# Sign Regulations in South Haven, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Haven, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/south-haven
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-07
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://southhavencitymi.documents-on-demand.com/document/2894372b-720d-ef11-a401-000c29a59557/Zoning%20Ordinance#page=184)

## At a glance

South Haven, Michigan regulates 30 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Subdivision Entry Signs in the R-1A Residential District; R-1B Residential District; R-1C Residential District; R-2 Single and Two Family Residential District; RM-1 Multi-Family Residential District zoning district are capped at 6 ft maximum tall and 32 sq ft maximum per sign, with a minimum 8 ft from any property line setback (Sec. Sec. 2201.09(1) (Subdivision entry signs)). Most commercial signs in South Haven require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 35 ft maximum | 300 sq ft per side | — |
| R-1 | 4 | If part of a ground sign, ≤6 ft | 6 sq ft per side | — |
| R-1A Residential District; R-1B Residential District; R-1C Residential District; R-2 Single and Two Family Residential District; RM-1 Multi-Family Residential District | 9 | 6 ft maximum | 32 sq ft maximum per sign | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 7 | 6 ft maximum | 32 sq ft maximum | — |
| B-1 Neighborhood Business District | 6 | 6 ft maximum | 32 sq ft maximum | — |
| B-3 Waterfront Business District | 6 | 6 ft maximum | 32 sq ft maximum | — |
| Health Services District (HSD) | 7 | 6 ft maximum | 32 sq ft maximum | — |
| B-2 General Business District; Major Thoroughfare Business District (B-4); I-1 Light Industrial District; I-2 General Industrial District | 9 | 35 ft maximum | 300 sq ft per side | — |
| PB-1; I-1B | 5 | — | No wall sign shall exceed 10% of the wall area upon which it is placed; Multi-tenant: per-tenant sign ≤10% of tenant wall area or 50 sq ft, whichever is less | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - General Requirements | Signs resting directly on the ground: 6 ft maximum; Pole-supported signs > 6 sq ft and set back < 6 ft from the right-of-way must maintain 8 ft minimum clear space from bottom of sign to ground | — | — | — | — | Not in, upon, or over any public right-of-way, alley, or other public place unless otherwise allowed by this Section; May not occupy a clear-vision corner | — | Sec. 2201.06(1), (4), (5), (8), (10), (11), (13); Figures 22.5 & 22.6 |
| Electronic Message Board - General Requirements | If part of a ground sign, the ground sign containing an electronic message board shall not exceed 6 ft in height | — | — | — | 1 per premises | In nonresidential districts allowed only in CBD, B-2, B-4, HSD, I-1, I-2; In R-1, R-2, RM-1 permitted only at institutional uses | — | Sec. 2201.06(7)(a)-(j) |
| Reader Board - General Requirements | If part of a ground sign, the ground sign containing an electronic message board/reader board shall not exceed 6 ft in height | — | — | — | 1 per premises | Permitted only in CBD, B-2, B-4, HSD, I-1, I-2; In R-1, R-2, RM-1 permitted at institutional uses only | — | Sec. 2201.06(7)(a)-(j) |
| Billboard (Special Use Permit) | 35 ft maximum | 300 sq ft per side | — | ≥300 ft from homes, schools, places of worship; ≥1,000 ft spacing between billboards | — | Only within 300 ft of I-196 in B-2, B-4, I-1, I-2 | — | Sec. 2201.06(12)(a)-(c) |
| Non-Permanent Sign (Residential Lot) | Top of sign no more than 6 ft above ground level | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | Up to 4 per lot | On a pole or stake affixed to the ground; Not within a clear-vision corner | — | Sec. 2201.08(1) |
| Non-Permanent Sign (Non-Residential Lot) | If ground-mounted, top no more than 6 ft above ground | 32 sq ft maximum | — | — | 1 per lot per display period | On non-residential lots; Not within a clear-vision corner | — | Sec. 2201.08(2) |
| Flag | — | — | — | Flag poles ≥15 ft from property lines | Up to 4 (plus 2 at a secondary two-way entrance) | Flag poles shall be set back at least 15 ft from adjacent property lines; In CBD, no portion of a flag may extend more than 3 ft from a building over public sidewalk/right-of-way/public property | — | Sec. 2201.04(4); Sec. 2201.06(16) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 4 sq ft per side (B-4 District: up to 8 sq ft per side) | — | — | — | On private property; intended to be read within the site | — | Sec. 2201.04(3); Definition of Incidental Sign (Sec. 2201.02) |

