# Sign Regulations in Sterling Heights, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sterling Heights, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/sterling-heights
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sterlingheights/latest/sterlinghts_mi/0-0-0-76171)

## At a glance

Sterling Heights, Michigan regulates 21 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Directional Signs in the Commercial including office - (O-1, O-2, O-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, O-R) zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 4 square feet, with a Subject to sight line and clearance distance restrictions setback (Sec. Sign Regulation Table, Reference C). Most commercial signs in Sterling Heights require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | — | — |
| One and two family residential - (R-60, R-70, R 80, R-9O, R-100, R-2) | 7 | 15 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Multiple family & mobile home - (MHP, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3) | 7 | 15 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Commercial including office - (O-1, O-2, O-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, O-R) | 10 | 15 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Industrial - (M-1, M-2) | 9 | 15 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Parking district - (P-1) | 9 | 15 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Super Regional Mall | 4 | 54 inches | 300 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Commercial including office - (O-1, O-2, O-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, O-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Sales Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Parcels with verified agricultural sales activity | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference A |
| Directional Sign | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | Subject to sight line and clearance distance restrictions | One per entrance | Entrance points | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference C |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 150 square feet | — | At least 12 feet from public right-of-way | One per development | Nonresidential properties | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference D |
| Identification and Name Plate Signage | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per tenant | Each tenant space | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference E |
| Real Estate Development Identification Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | One per entrance | Entrance to development | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference F |
| Temporary Sign | 5 feet | 9 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from side property line | — | Single-family residential properties | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference L |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | One per tenant space | Front, rear, or side facade | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference N |
| Window Sign | — | 150 square feet | — | — | — | Facade of the building | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference O |

### Industrial - (M-1, M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Sales Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Parcels with verified agricultural sales activity | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference A |
| Directional Sign | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | Subject to sight line and clearance distance restrictions | One per entrance | Entrance points | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference C |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 150 square feet | — | At least 12 feet from public right-of-way | One per development | Nonresidential properties | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference D |
| Identification and Name Plate Signage | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per tenant | Each tenant space | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference E |
| Real Estate Development Identification Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | One per entrance | Entrance to development | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference F |
| Temporary Sign | 5 feet | 9 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from side property line | — | Single-family residential properties | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference L |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | One per tenant space | Front, rear, or side facade | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference N |
| Window Sign | — | 150 square feet | — | — | — | Facade of the building | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference O |

### Parking district - (P-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Sales Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Parcels with verified agricultural sales activity | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference A |
| Directional Sign | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | Subject to sight line and clearance distance restrictions | One per entrance | Entrance points | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference C |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 150 square feet | — | At least 12 feet from public right-of-way | One per development | Nonresidential properties | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference D |
| Identification and Name Plate Signage | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per tenant | Each tenant space | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference E |
| Real Estate Development Identification Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | One per entrance | Entrance to development | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference F |
| Temporary Sign | 5 feet | 9 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from side property line | — | Single-family residential properties | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference L |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | One per tenant space | Front, rear, or side facade | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference N |
| Window Sign | — | 150 square feet | — | — | — | Facade of the building | — | Sign Regulation Table, Reference O |

## Prohibited signs in Sterling Heights

- Signs shall not be placed in, project into, or overhang any public right-of-way or dedicated public easement, existing or proposed, unless placed or approved for placement by the city or applicable governmental entity or agency.
- Signs shall not be placed on city property unless placed or approved for placement by the city.
- Signs shall not be placed on utility poles, utility boxes, traffic control devices, telecommunications towers, sidewalks, lamp posts, hydrants, bridges, public property, public ways, easements, or trees unless placed or approved for placement by a governmental entity as public signs or warning signs.
- Permanent signs shall not be placed in a required side yard setback or within 12 feet of a public right-of-way.
- Signs shall not be placed in a manner that obstructs or diminishes sight lines for vehicular travel, obstructs driver vision, or creates potential hazards to pedestrian safety.
- Signs must have a minimum clearance of eight feet six inches above a non-public sidewalk and provide appropriate emergency vehicle clearance above driveways and maneuvering lanes.
- Applications for approval of a sign permit will not be processed or placed on an agenda for any public hearing, nor will a sign permit be issued, on properties with outstanding and unresolved code violations.
- Signs shall not have more than two sides.
- No sign shall be painted directly onto the wall of a building.
- Signs shall not be equipped with audio capabilities and sound shall not be projected from any sign.
- Signs may not project images beyond the face of the sign and may not emit any odors or visible matter such as smoke or steam.
- No person, entity, owner, business, or tenant shall allow an obsolete sign to be maintained on property for more than 30 days after it has become obsolete.
- Every sign, including the sign structure, shall be maintained in a safe structural condition and in a neat, clean, secure, and attractive condition.
- Signs shall not violate any federal, state, or local law, code, or regulation.
- Signs shall not violate zoning regulations governing home occupations as an accessory use.
- Festoon signs are prohibited.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- Signs whose construction, design, location, or other physical characteristics are determined to create a safety hazard or to be anathema to the general welfare are prohibited.
- Signs of a size, location, movement, coloring, or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as, or which may conflict with, a traffic control device, or which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal are prohibited.
- Signs consisting of moored balloons or other type of tethered floating signs unless approved by the City Planner in conjunction with an approved temporary use are prohibited.
- Banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, LED lights, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similarly moving devices or signs which may move or swing as a result of wind pressure or other power source are prohibited unless approved by the City Planner in conjunction with approval of a temporary use for a special event of limited duration.
- Signs which have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or other illuminating devices which exhibit movement are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs that consist of or include a searchlight, beacon, strobe light, or similar form of illumination are prohibited.
- Signs that contain or consist of strings of light bulbs are prohibited.
- Portable signs kept in a stationary location and visible from a public way are prohibited.
- No sign shall include or use flashing or intermittent illumination.
- Flashing, animated, and/or moving signs are prohibited.
- Illumination of signs shall be directed or shaded so as not to interfere with the vision of persons on the adjacent roadway or with adjacent property owners.
- No illuminated sign shall be installed if it creates a distracting or hazardous condition to a motorist, pedestrian, or the general public, or which adversely impacts neighboring or nearby properties or uses.
- No exposed reflective type bulb, par spot, or incandescent lamp which exceeds 25 watts shall be exposed to direct view from a public street or highway.
- Internally illuminated signs are not permitted on properties utilized for residential purposes, with the exception of internal illumination for the address of the property if the address is affixed to a home, garage, or mailbox on the property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sterling Heights

- Public signs.
- Traffic control devices on private or public property installed and maintained to comply with the Michigan Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Numerals that identify the address of the property in accordance with applicable laws, codes, and regulations.
- Required government signs that warn of a danger or prohibit access to the property either generally or specifically.
- Signs installed by MISS DIG, utility companies, lawn treatment companies, and similar signs intended to warn of a danger or alert the reader to a potentially dangerous condition or the existence of utility pipes or lines on the property.
- Flags on single-family residential property, in addition to one United States flag and one official flag of the State of Michigan, up to two additional flags may be displayed without being counted against the individual sign limitations or the total square footage allowed under this section for temporary signage.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No temporary signs are permitted until unused space on any building or monument sign is filled, unless an administrative modification is granted by the Administrative Review Board, or a variance is approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Standards for an administrative modification from the Administrative Review Board include having less than 16 square feet of unused space on the existing monument sign available.
- Standards for a variance requested from the Zoning Board of Appeals include demonstrating an unfair or undue hardship or practical difficulty in complying with one or more of the provisions of this subsection relating to temporary signs.
- A property owner aggrieved by a decision of the Administrative Review Board may appeal that decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

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

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