# Sign Regulations in Putnam Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Putnam Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/putnam-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14788646#14788646)

## At a glance

Putnam Township, Michigan regulates 34 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Ground Sign (All nonagricultural and nonresidential uses)s in the Agriculture/Open Space (A-O) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 25 sq ft, with a 5 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft side (nonilluminated), 25 ft side (illuminated) setback (Sec. §340-159D, A-O Ground Sign Requirements). Most commercial signs in Putnam Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agriculture/Open Space (A-O) | 6 | 16 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residential (RR, RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4, LR-1, LR-2) | 4 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Two-Family and Multiple-Family (R-2, R-3) | 4 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Manufactured Housing Community (MHC) | 3 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Resource Based Recreation (RBR) | 3 | 16 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| Commercial and Industrial (C-1, C-2, M-1) | 4 | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Public Lands (P-L) | 2 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 6 ft | Aggregate 32 sq ft per site | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Agriculture/Open Space (A-O)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (All nonagricultural and nonresidential uses) | 5 ft | 25 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft side (nonilluminated), 25 ft side (illuminated) | 1 per lot, or 2 per lot with 500+ ft frontage | — | — | §340-159D, A-O Ground Sign Requirements |
| Ground Sign (Subdivision/residential development identification) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance | — | §340-159D, A-O Ground Sign Requirements |
| Ground Sign (Agricultural identification) | 5 ft | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per farm or business | — | — | §340-159D, A-O Ground Sign Requirements |
| Ground Sign (Place of assembly/schools) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot, or 2 per lot with 500+ ft of frontage | — | — | §340-159D, A-O Ground Sign Requirements |
| Wall Sign (All nonagricultural and nonresidential permitted and special land uses) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Mounted to wall | — | §340-159D, A-O Wall Sign Requirements |
| Entrance Drive Arch Sign (All permitted and special land use) | 16 ft | 48 sq ft | — | Outside of clear vision area | 1 per facility | Outside of clear vision area | — | §340-159D, A-O Entrance Drive Arch Sign Requirements |

### Single-Family Residential (RR, RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4, LR-1, LR-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (All nonresidential uses) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way lines; 10 ft side (nonilluminated), 25 ft side (illuminated) | 1 per lot, or 2 per lot with 500+ ft of frontage | — | — | §340-159D, SFR Ground Sign Requirements |
| Ground Sign (Subdivision or residential development identification) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance | — | §340-159D, SFR Ground Sign Requirements |
| Ground Sign (Places of assembly, Schools, Township Halls, Fire and Police Stations) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot, or 2 per lot with 500+ ft of frontage | — | — | §340-159D, SFR Ground Sign Requirements |
| Wall Sign (All nonresidential permitted and special land uses) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Mounted to wall | — | §340-159D, SFR Wall Sign Requirements |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft | Aggregate 32 sq ft per site | — | — | — | Not attached to tree, shrub, utility pole, or structural element not intended to support signs. | — | §340-159E(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential district) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | §340-159E(2) |
| Development Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | §340-159E(3) |
| Directional Sign (At drive entrances or on site) | 4 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | At drive entrances or other locations for providing direction. | — | §340-159E(7) |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign (to places of worship, municipal, educational, agricultural enterprise) | 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | No more than 2 per use | Off-premises; not in right-of-way. | — | §340-159G |
| Home Occupation Wall Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Front wall of dwelling or attached garage | — | §190-5A, §190-5B |
| Home-Based Business Freestanding Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | §190-5A(1), §190-5B |
| Home-Based Business Wall Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Front wall of dwelling or accessory structure | — | §190-5A(2), §190-5B |

## Prohibited signs in Putnam Township

- Signs not specifically permitted in this chapter are prohibited.
- Signs shall not be illuminated (for home occupations and home-based businesses per § 190-5.B).
- A sign resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals, or police, fire, ambulance, or rescue vehicles or signs that imitate official traffic directional signs or devices.
- A sign using the words, "Stop," "Danger," or any other words, phrases, symbols, or characters, in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse a vehicle driver.
- Signs on parked or moving vehicles where the sign is the primary use of the vehicle.
- Signs that are affixed to trees, shrubs or similar natural features; however, "no trespassing" or similar signs of under two square feet are permitted.
- Signs affixed to fences or utility poles, or to structural elements not capable of supporting such signs.
- Any sign which obstructs the ingress or egress from a required door, window, or other required exit.
- Banner signs used as permanent signs.
- Signs placed within the road right-of-way, other than approved traffic control signs and devices.
- Electronic message centers (EMC), except as allowed in a reader board in Subsection M. An electronic sign displaying time and temperature only, provided that messages do not change faster than one change every two seconds, shall be permitted.
- Signs with moving or revolving parts.
- Roof signs.
- Pole signs.
- Off-premises signs except as provided for in this chapter.
- Beacons.
- Signs that emit music, verbal message or sound of any kind.
- Use of glaring, undiffused lights or bulbs is prohibited.
- Placement in any road right-of-way is prohibited (for off-premises directional signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in Putnam Township

- Temporary signs, not otherwise prohibited, provided the total aggregate sign area of all temporary signs on any one site does not exceed 32 square feet and does not exceed a height of six feet; subject to location, attachment, and time limitation requirements.
- Nonilluminated real estate sign (one per lot) of up to six square feet in residential districts, provided they are removed within 30 days after consummation of lease or sale of property.
- Nonilluminated development sign (one per lot) of up to 24 square feet in all districts that may not be erected prior to preliminary site plan application and must be removed within 30 days after completion of the project.
- Nonilluminated construction sign (one per lot) of up to 24 square feet in all districts that must be removed upon completion of construction.
- "No trespassing," "no soliciting," or similar announcement signs on private property, each not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Name plates or street numbers of fewer than two square feet.
- Directional signs at drive entrances or other locations for providing direction to motorists on site, not exceeding two square feet in area and four feet in height.
- Road name signs and other signs established by state, county, or Township units of government when necessary for giving proper directions, identifying or promoting publicly held assets, or otherwise safeguarding and informing the public.
- Non-advertising signs erected by state, county, or Township units of government or a public utility to warn the public of dangerous conditions and unusual hazards, including caving ground, dropoffs, high voltage, fire danger, explosives, severe visibility limits, etc., in any districts, of under two square feet.
- Window signs mounted on the interior of the window, provided that no more than 30% of the window area is obscured by window signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning compliance permit is required for the erection, construction, alteration and/or replacement of any sign except as otherwise provided in the chapter. The application must include display area, setback, elevation drawing, lighting details, building/frontage dimensions, site area/frontage, and a site plan showing sign location and setbacks.
- A site plan showing the sign location and setback from property lines and other structures is required as part of the zoning compliance permit application.
- Nonilluminated development signs are exempt but may not be erected prior to preliminary site plan application and must be removed within 30 days after completion of the project.

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

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