# Sign Regulations in Three Oaks Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Three Oaks Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/three-oaks-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34120659#34120659)

## At a glance

Three Oaks Township, Michigan regulates 16 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Ground-Mounted Sign (Public/Semi-Public/Institutional Uses)s in the Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), AG-RR District zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 32 square feet, with a Minimum 1/2 required front yard setback. setback (Sec. § 380-14.06A(1), § 380-14.03D). Most commercial signs in Three Oaks Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 8 feet (all districts except AG-RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4); 6 feet (AG-RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 30 square feet (area counted in total sign area) | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), AG-RR District | 8 | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (C-1), Industrial District (I) | 7 | 8 feet | 100 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to wall; may not project more than 10 inches and may not extend above roofline. | — | § 380-14.03E(7) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground-Mounted) | 8 feet (all districts except AG-RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4); 6 feet (AG-RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | — | — | Commercial/Industrial: min. 2 ft from property/right-of-way; Residential: min. 1/2 required front yard setback. | — | — | — | § 380-14.03D, § 380-14.04A-B |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per parcel | — | — | § 380-14.05 |
| Directional Sign | 3 feet | 3 square feet | — | — | Varies by use: typically maximum 2 | On proprietor's property. | — | § 380-14.06A(2)(c), § 380-14.06B(2) |
| Electronic Message Board | — | 30 square feet (area counted in total sign area) | — | — | — | C-1 District only, on ground-mounted signs only. | — | § 380-14.03E(9) |
| Billboard | — | — | — | — | — | C-1 or I Districts, bordering interstates, freeways, or primary highways. | — | § 380-14.03E(11) |

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), AG-RR District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Public/Semi-Public/Institutional Uses) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 wall sign per use | — | — | § 380-14.06A(1) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (Public/Semi-Public/Institutional Uses) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum 1/2 required front yard setback. | 1 ground sign per use | — | — | § 380-14.06A(1), § 380-14.03D |
| Wall Sign (Open Space Activities) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 wall sign per use | — | — | § 380-14.06A(2)(a) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (Open Space Activities) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum 1/2 required front yard setback. | 1 ground-mounted sign per use | — | — | § 380-14.06A(2)(b), § 380-14.03D |
| Directional Sign (Open Space Activities) | 3 feet | 3 square feet | — | — | 2 per proprietor | On proprietor's property. | — | § 380-14.06A(2)(c) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (Subdivision/Residential Development Entrance) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum 1/2 required front yard setback. | 2 per entrance | At entrance to subdivision or residential development. | — | § 380-14.06A(3) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (Farm Stand in AG-RR) | 6 feet | 24 square feet per sign | — | Minimum 1/2 required front yard setback. | 2 per farm stand | On AG-RR parcels with farm stands. | — | § 380-14.06A(4), § 380-14.03D |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per parcel | — | — | § 380-14.06A(5), § 380-14.05 |

### Commercial District (C-1), Industrial District (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Per Building Wall Frontage) | — | 100 square feet | — | — | One per street-facing wall | On each wall facing a public or private street. | — | § 380-14.06B(1), § 380-14.03E |
| Directional Sign | 3 feet | 3 square feet | — | — | 2 per site | On property | — | § 380-14.06B(2) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — | Minimum 2 feet from property/right-of-way line (whichever is greater). May not obstruct visibility. | 1 per parcel (different for mixed-use/multitenant—see next) | On property | — | § 380-14.06B(3), § 380-14.03D |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (Mixed-Use/Multitenant) | 8 feet | 72 square feet | — | Minimum 2 feet from property/right-of-way line (whichever is greater). May not obstruct visibility. | 1 per tenant | — | — | § 380-14.06B(4) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | § 380-14.06B(5), § 380-14.05 |
| Electronic Message Board | — | 30 square feet (counted toward total sign area) | — | — | — | Only in C-1 district, ground-mounted signs only. | — | § 380-14.03E(9) |
| Billboard | — | — | — | — | — | Bordering interstates, freeways, or primary highways. | — | § 380-14.03E(11) |

## Prohibited signs in Three Oaks Township

- All signs must comply with the adopted building and electrical codes of Three Oaks Township.
- No sign shall be located where, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, it will obstruct clear visibility.
- Illumination of signs shall not be flashing, blinking, intermittent, or an on-and-off type of lighting.
- Externally provided illumination shall be arranged so that light is deflected away from adjacent properties so that no direct sources of light shall be visible to any motorist or pedestrian located in a public right-of-way, road or street easement or from any land in a residential district or used for residential purposes.
- Signs shall not be maintained in disrepair; signs that no longer serve their purpose, are abandoned, or not maintained must be removed by the owner or by the Township at the owner’s expense upon notice.
- Flashing or intermittently illuminated signs are prohibited.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or governmental signs or signals are prohibited.
- Moving signs, including forced-air actuated or air-supported signs, wind-actuated sign elements, motorized sign elements, and similar devices, are prohibited.
- Trailers, vehicles, or other mobile objects that are clearly used for advertising purposes are prohibited.
- Portable signs, including trailer-mounted signs, sandwich boards, and similar devices, are prohibited.
- Pole signs, other than directional signs, are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Billboards and off-premises signs are prohibited except as regulated by the Highway Advertising Act.
- A sign located on public land, in a public right-of-way, or in a private road easement is prohibited unless it is part of the traffic control information for that road, except for certain real estate and political temporary signs as specified and only if they do not obstruct traffic and meet setback requirements.

## Signs exempt from permit in Three Oaks Township

- One nameplate not exceeding two square feet in area for dwellings.
- Building numbers not to exceed two square feet in area.
- One wall sign not exceeding two square feet for minor home occupations and home-based businesses, provided compliance with other requirements.
- In the AG-RR District, one sign not more than eight square feet in area, wall or ground-mounted.
- Signs located on private property currently being offered for sale or lease, subject to specified size and height limits and not limited as to duration.
- Signs not exceeding nine square feet, placed by an individual on his or her residence or place of business, coinciding with a political candidate, issue, or ballot measure.
- Signs placed by a governmental agency, including emergency and warning signs necessary for public safety, traffic signs erected and maintained by an authorized public agency, and legal notices, licenses, permits, and other signs required by law.
- Public signs erected by an authorized public agency.
- Plaques erected or maintained by nonprofit organizations, memorials, building cornerstones, and erection-date stones erected by an authorized public agency.
- Signage for MEAP-verified farms.
- Signs located for viewing exclusively within the premises of the user and not otherwise visible.
- All exempted signs must comply with all other applicable requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each person or entity desiring to erect or maintain a sign 24 square feet and greater in area shall make written application to the Zoning Administrator, including a sketch plan with sign plans drawn to scale, showing proposed location and type of the sign.
- No sign requiring a sign permit shall be erected or installed until an application is approved.
- The permit review may be consolidated with site plan review if the required information is provided to the Planning Commission as part of a site plan review, in which case the Planning Commission shall recommend approval, approval with conditions, or denial.
- For temporary signs, prior to the display of any temporary sign, a permit shall be issued by the Zoning Administrator.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Three Oaks Township, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Three+Oaks+Township+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-three-oaks-township

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