# Sign Regulations in West Branch, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Branch, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/west-branch
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/West_Branch/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT8GERE_CH4PARE_ARTIIIPARU_S8-271DIPOSIRURE)

## At a glance

West Branch, Michigan regulates 24 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single- & Two-Family Residential Uses)s in the Mixed Use District (MU) zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall and 6 sq ft (Sec. Sec. 15-321(f), Sec. 15-321(d)). Most commercial signs in West Branch require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Residential District (R-1) | 3 | 5 ft | 16 sq ft (total of all temporary signs) | — |
| Multiple-Family Residential District (R-M) | 4 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Use District (MU) | 7 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Office Service District (O-S) | 7 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 8 | 48 in | Display area max 48 in x 28 in (9.33 sq ft each side, double-sided) | — |
| General Business District (G-B) | 7 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District (IND) | 7 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 3 ft | 8 sq ft | — |

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

### Mixed Use District (MU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single- & Two-Family Residential Uses) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Sec. 15-321(f), Sec. 15-321(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Family & Non-Residential Uses) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per road frontage | 1 per road frontage | — | Sec. 15-321(f), Sec. 15-321(d) |
| Wall Sign (Single- & Two-Family Residential Uses) | Not to exceed height of wall | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Building wall | — | Sec. 15-321(f), Sec. 15-321(d) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Family & Non-Residential Uses) | Not to exceed height of wall | — | — | — | — | Building wall | — | Sec. 15-321(f), Sec. 15-321(d) |
| Message Board (Non-Residential Uses) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per road frontage | 1 per road frontage | — | Sec. 15-321(f), (l), Sec. 15-321(d) |
| Temporary/Portable Signs | 5 ft | 32 sq ft (total of all temporary signs) | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 15-321(c), (f) |
| Sail-Type Temporary Signs (Flag Banners, Feather Flags) | — | 32 sq ft each | — | — | 1 per 20 linear feet of road frontage | 1 per 20 linear feet of road frontage | — | Sec. 15-321(f) |

### Office Service District (O-S)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Primary, Permanent) | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per road frontage | 1 per road frontage | — | Sec. 15-321(f), Sec. 15-321(l) |
| Message Board (Including Digital) | 12 ft (for freestanding) | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street or alley | 1 per street or alley | — | Sec. 15-321(f), (l) |
| Wall Sign (Permanent) | Not to exceed height of wall | — | — | — | — | Building wall | — | Sec. 15-321(f), (l) |
| Canopy Sign | Roof line | — | — | — | 1 per road frontage | 1 per road frontage | — | Sec. 15-321(f) |
| Projecting Sign | Bottom of sign min. 8 ft from sidewalk | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Building facade | — | Sec. 15-321(f) |
| Temporary/Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft (total of all temporary signs) | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 15-321(c), (f) |
| Sail-Type Temporary Signs (Flag Banners/Feather Flags) | — | 32 sq ft each | — | — | 1 per 20 linear feet of road frontage | 1 per 20 linear feet of road frontage | — | Sec. 15-321(f) |

### Central Business District (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Primary, Permanent) | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street or alley | 1 per street or alley | — | Sec. 15-321(f), (h), (l) |
| Message Board (Including Digital) | 12 ft (for freestanding) | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street or alley | 1 per street or alley | — | Sec. 15-321(f), (h), (l) |
| Canopy or Marquee Sign | Bottom of second story window; min. bottom height 8 ft from sidewalk | — | — | — | 1 per street or alley | 1 per street or alley; may project into right-of-way (6 ft; min. clearance 8 ft) | — | Sec. 15-321(f), (h) |
| Wall Sign (Permanent) | Not to exceed height of wall | — | — | — | — | Building wall | — | Sec. 15-321(f), (h) |
| Projecting Sign | Bottom of sign min. 8 ft from sidewalk | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Building facade, projects from building | — | Sec. 15-321(f), (h) |
| Temporary/Portable Signs | 5 ft | 32 sq ft (total of all temporary signs) | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 15-321(c), (f) |
| Sail-Type Temporary Signs (Flag Banners/Feather Flags) | — | 32 sq ft each | — | — | 1 per 20 linear feet of road frontage | 1 per 20 linear feet of road frontage; in the CBD along Houghton Avenue between 2nd and 4th Streets, only with planning commission approval (see requirements) | — | Sec. 15-321(f), (h) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 48 in | Display area max 48 in x 28 in (9.33 sq ft each side, double-sided) | 28 in | — | — | Sidewalk, must not block traveled sidewalk, must be removed when business closed | — | Sec. 15-321(j) |

