# Sign Regulations in Wixom, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wixom, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/wixom
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Wixom/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT18ZO_CH18.16SI)

## At a glance

Wixom, Michigan regulates 14 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Sandwich Board/A-frame Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 42 in tall, 7 sq ft per side (VCA/see others below), and 24 in wide, with a Min two feet from curb, must allow 6-foot-wide sidewalk. setback (Sec. 18.16.080(F), 18.16.070(B), (D)). Most commercial signs in Wixom require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 42 in | Up to 25% of window area | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RM-1, RM-2, MHP | 3 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| All non-residential districts, B-1, B-2, B-3, F-S, I-S, OS-1, IRO, M-1 | 8 | 42 in | 72 sq ft per sign face; up to 100 sq ft if on major thoroughfares (see 18.16.060(d)) | — |
| VCA district (nonresidential properties) | 9 | 3.5 ft | Up to 33% of face of canopy; counts toward wall sign area. | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground/Monument Sign) | — | — | — | Minimum 10 feet from any public or private street right-of-way line or access drive in all districts; at least 100 feet from any residential district (for nonresidential signs); 15 ft setback for entranceway signs. | — | On the ground, not attached to any building or structure. | — | 18.16.030, 18.16.060(b),(d), 18.16.120 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | 3 feet | Six feet from public right-of-way (except VCA, see specific zone). | — | Projecting from building façade. | — | 18.16.080(C), (5), (6), (3) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | Area counts toward wall sign area | — | — | — | On building awning or canopy. | — | 18.16.080(C), 18.16.070(H) |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 25% of window area | — | — | — | Affixed to or immediately adjacent to window. | — | 18.16.040(N), 18.16.060(a)(1), 18.16.070(B), (F) |
| Temporary Sign | See dimensional table by zone | See dimensional table by zone | — | — | — | Not attached to trees, fences, or utility poles. Not in right-of-way without permit. Not closer than 2 ft to edge of road. Not within any clear vision triangle. | — | 18.16.040(G), 18.16.060(c) |
| Sandwich Board/A-frame Sign | 42 in | 7 sq ft per side (VCA/see others below) | 24 in | Min two feet from curb, must allow 6-foot-wide sidewalk. | 1 per business entrance | Adjacent to business entrance, within 10 feet of entrance, not in public right-of-way unless authorized. | — | 18.16.080(F), 18.16.070(B), (D) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per driveway | At each approved driveway. | — | 18.16.080(A) |
| Entranceway Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft from property line/right-of-way | 1 per vehicular entrance | At major entrances to developments (subdivisions, apartment, condos, offices, industrial parks, etc.) | — | 18.16.080(D) |

### All non-residential districts, B-1, B-2, B-3, F-S, I-S, OS-1, IRO, M-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of front facade or 100 sq ft, whichever is less. With PC approval: 150 sq ft (201-400 ft frontage); 200 sq ft (>400 ft frontage) | — | — | 1 per business (2 if corner lot) | On building façade facing street. | — | 18.16.060, sign table, 18.16.080(C) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground/Monument Sign) | 6 ft; 8 ft on major thoroughfares (see below) | 72 sq ft per sign face; up to 100 sq ft if on major thoroughfares (see 18.16.060(d)) | — | Minimum 10 ft from right-of-way; 100 ft from residential district; 15 ft for entranceway. | 1 per use; 2 with >300 ft frontage; max 2 per site | On grounds; see setbacks. | — | 18.16.060(b), (d), sign table |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per sign; 48 sq ft total area per parcel | — | — | — | — | — | 18.16.060, sign table, 18.16.040(G) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | 3 ft | 6 ft from public right-of-way. | — | Projecting from building facade. | — | 18.16.080(C),(5),(6) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | Counts toward wall sign max area; must not exceed 30% of awning/canopy face panel | — | — | — | On awning/canopy | — | 18.16.080(C)(6) |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 25% of window area | — | — | — | Window surface | — | 18.16.040(N), 18.16.060(a)(1) |
| Sandwich Board/A-frame Sign | 42 in | 7 sq ft per side (VCA: see that zone); elsewhere: 42 in max height, 24 in width | 24 in | Min 2 feet from curb. | 1 per customer entrance | No more than 10 feet from entrance; see sidewalk minimums. | — | 18.16.080(F) |
| Manual Changeable Message Sign (Accessory to Ground/Monument) | — | — | — | — | — | Accessory portion of ground or monument sign. | — | 18.16.080(E) |

### VCA district (nonresidential properties)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of front facade or 100 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per façade, 2 if on corner | On building façade facing street. | — | 18.16.070(B), (C), (E), (K) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per business (2 if corner) | Projecting from building façade. | — | 18.16.070(B), (C), (E) |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 25% of window area | — | — | — | Directly affixed to or immediately adjacent to window surface. | — | 18.16.070(B), (F), (C)(7) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | Up to 33% of face of canopy; counts toward wall sign area. | — | — | 1 per awning/canopy | On front panel of awning/canopy. | — | 18.16.070(B), (E), (H) |
| Sandwich Board/A-frame Sign | 3.5 ft | 7 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per business | Frontage of address to which permit issued; on sidewalk if not causing congestion. | — | 18.16.070(B), (D) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 16 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | 18.16.070(B) |
| Rear Entrance Sign | — | 12 sq ft per side (public entrance); 6 sq ft per side (service entrance) | — | — | 1 per public or service rear entrance | At rear entrance, wall or projecting sign. | — | 18.16.070(I) |
| Nameplate (Commercial/Institutional) | — | 2 sq ft per nameplate | — | — | — | By entry, facade or mailbox. | — | 18.16.070(J) |