### R-1A Residential District; R-1B Residential District; R-1C Residential District; R-2 Single and Two Family Residential District; RM-1 Multi-Family Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Residences ≤ 6 units) | — | 2 sq ft maximum | — | — | 1 per lot | Attached anywhere on the front of the structure below the second-floor level and within 8 ft of the front wall of the structure | — | Sec. 2201.09(1) (Wall signs for residences with 6 or fewer units); Sec. 2201.05(11) |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupations) | — | 2 sq ft maximum | — | — | 1 per lot | On the wall facing the street | — | Sec. 2201.09(1) (Wall signs for home occupations); Sec. 2201.05(11) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple-family complexes ≥ 6 units and nonresidential uses) | — | 12 sq ft maximum | — | — | 1 per lot | On the wall facing the street | — | Sec. 2201.09(1) (Wall signs for multiple-family complexes and nonresidential uses); Sec. 2201.05(11) |
| Subdivision Entry Sign | 6 ft maximum | 32 sq ft maximum per sign | — | If sign < 16 sq ft: minimum 2 ft from any property line; If sign > 16 sq ft: minimum 8 ft from any property line | 1 per entrance | At subdivision/site entrance(s) | — | Sec. 2201.09(1) (Subdivision entry signs) |
| Bed and Breakfast Establishment Sign - Freestanding | — | RM-1: 32 sq ft maximum (size for other districts not specified in provided excerpt) | — | ≥8 ft from any property line | 1 per establishment (and not both wall and freestanding) | Minimum 8 ft from any property line | — | Sec. 2201.09(1) (Signs for bed and breakfast establishments) |
| Bed and Breakfast Establishment Sign - Wall | — | RM-1: 32 sq ft maximum (size for other districts not specified in provided excerpt) | — | — | 1 per establishment (and not both wall and freestanding) | On the wall facing the street | — | Sec. 2201.09(1) (Signs for bed and breakfast establishments) |
| Institutional Use Sign - Freestanding | 5 ft maximum | 30 sq ft maximum | — | ≥5 ft from street right-of-way or average setback of residences on both sides (whichever more restrictive) | 1 per lot (corner lots: 1 per street front) | Minimum of 5 ft from the street right-of-way or the average setback of the residences on both sides, whichever is more restrictive | — | Sec. 2201.09(1) (Signs for Institutional Uses) |
| Institutional Use Sign - Wall | 4 ft maximum | 20 sq ft maximum | — | — | 1 per lot (corner lots: 1 per street front) | No more than 20 ft above the average grade of the wall on which the sign is placed | — | Sec. 2201.09(1) (Signs for Institutional Uses) |

### B-2 General Business District; Major Thoroughfare Business District (B-4); I-1 Light Industrial District; I-2 General Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | No wall sign shall exceed 10% of the wall area upon which it is placed; Multi-tenant: per-tenant sign ≤10% of tenant wall area or 50 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per building wall; 1 per tenant | On wall facing street or parking lot; Below 2nd floor windowsill; On wall facing street, parking lot, or walkway | — | Sec. 2201.09(3) (Wall signs); Exception allowances in B-2, B-4 and Industrial Districts |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft maximum | ≤160 sq ft per sign, per frontage; Up to 200 sq ft when oriented toward Blue Star Highway, Phoenix Street, or 73rd Street | — | ≥2 ft from any property line | 1 per lot (≤300 ft continuous street frontage); 2 per lot (>300 ft continuous street frontage) | Minimum 2 ft from any property line | — | Sec. 2201.09(3) (Freestanding signs – B-2, B-4, I-1, I-2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft maximum | — | — | 1 per building wall facing a public right-of-way or parking lot; Multi-tenant: see additional requirements | On wall facing street or municipal parking lot; Below 2nd floor windowsill | — | Sec. 2201.09(3) (Projecting signs) |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per face of awning/canopy/marquee; Multi-tenant limits apply | Affixed flat to the awning/canopy/marquee; Below 2nd floor windowsill; On wall facing street, parking lot, or walkway | — | Sec. 2201.09(3) (Awning, canopy, and marquee signs) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft maximum | 8 sq ft maximum (measured on one side) | — | — | 1 per lot | Anywhere on the lot; may not be placed in the right-of-way | — | Sec. 2201.08(4) (Sandwich boards) |
| Electronic Message Board | Ground signs with EMB: ≤6 ft | — | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises in B-2, B-4, I-1, or I-2; must be at least 100 ft from any residential district | — | Sec. 2201.06(7)(a)-(j) |
| Billboard (Special Use Permit) | 35 ft maximum | 300 sq ft per side | — | ≥300 ft from homes, schools, or places of worship; ≥1,000 ft spacing between billboards | — | Only within 300 ft of I-196 | — | Sec. 2201.06(12)(b)-(c) |
| Subdivision Entry Sign (Industrial Park ROW) | Subject to freestanding sign height regulations in B-2, I-1, I-2 | Subject to freestanding sign size regulations in B-2, I-1, I-2 | — | May not occupy clear-vision corner (Sec. 2126) | — | Within the public right-of-way at entrance(s) to an industrial park, authorized by City Council | — | Sec. 2201.09(3) (Subdivision entry signs in industrial parks) |

