# Sign Regulations in Southfield, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southfield, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/southfield
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Southfield/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_TITVIIIBURE_CH99SI)

## At a glance

Southfield, Michigan regulates 34 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Electronic Changeable Copy Sign (Non-Residential, Integral with Ground Support or Garden Ground Sign)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Up to 15 ft (see setbacks) tall and District-specific max, with a Min. 5 ft; increase height with setback; not in certain proximity to intersections/residential (see ordinance) setback (Sec. Sec. 8.50A). Most commercial signs in Southfield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 30 ft | 600 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residential District (R-A, R-B, R-C, R-D, R-E) | 6 | 10 ft | 35 sq ft | — |
| Attached Single-Family Residential District (R-T), Multiple-Family Residential-Low Rise District (RM), Multiple-Family Residential-Medium Rise District (RMM), Multiple-Family Residential-High Rise District (RMU) | 4 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Office-Service District (O-S) | 2 | 5 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Education-Research-Office District (ERO), Education-Research-Office-Limited District (ERO-M), Technical-Education-Research District (TR), Television-Radio-Office-Studio District (TV-R) | 3 | 5 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Business District (B-1) | 1 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Shopping District (NS), Planned Business District (B-2) | 3 | 5 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| General Business District (B-3) | 3 | 5 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| General Business District (B-3) - Special Uses (Gas Stations, Fast Food, Automobile Sales) | 11 | 5 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-L), Industrial District (I-1) | 3 | 5 ft (max 15 ft with increased setback) | 300 sq ft | — |
| Regional Shopping District (RS) | 2 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| Regional Center District (RC) | 3 | 5 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Vehicular Parking District (P) | 1 | 3 ft | 10 sq ft | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (≤6 sq ft) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per major thoroughfare frontage | Ground or building | — | Sec. 8.44.(1) |
| Athletic Scoreboard (Freestanding) | 30 ft | 600 sq ft | — | — | 1 athletic scoreboard per facility | Athletic facility/venue | — | Sec. 8.44.(7) |
| Banner Sign (Temporary) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per event | Securely attached to the building | — | Sec. 8.51.(1) |
| Temporary or Real Estate Sign (Rigid Material, >6 sq ft) | — | 200 sq ft | — | Setback ≥ height of sign, if not attached to building | 1 per street frontage | Attached to building or with setback ≥ height of sign | — | Sec. 8.51.(2) |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign (Non-Residential, Integral with Ground Support or Garden Ground Sign) | Up to 15 ft (see setbacks) | District-specific max | — | Min. 5 ft; increase height with setback; not in certain proximity to intersections/residential (see ordinance) | 1 per development | Integral to approved ground support/garden ground signage where such is permitted | — | Sec. 8.50A |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign (Residential District, Integral with Garden Ground Sign) | — | 35 sq ft total, 60% electronic changeable copy | — | As garden ground sign; see 8.50A for details | 1 per development | Garden ground sign only | — | Sec. 8.50A |
| Wall Sign (High-Rise Building, Non-Residential Use) | — | 10% of one building frontage (no specified sq ft cap) | — | — | Multiple, but total must not exceed 10% of one building frontage | High rise buildings | — | Sec. 8.50B.(1) |
| Wall Sign (High-Rise Building, Residential Use) | — | Up to 400 sq ft (with additional upper floor area) | — | — | 1 per major thoroughfare frontage, max 1 visible from any direction | High rise buildings | — | Sec. 8.50B.(2) |

### Single-Family Residential District (R-A, R-B, R-C, R-D, R-E)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Development, ≥10 units) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | — | — | Sec. 8.53.(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per major thoroughfare frontage | — | — | Sec. 8.53.(2) |
| Subdivision/Complex Entrance Sign (Private Property) | — | 25 sq ft | — | Must comply with corner clearance provisions (Sec. 8.36) | — | Private property (meets corner clearance) | — | Sec. 8.53.(3)(a) |
| Subdivision/Complex Entrance Sign (Public ROW) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | City or county ROW | — | Sec. 8.53.(3)(b) |
| Bulletin Board (Special Exception Use) | 5 ft | 35 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from front property line | 1 per development | — | — | Sec. 8.53.(4)(a) |
| Wall Sign (Special Exception Use) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | — | — | Sec. 8.53.(4)(b) |

