# Sign Regulations in Pontiac, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pontiac, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/pontiac
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/MI/Pontiac/html/PontiacZO05/PontiacZO0501.html)

## At a glance

Pontiac, Michigan regulates 24 sign types across 19 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Downtown Mixed Use District (C-2) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a 10 ft from any property line setback (Sec. Section 5.105(B); Table 15; Section 5.105(C)(5); Section 5.107). Most commercial signs in Pontiac require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (19 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| One-Family Dwelling District (R-1), Medium Lot One-Family Dwelling District (R-1A), Large Lot One-Family Dwelling District (R-1B) | 4 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Two-Family Dwelling District (R-2) | 4 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Multiple-Family Dwelling District (R-3), Multiple-Family Elevator Apartment District (R-4) | 3 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Manufactured Housing District (R-5) | 4 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Residential Office District (C-O) | 5 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Local Business/Residential Mixed Use District (C-1) | 5 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Mixed Use District (C-2) | 6 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Corridor Mixed Use District (C-3) | 5 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Center Business District (C-4) | 5 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Park District (IP-1) | 5 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Limited Industrial District (M-1), General Industrial District (M-2), M-I | 6 | ≤40 ft above ground grade or abutting roadway grade (whichever higher) | 300 sq ft (per face) | — |
| Parking District (P-1) | 2 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Civic Center District (C-C), Governmental, Office, Technology District (G-O-T), Mixed Use District (MUD), Town Center District (TC) – subject to C-2 standards | 5 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Use District (MUD) | 2 | 8 ft | Up to 80 sq ft; secondary frontage 50% of primary | — |
| Town Center District (TC) | 2 | 8 ft | Up to 80 sq ft; secondary frontage 50% of primary | — |
| Residential Office District (C-O) – Temporary Sign Allowance | 1 | — | — | — |
| Local Business/Residential Mixed Use District (C-1) – Temporary Sign Allowance | 1 | — | — | — |
| Corridor Mixed Use District (C-3) – Temporary Sign Allowance | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 19 zones)

### Downtown Mixed Use District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any property line | 1 per street frontage | On-premises; 1 per street frontage | — | Section 5.105(B); Table 15; Section 5.105(C)(5); Section 5.107 |
| Building-Mounted Sign (Wall Sign) | — | Up to 80 sq ft; secondary frontage 50% of primary | — | — | One wall sign per tenant; additional per secondary frontage formula | On facades facing street, abutting parking/circulation, or with a public entrance; attach directly to wall parallel to wall | — | Section 5.105(D)(1)(c); 5.105(D)(2)-(8); Section 5.107 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | Counted within building-mounted aggregate | On eligible building facades | — | Section 5.105(D)(8); Section 5.107 |
| Awning Sign (Building-Mounted) | — | ≤35% of awning exterior surface | — | — | Within aggregate building-mounted allowance | On awnings attached to eligible facades | — | Section 5.105(D)(5); Section 5.107 |
| Alley Sign (Additional Wall Sign Area) | — | As calculated by formula | — | — | Not specified; area allowance applies | Businesses with an entrance on an alley; signs facing such alley | — | Section 5.105(F); Section 5.107 |
| Development Entrance Sign | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft | 1 per street bordering/entering | Commercial subdivisions with >1 parcel; wholly upon premises | — | Section 5.105(E); Section 5.107 |

