All districts
Signs are regulated by a separate ordinance, Orion Township Sign Ordinance No. 153 (adopted 2017), not by the zoning ordinance. Every district article simply points there (Section 27.02.G; Section 5.05; Section 14.03.E).
The permanent sign schedules are per district (Ord. 153 Section 7; Section 16):
- Residential areas (SF, SE, SR, R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2, MHP): ground signs only for subdivision, complex, or mobile home park entrances and institutional uses such as churches and schools, up to 6 feet tall and 35 square feet per side (70 total), set back 20 feet from the right-of-way; institutional or entrance wall signs up to 40 square feet.
- Commercial and industrial ground signs come in two trades: a 6 foot sign (Alternate A) of 40 square feet per side in RB, OP, and LI or 50 square feet per side in GB, or a taller 6-to-8 foot sign (Alternate B) at reduced area, 32 per side in RB, 40 in GB, 30 in OP and LI. Setback is 20 feet from the right-of-way, 30 feet in GB.
- Wall signs in RB, GB, OP, and LI: one per establishment, at 10 percent of the facade or 200 square feet, whichever is less. Corner and long-frontage lots can earn a second ground sign, and GB drive-throughs and gas stations get small extras (Ord. 153 Section 7, footnotes 5 and 6).
- Electronic message centers may occupy up to 30 percent of a ground sign's area, must hold each message 10 seconds, and must shut off from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.; in residential areas they are limited to institutional uses (Ord. 153 Section 7).
Other highlights from Ordinance No. 153:
- Sign permits come from the Building Department (Ord. 153 Section 10).
- Exempt from permitting (Ord. 153 Section 4): residential address signs up to 2 square feet, real estate signs up to 3 square feet in residential areas and 16 square feet in non-residential areas, holiday displays, residential window and door signs, and small directional signs.
- Prohibited (Ord. 153 Section 5): roof signs, flashing or animated signs (except in SP-1 at 10 second or longer intervals), search lights, string lights, balloons and inflatables, signs on trees or utility poles, and sign trailers or parked vehicle signs.
- Temporary signs in residential districts follow the residential schedule (Ord. 153 Section 6): portable signs up to 3 square feet per side (6 total), A-frames up to 8 square feet per side (16 total), banners up to 32 square feet.
- Sign variances and appeals go to the Zoning Board of Appeals (Ord. 153 Section 12).
The zoning ordinance adds two small residential allowances of its own: a 1 square foot home occupation nameplate (Section 27.02.B.8) and a 6 square foot unlighted sign for an approved bed and breakfast (Section 6.02.K.5). Street numbers at least 4 inches tall are required on every addressed building (Section 27.02.G.3). For anything commercial, pull the Ordinance No. 153 schedules for your district before designing.