Detroit, MI Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Signs per premises
- One temporary sign at a time
- Residential size cap
- