# Sign Regulations in Williamstown Township, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Williamstown Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/williamstown-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Williamstown Township, Michigan regulates 39 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign (Sale or Lease of Home/Lot)s in the Residential District (R-1, R-1-S, RR, RE, RM-1, MHP), Agricultural District (AG-SF, AG-C), Mobile Home Park District (MHP) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 6 sq ft, with a May be located in required setback with property owner permission setback (Sec. Table 7.1 / § 7.05.C / § 7.07.B). Most commercial signs in Williamstown Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 18 inches numeral height | 15 sq ft (per device) | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-1-S, RR, RE, RM-1, MHP), Agricultural District (AG-SF, AG-C), Mobile Home Park District (MHP) | 12 | 10 ft | 48 sq ft (structure); maximum sign covers 50% of structure | — |
| Office Service District (OS-1), Business District (B-1, B-2), Light Industrial District (I-1), Commercial District (B-1, B-2), Industrial District (I-1), Office District (OS-1) | 16 | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| Planned Development District (PD) | 2 | 15 ft (if approved); otherwise 6 ft | 72 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-1) | 1 | 25 ft | 72 sq ft per sign face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Number Sign (Residential) | 6 inches numeral height | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 7.05.A.1 |
| Address Number Sign (Business) | 18 inches numeral height | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 7.05.A.1 |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises, identifying the occupants of the building | — | § 7.05.A.2 |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | 5 per parcel | Any | — | § 7.05.A.6 |
| Private Parking Lot and Driveway Identification Sign | 6 ft | 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 7.05.A.9 |
| Vending Machine, Gas Pump or Ice Container Sign | — | 15 sq ft (per device) | — | — | — | On device indicating its contents | — | § 7.05.A.10 |
| "Help Wanted" Sign | — | 4 sq ft (aggregate of all such signs) | — | — | — | At place of business | — | § 7.05.A.12 |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | Front setback permitted | — | May be in front setback area | — | § 7.05.A.16 |

### Residential District (R-1, R-1-S, RR, RE, RM-1, MHP), Agricultural District (AG-SF, AG-C), Mobile Home Park District (MHP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Sale or Lease of Home/Lot) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | May be located in required setback with property owner permission | 1 (2 on corner lot) | On property for sale/lease | — | Table 7.1 / § 7.05.C / § 7.07.B |
| Garage Sale Sign | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | May be located in required setback with property owner permission | 2 | — | — | Table 7.1 / § 7.05.C |
| Construction Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Setback requirements for principal structures in the zone | 1 | On site of construction | — | Table 7.1 / § 7.05.C |
| Community Special Event Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Setback requirements for principal structures in the zone | 2 | — | — | Table 7.1 |
| Seasonal Sign (Advertising Agricultural Commodities) | 10 ft | 16 sq ft | — | May be located in required setback | 1 per parcel | — | — | Table 7.1 |
| Residential Entranceway or Identification Sign | 8 ft | 48 sq ft (structure); maximum sign covers 50% of structure | — | 10 feet from any property or right-of-way line | 1 per entrance | At entrance to subdivision or residential development | — | § 7.07.D |
| Freestanding/Wall Sign for Permitted Nonresidential Uses | 5 ft | Per § 7.08.D.2, § 7.08.E.2 (up to 48 sq ft for wall/freestanding, 24 sq ft for farms) | — | No closer than 15 ft to ROW/property, driveway, vehicular approach | 1 per parcel (or 1 per frontage on corner lot) | On lot of nonresidential use | — | § 7.07.E |
| Permanent Farm Sign (Freestanding/Wall) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | No closer than 15 ft to ROW | 1 | On agricultural property | — | § 7.07.G |

### Office Service District (OS-1), Business District (B-1, B-2), Light Industrial District (I-1), Commercial District (B-1, B-2), Industrial District (I-1), Office District (OS-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed 1/3 of building height; Top of wall sign not above top of sill at first level of windows above first story or top of wall | 48 sq ft | Not to exceed 2/3 of building width | — | One per street/highway frontage per tenant | One per street/highway frontage per tenant or per tenant space; may have one per side facing street; only one at shared entrances (allocated among tenants) | — | § 7.08.D.1-6 |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft (15 ft with special land use approval) | 48 sq ft (standard) / 72 sq ft (PD, special review) | — | 15 ft from ROW; 50 ft from residential/ag district, 5 ft from service drive, may be in front yard | One per street/highway frontage | One per street/highway frontage per parcel; one for corner lots visible from both streets | — | § 7.08.E.1-5 |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate (Sale or Lease of Business or Lot) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | Required setback area allowed | 1 (2 on corner lot) | On property for sale/lease | — | Table 7.1 / § 7.05.C |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate (Unplatted Land) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Required setback area allowed | 1 (2 on corner lot) | On property for sale/lease | — | Table 7.1 |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Development | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Required setback area allowed | See footnote c | On site of development | — | Table 7.1 |
| Construction Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Required setback area | 1 | On site of construction | — | Table 7.1 |
| Community Special Event Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Required setback area | 2 | — | — | Table 7.1 |
| Gasoline Price Sign | See freestanding sign max height for district | 20 sq ft | — | See freestanding sign setback | 1 per street frontage | At gasoline filling station | — | § 7.08.H |

