# Sign Regulations in Vassar, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Vassar, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/vassar
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Vassar/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH86ZO_ARTIVSIDEST_DIV4SI)

## At a glance

Vassar, Michigan regulates 9 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the B-1, B-2, B-3, PD (commercial) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 48 sq ft per sign, with a Min 10 ft from right-of-way/sidewalk; 25 ft from curb/road. setback (Sec. Sec. 86-215, table and footnote (b); Sec. 86-219). Most commercial signs in Vassar require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R1-A, R-1, R-2, R-3 | 4 | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| R-T, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, MH | 4 | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-3, PD (commercial) | 7 | 42 inches | 100 sq ft (see formula for possible increases for large frontage) | — |
| OS-1, PD (office uses) | 4 | 6 feet | 100 sq ft | — |
| I-1, I-2 | 5 | 6 feet | 100 sq ft | — |
| P-1 | 3 | 6 feet | 100 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (B-1) | 4 | 42 inches | 100 sq ft (possible increases per formula) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### B-1, B-2, B-3, PD (commercial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft (see formula for possible increases for large frontage) | — | — | 1 per business (2 for corner lots). | Wall facing a public street. | — | Sec. 86-215, table/footnotes; Sec. 86-214(4); Sec. 86-219. |
| Projecting/Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 10 sq ft per side (projecting) | — | Projecting sign: 2 ft from street curb, 8 ft clearance. | — | Projecting: Attached to building. May project up to 6 feet over right-of-way; must leave 8 ft vertical clearance. | — | Sec. 86-216(c) |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 48 sq ft per sign | — | Min 10 ft from right-of-way/sidewalk; 25 ft from curb/road. | 1 per use, up to 2 for sites with 2+ street frontages or >300 ft. Not permitted in B-1 (CBD). | Must be setback min 10 ft from ROW; 25 ft from curb/road; 100 ft from residential district. | — | Sec. 86-215, table and footnote (b); Sec. 86-219 |
| Changeable Message Sign (Ground sign component) | — | 16 sq ft on a 48 sq ft sign (B-2 & I-1) | — | — | 1 per premises | Part of ground sign only. | — | Sec. 86-216(e) |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 24 sq ft per sign; 48 sq ft per parcel | — | — | — | Not in ROW; not on a utility pole/tree/fence or in clear vision triangle. | — | Sec. 86-215 table/footnotes. |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 42 inches | — | 24 inches | Min 2 ft from curb, max 10 ft from entrance, must keep 5 ft sidewalk clear. | 1 per entrance | Adjacent to business entrance, within 10 ft of customer entrance; min 2 ft from curb; must maintain 5 ft of sidewalk clearance. | — | Sec. 86-216(f) |
| Entranceway Sign | — | — | — | 15-foot setback | 1 per vehicular entrance | At vehicular entrance; must be set back at least 15 feet from any property line or right-of-way. | — | Sec. 86-216(d) |

### OS-1, PD (office uses)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business (2 for corner lots) | Wall facing public street. | — | Sec. 86-215, table/footnotes; Sec. 86-214(4) |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 48 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from ROW; 25 ft from curb/road. | 1 per use (max 2 for multi-frontage or >300 ft). | 10 ft from ROW; 25 ft from curb or road; 100 ft from residential districts. | — | Sec. 86-215 table/footnotes. |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 24 sq ft per sign; 48 sq ft total per parcel | — | — | — | Not on ROW/pole/tree/fence. | — | Sec. 86-215 table/footnotes. |
| Entranceway Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft setback | 1 per entrance | At entrance, 15 ft minimum from property line/ROW. | — | Sec. 86-216(d) |

### I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business (2 for corner lots) | Wall facing public street. | — | Sec. 86-215 table/footnotes; Sec. 86-214(4) |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 48 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from ROW; 25 ft from curb/road. | 1 per use, up to 2 for multi-frontage or >300 ft. | 10 ft from ROW; 25 ft from curb/road; 100 ft from residential districts. | — | Sec. 86-215 table/footnotes.; Sec. 86-216(e) |
| Changeable Message Sign (Ground sign component) | — | 16 sq ft on a 48 sq ft sign | — | — | 1 per premises | Part of ground sign only. | — | Sec. 86-216(e); Sec. 86-215 table |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 24 sq ft per sign; 48 sq ft total per parcel | — | — | — | Not on ROW/pole/tree/fence. | — | Sec. 86-215 table/footnotes. |
| Entranceway Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft setback | 1 per entrance | At entrance, 15 ft minimum from property line/ROW. | — | Sec. 86-216(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Vassar

