# Sign Regulations in Royal Oak, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Royal Oak, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/royal-oak
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8262159#8262159)

## At a glance

Royal Oak, Michigan regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Institutional Use - Monument Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 25 sq ft (single face) / 50 sq ft (multiple faces), with a 10 ft minimum setback setback (Sec. § 607-8D(2)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign Area 1 | 2 | 5 ft; may be increased by 1 ft if certain requirements are met | 100 sq ft | — |
| Sign Area 2 | 4 | 16 ft (may be increased to 24 ft if frontage >300 ft and area increased) | 100 sq ft | — |
| Sign Area 3 | 4 | Bottom at least 8 ft above adjacent right-of-way; top not above 12 ft above adjacent right-of-way | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | No part lower than 8 ft or higher than 15 ft above sidewalk | 30 sq ft per building facade | — |

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

### Sign Area 2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | One wall sign per building facade | Building facades | — | § 607-6A |
| Freestanding Sign or Monument Sign | 16 ft (may be increased to 24 ft if frontage >300 ft and area increased) | 42 sq ft (one face)/84 sq ft (two or more faces). May be increased up to 84 sq ft/168 sq ft if lot frontage >300 ft, and height up to 24 ft. | — | — | 1 per lot (may increase with lot frontage), or increase size/height of one sign | On lot | — | § 607-6B |
| Window Sign | — | 15% of each window area | — | — | One per window | Within 12 inches of window or on window pane, visible from exterior | — | § 607-6C |
| Electronic Message Center | — | Up to half of allowed freestanding sign area | — | — | Same as permitted freestanding sign(s) | Freestanding sign only | — | § 607-6D |

### Sign Area 3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | One wall sign per building facade | Building facades | — | § 607-7A |
| Projecting Sign | Bottom at least 8 ft above adjacent right-of-way; top not above 12 ft above adjacent right-of-way | 4 sq ft background area; optional supplemental sign (0.5 sq ft) | — | — | — | Affixed via support arm(s) to building façade, downtown pedestrian-oriented | — | § 607-7B |
| Window Sign | — | 10% of each window area | — | — | One per window | Within 12 inches of window or on window pane, visible from exterior | — | § 607-7C |
| Sidewalk Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Private property (per specifications) or public property (license agreement required) | — | § 607-7D |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Marker | — | 30 sq ft per building facade | — | — | — | Building facade | — | § 607-8B |
| Flag | — | Limited by wind load capacity of pole/structure as determined by Building Official | — | — | — | Pole or structure, constructed per Building Code | — | § 607-8C |
| Institutional Use - Wall Sign | — | 20 sq ft per building facade fronting on a street | — | — | — | Each facade fronting on a street | — | § 607-8D(1) |
| Institutional Use - Monument Sign | 5 ft | 25 sq ft (single face) / 50 sq ft (multiple faces) | — | 10 ft minimum setback | One per lot | Frontage on major street; must be oriented toward major street | — | § 607-8D(2) |
| Multiple-Family Residential - Wall Sign | — | 2 sq ft per dwelling unit, max 20 sq ft | — | — | One per frontage on major street | Per frontage on major street, oriented toward major street | — | § 607-8E(1) |
| Multiple-Family Residential - Monument Sign | 5 ft | 25 sq ft (single face) / 50 sq ft (multiple faces) | — | 10 ft minimum setback | One per development | Frontage on major street; must be oriented toward major street | — | § 607-8E(2) |
| Pennant | No part lower than 8 ft or higher than 15 ft above sidewalk | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per 10 ft major street frontage, max 6 per lot | Affixed to building facade | — | § 607-8F |
| Private Traffic Direction Sign/Incidental Sign | 3 ft (if freestanding) | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On lot; horizontal directional signs flush with paved areas are exempt | — | § 607-8G |

## Prohibited signs in Royal Oak

- A sign not expressly permitted is prohibited.
- Signs which incorporate, in any manner, flashing or moving lights, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter.
- Banners, spinners, and streamers.
- String lights, except seasonal decorative displays.
- Any sign which has any visible moving part, visible revolving part, or visible mechanical movement of any description, or other apparent visible movement, including intermittent electrical pulsations, or by action of normal wind currents. Automatic change-of-message with cycle time of less than 30 seconds is expressly prohibited.
- Roof signs.
- Beacons, except as may be authorized by a special event permit.
- Signs projecting over or located in the public right-of-way, other than as may be permitted in Sign Area 3.
- Portable signs, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter.
- Any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe, constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment, is not kept in good repair, or is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it.
- Any sign which, by reason of its size, location, color, or manner of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or detracts from the visibility of any traffic sign or control device on public streets.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a door, window, fire escape or other exitway.
- Any sign or other advertising structure containing any obscene message, pursuant to state statute.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected or maintained.
- Any sign painted upon the wall of a building, fence or screening wall.
- Any sign which is attached to a tree, utility pole or other structure not intended to support a sign as defined in this chapter.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons.
- Lighting used as a permanent architectural detail or enhancement surrounding windows and doors, including, but not limited to, unshielded luminous tubes (i.e., neon or argon lights), fluorescent light fixtures, fiber-optic lights, light-emitting diodes, or bare light bulbs, except seasonal decorative displays.
- No person shall paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement, or inscription whatsoever, nor shall any person erect or cause to be erected any sign whatever in any park, except for licensed concessionaires acting with proper authority.
- No person, firm or corporation shall fasten any cards, signs, posters, boards, or other articles to any tree, shrub or plant growing upon any public highway, park or other public building in the City of Royal Oak.

## Signs exempt from permit in Royal Oak

- Building or house address signs, provided they are displayed and clearly visible from the street and placed in accordance with the City's Property Maintenance Code.
- Building markers, not exceeding an area of 30 square feet on each building facade.
- Flags, as defined, provided their size does not exceed the wind load capacity of the pole or other anchoring structure and all structures comply with the Building Code.
- Signs of a public nature, including safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, traffic signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of interest, memorial plaques, and all signs erected by or on order of a public officer in the performance of a public duty.
- Private traffic direction signs and other incidental signs provided certain size and height restrictions are met.
- Temporary signs, including but not limited to signs advertising property currently for sale or lease, on-going garage or estate sales, and political signs.
- Underground public utility warning signs marking the routes of underground public utility pipes, conduits, and cables.
- Vehicle signs painted on or attached to vehicles which are licensed and used upon public streets for transportation of persons, goods or equipment.
- Horizontal directional signs flush with paved areas are exempt from directional sign standards.
- Seasonal decorative displays are specifically not considered as prohibited string lights or certain lighting details.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan shall be submitted to the Planning Department whenever a building or structure shall be erected, converted to other use or structurally altered so as to require site plan review pursuant to Chapter 770, Zoning. The master signage plan shall be subject to the review and approval of the Planning Commission in the course of its site plan review process.
- As part of the application for a sign permit, a master signage plan as provided in § 607-12 must be submitted if required.
- Flashing or moving lights, moving parts, or animation may be incorporated into a freestanding or monument sign in Sign Area 2 only when approved as part of a master signage plan by the Planning Commission for sites with frontage along Woodward Avenue.
- Variances from the provisions of the sign ordinance may be granted by the Planning Commission through an appeal and hearing process, upon evidence of unnecessary hardship or practical difficulties as specified in the ordinance.

## 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 Royal Oak — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Royal+Oak+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-royal-oak

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