Sign Regulations in Dearborn, MI (2026)
5 verified sign regulations for Dearborn, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Dearborn Political Yard Sign Rules
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 5-1336(c)(1)
All residential dwellings...shall be permitted on-premise temporary ground signs... Maximum sign size. Each sign shall not exceed nine square feet per side... Permitted signs shall not be located in public rights-of-way and shall be set back at least three feet from the property line... Residential temporary signs shall not be illuminated... A temporary sign shall be permitted for no more than ...
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).
Dearborn Garage Sale Sign Rules
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 12-140(b)
(a) No person shall conduct, advertise or promote any sale regulated by this article without a license issued pursuant thereto. (b) No signs advertising a sale regulated by this article shall be placed on public property or on private property without the express consent of the owner. Within 24 hours after the conclusion of a sale, all signs shall be removed. ... (d) The license authorizing ...
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.
Dearborn Inflatable Holiday Decoration Rules
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 5-1336(d)(2)-(4)
Temporary decorations shall be securely attached and shall not create a safety hazard of any kind. Temporary decorations shall not exceed the maximum allowable height within the zoning district in which it is located. ... Temporary signs attached to temporary decorations shall be permitted separately and in accordance with this section.
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.
Dearborn Electronic Sign Display Rules
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 5-1337(c)
Electronic signs up to 24 square feet in area and electronic open signs up to two square feet in area shall be permitted in nonresidential districts subject to the regulations of this article... Electronic signs shall not be used to display animations, motion pictures, television programming, movies, sporting events, or any similar live or recorded broadcast.
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.
Dearborn Window Sign Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 5-1337(g)
(g) Window signs. (1) Temporary window signs. a. Maximum sign area per window: a maximum opaque coverage area of 30% shall be permitted per window. b. Maximum number of signs per building: three. c. Maximum time permitted per sign: 30 days or less. ... e. Sign permit: not required.
Looking for Wayne County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Dearborn city rules.
Sign Regulations in Wayne County →