# Sign Regulations in Saugatuck, Michigan

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

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

## At a glance

Saugatuck, Michigan regulates 30 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 feet tall and 32 square feet, with a Min 5 feet from property line; 25 feet from other freestanding signs. setback (Sec. § 154.141(D), (F), (C)). Most commercial signs in Saugatuck 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 | 17 | 42 inches (3.5 feet) | 32 square feet | — |
| Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential Zone | 7 | 6 feet above grade | 24 square feet | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District | 13 | 42 inches | 32 square feet | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | Min 5 feet from property line; 25 feet from other freestanding signs. | One per frontage | At least 5 feet from any property line; at least 25 feet from any other freestanding sign; may not create a traffic vision obstruction | — | § 154.141(D), (F), (C) |
| Wall Sign | — | Based on building frontage; sign visible from more than one street limited to 0.75 sq ft per linear foot of largest building frontage | — | — | Up to two per building frontage | Attached to building wall | — | § 154.141(E), (F), (C) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | See Wall Sign | — | — | Included in two wall sign limit | Attached to canopy/awning on building | — | § 154.141(E), (F) |
| Projecting Sign | — | See Wall Sign | — | — | Included in two wall sign limit | Projected perpendicular/at angle from building wall | — | § 154.141(E), (F) |
| Monument Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | At least 5 ft from property line, 25 ft from other freestanding signs | One per frontage | Directly to masonry or other base in ground | — | § 154.140 (definition), § 154.141(D), (F) |
| Pylon Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | At least 5 ft from property line, 25 ft from other freestanding signs | One per frontage | Affixed to single/double post(s) in ground | — | § 154.140 (definition), § 154.141(D), (F) |
| Temporary Banner | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per non-residential use at a time | On private property; attached to building/support | — | § 150.30(C) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 42 inches (3.5 feet) | 6 square feet | — | — | One per business | On private property or public right-of-way (if not obstructing traffic/vision) | — | § 150.30(D) |

### Residential Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Attached Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Building with no commercial use; attached to structure | — | § 154.141(G)(2) |
| Flag (Residential Property) | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | Mounted on structure | — | § 150.30(F)(5), § 154.141(G)(4) |
| Opinion Sign (Residential) | 6 feet above grade | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Private property with owner permission only; not in right-of-way | — | § 150.30(F)(6) |
| Rental Sign (Residential) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per rental | Surface mounted to structure or inside window | — | § 150.30(F)(2) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per frontage | On the property for sale/lease | — | § 150.30(F)(1) |
| Garage Sale Sign (Residential) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | Max three per sale | Not attached to pole, tree, sign or placed in public right-of-way | — | § 150.30(F)(3) |
| Election Sign (Residential) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On private property | — | § 150.30(F)(4) |

### Commercial District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | 5 feet from property line; 25 feet between freestanding signs | One per frontage | At least 5 feet from any property line; at least 25 feet from any other freestanding sign; placed to avoid traffic vision obstruction | — | § 154.141(D), (F) |
| Wall Sign | — | Based on frontage | — | — | Up to two per frontage | Attached to building wall | — | § 154.141(E), (F) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | See Wall Sign | — | — | Included in attached signage limit | On canopy/awning attached to building | — | § 154.141(E), (F) |
| Projecting Sign | — | See Wall Sign | — | — | Included in attached signage limit | Projected perpendicular/at angle from building | — | § 154.141(E), (F) |
| Monument Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | 5 feet from property line, 25 feet from other freestanding signs | One per frontage | Masonry or other base in ground | — | § 154.140, § 154.141(D) |
| Pylon Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | 5 feet from property line, 25 feet from other freestanding signs | One per frontage | Permanently affixed with posts | — | § 154.140, § 154.141(D) |
| Banner (Temporary) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per business at a time | On private property; attached to building/support | — | § 150.30(C) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 42 inches | 6 square feet | — | — | One per business | Public right-of-way or private property if not obstructing pedestrian/traffic | — | § 150.30(D) |

## Prohibited signs in Saugatuck

- No signage shall be displayed within the city unless otherwise permitted within the sign ordinance sections.
- Temporary signs shall not be installed within the public right-of-way, unless specifically allowed (e.g., sandwich boards).
- Temporary signs shall not create a traffic vision obstruction.
- Temporary signs shall not exceed 28 feet in height from grade.
- Pennants, feather flag signs, windfeather signs, and portable signs are prohibited as temporary signs.
- Permanent and temporary signs must comply with building and electrical codes; underground wiring required for illuminated/freestanding signs.
- No sign (permanent or temporary) shall contain lights which flash, change color or intensity.
- Freestanding (permanent) and temporary signs shall be placed such that they do not create a traffic vision obstruction or pedestrian obstruction.
- No fence may be located in the public right-of-way, including between the sidewalk and street.
- No fence or sign may prevent clear vision of an intersection or a driveway (e.g., fence height restrictions within certain distances of intersections).
- Fences containing barbed wire, electric charges or sharp materials at the top are prohibited unless approved for public safety by the Planning Commission.
- No sign or fence shall be approved which constitutes a fire or public hazard, or interferes with access by the Fire Department.

## Signs exempt from permit in Saugatuck

- Flags of official governmental entities (national, state, local, etc.) and official public or private educational institution, fraternal organization, or similar organization flags, not exceeding 24 square feet, do not require a sign permit.
- Residential buildings without commercial use may display an attached sign up to two square feet with the name of the structure, occupants, street address, or other non-commercial message, exempt from permit and Historic District approval.
- Signs erected by government agencies and necessary for identification, operation, or protection of public services, or required by legal process, or necessary for public welfare, are exempt.
- Certain temporary signs do not require a permit if they meet specified size, location, and display duration standards: real estate signs, rental signs, garage sale signs, election signs, official governmental flags, non-commercial opinion signs.
- Building names engraved as part of the facade, which lack commercial messages, are not counted towards sign totals or size limitations (at Zoning Administrator discretion).
- Existing non-conforming signs may continue to be used and maintained, but cannot be enlarged or replaced (unless destroyed, in which case specific approval is required).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All proposed temporary signs require prior approval by the Zoning Administrator, unless specifically exempted.
- All proposed permanent signs require prior approval by the Zoning Administrator.
- Applications for sign approval must include size, type, materials, structural support details, illumination (if any), display duration (for temporary), scale drawing, and written owner permission if filed by tenant.
- Directional freestanding signs must be approved as part of an overall site plan by the Planning Commission.
- Permanent signs in the public right-of-way require approval from City Council, a revocable license, and Historic District Commission (if applicable).
- Permanent signs located within the historic district require approval from the Historic District Commission.
- Alteration, replacement, or enlargement of existing non-conforming signs requires compliance with current ordinance or approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- The Zoning Board of Appeals, City Council, or Planning Commission may grant waivers, variances, or modifications to sign requirements under specified circumstances; such decisions may require a formal meeting and written findings.
- Appeals of Zoning Administrator determinations on signs may be made to City Council within 21 days.
- All appeals, variances, or exceptions to sign regulations may result in special hearings or meetings as part of a formal review process.

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

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