# Sign Regulations in Stockbridge, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Stockbridge, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/stockbridge
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Stockbridge/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_CH6ZOLAUS_ARTXSI)

## At a glance

Stockbridge, Michigan regulates 22 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Temporary Sign (Residential)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 8 square feet per side, with a 5 ft from road ROW, 10 ft from adjoining property setback (Sec. Sec. 6-234 Table). Most commercial signs in Stockbridge require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 10 feet | 32 square feet per side | — |
| CBD districts | 6 | 10 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| C-2, C-3, M-1 | 4 | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| C-1 | 1 | 10 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| OSC district | 1 | — | 30 square feet per side, 60 square feet total | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3 | 3 | — | 20 square feet per side, 40 square feet total | — |
| PUD districts | 1 | — | 20 square feet per side, 40 square feet total | — |
| PUB district | 1 | — | 20 square feet per side, 40 square feet total | — |
| P-1 district | 2 | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| I-1 districts | 1 | — | 40 square feet | — |
| MHP | 1 | — | 20 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to building | — | Sec. 6-230(g)(1) |
| Street Number | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | Sec. 6-230(g)(2) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | 6 feet | 8 square feet per side | — | 5 ft from road ROW, 10 ft from adjoining property | 2 | On property; outside ROW; see setbacks | — | Sec. 6-234 Table |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential) | 6 feet | 32 square feet per side | — | 5 ft from road ROW, 10 ft from adjoining property | 4 | On property; outside ROW; see setbacks | — | Sec. 6-234 Table |
| Off-premises Directional Sign | 6 feet | 2 square feet | — | — | 2 | With permission of property owner and PC approval | — | Sec. 6-236(d) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Manual) | — | Limited by wall or ground sign regs | — | — | — | On permitted wall or ground/freestanding sign | — | Sec. 6-236(c) |
| Banner - Civic/Charitable Activity | 10 feet | 20 square feet | 10 feet | — | — | Affixed to principal building; not in ROW | — | Sec. 6-234(2)a |
| Nameplate (Home Occupation) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to building | — | Sec. 6-237 |

### CBD districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 20 square feet per side, total 40 square feet | — | 15 ft from ROW; setback equal to height from other boundaries | 1 per frontage | Each road frontage; must not block view/traffic | — | Sec. 6-231(b), Table Row 1 |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 per building frontage | On wall, cannot project above end/top of wall | — | Sec. 6-232(2) Row 1 |
| Projecting/Suspended Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building; bottom at least 8 ft above sidewalk/grade | — | Sec. 6-233(b) |
| Directory Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot | — | Sec. 6-236(a) |
| Banner (Promotional) | 10 feet | 20 square feet | 10 feet | — | 1 at a time | Affixed to principal building; not in ROW | — | Sec. 6-234(2)b |
| Mural Sign | — | Must comply with wall sign or as granted by village council | — | — | Counts as one wall sign | On building wall | — | Sec. 6-236(g) |

### C-2, C-3, M-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 50 square feet per side, total 100 square feet | — | 15 ft from ROW; setback equal to height from other boundaries | 1 per frontage | Each road frontage; must not block view/traffic | — | Sec. 6-231(b), Table Row 2 |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per building frontage | On wall, cannot project above end/top of wall | — | Sec. 6-232(2) Row 2 |
| Banner (Promotional) | 10 feet | 20 square feet | 10 feet | — | 1 at a time | Affixed to principal building; not in ROW | — | Sec. 6-234(2)b |
| Menu Board | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 | Drive-in and drive-through restaurants | — | Sec. 6-236(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Stockbridge

- Roof signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Signs affixed to trees, rocks, shrubs or similar natural features are prohibited, except for signs denoting a site of historic significance.
- Signs which imitate traffic signals, traffic direction signs, or similar traffic control devices, and signs which make use of words such as 'stop,' 'look,' 'danger,' or any other words, phrases, symbols, or characters, in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, confuse traffic, emergency services or the general public are prohibited.
- Signs other than those erected by a public agency which are located within or overhang the public right-of-way, on public property, or between the sidewalk (if any) and curb or street line are prohibited, unless otherwise specified.
- Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public health and safety due to inadequate maintenance is prohibited.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected or maintained is prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to obstruct firefighting or prevent free access to any door, window, or fire escape.
- All signs shall be erected and maintained in compliance with all applicable building code and ordinances, with the most restrictive law governing in case of conflict.
- All signs shall be so placed as to not interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any official traffic sign or signal; driver vision at access points or intersections; or pedestrian movement on any public sidewalk.
- No sign shall interfere with scenic views or create a nuisance to persons using the public right-of-way or to occupants of other properties by their brightness, size, height, or movement.
- Signs not customarily found in residential areas are prohibited as home occupation signs, except for one nonilluminated name plate not more than two square feet in area.

## Signs exempt from permit in Stockbridge

- Nameplates not exceeding two square feet in size are permitted in all districts.
- Street numbers are permitted in all districts.
- Signs posting hours of operation and/or building address are exempt from permit requirements for window signs.
- Non-illuminated real estate signs meeting size and height restrictions are permitted in any district.
- One non-illuminated freestanding sign is allowed for construction work being performed, subject to size, height, and duration limits.
- Historic markers obtained from state or federal agencies for designated sites are permitted in addition to other lawful signs, subject to approval via a free permit application.
- Manual changeable copy signs are permitted when incorporated into a permitted wall or ground sign.
- Temporary signs for new businesses do not require a permit and are considered temporary for no longer than 45 days.
- Home occupation signs may include one nonilluminated nameplate not more than two square feet in area.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Unless otherwise indicated, all signs require a permit from the village.
- A permit application must include a site plan and elevation drawings of the proposed sign.
- Application for a permit to erect, modify, or remove a digital sign or digital billboard shall be accompanied by a site-plan depicting information such as size, location, purpose, dimming, scrolling, transition, travel, pixels, manufacturer, installer, and any other information as required by the zoning administrator.
- When a mural is proposed, murals are subject to special land approval based upon a recommendation from the village council.
- An off-premises directional sign is subject to review by the planning commission.
- If an alteration of an existing sign is limited to a change in information (copy) and does not increase size or require structural modification, a sign permit is not required.
- No historic marker shall be placed without a permit approved by the village council, though no fee is charged.
- To remove a digital sign will require a demolition and possibly an electrical permit as determined by the zoning administrator and applicable state codes.

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

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