# Sign Regulations in Whitehall, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Whitehall, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/whitehall
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-29
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cityofwhitehall.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Revised-Ordinances-FINAL.pdf#page=24)

## At a glance

Whitehall, Michigan regulates 27 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Business District (B1); Central Business District (B2) zoning district are capped at 20 ft top of sign tall and 70 sq ft surface display area, with a Leading edge at least 10 ft back of right-of-way line setback (Sec. B1 §15-8-15(B)(1); B2 §15-9-14(B)(1); permit: B1 §15-8-15(E); B2 §15-9-14(E)). Most commercial signs in Whitehall 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 (R1) | 8 | — | 100 sq ft surface display area | — |
| Moderate Density Residential District (R2) | 9 | — | 100 sq ft surface display area | — |
| Multiple Family Residential District (R3) | 10 | 10 ft top of sign | 100 sq ft surface display area | — |
| Restricted Commercial District (RC1) | 11 | 20 ft top of sign | 100 sq ft surface display area | — |
| General Business District (B1); Central Business District (B2) | 16 | 20 ft top of sign | 100 sq ft surface display area | — |
| Industrial District (M1) | 14 | 20 ft top of sign | 100 sq ft surface display area | — |
| Lakefront Recreation District (LR); Agricultural District (AG); Open Space, Conservation, Recreation District (OS) | 16 | 20 ft top of sign | 100 sq ft surface display area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |

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

### General Business District (B1); Central Business District (B2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation/Nameplate/House Number Sign | — | 3 sq ft surface display area | — | — | — | On principal building | — | B1 §15-8-15(A)(1); B2 §15-9-14(A)(1) |
| Flag (Commercial Parcels) | — | 24 sq ft per flag | — | — | Max 3 flagpoles per parcel; up to 2 flags per pole | Flagpoles on parcel | — | B1 §15-8-15(A)(3); B2 §15-9-14(A)(3) |
| Temporary Yard Sign | — | 20 sq ft combined per parcel | — | — | 1 per 12 ft of frontage | Yard | — | B1 §15-8-15(A)(8); B2 §15-9-14(A)(8) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft top of sign | 70 sq ft surface display area | — | Leading edge at least 10 ft back of right-of-way line | 1 per parcel | Front yard | — | B1 §15-8-15(B)(1); B2 §15-9-14(B)(1); permit: B1 §15-8-15(E); B2 §15-9-14(E) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 15% of marquee front face | — | — | 1 per marquee | Attached to marquee | — | B1 §15-8-15(B)(3); B2 §15-9-14(B)(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft surface display area | — | Cannot extend into or over public right-of-way; cannot extend beyond minimum required setback line | 1 per building | Projecting from building | — | B1 §15-8-15(B)(4); B2 §15-9-14(B)(4) |
| Parking Lot Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per ingress/egress | At each point of ingress or egress to parking lot | — | B1 §15-8-15(B)(6); B2 §15-9-14(B)(6) |
| Vertically Hanging Flag (Business premises) | — | 30 inches (width) × 60 inches (height), including frame | 30 inches | Shall not be in public right-of-way | — | Outside the premises of a business | — | B1 §15-8-15(B)(8); B2 §15-9-14(B)(8) |

### Industrial District (M1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag (Industrial Parcels) | — | 24 sq ft per flag | — | — | Max 3 flagpoles per parcel; up to 2 flags per pole | Flagpoles on parcel | — | §15-10-15(A)(3) |
| Temporary Yard Sign | — | 20 sq ft combined per parcel | — | — | 1 per 12 ft of frontage | Yard | — | §15-10-15(A)(8) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft top of sign | 100 sq ft surface display area | — | Leading edge at least 10 ft back of right-of-way line | 1 per parcel | Front yard | — | §15-10-15(B)(1); §15-10-15(E)(1)-(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of building face | — | — | Per building face | Attached to building face | — | §15-10-15(B)(2) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 15% of marquee face | — | — | 1 per marquee | Attached to marquee | — | §15-10-15(B)(3) |
| Parking Lot Directional Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per ingress/egress | At each point of ingress or egress to parking lot | — | §15-10-15(B)(4) |
| Freestanding Entrance Sign (Industrial Complex) | — | 100 sq ft surface display area | — | — | 1 per industrial complex | Near entrance to industrial complex | — | §15-10-15(B)(5) |
| Vertically Hanging Flag (Business premises) | — | 30 inches (width) × 60 inches (height), including frame | 30 inches | Shall not be in public right-of-way | — | Outside the premises of a business | — | §15-10-15(B)(6) |