### General Business District (B-3) - Special Uses (Gas Stations, Fast Food, Automobile Sales)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Gas Station) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per major thoroughfare frontage | Service building/canopy fascia | — | Sec. 8.60.(1)(a) |
| Ground Support or Garden Ground Sign (Gas Station) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | — | — | Sec. 8.60.(1)(b) |
| Product Price Sign (Gas Station) | — | 15 sq ft (2 prices)/20 sq ft (≥3 prices) | — | — | 1 per development | Integral to ground/garden sign or building/canopy fascia | — | Sec. 8.60.(1)(c) |
| Wall Sign (Drive-in/Fast Food) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per major thoroughfare frontage | — | — | Sec. 8.60.(2)(a) |
| Ground Support Sign (Drive-in/Fast Food) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | — | — | Sec. 8.60.(2)(b) |
| Garden Ground Sign (Drive-in/Fast Food) | 5 ft | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per development | — | — | Sec. 8.60.(2)(c) |
| Auxiliary Sign (Drive-through Restaurant) | 5 ft | 35 sq ft | — | — | 1 per restaurant | Not visible from public street | — | Sec. 8.60.(2)(d) |
| Wall Sign (Automobile/Truck Agency) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building per major thoroughfare frontage | May also face common areas for interior buildings | — | Sec. 8.60.(3)(a) |

## Prohibited signs in Southfield

- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Festoon signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Moving signs are prohibited.
- Wall/window (painted) signs are prohibited.
- Parasitic signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Any sign that makes use of words such as 'stop', 'look', 'danger', simulated traffic signals, or any other words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse drivers of vehicles traveling upon any highway, driveway or parking area is prohibited.
- The parking of a vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way or on public or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way, if such vehicle has attached thereto or located thereon any sign or advertising device is prohibited unless the parking is incident to the loading, unloading or conveyance of persons, commodities, goods, or the provision of services.
- No sign shall be located in, project onto, or overhang a public right-of-way except those established by the city, county, state, or federal government or as otherwise provided.
- No sign obstructing vision above a height of three (3) feet from the established street grades shall be permitted within the triangular corner clearance area at street or driveway intersections unless visual under clearance is assured.
- No sign shall constitute a hazard to traffic or be injurious to the surrounding neighborhood or contrary to the spirit and purpose of the ordinance.
- All illuminated signage must not exceed a brightness level of 0.3 foot candles above ambient light and must not display illuminative brightness that impairs the vision or endangers the safety and welfare of any pedestrian, cyclist, or motor vehicle operator.
- No sign may interfere with, mislead, or confuse drivers of vehicles.

## Signs exempt from permit in Southfield

- Legal address signs are exempt.
- Official court or public notices are exempt.
- Flags, emblems, or insignia of a government or governmental agency when displayed for official purposes are exempt.
- Corporate flags for the primary use of the property are exempt.
- Temporary and/or real estate signs placed in the ground or upon a building (not portable), six (6) square feet or less in area, related to the sale, rental, or lease of the property, limited to one per major thoroughfare frontage, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Political signs not in any public right-of-way and not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area are exempt from permit requirements (with time and placement restrictions).
- Signs containing exclusively noncommercial messages which do not exceed six (6) square feet in area (limited to two per parcel) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Directional signs less than six (6) square feet in area containing noncommercial messages are exempt from permit requirements.
- Address numbers, hours of operation, and open/closed indications between three (3) inches and twenty-four (24) inches in height and plainly visible from the street are exempt from permit requirements.
- Public signs erected by or on the order of a public officer as defined in section 8.33(29) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Freestanding athletic scoreboards not to exceed six hundred (600) square feet in total area and thirty (30) feet in height, subject to conditions listed in Sec. 8.44, are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan must be submitted and approved by the building official stating the size and location of all wall signs, ground support signs, garden ground signs, and any other requested sign prior to the issuance of sign permits in the Neighborhood Shopping (NS) and Planned Business (B-2) districts.
- A master sign plan must be submitted and approved by the building official stating the size and location of all wall signs, ground support signs, and any other requested sign prior to the issuance of sign permits in the Regional Shopping (RS) district.
- A master sign plan must be submitted and approved by the building official stating the size and location of all wall signs, ground support signs, garden ground signs, and any other requested sign prior to the issuance of sign permits in the Regional Center (RC) district.
- Special event signage must be part of an overall plan for the event or development, expressly identified and approved by the city council as a condition of approval.

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

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