# Sign Regulations in Roseville, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Roseville, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/roseville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7620940#7620940)

## At a glance

Roseville, Michigan regulates 18 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Local Business District, Community Business District, General Business District zoning district are capped at 25 ft at minimum setback, plus 1 ft per additional 2 ft setback, up to 45 ft max tall and 100 sq. ft., with a Must be at setback line setback (Sec. § 264-6A(1)). Most commercial signs in Roseville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Local Business District, Community Business District, General Business District | 5 | 25 ft at minimum setback, plus 1 ft per additional 2 ft setback, up to 45 ft max | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Light Industrial District | 5 | 40 ft at minimum setback, plus 1 ft per additional 2 ft setback, up to 60 ft max | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| General Industrial District | 5 | 40 ft at minimum setback, plus 1 ft per additional 2 ft setback, up to 60 ft max | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Multiple-Family Residential (Low Rise) District | 2 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Multiple-Family Residential (High Rise) District | 1 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Office Service District | 4 | 25 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| DDA District | 1 | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial Districts | 3 | 10 ft (from part of roof immediately below the sign) | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| One-Family Residential and Two-Family Residential Districts | 2 | 5 ft. | 10 sq. ft. | — |
| Multiple-Family Residential District, Multiple Residential Districts | 2 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-1A, R-2, RM-1, RM-2) | 2 | — | 4 sq. ft. | — |
| Sign Overlay Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial and Office Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. for temporary use; see also promotional sign restrictions | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### Local Business District, Community Business District, General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft at minimum setback, plus 1 ft per additional 2 ft setback, up to 45 ft max | 100 sq. ft. | — | Must be at setback line | One per 300 feet business frontage | Business frontage; must not extend over public right-of-way | — | § 264-6A(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of building facade area, 150 sq. ft. max | — | — | No limit | On building facade; not beyond top or ends of wall surface; max projection 18 in. | — | § 264-6B(2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | One per eligible advertiser | On building; min. 9 ft clearance above ground; max projection 5 ft from face of building; may extend up to 3 ft over right-of-way if frontage <5 ft from property line | — | § 264-6C(2) |
| Roof Sign | 10 ft (from part of roof immediately below the sign) | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | One per eligible advertiser | Wholly within the roof area of the structure | — | § 264-6D(1) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 15 ft. | 75 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street bordering or entering the subdivision | One sign per street bordering or entering subdivision | — | § 264-7H(4) |

### Light Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 ft at minimum setback, plus 1 ft per additional 2 ft setback, up to 60 ft max | 150 sq. ft. | — | Must be at setback line | One | On premises; must not extend over public right-of-way | — | § 264-6A(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | No limit | On building facade; not beyond top or ends of wall surface; projection max 18 in. | — | § 264-6B(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | One per eligible advertiser | On building; min. 9 ft clearance above ground; max projection 5 ft from building; may extend up to 3 ft over right-of-way if frontage <5 ft from property line | — | § 264-6C(3) |
| Roof Sign | 10 ft. (from part of roof immediately below the sign) | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | One per eligible advertiser | Wholly within the roof area of the structure | — | § 264-6D(2) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street bordering or entering the subdivision | One per street bordering or entering the subdivision | — | § 264-7H(5) |

### General Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 ft at minimum setback, plus 1 ft per additional 2 ft setback, up to 60 ft max | 200 sq. ft. | — | Must be at setback line | One | On premises; must not extend over public right-of-way | — | § 264-6A(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | No limit | On building facade; not beyond the top or ends of the wall surface; projection max 18 in. | — | § 264-6B(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | One per eligible advertiser | On building; min. 9 ft clearance above ground; max projection 5 ft from building; may extend up to 3 ft over right-of-way if frontage <5 ft from property line | — | § 264-6C(3) |
| Roof Sign | 10 ft. (from part of roof immediately below the sign) | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | One per eligible advertiser | Wholly within the roof area of the structure | — | § 264-6D(2) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street bordering or entering the subdivision | One per street bordering or entering the subdivision | — | § 264-7H(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Roseville

- A sign not expressly permitted is prohibited.
- Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving lights.
- Banners, pennants, spinners and streamers, except as permitted in § 264-7.
- String lights used in connection with commercial premises for commercial purposes, other than holiday decorations.
- Any sign which has any visible moving part, visible revolving parts or visible mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic or mechanical means, including intermittent electrical pulsations or by action of normal wind currents, but automatic change-of-message with cycle time of not less than 30 seconds is permissible.
- Any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe or which constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment or which is not kept in good repair or which is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it.
- Any sign which, by reason of its size, location, content, coloring or manner of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or detriment to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers or by obstructing or detracting from the visibility of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required exitway.
- Signs which make use of words such as 'Stop', 'Look' or 'Danger' or any characters or shapes generally used as public safety symbols or other words, phrases, symbols or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- Any sign or other advertising structure containing any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected or maintained.
- Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold.
- Portable signs.
- Bench signs, whether such benches are permanent or portable, which are prohibited where benches are located outside of a fully enclosed structure.
- No person shall erect or cause to be erected any sign whatever on any public lands or highways or roads adjacent to a park.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, maintain, enlarge, alter, move or convert any sign in the City of Roseville or cause or permit the same to be done contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Roseville

- House or building address sign.
- Flags bearing the official sign of a nation, state, municipality or educational institution, provided they comply with the zoning ordinance.
- Private traffic direction signs and related signs.
- Time-and-temperature display signs (permit required, but generally permitted).
- Underground public utility warning signs.
- Marquee advertising, provided that said advertising is wholly contained within the basic marquee face.
- Signs painted on or attached to vehicles which are normally used upon highways, provided the vehicle is not parked with the principal purpose of advertising a business or activity conducted on nearby private property.
- Temporary signs, banners and pennants approved by the Building Director in conjunction with an event approved under Chapter 248.
- Residential window signs: One sign may be displayed in the window of a dwelling in a residentially zoned area (not exceeding four square feet and not advertising a home occupation unless approved).
- Servicing and maintenance: Changing of advertising on a sign specifically designed for the periodic change of the message without change in sign structure (e.g., bulletin boards) does not require a permit.
- Government buildings and education facilities are exempt from certain requirements related to changeable LED message signs (specifically § 264-6F(1)(b)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site plan showing the location of a proposed A-frame sign, as well as colored elevations representing size, dimensions and the graphic design of the sign, must be presented along with the applicable permit fee for A-frame signs in the DDA District. Permits shall be for one year from the date of issue.
- Permits are required before any person erects, alters, repairs, relocates or maintains a sign unless otherwise provided in the ordinance (§ 264-10). The application must include detailed plans and specifications, method of construction and attachment, and other information as required by the Building Director.
- Signs must conform to the standards of the Roseville Sign Ordinance, Chapter 264, as referenced in the zoning code and overlay zone (§ 370-108, § 370-57).
- A variance from the strict application of the Sign Ordinance may only be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals after a public hearing, with specific findings required (§ 264-15).

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

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