## Prohibited signs in Williamstown Township

- Any sign not expressly permitted.
- Signs that incorporate flashing or moving lights, except time and temperature or stock market signs.
- Banners, pennants, festoons, spinners, and streamers, unless specifically permitted elsewhere in this article.
- String lights used for commercial purposes, other than holiday decorations (permitted for a period not to exceed 60 days).
- Moving signs, including any sign with visible moving or revolving parts, mechanical movement, or other visible movement including intermittent electric pulsations or movement caused by wind.
- Any sign or sign structure that is structurally unsafe, constitutes a safety or health hazard due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment, is capable of causing electric shock, or is not kept in good repair (with broken parts, missing letters, or non-operational lights).
- Any sign erected on a tree or utility pole, except signs of a government or utility, or for 'No Trespassing,' 'No Hunting,' or 'No Dumping.'
- Obsolete signs, as specified in § 7.04(C), except those of identifiably historic nature such as painted barn signs.
- Portable signs, except where expressly permitted in this Ordinance.
- Signs affixed to a parked vehicle or truck trailer primarily for advertising rather than transportation purposes.
- Any sign that obstructs free access to or egress from a required door, window, fire exit, or other required exit.
- Any sign that, because of its size, location, content, coloring, or illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing drivers' vision, distracting drivers, or obstructing/detracting from the visibility of any traffic sign or control device.
- Any sign that uses the words 'Stop,' 'Look,' or 'Danger,' or similar words, symbols, or characters in a way that interferes with, misleads or confuses traffic.
- Any sign containing obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected, enlarged, altered, or maintained.
- Roof signs.
- Projecting signs.
- Poster panel (A-frame/sandwich) signs, except when used to advertise seasonal agricultural commodities.
- Signs on street furniture, including but not limited to benches and trash receptacles.
- Real estate signs that are no longer valid due to sale, rental, or lease of the property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Williamstown Township

- Address numbers with a numeral height no greater than six inches for residences and 18 inches for businesses.
- Nameplates identifying the occupants of the building, not to exceed two square feet.
- Memorial signs or tablets.
- Signs on a bus, truck, trailer, or other vehicle while used for transport in the normal course of business, provided the primary use of vehicle is not for advertising while parked.
- Public signs, including the authorized signs of a government body or public utility, including traffic signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, warnings of hazard, and similar signs.
- Up to five flags per parcel bearing the official design of a nation, state, municipality, educational institution, or noncommercial organization.
- Incidental signs, provided that the total area does not exceed two square feet.
- Traffic-control signs that conform to the requirements of the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- One private parking lot and driveway identification sign, not to exceed three square feet per sign and six feet in height.
- Permanent signs on vending machines, gas pumps, or ice containers indicating only the contents, not exceeding 15 square feet per device.
- Real estate signs advertising the rental, sale, or lease of the property on which they are located, subject to requirements in § 7.05(C).
- 'Help wanted' signs soliciting employees for the place of business where posted, maximum area four square feet for all such signs.
- Any sign located completely within an enclosed building and not visible from outside.
- Plaques or signs designating a building as a historic structure, and names/date of buildings when cut into masonry or made with bronze or similar material.
- 'No Trespassing,' 'No Hunting,' and 'No Dumping' signs.
- Directional signs used to direct vehicular or pedestrian traffic (not containing logos or advertising, not exceeding four square feet in area or four feet in height, and may be located in the front setback).
- Temporary window signs, subject to requirements in § 7.05(C).
- Historical markers, including centennial farm signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- It is unlawful to erect, alter, relocate, or structurally change a sign or advertising structure without first obtaining a permit, unless specifically exempted.
- Application for a sign permit must be made on forms provided by the Building Official, including required plans and information.
- Sign permit applications submitted in conjunction with new building construction or additions must be reviewed by the Planning Commission as part of required site plan review, and proposed signs must be shown on the site plan.
- For signs on sites or existing buildings where no other new construction is proposed, the Building Official reviews the application.
- A new permit is not required for ordinary servicing or repainting, cleaning, or changing the message on signs designed for such changes; nor for certain exempt signs listed in § 7.05(A).
- A permit is not required for certain exempt signs listed in § 7.05(A), but an electrical permit is required for all signs that use electricity.
- Site plan review and approval for proposed signs (as part of new construction or additions) is required.
- All signs for which a permit has been issued will be inspected by the Building Official for compliance when erected.
- Off-premises advertising signs are subject to special land use review (§ 29.03).
- Freestanding signs up to 15 feet in height in nonresidential districts may be permitted by the Township Board, subject to special land use review, § 29.03.
- A photometric plan must be submitted for gasoline price signs that incorporate electronic changeable copy, to confirm compliance with illumination standards.
- Whenever a principal building on a site with a nonconforming sign is modified so that site plan review is required, the nonconforming sign must be removed.
- Any party denied a sign permit or ordered to correct/remove a sign may appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals in accordance with § 29.05.

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

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