Sign Regulations in Dearborn, MI

If you live in Dearborn or are thinking about moving there, sign regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Dearborn has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of sign regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Garage Sale Signs

Dearborn bans garage-sale signs on public property, and on private property without the owner's consent, and requires every sign to come down within 24 hours after the sale ends, under Code of Ordinances § 12-140(b).

Key details: Public property signs: prohibited outright. Private property signs: owner's express consent required. Removal deadline: within 24 hours after sale ends. Governing section: § 12-140(b), Conditions of license. Typical sale length: up to 3 days, § 12-140(c).

Placing a sign without the property owner's consent, posting on public property, or failing to remove signs within 24 hours after the sale ends violates § 12-140(b). Because Article V sets no sign-specific fine, the Code's general penalty at § 1-9 applies: a fine of up to $500, imprisonment up to 93 days, or both, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense, plus possible suspension or revocation of the sale license under § 12-12.

Digital Billboards

Dearborn caps on-premise electronic signs at 24 square feet, bans off-premises billboards outright except under Michigan's Highway Advertising Act, and requires displays to hold each message five seconds with a 30-second static pause and no animation or flashing.

Key details: Max area: 24 sq ft (2 for open signs). Message hold: 5 sec., then 30-sec static pause. Brightness cap: 0.5 foot-candles at residential line. Off-premises billboards: Prohibited citywide, narrow state exception. Nighttime cutoff: Off 10pm-6am facing nearby homes.

Operating an electronic sign that flashes, scrolls too fast, exceeds 24 square feet, or exceeds the 0.5 foot-candle brightness limit violates Sec. 5-1337(c); noncompliant signs must cease operation until corrected.

Window Signs

Dearborn limits temporary window signs to 30 percent opaque coverage per window for up to 30 days without a permit, while permanent window signs need a permit and can reach 100 percent coverage if the excess area stays 70 percent light-transmissive.

Key details: Temporary sign coverage: 30% opaque, per window. Temporary duration: 30 days maximum, no permit. Permanent coverage cap: 30%, or 100% with director approval. Permanent signs: Permit required, one per window. Doors: Window signs never allowed on doors.

Exceeding the 30% coverage cap without director approval, leaving a temporary window sign up past 30 days, placing a window sign on a door, or mixing temporary and permanent signs in one window violates Sec. 5-1337(g).

Holiday Displays

Dearborn allows inflatable holiday decorations in residential yards for up to 60 consecutive days at a time, but requires them to be securely attached, free of safety hazards, and no taller than the zoning district's maximum height.

Key details: Max duration: 60 consecutive days. Securement: Must be securely attached. Safety: Cannot create a safety hazard. Height: Capped at zoning district max height. Penalty: Civil infraction, fines from $200.

Leaving an inflatable up past 60 days, failing to secure it against wind, letting it become a safety hazard, or exceeding the district height limit violates Sec. 5-1336(d); the article's penalty for failing to remove a noncompliant decoration is a civil infraction starting at $200.

Political Signs

Dearborn treats political signs like any other temporary sign: no permit needed, but capped at 9 square feet per side, set back 3 feet from the property line, unlit, and up for at most 60 days.

Key details: Max size: 9 sq ft per side. Setback: 3 ft from property line. Duration: 60 days max. Permit: none required. City property: political material barred.

A sign exceeding nine square feet, sitting in the right-of-way or public property, illuminated, or left up past 60 days (or 5 days post-election) is subject to removal and enforcement as a code violation under Dearborn's sign ordinance.

The Bottom Line

Dearborn's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Dearborn is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Dearborn's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.