### Lakefront Recreation District (LR); Agricultural District (AG); Open Space, Conservation, Recreation District (OS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation/Nameplate/House Number Sign | — | 3 sq ft surface display area | — | — | — | On principal building | — | LR §15-11-14(A)(1); AG §15-12-14(A)(1); OS §15-13-14(A)(1) |
| Flag (Parcel Limits per Zone) | — | 24 sq ft per flag | — | — | Per zone as stated | Flagpoles on parcel | — | LR §15-11-14(A)(3); AG §15-12-14(A)(3); OS §15-13-14(A)(3) |
| Temporary Yard Sign | — | 20 sq ft combined per parcel | — | — | 1 per 12 ft of frontage | Yard | — | LR §15-11-14(A)(8); AG §15-12-14(A)(8); OS §15-13-14(A)(8) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft top of sign | 70 sq ft surface display area | — | Leading edge at least 10 ft back of right-of-way line | 1 per parcel | Front yard | — | LR §15-11-14(B)(1); AG §15-12-14(B)(1); OS §15-13-14(B)(1); permit details: LR §15-11-14(E); AG §15-12-14(E); OS §15-13-14(E) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 15% of marquee front face | — | — | 1 per marquee | Attached to marquee | — | LR §15-11-14(B)(3); AG §15-12-14(B)(3); OS §15-13-14(B)(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft surface display area | — | Cannot extend into or over public right-of-way; cannot extend beyond minimum required setback line | 1 per building | Projecting from building | — | LR §15-11-14(B)(4); AG §15-12-14(B)(4); OS §15-13-14(B)(4) |
| Parking Lot Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per ingress/egress | At each point of ingress or egress to parking lot | — | LR §15-11-14(B)(6); AG §15-12-14(B)(6); OS §15-13-14(B)(6) |
| Vertically Hanging Flag (Business premises) | — | 30 inches (width) × 60 inches (height), including frame | 30 inches | Shall not be in public right-of-way | — | Outside the premises of a business | — | LR §15-11-14(B)(8); AG §15-12-14(B)(8); OS §15-13-14(B)(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Whitehall

- No sign may be erected in a manner that obstructs free and clear vision of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic.
- No sign may be located within or extend over any public right-of-way.
- Illuminated signs must have light sources shielded so that no direct rays or glare are visible from any public right-of-way or from abutting property.
- Flashing or intermittent lighting on signs may not exceed more than one change every eight seconds and may not create a traffic hazard.
- It is prohibited to erect, replace, alter, enlarge, illuminate, or relocate a permitted sign without first obtaining a sign permit.

## Signs exempt from permit in Whitehall

- House numbers, nameplates, and home occupation signs affixed flat to the principal building (not to exceed 3 square feet in surface display area).
- Memorial signs affixed to a building that identify the building name and construction dates (not to exceed 3 square feet in surface display area).
- Flags not to exceed 24 square feet in surface display area (flagpole quantity varies by parcel type).
- Traffic control signs that conform to the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Park, playground, and other governmental signs.
- Sponsorship and championship signs for the benefit of non-profit organizations (not to exceed 100 square feet in surface display area).
- One temporary yard sign per twelve feet of road frontage, with a combined total not to exceed 20 square feet in surface display area.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign plan is required as part of every sign permit application; it must indicate the sign type, design, size, dimensions, lighting method, and copy, and include a scaled site plan showing property lines and the locations of signs and buildings, plus any required building or electrical plans per code.
- A sign permit must be obtained before erecting, replacing, altering, enlarging, illuminating, or relocating any permitted sign.
- The Zoning Administrator reviews completed sign permit applications for ordinance compliance and typically renders a decision within three working days.
- Temporary free-standing or banner signs advertising special events require prior City Council approval before placement (applicable in multiple commercial, industrial, recreation, and open space districts).

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

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