# Sign Regulations in Vernon Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Vernon Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/vernon-township
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://67cfad47-97f0-43b2-b327-e55f9cabd5c2.filesusr.com/ugd/2582bf_15e0cb33d5404d41849734a5025cb18d.pdf#page=156)

## At a glance

Vernon Township, Michigan regulates 47 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Pole Sign (Individual commercial & office establishments - not in multi-establishment center)s in the Neighborhood Commercial (B-1) zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall and 100 sq ft, with a Per Figure 9-1. For 30' height (exceeds 25' at X+30), setback must be at least X+35 setback (Sec. Table 9-2 (Individual establishments) and Footnote 1). Most commercial signs in Vernon Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural Production (A-1); One-Family Rural Residential (R-1A) | 5 | Shall not exceed 10 ft and not above upper wall line | 40 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (B-1) | 17 | 90 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (per formula) | — |
| General Business (B-2); Highway Service Commercial (B-3) | 18 | 90 ft | 720 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial (M-1) | 9 | 30 ft | 720 sq ft | — |
| PUDs | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Neighborhood Commercial (B-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign (Individual commercial & office establishments - not in multi-establishment center) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1. For 30' height (exceeds 25' at X+30), setback must be at least X+35 | One pole or one ground sign (see corner allowance) | On-premise freestanding pole sign | — | Table 9-2 (Individual establishments) and Footnote 1 |
| Ground Sign (Individual commercial & office establishments - not in multi-establishment center) | 30 ft | 75 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1. For heights above 10', greater setback required; at 30' height, minimum X+35 setback | One pole or one ground sign (see corner allowance) | On-premise freestanding ground/monument sign | — | Table 9-2 (Individual establishments) and Footnote 1 |
| Pole Sign (Multi-establishment commercial/professional center - center sign) | 50 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (per formula) | — | Per Figure 9-1; for 50' height, setback must exceed X+35 by additional 25' beyond the 25' limit (i.e., X+55 minimum) | One pole or one ground sign | On-premise at center frontage | — | Table 9-2 (Multi-establishment center) |
| Ground Sign (Multi-establishment commercial/professional center - center sign) | 12 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (per formula) | — | Per Figure 9-1 | One pole or one ground sign | On-premise at center frontage | — | Table 9-2 (Multi-establishment center) |
| Pole Sign (Auto service stations) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft each sign | — | Per Figure 9-1; at 30' height, minimum X+35 setback | One pole or one ground sign (see corner allowance) | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-2 (Auto service stations) and Footnote 1 |
| Ground Sign (Auto service stations) | 12 ft | 100 sq ft each sign | — | Per Figure 9-1 | One pole or one ground sign (see corner allowance) | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-2 (Auto service stations) and Footnote 1 |
| Pole Sign (Vehicle sales) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft each sign | — | Per Figure 9-1; at 30' height, minimum X+35 setback | One pole or one ground sign | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-2 (Vehicle sales) |
| Ground Sign (Vehicle sales) | 12 ft | 100 sq ft each sign | — | Per Figure 9-1 | One pole or one ground sign | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-2 (Vehicle sales) |

### General Business (B-2); Highway Service Commercial (B-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign (Individual commercial & office establishments - not in multi-establishment center) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1; at 30' height, minimum X+35 setback | One pole or one ground sign (see corner allowance) | On-premise freestanding pole sign | — | Table 9-2 (Individual establishments) and Footnote 1 |
| Ground Sign (Individual commercial & office establishments - not in multi-establishment center) | 30 ft | 75 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1; if over 10' height, increased setback applies; at 30' height, minimum X+35 setback | One pole or one ground sign (see corner allowance) | On-premise freestanding ground/monument sign | — | Table 9-2 (Individual establishments) and Footnote 1 |
| Pole Sign (Multi-establishment commercial/professional center - center sign) | 50 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (per formula) | — | Per Figure 9-1; for 50' height, setback must be at least X+55 | One pole or one ground sign | On-premise at center frontage | — | Table 9-2 (Multi-establishment center) |
| Ground Sign (Multi-establishment commercial/professional center - center sign) | 12 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (per formula) | — | Per Figure 9-1 | One pole or one ground sign | On-premise at center frontage | — | Table 9-2 (Multi-establishment center) |
| Pole Sign (Auto service stations) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft each sign | — | Per Figure 9-1; at 30' height, minimum X+35 setback | One pole or one ground sign (see corner allowance) | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-2 (Auto service stations) and Footnote 1 |
| Ground Sign (Auto service stations) | 12 ft | 100 sq ft each sign | — | Per Figure 9-1 | One pole or one ground sign (see corner allowance) | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-2 (Auto service stations) and Footnote 1 |
| Pole Sign (Vehicle sales) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft each sign | — | Per Figure 9-1; at 30' height, minimum X+35 setback | One pole or one ground sign | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-2 (Vehicle sales) |
| Ground Sign (Vehicle sales) | 12 ft | 100 sq ft each sign | — | Per Figure 9-1 | One pole or one ground sign | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-2 (Vehicle sales) |

