# Sign Regulations in Port Huron, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Port Huron, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/port-huron
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30126084#30126084)

## At a glance

Port Huron, Michigan regulates 21 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Portable Sign (including Sandwich Board)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 60 square feet, with a Same as ground signs for district setback (Sec. §52-819; §52-820(b)). Most commercial signs in Port Huron require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 6 feet | 200 square feet per building face | — |
| Residential Districts (R, R-1, A-1, A-2), Residential uses in I District | 5 | — | 100 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (C-1), Central Commercial District (CCD), Medical District (MD), Nonresidential uses in I District | 12 | 6 feet | 300 square feet per face | — |
| Business District (B), Central Business District (CBD) | 2 | — | 200 square feet | — |
| Business District (B) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Military Street Historic District | 1 | — | Flush-mounted signboard: height max 2.5 ft, lettering 8-18 in high, up to 65% of sign face; window sign max 25% of window area; awning sign: letters 6-8 in high (valances) | — |
| Industrial District (M-1, M-2), I District (Industrial, Nonresidential Uses) | 4 | — | 300 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet per building face | — | — | — | Affixed to an exterior wall; cannot project more than 24 inches from building; cannot be entirely supported by unbraced parapet wall | — | §52-822 |
| Ground Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | In accordance with building setback for district | 1 per street frontage | On private property, outside public right-of-way; must comply with building setback requirements for district | — | §52-821 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building; may not project more than 2 feet into right-of-way, up to 4 feet over private property | — | §52-825 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 24 square feet (without permit); permits required if over 24 sq. ft. or outside building | — | — | 1 per street frontage if outside | Allowed only in nonresidential districts; in building/window only (unless permit for outside) | — | §52-820 |
| Portable Sign (including Sandwich Board) | 6 feet | 60 square feet | — | Same as ground signs for district | 1 per property at one time | Nonresidential districts; on private property; must not obstruct traffic or visibility | — | §52-819; §52-820(b) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Nonresidential districts; attached to face of building | — | §52-823 |
| Roof Sign | Not more than 3 feet above roofline | — | — | — | — | On building roof | — | §52-827 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to front/sides of marquee or hung from bottom; minimum 8.5 ft above sidewalk at lowest point | — | §52-826 |

### Residential Districts (R, R-1, A-1, A-2), Residential uses in I District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On dwelling unit (one per unit) | — | §52-829(1) |
| Bulletin or Announcement Board | — | 12 square feet | — | 1/2 front yard setback; required side yard | 1 per permitted use | On property of permitted use (not dwellings); must meet yard setback | — | §52-829(2) |
| Ground or Wall Sign (Multiple-Housing Development) | — | 48 square feet | — | Permanent: 30 ft from curb, 10 ft from sidewalk (at entry to major thoroughfare), may be in required front yard if criteria met | 1 per entrance | On multiple-family or multifamily housing development | — | §52-829(3) and (6)-(7) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On building or land to be sold, rented, or leased | — | §52-829(5) |
| Temporary Subdivision Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | — | On property of subdivision | — | §52-829(7) |

### Commercial District (C-1), Central Commercial District (CCD), Medical District (MD), Nonresidential uses in I District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet per building face, except: shopping/office/cluster commercial: 100 sq. ft. per storefront; anchor stores 200 sq. ft. per storefront | — | — | — | Affixed to building | — | §52-830(2)(a), §52-822, §52-824 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or hung from marquee | — | §52-830(2)(c), §52-826 |
| Ground Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | Building setback for district | 1 per street frontage | On private property, outside right-of-way, per setback | — | §52-830(2)(e), §52-821 |
| Roof Sign | 3 feet above roofline | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | §52-830(2)(f), §52-827 |
| Portable Sign (including Sandwich Board, Inflatable) | 6 feet | 60 square feet | — | Same as ground sign for district | 1 per property at a time | On private property in nonresidential district | — | §52-830(2)(h), §52-819 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 24 sq ft (no permit, inside window/building); portable sign rules if >24 sq ft or outside | — | — | 1 per street frontage if outside | On/inside building or window | — | §52-830(2)(i), §52-820 |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On building or land intended to be sold/rented/leased | — | §52-830(3) |
| Off-premises Sign (Billboard) | — | 300 square feet per face | — | Building setback for district, and min 150 ft from residential district | — | On private property in C-1, not closer than 150 ft to any residential district; not closer to lot line than required building setback | — | §52-830(4), §52-828 |

