# Sign Regulations in Watervliet, Michigan

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

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

## At a glance

Watervliet, Michigan regulates 31 sign types across 4 zoning districts. For Sale or For Rent Signs in the Residence district, Residential districts zoning district are capped at 5.5 ft above ground tall, 7 sq ft, and 4.5 ft including supports wide (Sec. Section 11.07.1.b). Most commercial signs in Watervliet require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence district, Residential districts | 10 | 15 ft or one story, whichever is lower | 150 sq ft | — |
| Business districts | 11 | 50 ft above street level or adjoining ground | 141 sq ft | — |
| Industrial districts | 6 | 25 ft above ground | 275 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 5 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residence district, Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (One-Family or Two-Family dwelling) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Affixed to dwelling unit | — | Section 11.04.1.a; Section 11.07.1.a.(1) |
| Identification Sign (Multiple-Family, Apartments, Hotels, Non-Dwelling Buildings) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed to building | — | Section 11.07.1.a.(2) |
| Construction/Remodeling Sign | 15 ft or one story, whichever is lower | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1, or 2 for corner lots | Affixed to construction site | — | Section 11.07.1.a.(3) and (4) |
| Temporary Sign (Produce) | — | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from any right-of-way | 1 per premises | On-premises advertising produce raised on premises | — | Section 11.04.1.b |
| Institutional Bulletin Board (Standard) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per institution | On-premises, at institution | — | Section 11.04.1.c |
| Institutional Bulletin Board (Enlarged by Zoning Board) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per institution | On-premises at institution | — | Section 11.04.1.c |
| Real Estate Sign (Standard) | — | 7 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises or building | On-premises (on building or property being sold/rented/leased) | — | Section 11.04.1.d; Section 11.07.1.b |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign | 5.5 ft above ground | 7 sq ft | 4.5 ft including supports | — | 1 per zoning lot | On-premises | — | Section 11.07.1.b |

### Business districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Marquee/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On marquee, canopy or awning | — | Section 11.08.2 |
| Wall Sign | 25 ft above curb level, or 4 ft above roofline (whichever is lower); signs over 25 ft require planning commission approval | — | — | — | — | Front, side, or rear walls of principal building | — | Section 11.08.3, 11.08.9.a-d, 11.08.6, 11.08.7 |
| Freestanding Sign | 50 ft above street level or adjoining ground | 141 sq ft | — | — | — | Within property lines; not on setback or right-of-way | — | Section 11.08.4, 11.08.7 |
| Integrated Planned Business Development Sign | 20 ft above curb/street level | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 additional per center | Within property lines of the shopping center | — | Section 11.08.5 |
| Parking Area Sign | — | 9 sq ft per lot (allowing 2 if corner lot, each facing a street) | — | — | 1 per parking lot (2 if corner lot) | Within property lines of parking lot | — | Section 11.06.2.a |
| Parking Entrance/Exit Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance or exit | At parking area entrance/exit | — | Section 11.06.2.b |
| Automobile Service Station Signs - Oil Can Rack | — | — | — | — | 2 per island | At or on the ends of pump islands | — | Section 11.08.10.a |
| Automobile Service Station Signs - Portable Tire Racks | 7 ft (including sign) | — | 6 ft (length of the rack) | — | 2 per gasoline or tire service station | On premises | — | Section 11.08.10.b |

### Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Allowed in Business Districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Section 11.09.1 |
| Advertising Sign | 25 ft above ground | 275 sq ft | — | Set back from street line per district minimum building setback; or as otherwise required | — | — | — | Section 11.09.2, 11.09.6 |
| Cumulative Sign Area (All Signs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Section 11.09.5 |
| Separation Between Advertising Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Same side of street/highway | — | Section 11.09.4 |
| Proximity to Parks/Freeways (Advertising Signs) | — | — | — | 500 ft from public park (over 5 acres) or freeways/expressways/toll roads | — | — | — | Section 11.09.7 |
| Proximity to Residence Districts (Advertising Signs) | — | — | — | 100 ft from residence district | — | — | — | Section 11.09.8 |

## Prohibited signs in Watervliet

- All off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Any sign not expressly permitted is prohibited.
- No sign shall block any required accessway or window.
- No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole.

## Signs exempt from permit in Watervliet

- Memorial signs and tablets displayed on private property, not to exceed five square feet, are exempt from the permit required and from the regulations of section 11.00.
- Address numerals are exempt from the permit required and from the regulations of section 11.00.
- Some signs permitted by section 11.07.1, paragraphs a) and b), and by section 11.07.2, paragraph a), are exempt from permit requirements but must comply with all other regulations of section 11.00.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The building inspector may require that all plans be drawn by a registered architect or structural engineer licensed by the State of Michigan when applying for a sign permit.
- No person shall construct, alter, rebuild, enlarge, erect or place a sign without first filing with the building inspector a written application and obtaining a permit, including required information and drawings as specified by the building inspector.

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

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