# Sign Regulations in Zeeland, Michigan

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Zeeland, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/zeeland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MI/Zeeland/codes/Zoning?nodeId=ZOOR_ARTVIIISIDE_S8.106ELCHCOSIRE)

## At a glance

Zeeland, Michigan regulates 22 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a See above setback (Sec. Sec. 8.105(h) (C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District - Permitted Signs, Table)). Most commercial signs in Zeeland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 | 4 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| OS Office/Personal Service District | 4 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District | 5 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| C-2 Central Business District | 6 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| C-3 Highway Commercial District | 5 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| I-1 Light Industrial District, I-2 General Industrial District | 4 | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| PF Public Facilities District | 5 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| WMU Washington Avenue Mixed Use District | 1 | — | May substitute for permitted ground, wall, or freestanding sign; wall sign: max 1/2 allowed size. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | See above | 1 per lot/parcel (ground or freestanding) | Min. 2 ft from inside of sidewalk, or if no sidewalk, a min. of 10 ft from outside of curb, and min. 15 ft from side or rear property line | — | Sec. 8.105(h) (C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District - Permitted Signs, Table) |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per wall facing street and one at each entrance not facing street | On wall of building facing street and at building entrance by parking lot not facing street | — | Sec. 8.105(h) (C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District - Permitted Signs, Table) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | Min. 15 ft from side or rear property line | 1 per lot/parcel | Min. 15 ft from side or rear property line | — | Sec. 8.105(h) (C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District - Permitted Signs, Table) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 32 sq ft | — | See above | 1 per lot/parcel (ground or freestanding) | Min. 2 ft from inside of sidewalk, or if no sidewalk, min. 10 ft from outside of curb, and min. 15 ft from side or rear property line | — | Sec. 8.105(h) (C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District - Permitted Signs, Table) |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | — | In place of otherwise permitted sign up to allowed size; for wall sign, no more than 1/2 maximum size | — | Min. 50 ft from residential structure, 35 ft from other electronic copy sign | May substitute for one allowed sign | On-site only; min. 50 ft from residential structure, 35 ft from another electronic sign. | — | Sec 8.106 (Electronic changeable copy sign regulations) |

### PF Public Facilities District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | See above | 1 per facility | Min 5 ft from front property line; min 15 ft from side or rear | — | Sec. 8.105(h) (PF Public Facilities District - Permitted Signs, Table) |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage/entrance | On wall facing street; at building entrance by parking lot not facing street | — | Sec. 8.105(h) (PF Public Facilities District - Permitted Signs, Table) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft from side/rear line | 1 per lot or parcel | Min 15 ft from side or rear property line | — | Sec. 8.105(h) (PF Public Facilities District - Permitted Signs, Table) |
| Event Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | See above | 1 per facility | Min 5 ft from front property line; min 15 ft from side or rear | — | Sec. 8.105(h) (PF Public Facilities District - Permitted Signs, Table) |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | 10 ft (if event sign) | May substitute for permitted ground, wall or freestanding sign; wall sign: max 1/2 allowed size. | — | Min 50 ft from residential structure, 35 ft from another electronic sign | In place of otherwise permitted sign | On-site only; min 50 ft from residential structure, 35 ft from another electronic sign. | — | Sec 8.106 (Electronic changeable copy sign regulations) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 8.105(g)(8) |
| Placard | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 8.105(c)(1)(b); (d)(7) |
| Temporary Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft or less | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 8.105(c)(1)(c) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Inside window | — | Sec. 8.105(c)(1)(d); (d)(2) |
| Political Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft (if not permitted by other allowed sign) | — | Not within 15 ft of side/rear property line | — | Not within 15 ft of any side or rear property line | — | Sec. 8.105(g)(4) |
| Construction Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 8.105(g)(6) |
| Special Event Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft min. from side/rear property line | Max 5 per event | — | — | Sec. 8.105(g)(7) |
| Garage/Estate Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 15 ft from side/rear property line | One per sale / parcel | On lot/parcel being sold; min 15 ft from side or rear property line | — | Sec. 8.105(g)(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Zeeland