## Prohibited signs in Wixom

- Any sign not expressly permitted.
- Obsolete signs.
- Animated signs (including revolving and rotating signs) and signs with moving features, except where explicitly permitted.
- Any sign displaying flashing, animation, scrolling, blinking, or intermittent lights, or lights with changing levels of light intensity.
- Signs which simulate or could be confused with emergency vehicle or traffic signal lighting; no flashing, oscillating or intermittent red, yellow, or green illumination on signs in the line of vision of a traffic control device, or that interferes with vision clearance at intersections.
- Festoons, except when approved with a temporary land use permit.
- Air-activated signs and balloon signs, except when approved with a temporary land use permit.
- Structurally or electrically unsafe signs.
- Signs hiding from view any part of traffic signs, street signs, or traffic signals.
- Support pole signs, including signs attached to light poles, utility poles, street signposts, and trees, unless lawfully installed by an authorized public entity.
- Transported signs unless the vehicle is lawfully operating on a public or private road.
- Roof signs, except if constructed as an integral part of the normal roof structure.
- Bench signs, except permanently mounted plaques read at close proximity.
- Projector-image signs.
- Pylon or pole signs not otherwise authorized.
- Rotating search lights or similar devices.
- Temporary electronic message center signs (EMCs).
- Private tower signs.
- Signs displayed on unlicensed vehicles or conveyances (unless a temporary 'for sale' sign is in a vehicle window).
- Costume signs.
- Banners, stake signs, flag signs, and feather signs, unless authorized.
- Any sign located in a public or private right-of-way, unless permitted by the road agency or explicitly permitted.
- Neon, LED, or other light types permanently outlining windows or doors.
- Billboards.
- Box signs.
- Signs intended to mimic traffic control or emergency services signage.
- No sign located, projected into, or overhanging a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement, except those by government agencies.
- No sign located in the clear vision triangle area at intersections.
- Illumination by bare bulbs or flames is prohibited, except bare bulbs on electronic changeable copy signs and theatre marquees.
- Use of glaring undiffused lights or bulbs is expressly prohibited; light sources must be shielded and cause no hazard.
- Sign illumination that creates a traffic hazard is prohibited.
- No sign placement that creates a safety hazard or visual impediment to pedestrian or vehicular traffic, at the discretion of the building official.
- No sign attachment to fire escapes.
- No part of a sign may be within ten feet of any electrical conductor, streetlamp, traffic light, or high voltage wire.
- No sign simulating or imitating in size, color, or design any traffic sign or signal or using symbols/phrases in a way to interfere with or mislead/confuse traffic.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wixom

- Address numbers with a numeral height not greater than six inches for each dwelling unit and eighteen inches for any other use.
- Any sign on the premises required by law.
- Any sign conforming to FHWA's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and installed to direct or instruct traffic.
- Nameplates not to exceed two square feet.
- Historical markers and plaques up to twelve square feet.
- Memorial signs or tablets not exceeding four square feet, integral to the building.
- Temporary signage in accordance with the ordinance.
- Official and legal notices issued by any court, public body, or officer in performance of a public duty; or giving any legal notice.
- Signs on city, county, state, or federal buildings/land owned by an authorized public agency.
- Interior signs not visible to the outside.
- Any lawful sign in a public or private right-of-way installed by an authorized public agency (e.g., street signs, address signs).
- Private traffic control signs conforming to the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Flags not to exceed thirty feet in height, with a maximum of three per lot or size greater than four by six feet.
- Window signs not exceeding twenty-five percent of the total window area of the façade facing a road, provided placement ensures interior visibility for public safety.
- Vehicle signs where the vehicle is not parked unoperated for more than seven consecutive days.
- Warning signs (e.g., no trespassing, electrical warning) not exceeding two square feet.
- Signs displaying noncommercial messages (religious, political, economic, social, philosophical, First Amendment speech), provided they comply with number and size regulations.
- Ordinary servicing, repainting, cleaning, directory info change, or changing advertising on a sign designed for regular change, does not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for all signs except those expressly exempted in Section 18.16.040 (i.e., most permanent and all non-exempt temporary signs require a permit).
- A photometric plan identifying proposed illumination levels must be provided for any illuminated sign.
- A color rendering of the display is required for electronic message center (EMC) signs during site plan review or administrative review.
- Permit application must include plans, site information, construction details, and other information as required by the building official for compliance.
- For signs suspended over public street/property or overhanging public property, commercial liability insurance is required, naming the city as additional insured.
- The planning commission may approve increased wall sign area for buildings with significant frontage (see dimensional table and footnotes).
- The planning commission (or zoning board of appeals, as applicable) reviews variance requests; appeals are directed to the appropriate body.
- The city manager may approve, or refer to city council, requests for certain temporary signs in the public right-of-way or for special events.
- Master or comprehensive sign plans are not explicitly referenced in this chapter, but planning commission review or approval is required for signs exceeding standard allowances or for special design (e.g., in the VCA district or for certain frontage situations).
- Signs with lighting incorporating neon require submission to the planning commission for review and approval (VCA district).

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

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