### Limited Industrial District (M-1), General Industrial District (M-2), M-I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — | ≥1/4 of the minimum front yard setback (or 1/4 of available front yard area on constrained lots) | 1 per street frontage | On-premises; 1 per street frontage | — | Section 5.105(B); Table 15 |
| Building-Mounted Sign (Wall Sign) | — | ≤200 sq ft and ≤15% of facade area | — | — | Not explicitly limited by count; total area limited to 15% of facade and ≤200 sq ft | Attach directly to building wall; parallel to wall; commercial/industrial location rules apply | — | Section 5.105(D)(1)(f) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | Counted within building-mounted aggregate | On eligible building facades | — | Section 5.105(D)(8) |
| Awning Sign (Building-Mounted) | — | ≤35% of awning exterior surface | — | — | Within aggregate building-mounted allowance | On awnings attached to eligible facades | — | Section 5.105(D)(5) |
| Billboard (Static) | ≤40 ft above ground grade or abutting roadway grade (whichever higher) | 300 sq ft (per face) | — | ≥30 ft from property line adjoining public ROW; ≥10 ft from interior boundaries; ≥200 ft from residential zones/existing residences (or ≥300 ft if illuminated) | Not more than 3 per linear mile; ≥1,000 ft separation between billboards | Only within M-1 and M-2 districts | — | Section 5.105(G)(1)-(11) |
| Billboard – Electronic Conversion (Option for Existing Static Billboard) | No change to existing permitted height | No change to existing permitted area; must comply with static billboard area limits; cannot increase height/area/structural framework | — | Same as static billboard setbacks; must comply with billboard regulations | Conversion of one existing billboard allowed per removal of five nonelectronic billboards (precondition) | Only within M-1 and M-2; conversion subject to Planning Commission approval | — | Section 5.105(G)(12) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Entrance Sign | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft | 1 per street bordering/entering | Any zoning district; wholly upon premises | — | Section 5.105(E) |
| Alley Sign (Additional Wall Sign Area) | — | As calculated by formula | — | — | Not specified; area allowance applies | Any business with an entrance on an alley | — | Section 5.105(F) |
| Drive-Through Sign (Accessory) | 7 ft | 32 sq ft per drive-through use (not counted toward total sign area/quantity unless legible off-premises) | — | — | Per drive-through use | On-premises for uses with drive-through facilities | — | Section 5.105(C)(4) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | Counted within building-mounted aggregate | On eligible building facades per building-mounted sign location standards | — | Section 5.105(D)(8) |
| Awning Sign (Building-Mounted) | — | ≤35% of awning exterior surface | — | — | Within aggregate building-mounted allowance | On awnings attached to eligible facades | — | Section 5.105(D)(5) |
| Temporary Window Signs (Business) | — | ≤25% of inside surface of the window area of such business | — | — | — | Exterior window signs occupying interior window area | — | Section 5.106(B) |
| Temporary Construction Signs | — | 16 sq ft per firm | — | — | — | Confined to site of construction | — | Section 5.106(C)(1) and 5.106(F) |
| Electronic Readerboard (Changeable Copy Area on On-Premises Signs) | — | ≤20 sq ft changeable copy area per site | — | — | — | On-premises signs with changeable copy area (physical or electronic) | — | Section 5.102(D) |

## Prohibited signs in Pontiac

- Obscene content: Signs with statements, words, pictures, or images of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character are prohibited citywide.
- Imitation or mimicry of traffic control: Signs that imitate official traffic signs/signals or use words such as stop, go slow, caution, danger, warning, etc., or that could be confused with traffic control devices or hide any traffic/street sign or signal are prohibited citywide.
- Obsolete or abandoned signs: Signs advertising activities/businesses no longer on the premises, signs with no face or copy, faded or peeling wall signs, or signs in poor physical condition are prohibited citywide.
- Mechanical/kinetic and wind-moved devices: Signs consisting of or containing banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similarly moving devices, or signs that swing/move due to wind are prohibited citywide unless specifically permitted elsewhere in the code.
- Portable signs: Signs designed to be moved (including wheeled or towable signs and changeable-letter portable units) are prohibited citywide.
- Parasite signs: Signs affixed to trees, public or private utility poles, rocks, shrubs, or abandoned buildings/structures are prohibited citywide.
- Non-government signs in or projecting into the public right-of-way or public easements are prohibited unless reviewed by the City Engineer and approved by the Director of Public Works (or designee).
- No sign may interfere with visibility or effectiveness of official traffic signs/signals, driver vision at access points or intersections, or pedestrian movement on public sidewalks/safety paths.
- No sign may obstruct firefighting or free access to doors, windows, fire escapes, or any required exit way; placement that obstructs ingress/egress is prohibited.
- No enlargement, reduction, or relocation of any sign except in full conformity with the ordinance and after obtaining a proper permit.
- Illumination restrictions applicable to all signs (except electronic billboards): no open spark or flame for display unless specifically approved by the Building and Safety Engineering Administrator and Fire Marshal; maximum illumination at adjacent residential property is 0.08 foot-candle and 2,400 foot-lamberts; illuminated signs must be at least 75 feet from residential use districts and shielded away from residences; the Director of Public Works may order changes to red/green neon that conflict with traffic lights.
- No blinkers, flashers, fluttering lights, beacon lights, or illumination with changing light intensity/brightness/colors; no animation or moving devices unless specifically approved by City Council.
- No exposed reflective bulbs and no strobe or incandescent lamps exceeding 15 watts may be used on a sign so as to expose the bulb/light face to a public street or adjacent property.
- Obstruction prohibited: No sign may be placed so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window, or door opening used for passage or firefighting.
- Electronic readerboard signs: messages may change no more than once every 15 seconds; no flashing, moving, animation, or similar attention-attracting methods on electronic readerboards.
- Awning signs: awnings with back-lit graphics or any internal illumination are prohibited.
- Projecting signs: internally lit plastic projecting signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pontiac

