# Sign Regulations in Pine River Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pine River Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/pine-river-township
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-07
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://pinerivermi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2022-Zoning-Ordinance.pdf#page=49)

## At a glance

Pine River Township, Michigan regulates 21 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Non-dwelling Use Signs in the Office Service Business (O) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a Within required yard; front yard measured 80 ft from centerline of roadway (Dimensions Table); side yard minimum 20 ft each, total 50 ft; rear yard minimum 40 ft. setback (Sec. Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (O row, Non-dwelling use sign); Section 1406; Section 1405). Most commercial signs in Pine River Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural (AG) | 4 | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Low Density Residential (LDR) | 2 | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| High Density Residential (HDR) | 2 | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Office Service Business (O) | 5 | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Light Commercial (LC) | 5 | 50 ft | 300 sq ft (total for all wall signs per lot) | — |
| Heavy Commercial (HC) | 5 | 50 ft | 300 sq ft (total for all wall signs per lot) | — |
| Industrial (I) | 5 | 50 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Residential (Non-Profit) (LDR, HDR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| AG/RES (All Other) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial (LC, HC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 200 sq ft per allowed sign location | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Office Service Business (O)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-dwelling Use Sign | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — | Within required yard; front yard measured 80 ft from centerline of roadway (Dimensions Table); side yard minimum 20 ft each, total 50 ft; rear yard minimum 40 ft. | 1 per lot | Within required yard | — | Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (O row, Non-dwelling use sign); Section 1406; Section 1405 |
| Small Sign (Permitted) | 8 ft | 18 sq ft | — | Within required yard per O district standards. | 1 per lot (permitted); 1 per lot (exempt option) | Within required yard | — | Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (O row, Small sign); Section 1402.2(b) |
| Wall Sign | Height of wall | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Any wall | — | Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (O row, Wall sign); Section 1402.3(e) |
| Portable Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Within required yard per O district standards. | 1 per lot | Within required yard | — | Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (O row, Portable); Section 1402.4; Section 1402.3(h); Section 1405(4) |
| Subdivision/Development Sign | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — | Within required yard per O district standards. | 1 per lot | Within required yard | — | Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (O row, Subdivision/development) |

### Light Commercial (LC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign (Non-shopping center lot) | 50 ft | 200 sq ft | — | Within required yard; comply with LC district yard setbacks. | 1 per lot (except through/corner lot allowances) | Within required yard | — | Notes to Table, item 1 (LC/HC/I districts); Notes to Table, items 7 and 8 (through and corner lots) |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign (Shopping Center) | 50 ft | 200 sq ft per monument/freestanding sign location | — | Within required yard per LC district standards. | 1 per major street frontage | Within required yard at major street frontage | — | Notes to Table, item 4 (Freestanding signs for shopping centers, LC/HC/I districts) |
| Wall Sign | — | 300 sq ft (total for all wall signs per lot) | — | — | Per lot total limited by area; shopping center: 1 per business | On building walls | — | Notes to Table, item 2 (Wall sign size); item 3 (Upper-floor businesses); item 4 (Shopping centers) |
| Wall Sign (Upper Floor Business) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | On upper-floor business wall | — | Notes to Table, item 3 |
| Additional Entrance/Exit/Service Window Sign | — | 8 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per additional entrance/exit/service window | At additional entrances/exits/service windows | — | Notes to Table, item 5 |

### Industrial (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Height of wall | 300 sq ft | — | — | — | Anywhere on building | — | Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (I row, Wall); Notes to Table, item 2; Section 1402.3(e) |
| Marquee/Canopy Sign | Height of highest eave | 300 sq ft | — | — | — | On structure (marquee/canopy) | — | Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (I row, Marquee/Canopy) |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign | 50 ft | 200 sq ft | — | Within required yard per I district standards. | 1 per lot (except through/corner lot allowances) | Within required yard | — | Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (I row, Monument/freestanding); Notes to Table, item 1 (height/area/one per lot; total nonwall sign area; 400 sq ft increase condition); Notes to Table, items 7 and 8 |
| Portable Sign | 5 ft | 48 sq ft | — | Must be at least 10 ft from ROW line. | Permits per lot: 2 per year (portable signs >3 days) | 10 ft from right-of-way line | — | Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (I row, Portable); Section 1402.4 Table of Special Purpose Sign Regulations (Industrial group); Section 1405(4) |
| Electronic Message Board | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from ROW line. | — | 10 ft from right-of-way line | — | Section 1404 Table of Signs Permitted (I row, Electronic Message Board); Section 1406 |

## Prohibited signs in Pine River Township

- Signs that, by size, location, movement, content, coloring, or illumination, may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or emergency vehicle
- Signs that obstruct a motorist’s view of any traffic sign, street sign, or traffic signal
- Signs that are not properly anchored or secured to a building or the ground
- Signs located within any public road right-of-way
- Flashing, oscillating, or intermittent illumination of any sign when located in the line of vision of a traffic control device or when it interferes with safe vision along a roadway (especially at intersections)
- Illuminated signs that cast light onto adjoining residences or are located within 150 feet of any residential use
- Sign illumination that is detrimental or annoying to surrounding property or that constitutes a safety hazard, as determined by the Zoning Administrator

## Signs exempt from permit in Pine River Township

- Replacing copy on approved signs designed for replaceable copy (e.g., painted/printed signs, theater marquees) does not require a permit
- Normal maintenance and repair (painting, repainting, cleaning, light bulb replacement) without structural changes does not require a permit
- Construction signs on the construction site during the construction period (maximum 64 sq ft; removed within 4 days after the beginning of intended use) are exempt from permit in all districts
- Private traffic direction/safety signs on private property (e.g., directional, parking) not exceeding 12 sq ft and 8 ft in height are exempt from permit in all districts
- Window signs secured on the inside of the building are exempt from permit in all districts
- Property sale/lease signs are exempt from permit (up to 12 sq ft in agricultural and residential districts; up to 64 sq ft in commercial and industrial districts)
- Portable signs displayed for 3 days or less do not require a permit; if displayed more than 3 days, a permit is required
- All exempt signs must comply with the setback requirements of the zoning district where they are located

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required prior to construction or establishment of any sign unless specifically exempt
- Portable signs require a permit if displayed more than 3 days; permit duration and number per lot vary by district
- Sign permit drawings must comply with the approved site plan when a site plan is required for the property
- No master sign plan requirement is specified; shopping center/multi-tenant signage is governed by specific allowances (e.g., one freestanding/monument sign per major street; individual occupants cannot have freestanding signs; each business may have one wall sign up to 300 sq ft)
- Sign violations may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals for interpretation or an administrative decision

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

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