§ 18.8. Exemptions

8.1. The following types of signs are exempted from all the provisions of this appendix:

a. Public signs: Signs of a noncommercial nature and in the public interest, erected by, or on the order of, the city's traffic engineer in the performance of his public duty, such as safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, traffic signs, memorial plaques, signs of historical interest and the like.

b. Institutional: Sign setting forth the name or any simple announcement for any public, charitable, educational or religious institution, located entirely within the premises of that institution, up to an area of 24 square feet. Such signs may be illuminated in accordance with the regulations contained hereinafter. If building mounted, these signs shall be flat wall signs and shall not project above the roof line. If ground mounted, the top shall be no more than six feet above ground level.

c. Names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like when carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent type construction and made an integral part of the structure.

d. Private traffic direction: Signs directing traffic movement onto a premise or within a premise, shall be authorized by, and in accordance with the provisions of the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Illumination of private traffic directional signs shall be permitted in accordance with the section hereinafter included on illumination. Horizontal directional signs on and flush with paved areas are exempt form these standards.

e. Smalls signs: Signs not exceeding one square foot in area, attached flat against the building, stationary and not illuminated, announcing only the name and occupation of building tenant.

f. Bulletin boards: Bulletin boards not over 20 square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions where the same are located on the premises of such institutions.

g. Rental signs on the premises announcing rooms for rent, apartments or houses for rent shall not exceed one square foot in area in an R-1, R-2 and R-5 Residential Zoned District. Such signs shall not exceed one and one-half square feet of area for each foot of building frontage in an R-3 and R-4 Residential Zoned District.

h. Vehicles: Signs on vehicles of any kind, providing the sign is painted or attached directly to the body of the original vehicles and does not project or extend beyond the original manufactured body proper of the vehicle.

i. Occupant signs: Signs limited in content to name of occupant, address of premises, and signs of danger of a cautionary nature which are limited to: wall and ground signs, no more than two per street front; no more than four square feet per sign in area; no more than ten feet in height above grade, signs which may be illuminated only from a concealed light source which does not flash, blink, or fluctuate; and which are not animated.

j. Signs within buildings: Any sign placed inside a building may be erected without a permit but subject to the safety regulations of the building code, provided that any sign permanently attached to the interior of the structure and visible from the exterior thereof shall comply with the provisions of this section.

k. Real estate: Signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which the signs are displayed, up to a total area of 12 square feet. Such signs shall be removed within 14 days of the sale, rental or lease. Additional signs for directional purposes only shall be allowed.

l. Election/political campaign signs: Signs announcing the candidates seeking public political office or political issue, and other data pertinent thereto. These signs shall be confined into private property and be installed not more than 30 calendar days prior to the election and shall be removed within 14 calendar days after the election. Maximum surface area, setback and height shall conform with Table D.

Table D
Setbacks and Maximum Heights and Surface Area/Sign Area

Maximum Surface Area/Sign Area	District	Property Lines	Maximum Height
22 inches by 28 inches	R-1 through R-5, R-O	10 feet or one-half actual building setback (lesser of)	4 feet

(Ord. No. 2169, § 1, 2-11-04)

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*Signs announcing the candidates seeking public political office, public issue and other data pertinent thereto. These signs shall be confined to private property and be installed not more than 30 calendar days prior to the election and shall be removed within 14 calendar days after the election.