# Sign Regulations in Paw Paw Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Paw Paw Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/paw-paw-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35000823#35000823)

## At a glance

Paw Paw Township, Michigan regulates 10 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Uses Other Than Dwellings)s in the CSV, AGR, ARR zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 24 sq ft per sign, 32 sq ft total, with a 1/2 the required building setback as measured from the abutting street right-of-way line setback (Sec. §42-9.18E (Table)). Most commercial signs in Paw Paw Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CSV, AGR, ARR | 2 | 8 ft | 24 sq ft per sign, 32 sq ft total | — |
| LDR, WFR | 2 | 8 ft | 24 sq ft per sign, 32 sq ft total | — |
| MHR, VE, NCC | 2 | 15 ft | 32 sq ft per sign, 50 sq ft total | — |
| GC, G-PUD | 2 | 15 ft | 50 sq ft per sign, 80 sq ft total | — |
| HSC, HCI | 3 | 30 ft from grade of abutting street/highway | 500 sq ft maximum per sign | — |
| Residential Districts | 4 | 8 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 6 ft | Up to 50% of the allowed sign area per lot | — |
| Commercial Districts | 1 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| Industrial Districts | 1 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### CSV, AGR, ARR

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Uses Other Than Dwellings) | — | 24 sq ft per sign, 32 sq ft total | — | 1/2 the required building setback as measured from the abutting street right-of-way line | 1 per building per street frontage | 1 per building per street frontage | — | §42-9.18E (Table) |
| Freestanding Sign (Uses Other Than Dwellings) | 8 ft | 24 sq ft per sign, 32 sq ft total | — | 1/2 the required building setback as measured from the abutting street right-of-way line | 1 per parcel per street frontage | 1 per parcel per street frontage | — | §42-9.18E (Table) |

### HSC, HCI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Uses Other Than Dwellings) | — | 80 sq ft total sign area | — | 1/2 the required building setback as measured from the abutting street right-of-way line | 1 wall sign | 1 wall sign | — | §42-9.18E (Table) |
| Freestanding Sign (Uses Other Than Dwellings) | 15 ft | 500 sq ft maximum per sign | — | 1/2 the required building setback as measured from the abutting street right-of-way line | 1 freestanding sign | 1 freestanding sign | — | §42-9.18E (Table) |
| Billboard | 30 ft from grade of abutting street/highway | 200 sq ft per facing, double-faced count as 2 | — | Min. 10 ft from sideline; Min. 1/2 of required building setback from abutting street/highway | No more than 2 per linear mile | Along I-94, M-40, M-51, Red Arrow Highway | — | §42-9.18E(3) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Minor Home Occupation Nameplate | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At property entrance or wall of principal residence | — | §42-9.18E(1) |
| Major Home Occupation Nameplate | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At property entrance or wall of principal residence | — | §42-9.18E(1) |
| Residential Development Entry Sign | 8 ft | 25 sq ft | — | Not closer than 1/2 the building setback to property line | 1 per entrance, max 2 | At each entrance to a residential development, not closer than 1/2 the building setback to any property line | — | §42-9.18E(2) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Districts) | 4 ft | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 for first 100 ft frontage + 1 additional per 100 ft | Display within a residential district, not in prohibited area | — | §42-9.18F(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Paw Paw Township

- Signs shall be allowed only in accordance with the provisions of this section and any other applicable provisions of this chapter.
- Signs shall be placed, constructed, and erected in accordance with good construction practices and shall be maintained in good condition and repair.
- Except as otherwise allowed by this section, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground or a building/structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure.
- Signs requiring electrical service shall be constructed and operated in compliance with the electrical code in effect within the Township.
- Signs shall be placed only on private property except for lawful signs of governmental bodies or agencies. A sign shall not extend beyond any lot lines of the property on which it is located.
- No sign or sign structure shall be placed, constructed or erected in any location or manner where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No rotating light or flashing illumination resembling a police or emergency light shall be used on or in connection with any sign.
- Sign illumination shall be concentrated upon the surface of the sign and the sign shall be located and arranged to avoid glare or reflection onto any portion of any adjacent street, into the path of oncoming vehicles, or onto any adjacent premises.
- All billboards shall comply with all applicable requirements and conditions of the Highway Advertising Act, P.A. 106 of 1972, as amended. Any signage prohibited by the Highway Advertising Act, P.A. 106 of 1972, as amended, is also prohibited within the Township.
- It is a violation of this chapter to install, create, erect or maintain any sign that does not fully comply with the requirements of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Paw Paw Township

- Barber poles, animated or not, which are appurtenant to the barber business and affixed directly to the wall of the exterior of the occupied space.
- Decorative signs or displays used temporarily for holidays, patriotic occasions or public, governmental or charitable purposes or events.
- Public signs.
- Memorial signs.
- Nameplates, provided any such nameplate does not exceed three square feet in area and is located at a property entrance or wall of a principal residence.
- Signs identifying buildings or sites designated as historical landmarks or centennial farms by state or federal agencies.
- Signs posted to control or prohibit hunting/trespassing, or other legal postings.
- Window signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for the erection, construction, relocation, or alteration of any sign unless specifically exempted by this chapter.
- A sign permit application shall be completed and accompanied by detailed drawings that demonstrate the design, structure, dimensions and location of each sign.
- A single application and permit may include multiple signs on the same lot.

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

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