# Sign Regulations in Rothbury, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rothbury, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/rothbury
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Rothbury, Michigan regulates 26 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Temporary Sign - Construction Identifications in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 16 square feet (residential); 32 square feet (all other districts), with a At least 1/2 required front yard setback. setback (Sec. § 154.344(C)). Most commercial signs in Rothbury require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 25 feet | 32 square feet per sign | — |
| Residential Districts | 4 | — | 32 square feet (per face if back-to-back) | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts | 5 | 25 feet | 32 square feet per face (if back-to-back faces) | — |
| Industrial Zoning District | 3 | 25 feet | 75 square feet per face (if back-to-back faces); no more than 150 square feet total for all sides | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No sign shall extend above or exceed the highest roof line or be more than 20 feet above average grade. Wall sign formula may further limit dimensional height. | — | — | — | Each non-residential parcel: either two wall signs or one wall sign and one freestanding/ground sign. Corner parcels may have one additional wall sign; if both used, on different walls. | Allowed in all zoning districts. | — | § 154.331, § 154.332, § 154.334 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 32 square feet per sign | — | — | One projecting sign per business; buildings on corner lots may have one additional on a different side. | Wall-mounted, ground floor only. Not on roof supports or columns. | — | § 154.335 |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet per side | — | — | See restrictions by district. | Not allowed in residential districts except as subdivision entrance sign. | — | § 154.336 |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | — | — | At least 10 feet from any property line. | One per parcel. | Not allowed in residential zoning districts. | — | § 154.337 |
| Off-Site Advertising Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from right-of-way and property lines. | One per parcel. | Only in non-residential districts; not on or over roofs. | — | § 154.343 |
| Temporary Sign - Construction Identification | 6 feet | 16 square feet (residential); 32 square feet (all other districts) | — | At least 1/2 required front yard setback. | One per property. | Mounted as ground, pole, or wall sign; must be at least half of required front yard setback from right-of-way. | — | § 154.344(C) |
| Temporary Sign - For Sale/Lease (Residential) | 5 feet | 9 square feet | — | — | One per lot; two on corner lots. | Within property lines. | — | § 154.344(D) |
| Temporary Sign - For Sale/Lease (Business) | 8 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | One per lot; two on corner lots. | Within property lines. | — | § 154.344(E) |

### Commercial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional/Traffic Control Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | Up to 2 per driveway/entrance/exit. | Per driveway or entrance/exit. | — | § 154.339(C) |
| Wall Sign (Commercial) - Option 1 | — | — | — | — | One per business per building side. | Affixed to building wall, canopy, or awning. | — | § 154.339(D) |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial) | 25 feet | 32 square feet per face (if back-to-back faces) | — | No part may project beyond property line. | One per parcel. | On lot; not projecting past property line. | — | § 154.339(E) |
| Wall Mural (Commercial) | — | — | — | — | — | Painted directly on building side. | — | § 154.339(F) |
| Sidewalk Sign (C-1 District Only) | — | 8 square feet | 2 feet | — | — | On sidewalk adjacent to business in C-1 Commercial district. | — | § 154.344(J) |

### Industrial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (Industrial) | — | 6 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from property line. | — | Anywhere on premises, not closer than ten feet to property line. | — | § 154.340(B), (C) |
| Wall Sign (Industrial) | Not higher than the building | 10% of total surface area of building face; no higher than height of building. | — | — | — | Flat, parallel, and attached to the building wall. | — | § 154.340(D) |
| Freestanding Sign (Industrial) | 25 feet | 75 square feet per face (if back-to-back faces); no more than 150 square feet total for all sides | — | At least 10 feet from property line. | — | Anywhere on premises, not closer than ten feet from any property line. | — | § 154.340(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Rothbury

- Signs may not be located within public rights-of-way.
- No sign shall extend above or exceed the highest roof line of the principal structure, nor be more than 20 feet above the average grade level at the base of the sign.
- No sign shall be erected or located so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any window, door, or fire escape, nor shall any sign be attached to any fire escape.
- All electrical devices and wiring on signs must conform to the Electrical Code.
- No sign may interfere with traffic or be confused with or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic signal, sign, or marking.
- All signs must comply with all applicable provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.
- No sign shall contain lewd, vulgar, indecent, or obscene matter of a publicly-offensive nature.
- Lighting for signs must be constant and focused on the sign, with sources shielded to avoid glare on streets, sidewalks, or adjacent property.
- Projecting and freestanding signs must be constructed to withstand specified wind pressures and loads per the International Building Code.
- No sign may be placed where it is dangerous to street traffic or within the vision area required for clear sight.
- No sign shall be erected at intersections or in locations where it obstructs vision or could be confused with, or detracts from, authorized traffic control devices, or uses words or symbols (e.g., 'stop', 'look', 'danger') that could mislead or confuse traffic.
- Flashing and intermittently-illuminated signs, signs with flashing or moving lights, visible moving parts, revolving parts, mechanical movement, or apparent visible movement by mechanical means or natural wind currents are prohibited.
- Signs or structures that are structurally unsafe, create a safety or health hazard due to poor maintenance, dilapidation, abandonment, or improper repair, or could cause electrical shock are prohibited.
- Any sign that, due to size, location, content, coloring, or illumination, creates a traffic hazard or obstructs driver vision or traffic control device visibility is prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct free ingress to or egress from required doors, windows, fire escapes, or other exits are prohibited.
- Signs that use words, phrases, symbols, or characters in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic are prohibited.
- Signs or advertising structures containing any obscene, indecent, sexually explicit, or immoral matter are prohibited.
- Wheeled trailer signs on flatbed trailers and semi-trailers requiring registration as vehicles are prohibited.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rothbury

- Signs erected by an official governmental body or agency and deemed necessary for the protection of public health, safety, welfare, and morals.
- Official flags of governments, when displayed in a manner approved by the government represented.
- Holiday decorations and greetings in season.
- Signs required by law to be displayed.
- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and having no letter or symbol exceeding two inches in any dimension.
- Street numbers and family names on mailboxes and mailbox supports.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs erected or structurally altered require approval and a sign permit.
- No person shall erect, relocate, repair, or alter any sign or billboard without first obtaining a sign permit, if two-thirds of the replacement value is exceeded for repairs/alterations.
- Application for a sign permit must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator with specified information and plans.
- If a sign is to be illuminated, electrical plans and specifications demonstrating compliance with the Building Code and safety practices must be submitted.
- Signs exceeding height limitations of the zoning district may be allowed as a special land use, implying possible additional review or variance.

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

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