Lansing sign permit requirements
What the Lansing sign code and sign ordinance allow, summarised from Title 2. - SIGN ORDINANCE. Every figure below shows the ordinance's own wording, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
Is a permit required?
Sec. 1310.04(c)Permit required for permanent signs unless exempt; no permit needed for signs less than ten square feet in area
“Unless specifically exempt under this chapter, no person shall erect, construct, relocate, or cause to be erected, constructed, relocated, or significantly altered, any sign, without first obtaining a sign permit with information required by the Building Safety Office.”
Wall sign — maximum area
Table 1310.12(a)(9)15 percent of building facade area; max 50 sq ft (frontage up to 39 ft), 150 sq ft (40-99 ft), 200 sq ft (100+ ft). Facade area = 15 ft height x building width
| Building Frontage | Maximum Wall Sign Area |
| Up to 39 lineal feet of building frontage | 15 percent of building facade area Maximum size of 50 square feet |
| 40 feet to 99 feet of lineal building frontage | 15 percent of building facade area Maximum size 150 square feet |
| 100 feet or more of lineal building frontage | 15 percent of building facade area Maximum size 200 square feet |
| Building facade area calculated by 15 feet in height x building width |
Reproduced from Table 1310.12(a)(9). Check it against the source before ordering.
Freestanding sign — maximum area
Sec. 1310.13(a)(4)120 sq ft (S-C, MX-C, MX-1, MX-2, DT-2, IND, INST districts); signs set back less than 10 ft limited to 32 sq ft
“Sign shall not exceed 25 feet in height and 120 square feet in area.”
Freestanding sign — maximum height
Sec. 1310.13(a)(4)25 feet (S-C, MX-C, MX-1, MX-2, DT-2, IND, INST districts); 6 ft if set back less than 10 ft
“Sign shall not exceed 25 feet in height and 120 square feet in area.”
Freestanding sign — setback
Sec. 1310.13(a)(2)At least 6 ft but not more than 15 ft from property lines abutting a public right-of-way (may be up to 30 ft if approved); at least 5 ft from side or rear property lines
“Sign shall be set back at least six feet but not more than 15 feet from the property lines abutting a public right-of-way.”
Projecting sign — maximum area
Sec. 1310.16(b)16 square feet
“Sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area or a maximum projection from the building wall of four and one-half feet.”
Projecting sign — clearance
Sec. 1310.16(d)Minimum vertical clearance of 10 ft from bottom edge to ground/sidewalk, or 15 ft if overhanging an alley; max projection 4.5 ft from building wall
“Sign shall have a minimum vertical clearance of ten feet from the bottom edge of the sign to the ground or sidewalk, or 15 feet if overhanging an alley.”
Window signs — maximum coverage
Sec. 1310.14Shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the window
“Window signs shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the window from which the sign can be seen from the exterior of the building.”
Illumination
Sec. 1310.05(b)Illumination allowed; intensity must be shielded to prevent glare onto adjacent properties and impairing motorist vision; wall signs may only be illuminated if the wall does not face a single- or two-family residential use
“The intensity of all lights used for the illumination of a sign shall be maintained at a level, and directed, positioned, or shielded to prevent:”
Digital / electronic message centres
Sec. 1310.08(d)(4)EMC allowed; limited to 32 sq ft in commercial/special districts (20 sq ft in DT-3); no blinking, scrolling, flashing or animation; messages static and may change no more than once every 8 seconds; automatic dimming required; not illuminated 11pm-6am if within 200 ft of residential
“EMC signs in all commercial or special zoning districts, excluding DT-3, are limited to 32 square feet in sign area.”
Prohibited sign types
Sec. 1310.10(a)Abandoned signs; animated signs; balloons, inflatables, pennants, streamers, spinners, flags used as signs; vehicle signs; signs projecting above the parapet or roof line; signs attached to trees, utility poles, fences, walls; signs in the public right-of-way (except as permitted); obscene signs
“Animated signs using or indicating movement using lights or moving parts.”
Which zoning district this describes
Sec. 1310.13(a)Rules vary materially by zoning district. General commercial figures cited are for S-C, MX-C, MX-1, MX-2, DT-2, IND-1, IND-2, IND-3, INST-1 and INST-2 districts (freestanding: 25 ft / 120 sq ft). MX-3, DT-1, DT-3, R-AR, MFR and R-MX districts have lower limits (6-10 ft / 32-60 sq ft).
“S-C, MX-C, MX-1, MX-2, DT-2, IND-1, IND-2, IND-3, INST-1 and INST-2 zoning districts.”
Not covered in the sign chapter we read: wall sign — % of facade. That doesn't mean the city has no rule — it may sit elsewhere in the code.
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Tell us — corrections from local sign shops are how this stays accurate.
Common questions
- Do you need a permit for a sign in Lansing, MI?
- Permit required for permanent signs unless exempt; no permit needed for signs less than ten square feet in area
- How big can a wall sign be in Lansing, MI?
- 15 percent of building facade area; max 50 sq ft (frontage up to 39 ft), 150 sq ft (40-99 ft), 200 sq ft (100+ ft). Facade area = 15 ft height x building width
- How big can a freestanding sign be in Lansing, MI?
- 120 sq ft (S-C, MX-C, MX-1, MX-2, DT-2, IND, INST districts); signs set back less than 10 ft limited to 32 sq ft
- How tall can a freestanding sign be in Lansing, MI?
- 25 feet (S-C, MX-C, MX-1, MX-2, DT-2, IND, INST districts); 6 ft if set back less than 10 ft
- How far back from the road must a sign sit in Lansing, MI?
- At least 6 ft but not more than 15 ft from property lines abutting a public right-of-way (may be up to 30 ft if approved); at least 5 ft from side or rear property lines
- How big can a projecting sign be in Lansing, MI?
- 16 square feet
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