### Light Industrial (M-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Individual industrial establishments) | Not above upper wall line | — | — | Wall-mounted | No maximum number on wall | On building wall | — | Table 9-3 |
| Pole Sign (Individual industrial establishments) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1; at 30' height, minimum X+35 setback | One pole or one ground sign per establishment | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-3 |
| Ground Sign (Individual industrial establishments) | 12 ft | 75 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1 | One pole or one ground sign per establishment | On-premise freestanding ground/monument sign | — | Table 9-3 |
| Pole Sign (Industrial parks) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1; at 30' height, minimum X+35 setback | One sign per exit drive | At park entrances/exits | — | Table 9-3 |
| Ground Sign (Industrial parks) | 12 ft | 75 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1 | One sign per exit drive | At park entrances/exits | — | Table 9-3 |
| Ground Sign (Commercial & office establishments located in industrial areas) | 12 ft | 75 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1 | One per establishment | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-3 |
| Pole Sign (Commercial & office establishments located in industrial areas) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1; at 30' height, minimum X+35 setback | One per establishment | On-premise freestanding | — | Table 9-3 |
| Off-Premise Sign / Billboard (M-1 District) | 30 ft | 720 sq ft | — | Per Figure 9-1 | Per state Highway Advertising Act spacing | Off-premise along roadways in M-1 | — | Table 9-3 (Off-premise signs) and Footnotes 1-2; 9.2.1(I)-(K) |

## Prohibited signs in Vernon Township

- Encroaching signs and roof signs are prohibited.
- Any sign that, due to size, location, content, coloring, motion, or illumination, creates a traffic hazard or detracts from visibility of traffic control devices is prohibited.
- Signs using words like “STOP,” “LOOK,” “DANGER,” or similar in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures that are abandoned, no longer used as intended, structurally unsafe, hazardous, or not kept in good repair are prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exit way is prohibited.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained after the effective date of the Ordinance is prohibited.
- Signs with flashing, blinking, or running lights are prohibited, except for non-flashing changing copy for time, temperature, and date.
- Any sign installed prior to the effective date of the Ordinance without a permit when a prior ordinance required a permit is prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited except where off-premise signs are allowed.
- Billboards used for on-premise advertising are prohibited.
- Billboards located within 300 feet of residential districts are prohibited.
- Signs located in the right-of-way of public streets or highways are prohibited (except official municipal/traffic control signs).
- Any sign erected on a roof of a building above the permitted building height is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Vernon Township

- No hunting/no trespassing signs and on-premise directional signs up to 4 square feet are allowed in any district.
- Signs located inside buildings are allowed in any district.
- Identification, address, or “for sale” signs affixed to a wall, mailbox, post, lamp post, or pillar up to 4 square feet are allowed in any district.
- Official traffic control or other municipal signs (including directional signs in rights-of-way, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger and temporary emergency signs) are allowed.
- Memorial signs/tablets, names of buildings, and dates of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material are allowed.
- Flags bearing the official design of a nation, state, municipality, educational institution, or organization are allowed.
- Political signs in all districts (no permit required), up to 200 square feet, for up to 45 days each election and removed within 5 days after the election.
- Real estate signs for residential sale/rent/lease (no permit required), up to 6 square feet for single-family and 10 square feet for multiple-family, removed within 5 days after the purpose is fulfilled.
- Real estate signs for all other uses (no permit required), up to 32 square feet, removed within 5 days after the purpose is fulfilled.
- Residential garage sale signs (no permit required), up to 4 square feet, for up to 15 days.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or sign plan requirement is specified in the provided text.
- For Planned Unit Developments (PUDs), sign standards are established by the Planning Commission after recommendation from the Zoning Administrator (Section 9.3.4).
- An appeal/variance process is available: the Board of Appeals may authorize reductions, modifications, or waivers of sign requirements upon request, subject to standards in Article 18 (Section 9.1 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 6 zoning districts in Vernon Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Vernon+Township+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-vernon-township

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