## Prohibited signs in South Haven

- Pennants, streamers, balloon signs, and feather signs are prohibited.
- Signs that employ flashing, oscillating, blinking, or variable-intensity light are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Signs containing moving parts or designed to give the appearance of movement are prohibited.
- Any sign that interferes with, obstructs the view of, or could be confused with an authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or that constitutes a nuisance per se, is prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs displaying an off-premises commercial message are prohibited, except billboards permitted under Section 2201.06(12).
- Any sign not specifically permitted by, or not conforming to, Section 2201 is prohibited.
- Any sign on a fence, screening wall, or natural feature is prohibited (murals excepted).
- Signs on a light pole, utility pole, flag pole, the pole of a freestanding sign, tree, or other portion of a building or natural feature are prohibited.
- Illuminated signs serving home occupations or residential uses are prohibited.
- Any sign placed or erected in a public street, alley, right-of-way, or other public place is prohibited unless otherwise allowed by Section 2201; illegally placed signs in these areas may be removed by the City without notice.
- Freestanding signs in residential districts are prohibited unless otherwise allowed in Section 2201.
- Spotlights, searchlights, blinking lights, flashing lights, lasers, or other high-intensity light sources to light the night sky are prohibited.
- No sign shall occupy the clear vision corner (Section 2126).

## Signs exempt from permit in South Haven

- Murals are exempt, provided no more than 10% of the total mural area is devoted to text.
- Essential service signs are exempt.
- Incidental signs not exceeding 4 square feet per side are exempt; they may include a business logo, business name, or other on-premises commercial message not exceeding 1.75 square feet. In the B-4 district, incidental signs may be up to 8 square feet with a maximum of 2 square feet dedicated to a commercial message.
- Up to 4 flags per lot are exempt, with 2 additional flags permitted for any secondary two-way entrance serving the lot; flagpoles must be set back at least 15 feet from adjacent property lines.
- Advertising integral to a fabric umbrella used primarily to provide shade or cover to customers at an approved outdoor café is exempt.
- Window signs on commercial premises containing information regarding credit cards, business affiliations, hours of operation, open/closed status, or other noncommercial or on-premises commercial messages are exempt, provided the combined area does not exceed 30% of the total ground-floor window area of the premises.
- A new or repaired sign face (other than an electronic message board) within an existing sign structure is exempt, provided the new/repaired face does not display off-premises commercial speech.
- Government signs are exempt (messages on such signs are the speech of the governmental unit that placed them).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before erecting, altering, placing, or replacing any sign or sign structure unless otherwise provided (Section 2201.03).
- Sign permit application must include: (a) an accurate, scaled site plan showing the proposed location of each sign and all buildings and driveways on the lot; (b) accurate elevations of each building wall intended to accommodate a sign showing location, dimensions, and height above grade; (c) computation of the area of each sign on the lot; and (d) an illustration depicting each proposed sign, including size, proportions, color scheme, construction materials, and type of illumination; a photometric plan may be required for illuminated or electronic message board signs (Section 2201.03(2)).
- Sign permit approvals are binding and valid for 1 year; if the approved sign is not installed within that period, a new application is required (Section 2201.03(3)-(4)).
- All permanent signs regulated under Section 2201.09 require a building permit.
- Billboards require a Special Use Permit and are allowed only within 300 feet of I-196 on land zoned B-2, B-4, I-1, or I-2, subject to additional standards (Section 2201.06(12)).
- Planning Commission may grant a waiver to allow a non-permanent sign to be placed on an existing fence upon a finding of practical difficulty (Section 2201.06(14)).
- Planning Commission may waive the CBD requirement that wall signs be below the second-floor windowsill if a higher location is found compatible with the building and surrounding signs (Section 2201.09, CBD wall sign location rule and waiver note).
- In the B-2, B-4, and Industrial Districts, the Planning Commission may authorize up to 32 square feet of additional wall sign area for drive-through entrance/exit and similar directional purposes (Section 2201.09, wall sign exceptions).
- City Council may authorize subdivision entry signs with business names in a city industrial park within the public right-of-way at the park entrance(s), subject to size/height limits and clear-vision requirements (Section 2201.09, subdivision entry signs in industrial parks).
- Placement of any sign in, upon, or over a public right-of-way or other public place must comply with Section 2201 and City Code Section 74-14 as authorized by the City Council (Section 2201.06(5)).
- For signs with illumination or electronic message boards, the Zoning Administrator may require a photometric plan with the permit application (Section 2201.03(2)(d)).
- No master sign plan requirement is specified; compliance is via individual sign permits with required site plan/elevation/illustration submittals.

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

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