- Nonconforming signs cannot be enlarged, illuminated, moved, or replaced except to bring into conformity.
- Replacement of a nonconforming sign is prohibited.
- No person shall erect, maintain, relocate, or keep any sign as defined in the prohibited signs section without complying with the above.

## Signs exempt from permit in Parchment

- Any single sign with an area of one square foot or less, limited to one per premises.
- Historic signs designating sites recognized by the state historical commission or local governmental body or agency.
- Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal devices, or warnings at railroad crossings.
- Building markers, memorial tablets, or similar signs.
- Signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, provided they do not exceed 48 square feet.
- Signs directing traffic on private property, with no advertising, total surface area not to exceed six square feet per sign.
- Signs for direction or convenience of the public, such as restrooms, telephones, entrances, with total surface area not to exceed six square feet per sign on any lot or parcel.
- Gasoline price signs not exceeding a total area of 12 square feet.
- At gasoline stations, corporate identification signs less than 10 square feet each, maximum two per canopy, attached directly to the canopy.
- Signs painted on or affixed to windows or doors identifying only the lawful business conducted therein, provided such window signs do not occupy more than 50% of the window or door glass surface area.
- Wall murals and graphics with no direct advertisement, subject to design review guidelines and Planning Commission approval.
- Professional nameplates not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Changing of advertising material or copy on a properly licensed sign and maintenance or repair thereof.
- Bulletin boards not over 20 square feet for public, charitable, or religious institutions when located on their premises (electrical permit required if illuminated).
- Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial, public, or institutional building, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, building names, and dates of erection, when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or aluminum.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, 'danger' and temporary emergency or nonadvertising signs as approved by the city manager or designee.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, except those explicitly exempted, require a permit before erection, repair, alteration, relocation, or maintenance.
- Permit applications must include plans, specifications, construction and attachment methods, materials used, and in some cases structural calculations and engineer approval.
- Painted wall signs, wall murals, and certain graphics are subject to design review guidelines (Section 15.14) and, for murals/graphics, Planning Commission review and approval.
- Permits for yard sale or temporary signs over four square feet are required.
- Signs in public right-of-way are prohibited except as specifically permitted elsewhere or by approval; otherwise will be removed by the city.
- Temporary signs projecting over public right-of-way require specific board of zoning appeals approval.
- Permit applications must include details such as blueprints/drawings, stress sheets, owner's written consent for signs on vacant land, electrical inspector's approval for illuminated signs, and any other information required to show compliance.
- Nonconforming signs must be brought into compliance or removed within specified timeframes when property use or ownership changes, or upon expiration of grace/continuance periods.

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

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