## Prohibited signs in West Branch

- Signs are prohibited that are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination that may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or emergency vehicle.
- Signs that obstruct a motorist's view of any traffic signs, street sign, or traffic signal are prohibited.
- Signs that are not properly anchored or secured to a building or the ground (except temporary signs) are prohibited.
- Signs containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene nature are prohibited.
- Signs located within or overhang the public right-of-way or on public property are prohibited, unless otherwise specified or erected by a public agency.
- Signs that have flashing, oscillating, or intermittent illumination in the line of vision of a traffic control device or interfering with safe vision along any roadway, especially at intersections, are prohibited.
- No sign, regardless of type, is allowed in the corner clearance area formed at street intersections (as per section 15-306), where it would obstruct vision above the height of three feet to a height of eight feet.
- Signs shall not display obscene content or messages that appeal to a prurient interest in sexual conduct, depict or describe sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and be offensive, rude, lewd, or disgusting according to accepted moral standards as determined by the zoning administrator.
- Portable signs on a trailer or trailer frame and designed to be transported by means of wheels are not allowed in the city.
- All signs must be constructed to withstand all wind and vibration forces that can be normally expected to occur in the vicinity.
- Abandoned signs (signs blank over a year, illegible, or in disrepair) are prohibited; property owners must remove them within 90-120 days of notice.
- No sign or illumination will be permitted that constitutes a nuisance or hazard by reason of glare, illumination, reflection, animation, or flashing to neighboring residential properties, pedestrians, or motorists.
- Obsolete or nonconforming signs may not be moved, replaced, or altered except to bring them into conformance with the current regulations.
- All illuminated signs shall be designed and placed to prevent light from being cast upon adjoining residences.
- Temporary/portable signs mounted on vehicles not used in normal day-to-day business operations are prohibited.
- Window signs exceeding 25% of the glass area of the building frontage are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Branch

- Signs erected by an official governmental body, public utility, or historic agency.
- Signs not readable by motorists or pedestrians on any road, alley, water body, public lands, or adjacent parcels.
- Legal postings.
- Temporary signs as regulated (do not require permits, subject to standards in the ordinance).
- Permanent accessory freestanding signs on nonresidential property not exceeding 1.5 square feet and three feet in height.
- Signs or tablets (maximum eight square feet) cut into a masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material and affixed to a building exterior.
- Signs painted on or permanently attached to legally licensed vehicles actually used on highways for transportation.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, historic site designations, municipal facility directional signs, street or traffic signs, railroad crossing signs, danger and other emergency signs as may be approved by the city or relevant agencies.
- Signs erected by community groups around the time of community special events, approved by city council or manager.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, maintenance, repair, and change of sign message or graphics does not require a permit provided there is no structural alteration or addition to display area.
- Temporary dumpsters are exempt from screening requirements.
- Temporary holiday lighting and decoration.
- Lights within public right-of-way or easement, temporary emergency lighting, and lighting for civic/recreational events are exempt from general lighting provisions (not sign-specific but may apply to sign illumination).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Site plans are required for the installation of new permanent signs in instances where site plan review is required for the overall property or development.
- The sign permit application must comply with all pertinent aspects of the approved site plan in instances where a site plan is required.
- During the sign permit process, sign locations, elevation drawings, and structural information must be submitted and may be subject to site plan review if part of a larger development project.
- Permanent signs generally require a permit, and all new commercial, office, industrial, energy, and institutional developments require a site plan with sign locations shown.
- Lots with multiple nonresidential establishments may require a cluster sign, for which locations and dimensions will be reviewed through the site plan process.
- Deviation or variance from sign standards requires planning commission approval; variances do not require a public hearing.
- Sign permit becomes null and void if the work is not completed within six months after permit approval.

## 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 West Branch — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=West+Branch+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-west-branch

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