ZoningVerdict

Signs in Royal Oak, MI

What the Royal Oak zoning ordinance says about signs, district by district. Section numbers link to the official ordinance.

All districts

Signs are their own chapter of the city code, Chapter 607. Billboards sit in the zoning chapter instead (§ 770-57).

The sign rules apply by Sign Areas 1 through 3, which are defined only by the city's Sign Area Map (§ 607-4I). The chapter text never says which streets fall in which area, so confirm your property's sign area with the city before relying on any area-specific rule.

  • One- and two-family residential: temporary signs up to 6 square feet are permitted (§ 607-9K). Temporary signs need no permit, and they expressly include for-sale, garage sale, and political signs (§ 607-8I).
  • Multiple-family buildings of 4 or more units: one wall sign per major frontage, 2 square feet per unit up to 20 square feet. Buildings of 12 or more units may add one 5 foot monument sign up to 25 square feet per face, set back 10 feet, with no internal illumination (§ 607-8E).
  • Institutional uses in residential areas: wall signs up to 20 square feet, and a 5 foot monument of 25 to 50 square feet (§ 607-8D).
  • Prohibited (§ 607-10): anything not expressly permitted, flashing or moving lights, banners and streamers, roof signs, portable signs, signs painted on walls or fences, signs on trees or utility poles, inflatables, and message cycles under 30 seconds.
  • Sign appeals and variances go to the Planning Commission, not the ZBA (§ 607-16C, D).

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