## Prohibited signs in Port Huron

- No sign, except those placed and maintained by the City, county or state, shall be erected or placed in the public right-of-way nor be allowed to project into the public right-of-way, unless otherwise specifically provided.
- Signs erected on a building may not project more than two feet into the right-of-way.
- No sign shall exceed the maximum height limitations of the zoning district in which it is located, unless otherwise permitted.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected at street intersections in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or interfere with or be confused with authorized traffic signs, signals, or devices, or use words, phrases, symbols, or characters in a way that misleads or confuses traffic.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained to obstruct any fire escape or any window, door, or opening used as a means of egress or for firefighting purposes, or to prevent free passage on roofs.
- No sign shall be attached to a fire escape, or interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof.
- Unless permitted, all signs must comply with applicable local building and electrical codes.
- Any sign found to be unsafe, a menace to the public, or constructed, erected, or maintained in violation of the ordinance, must be removed or altered within 10 days after notice.
- All signs must be kept in repair and in a proper state of preservation.
- Any sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold on the premises shall be removed within 90 days after written notification.
- Temporary signs shall not extend over or into any public right-of-way, street, alley, sidewalk, or other public thoroughfare.
- Temporary signs shall not be erected so as to endanger persons or property or obstruct the view of traffic or traffic signals.
- Temporary signs may not project over any wall opening or prevent ingress/egress from doors, windows, or fire escapes.
- All illuminated signs and building trim shall not produce glare into adjacent residential districts or cause hazardous glare to pedestrians or drivers.
- No illuminated sign may be of such brightness as to cause hazardous glare.
- All spotlights must be diffused or shielded to not shine on other properties.
- There shall be no flashing, oscillating, or intermittent type of illuminated sign or display in any residential district or within 100 feet of a residential district, except in limited circumstances.

## Signs exempt from permit in Port Huron

- Permit not required for projecting signs not exceeding 2.5 square feet of display surface.
- Permit not required for real estate signs allowed in any district, provided the sign conforms to requirements.
- Permit not required for political signs (with specific size, placement, and timing limits).
- Permit not required for special event signs (with specific size, placement, and removal timing requirements).
- Permit not required for memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of construction when cut in masonry or constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials.
- Permit not required for traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs, or temporary emergency or nonadvertising signs approved by the City Council.
- Permit not required for bulletin boards not over 12 square feet for public, charitable, or religious institutions, located on their premises.
- Permit not required for directional signs within the zoning lot area, below four feet in height, and not for advertising purposes, subject to requirements.
- Permit not required for wall signs not more than 10 square feet in commercial or industrial districts.
- Exemptions apply only to permit requirement, not from responsibility for safe erection and maintenance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A building permit is required for the erection, construction, or alteration of any sign unless specifically exempted by the ordinance.
- The permit application must include plans, specifications, plot or site plan showing sign location, stress calculations, owner and installer consents, and all other details required by the Building Inspector or Zoning Administrator.
- For permanent subdivision signs in residential districts, a scaled elevation drawing showing size, layout, color, materials, and a site plan showing location relative to property lines, streets, sidewalks, and utilities must be submitted. Approval from the Planning Commission is required prior to building permit issuance.
- For portable signs in nonresidential districts, the property owner and/or occupant and the sign lessor must obtain a building permit prior to placement, accompanied by a plot plan showing property and sign placement.
- For signs in the Military Street Historic District, a sign permit application must include scale drawings showing dimensions, style, wording, paint colors, materials, and an image or drawing showing where and how the sign will be attached. These are reviewed for compliance with historic guidelines.
- Any electrical or illuminated sign requires an electrical permit and installation in accordance with local electrical codes.
- Such other information as the Building Inspector or Zoning Administrator may require in order to show full compliance with the chapter.

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

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