# Sign Regulations in White Lake Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** White Lake Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/white-lake-township
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-16
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.whitelaketwp.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/planning/page/2311/2025_07_02_white_lake_clearzoning_ordinance_secured.pdf#page=175)

## At a glance

White Lake Township, Michigan regulates 24 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Ambulatory Sign (Carried by a Person)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 36 in (tall) when carried tall, Max dimensions: 24 in wide by 36 in tall, and 24 in (wide) wide, with a Must not interfere with Clear Vision Triangle at intersections (§5.6) setback (Sec. §5.9.vi.a–f). Most commercial signs in White Lake Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 36 in (tall) when carried | Up to 25% of total window area | — |
| Residential Districts | 4 | Up to 6 ft | Up to 100 sq ft total per site for wall signs | — |
| Agricultural District (AG); Suburban Farms District (SF) | 1 | — | Up to 8 sq ft per sign | — |
| Non-Residential Districts; Non-Residential Districts (Commercial and Industrial) | 6 | Up to 6 ft | Max individual wall sign: 200 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Office District (NB-O); Local Business District (LB); Restricted Business District (RB); Research Office Park District (ROP); Light Manufacturing District (LM); Extractive Overlay District (E); Recreation and Open Space District (ROS) | 2 | 12 ft; bottom edge minimum 8 ft above grade | 32 sq ft (does not include decorative elements) | — |
| Planned Business District (PB) (Single-tenant) | 2 | 12 ft; bottom edge minimum 8 ft above grade | 50 sq ft (does not include decorative elements) | — |
| Planned Business District (PB) (Multi-tenant) | 2 | 15 ft (includes decorative elements) | 150 sq ft (does not include decorative elements) | — |
| General Business District (GB) (Single-tenant) | 2 | 12 ft; bottom edge minimum 8 ft above grade | 50 sq ft (does not include decorative elements) | — |
| General Business District (GB) (Multi-tenant) | 2 | 15 ft (includes decorative elements) | 150 sq ft (does not include decorative elements) | — |
| Industrial Districts; Light Manufacturing District (LM) | 1 | Up to 16 ft above ground upon which the billboard sits or above the grade of the abutting highway, whichever is higher | Up to 100 sq ft (combined area of stacked/tandem faces limited to 100 sq ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt) | Up to 4 ft | Up to 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Up to two (2) signs without a permit | — | — | §5.9.E.ix |
| Address Number Sign (Exempt) | — | Up to 2 sq ft | — | — | One per building or unit | Affixed to building or unit for identification | — | §5.9.E.iii |
| Occupant Name Sign (Exempt) | — | Up to 2 sq ft | — | — | One per building or unit | Affixed to building or unit | — | §5.9.E.iv |
| Governmental Directional/Required Signs (Exempt) | Up to 4 ft (directional) | Up to 4 sq ft (directional); required notices per applicable law | — | — | — | As established by Township, County, or State | — | §5.9.E.i, §5.9.E.ii, §5.9.E.v |
| Flags (Exempt) | — | Up to 8 sq ft per flag | — | — | Up to two flags | — | — | §5.9.E.viii |
| Window Signs (Exempt) | — | Up to 25% of total window area | — | — | — | Window | — | §5.9.E.x |
| Traffic Control Signs (Exempt) | — | — | — | — | — | As required for traffic control | — | §5.9.E.xi |
| Ambulatory Sign (Carried by a Person) | 36 in (tall) when carried | Max dimensions: 24 in wide by 36 in tall | 24 in (wide) | Must not interfere with Clear Vision Triangle at intersections (§5.6) | — | On person; on public/private sidewalks subject to restrictions | — | §5.9.vi.a–f |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Entrance Monument Sign | Up to 6 ft | Up to 30 sq ft | — | — | One at principal entrance; one additional sign may be permitted if qualifying conditions are met | At or adjacent to the principal entrance to the subdivision; placement within a public boulevard entrance may require Road Commission approval | — | §5.9.I.i |
| Temporary Sign (Residential – Permit) | Up to 6 ft | Up to 16 sq ft per sign; total temporary sign area per residence not to exceed 32 sq ft | — | — | Up to two exempt signs without permit plus any permitted temporary signs per §5.9.D.i | — | — | §5.9.D.i |
| Wall Sign (Permitted Non-Residential Uses in Residential Districts) – Option 1 | — | Up to 100 sq ft total per site for wall signs | — | — | One wall sign OR one monument sign (Option 2) per permitted non-residential use | On building facade; oriented toward principal ingress/egress | — | §5.9.I.iii |
| Monument Sign (Permitted Non-Residential Uses in Residential Districts) – Option 2 | Up to 6 ft | Up to 16 sq ft | — | — | One wall sign OR one monument sign per permitted non-residential use | At site of permitted non-residential use within residential district | — | §5.9.I.iii |