- No person shall erect, alter, place or permit to be placed, or replace any sign without first obtaining a building permit, except for certain exempted signs.
- Signs shall be maintained free of peeling paint or paper, fading, staining, rust, or other condition which impairs legibility or intelligibility.
- Sign supports, braces, guys and anchors shall be maintained to prevent hazards.
- No sign shall be placed in, upon or over any public right-of-way, alley, or other public place, except as may be otherwise permitted.
- No light pole, utility pole, or other supporting member shall be used for the placement of any sign unless specifically designed and approved for such use.
- No sign shall be erected where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or constitute a nuisance per se.
- No commercial vehicles intended to function as signs shall be parked in any area abutting the street, unless no other parking area is available (as determined by zoning administrator).
- No sign shall employ any flashing, moving, oscillating, blinking, or variable intensity light, except for permitted variable time-temperature signs.
- No sign shall contain any moving or animated parts nor have the appearance of having any moving or animated parts.
- Balloons, strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, or flags (other than governmental flags) hung overhead to draw attention to a business or merchandise are prohibited.
- No wall sign shall extend beyond the edge of the wall to which it is affixed, nor above the roof line of a building.
- No sign shall be erected above the roof line of a building.
- Ground signs must be located on a landscaped yard or island; not on concrete or asphalt areas.
- Portable signs, billboards, temporary signs, and balloon signs are not permitted unless specifically allowed by ordinance.
- No sign shall be programmed to flash, blink, or fluctuate the intensity of lights so as to operate intermittently or create a strobe light effect (for electronic changeable copy signs).
- No illumination designed or arranged to confuse with traffic devices is allowed; red, green, or yellow circular lights, or unshielded/undiffused lights (except certain neon signs) visible from a public street are prohibited.
- No direct light or significant glare from a sign shall be cast onto adjacent residential lots; all direct light sources must be shielded from neighboring uses.
- No LED signs shall have a white background behind the sign message (to reduce glare).
- Balloons, strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, or commercial flags used for advertising are prohibited.
- Construction signs cannot be erected until a building permit has been issued and construction activity begun; must be removed upon occupancy permit issuance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Zeeland

- Historical markers are exempt from sign ordinance provisions except general sign provisions.
- Window signs are exempt from sign ordinance provisions except general sign provisions.
- Memorial signs or tablets are exempt except general sign provisions.
- Murals, except in R-1, R-2, or R-3 Zone Districts, are exempt except general sign provisions.
- Signs not visible from any street are exempt except general sign provisions.
- Signs for essential services are exempt except general sign provisions.
- Placards not exceeding two square feet are exempt except general sign provisions.
- Signs with address, owner, or occupant name, of up to two square feet attached to a mailbox, light fixture, or exterior wall, are exempt except general sign provisions.
- Uniform traffic control signs erected by order of the City of Zeeland traffic control engineer are exempt except general sign provisions.
- Flags or insignia of any nation, state, city, community organization, or educational institution are exempt except general sign provisions.
- Signs temporarily permitted by the city council or city manager to hang over a public street to advertise a festival or activity open to the public or promoting public welfare are exempt except general sign provisions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A building permit is required for most signs unless specifically listed as exempt (e.g., directional signs ≤ 6 sq. ft., placards, small temporary sale signs, window signs, political signs, uniform traffic signs). Application for a permit may include submission of plans.
- For electronic changeable copy signs and other signs not meeting the standard ordinance requirements, a special land use approval (including public hearing and application) is required in most zone districts except R-1 and R-2.
- Modification of electronic changeable copy sign standards requires application to the planning commission, public hearing, and approval.
- Site plans for new developments, including location and dimensions of proposed identification signs, must be submitted for site plan review approval by the planning commission, site plan review committee, or zoning administrator as part of overall development planning.
- For sign changes (e.g., reduction of sign size or movement by no more than 10 feet), written approval by the zoning administrator is required; other amendments may require resubmission to the planning commission.
- No sign may be erected above the roofline or extend beyond the wall without being reflected accurately in plans as part of the permitting process.
- For signs placed within a public right-of-way (by non-governmental entities), a written easement from the City of Zeeland is required and may require an annual fee.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/zeeland