- Signs which obstruct free access or egress from any building, including fire escapes, required exit ways, windows, or door openings, or that prevent free access to the roof by firefighters.
- Moving signs and signs having moving members or parts.
- Animated signs.
- Inflatable signs.
- Signs which simulate or could be confused with emergency vehicles or traffic signals; signs with flashing, oscillating, or intermittent red, yellow, or green illumination in the line of sight of traffic control systems, or that interfere with vision clearance at streets or intersections.
- Signs which obstruct or impair the vision of motorists or non-motorized travelers at intersections, driveways, parking lots, or loading areas.
- Snipe signs, including non-regulatory signs placed in any public right-of-way and signs attached to utility poles, trees, street furniture, fences, or waste receptacles.
- Off-premise signs, including video signs or similar technologies.
- Roof signs unless specifically permitted elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Portable signs, as defined, not provided for in the ordinance.
- Pylon or pole signs not provided for in the ordinance.
- Illegal signs.
- Obsolete signs and any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe, constitutes a hazard due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment, is capable of causing electric shock, or is not kept in good repair (broken parts, missing letters, inoperative lights, etc.).
- Flashing signs.
- Signs using words such as "Stop", "Look", or "Danger", or any other words, phrases, symbols, or characters that interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- Any sign not expressly permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Vassar

- Address signs not exceeding two square feet in single-family zones, and not exceeding six square feet in all other zones.
- Community owned or approved entrance or welcome signs.
- Construction signs meeting size requirements for temporary signs.
- Temporary signs meeting requirements of section 86-215(c).
- Device signs not exceeding three square feet per device and one sign per device.
- Directory signs (max ten square feet) at street entryway for buildings with upper floor or interior occupants.
- Essential service signs denoting utility lines, hazards, and precautions.
- Flags (maximum three per lot, not to exceed four feet by six feet).
- Historic markers.
- Incidental signs not exceeding two square feet each, with a total of two signs per business, indicating information such as credit cards accepted, public telephones, restrooms, smoking restrictions, business affiliations, and attached to a permitted sign, exterior wall, building entrance, or window.
- Interior signs completely within an enclosed building, not visible outside, or directed solely at persons within the premises.
- Memorial signs or tablets not exceeding four square feet, having the building name and/or date of erection, cut, cast or engraved into a masonry or metal surface and made integral to the structure.
- Nameplates.
- Real estate signs and open house signs meeting the requirements of subsection 86-215(c).
- Real estate development signs meeting requirements of subsection 86-215(c), with removal upon completion of the building or development.
- Regulatory signs, including traffic control and street identification signs.
- Traffic control signs.
- Vehicle signs.
- Warning signs (e.g., no trespassing, warning of electrical current or animals) not exceeding two square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must generally include two drawings of plans and specifications and method of construction and attachment to the building or ground (Sec. 86-219).
- Major sign installations require a permit and approval by the building official; supporting documents may be required, such as stress sheets, architect/engineer certification, bond/insurance (Sec. 86-219).
- Certain large entranceway signs require demonstration of maintenance provisions with the permit application (Sec. 86-219).
- When considering ground sign variances for business centers (over 20,000 SF and multiple tenants), the planning commission may approve modifications to height and area requirements if specified criteria are met (Sec. 86-223).
- Variance requests (including master sign plan or signage not meeting standard requirements) must be heard by the zoning board of appeals or, for multi-tenant ground signs, by the planning commission (Sec. 86-222 and 86-223).
- For business centers (multiple establishments on one or more parcels with shared parking and access), the complex is considered one use for maximum ground sign determination, and deviations may trigger planning commission review (86-211, 86-223).

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

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