### Non-Residential Districts; Non-Residential Districts (Commercial and Industrial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Max individual wall sign: 200 sq ft | — | — | As noted above (1 per principal building; 1 per tenant; up to 3 for very long facades; plus possible additional sign facing secondary thoroughfare) | On front facade (additional sign may face secondary thoroughfare) | — | §5.9.J.ii.a–b; §5.9.J.i.c |
| Canopy Sign (Counts as Wall Sign) | — | Per wall sign limits | — | — | Counts within wall sign maximums | On building canopy | — | §5.9.J.ii.c |
| Freestanding Directory Sign | Up to 6 ft | Up to 4 sq ft per directory sign | — | — | — | On site (freestanding) | — | §5.9.J.iv |
| Interior Directory Sign | — | Per name: 60 sq in | — | — | — | Interior side walls of corridors or at entry to covered corridors | — | §5.9.J.iii |
| Portable Business Sign (Sandwich Board) | — | Up to 12 sq ft per side (maximum two sides) | — | At least 20 ft from road edge or no closer than road ROW; and 50 ft from another portable sign | One portable sign per tenant | • At least 20 ft from edge of pavement or no closer than edge of road right-of-way (whichever distance is greater) • At least 50 ft from another portable sign • Not within right-of-way, clear vision area, fire lane; may be on pedestrian walkway only if it does not interfere with pedestrian travel and is properly anchored | — | §5.9.J.v.a(1)–(11); §5.9.b (Enforcement) |
| Electronic Message Board Sign (Accessory – Non-Residential Only) | — | Up to 75% of the total sign area (remaining 25% at top must be non-electronic) | — | — | — | As component of an identification sign for the same site | — | §5.9.vii.a–h |

## Prohibited signs in White Lake Township

- Animated signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Festoons are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Above-the-roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Illuminated tube bands outlining more than 25% of a window are prohibited.
- Non-accessory signs are prohibited unless otherwise specified in the ordinance.
- Signs placed in the public right-of-way are prohibited unless otherwise specified in the ordinance.
- Signs painted on the exterior surface of any building or structure are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited as permanent signs; a vehicle parked in the same position for more than 72 hours is considered a vehicle sign.
- Signs containing obscene, indecent, menacing, or harassing content, signs that espouse criminal activity, or that offend public morals or decency are prohibited.
- Signs affixed to or suspended from trees, shrubs, utility poles, light poles, telephone poles, traffic control devices, mail boxes, fire hydrants, or other structures in or over a public easement or right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs placed in a manner that impedes traffic visibility are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate official traffic signs or signals or contain words such as "stop," "go slow," "caution," "danger," or "warning," except official governmental signs, are prohibited.
- Signs whose size, location, movement, content, coloring, or illumination may be confused with a traffic control device or that hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal, except official governmental signs, are prohibited.
- Signs erected or suspended from the roof of a building are prohibited.
- Signs not maintained in good condition and repair are prohibited.
- Flashing, oscillating, or intermittent illuminated signs or displays, and exposed illuminated vacuum tubes or bulbs are prohibited in any zoning district.
- Illuminated signs are prohibited within 100 feet of a residential district.
- External illumination is prohibited unless the lighting equipment is designed as an integral part of the display; the light source must not be visible, must not interfere with driver visibility, and must not project onto adjoining property.
- No sign above 30 inches may be located within, project into, or overhang the required clear vision triangle; signs may not hinder driver sight distance.

## Signs exempt from permit in White Lake Township

- Signs or notices required by state, federal, or local laws.
- Signs outside the jurisdiction of the Township, including approved signs in rights-of-way under County or State jurisdiction.
- One address number sign per building or unit, up to 2 square feet.
- One occupant name sign per building or unit, up to 2 square feet.
- Directional signs established by Township, County, or State, each up to 4 square feet in area and 4 feet in height.
- Incidental signs, subject to approval by the Director of the Community Development Department.
- Interior signs.
- Up to two flags, each no greater than 8 square feet in area.
- Up to two temporary signs allowed without a permit in any district; each sign may not exceed 6 square feet in area and 4 feet in overall height above grade.
- Window signs covering up to 25% of the total window area of a building.
- Traffic control signs that conform to the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All permanent signs require a building permit and administrative approval by the Director of the Community Development Department; the Director may require Planning Commission review and recommendation of sign permit applications.
- Sign permit applications must include a property location sketch and zoning, scaled color drawings of each sign (size, shape, message, lettering, materials), building elevations showing sign placement and existing signs, and for freestanding signs a site plan showing height, location, and setbacks.
- If illuminated, applications must include fixture type, color of illumination, and shielding details (directional shields required for floodlighting); illuminated signs must be at least 100 feet from residential districts.
- Non-accessory signs/billboards require site plan approval and a sign permit prior to erection; billboard permits are issued for one year and require annual inspection for renewal.
- Exceptions to freestanding sign height limits or installation on man-made berms require administrative review and approval by the Director of the Community Development Department based on specific findings.
- Alternatives to the required decorative masonry base for freestanding signs may be approved by the Director and/or the Planning Commission upon determination that the proposed design meets ordinance intent.
- Portable business signs require administrative approval and an annual permit from the Community Development Department.
- Wall signs for single tenants occupying three or more contiguous tenant spaces require Planning Commission review and approval.
- Electronic message board sign applications must include certification by an independent illumination engineer or testing laboratory that brightness complies with limits; signs must include an automatic dimmer and an enforcement-accessible shut-off switch.

## 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 10 zoning districts in White Lake Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=White+Lake+Township+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-white-lake-township

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