Why do Royal Oak sign rules depend on where my property is?

Because the sign chapter applies different rules in different Sign Areas, and those areas are defined only by the city's Sign Area Map (City Code § 607-4I). Royal Oak divides the city into Sign Areas 1 through 3, and the allowances for business signs vary by area.

The ordinance text itself never says which streets fall in which Sign Area. The map is the controlling document, so you cannot answer an area-specific sign question from the code text alone.

What this means in practice:

• Residential temporary sign rules, such as the 6 sq ft allowance (City Code § 607-9K), do not depend on the map
• Business sign size, type, and placement allowances do
• Before designing or pricing a commercial sign, confirm your Sign Area with the city

Contact the Planning Division at 248-246-3280 to verify which Sign Area applies to your property. Sign variances, if needed, go to the Planning Commission (City Code § 607-16).