# Sign Regulations in Saint Johns, Michigan

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

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

## At a glance

Saint Johns, Michigan regulates 18 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Directional Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3 ft. tall and 2 sq. ft., with a 5 ft. setback (Sec. § 153.04(E)). Most commercial signs in Saint Johns require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2 | 1 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| R-3H | 2 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| T | 2 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| MU | 4 | 30 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| MC, GC | 4 | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| CBD | 5 | 42 in. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| O | 4 | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| I-1, I-2 | 3 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Districts (R-3L, R-3H) | 3 | — | 1 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Industrial Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | Flagpole: 35 ft. max above grade; flagpole at least 8 ft. higher than flag's longest side. | 32 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### MU

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Crest or Insignia Sign (Development) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | At least 30 ft. from street or lot line. | 1 per subdivision or development | For recorded subdivision or development. | — | § 153.05 Permitted Signs, Table, row 1 |
| Wall Sign or Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building face or window. | — | § 153.05 Permitted Signs, Table, row 3 |
| Canopy Sign/Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On canopy or marquee attached to building. | — | § 153.05 Permitted Signs, Table, row 4 |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 153.05 Permitted Signs, Table, row 5 |

### CBD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign or Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Building face/window. | — | § 153.05 Permitted Signs, Table, row 3 |
| Canopy Sign/Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On canopy or marquee. | — | § 153.05 Permitted Signs, Table, row 4 |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 153.05 Permitted Signs, Table, row 5 |
| Sidewalk Sign | 42 in. | — | 30 in. | — | 1 per storefront | On sidewalk, not impeding traffic, within CBD. | — | § 153.05 Permitted Signs, Table, row 10; § 153.04(C) |
| Temporary Signs | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | No closer than 5 feet from property line fronting a public street. | 1 per lot | Not in ROW. | — | § 153.05 Permitted Signs, Table, row 11; § 153.04(D) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | Flagpole: 35 ft. max above grade; flagpole at least 8 ft. higher than flag's longest side. | — | — | — | 1 flagpole per lot | Any district. | — | § 153.04(B)(1) |
| Political Sign | — | 14 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On private property, not in right-of-way. | — | § 153.04(B)(3) |
| Community Special Event Sign | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On or off the lot hosting the special event; only on private property. | — | § 153.04(B)(4) |
| Sponsor Sign (Event/Function) | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Private property, not in right-of-way. | — | § 153.04(B)(5) |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. | — | — | — | § 153.04(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Saint Johns

- Any signs, including window signs, with visible moving, animation, revolving or mechanical parts or movements, or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic or mechanical means, including intermittent electrical pulsations, or by action of normal wind current (excluding time and temperature signs, which are permitted).
- Balloons, balloon signs, strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, banners, or flags, except for those flags of a non-commercial nature not used for the purpose of commercial advertisement and specifically exempted, or except at the opening of a new business in a commercial or industrial district for a period not exceeding 15 days; exterior banner and pennant display signs in commercial or industrial districts only to call attention to a sale or promotion for up to 15 consecutive days per event, maximum 60 days/year.
- Roof signs.
- Off-site signs other than approved billboards.
- No signs may be placed in or overhang into a public right-of-way other than signs established and maintained by the city, county, state or federal government.
- No light pole, utility pole, tree, or other supporting member may be used for the placement of any sign unless specifically designed and approved for such use.
- Signs may not be placed so as to obstruct the clear vision of motorists or pedestrians, be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or constitute a nuisance per se.
- No commercial vehicle, which in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator has the intended function of acting as a sign, shall be parked in an area abutting the street unless no other parking area is available.

## Signs exempt from permit in Saint Johns

- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations.
- Legal notices; identification, informational, or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.
- Flags of a non-commercial nature, not used for the purpose of commercial advertisement and specifically exempted.
- Ordinary servicing, repainting of existing sign message, or cleaning of a sign.
- Change of message of a sign without change of structure, including a bulletin board or billboard, but not including a sign to which a new permanent face may be attached.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required to erect, place, structurally alter, paint, or add to any sign or attach any sign to an existing sign, which would increase the area, constitute a structural alteration, or an addition, except for specifically exempt maintenance or message changes.
- Application for a sign permit must be filed with the Zoning Administrator including specified information (plans, location, etc.).
- Project signs for a multi-lot or multi-unit residential development located on a site for greater than three months shall require a permit and must be shown on the development’s proposed site plan.
- Sponsor signs not meeting the general requirements may be approved by the Planning Commission upon submittal of sign information prior to placement.
- Legal, non-conforming signs existing at the time of adoption of this chapter must be brought into conformance or removed within seven years, unless granted a variance by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- The Zoning Administrator may inspect any sign requiring a permit at any time and may require repair or removal within seven days for non-compliance or blight.

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

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