- Address signs: street-legible address numbers and one nameplate up to 2 square feet per lot.
- Commemorative/monumental signs: names/dates/plaques carved or made of permanent materials and integral to the structure.
- Institutional identification signs on the institution’s premises up to 24 square feet (wall signs must be flat and not above roofline; ground signs max top height 6 feet; illumination must meet ordinance standards).
- Murals that do not advertise a business, product, service, or activity are exempt from sign area and do not count against allowable sign area (murals deemed advertising count toward building-mounted sign area).
- Occupant/danger/cautionary signs: up to two per street front; max 4 square feet each; max 10 feet height; illumination only from concealed, non-flashing, non-animated sources.
- Opinion signs on private property: must meet setback; may be displayed no more than 30 days before the related event and removed within 14 days after; max 5 square feet area and 4 feet height.
- Parking lot identification signs (e.g., customer parking, reserved, accessible): limited to parking use information only; max 1.5 square feet per sign; no commercial messages.
- Public/noncommercial signs in the public interest (e.g., safety, trespassing, traffic, memorial plaques, historical markers, public facility/activity identification).
- Real estate signs: residential for-sale signs up to 6 square feet; nonresidential for sale/lease signs up to 12 square feet; removal within specified time; additional directional signs allowed.
- Seasonal decorations without commercial messages are not considered signage and require no permit.
- Interior signs (inside buildings) may be erected without permit, but any permanently attached interior sign visible from outside must comply with the ordinance.
- Small tenant identification signs: max 1 square foot, flat against building, stationary, not illuminated, announcing name/occupation of tenant.
- Government street/traffic signs erected by City/county/state/federal.
- Vehicle signs: painted or attached directly to the original vehicle body with no projection beyond the original manufactured body.
- Window signs: allowed up to 25% of the inside surface of window area per floor level.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- General permits: A sign may not be constructed or erected without a City-issued permit; applications must include filed plans/specifications showing dimensions, materials, loads, stresses, and anchorage (Section 5.110).
- Ground signs: No ground sign may be erected, expanded, or developed until the Planning Department administratively reviews and approves its location; in the C-2 district, Planning Commission approval of location is required (Section 5.105.C.5).
- C-2 Central Business District: All signs require design review approval by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Design Committee; applicants must submit a location plan and a detailed sign design plan (elevations, materials, script, colored rendering) under the seal of a registered architect or qualified graphics professional (Section 5.107).
- Billboards: Planning Commission site plan approval is required for billboard locations (Section 5.105.G.2).
- Electronic billboard conversions: Require Planning Commission public hearing and approval; applicant must also meet special exception permit criteria under Article 6, Chapter 3; notice to owners within 500 feet; approvals may include conditions; denials or renewal denials may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals (Section 5.105.G.12).
- Public right-of-way encroachments: Nongovernment signs projecting over or into public right-of-way/easements require City Engineer review and approval by the Director of Public Works before any permit is issued (Section 5.102.B).
- No explicit master sign plan requirement is stated in the ordinance; instead, site plan/design reviews and permit submittals apply as noted above.

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

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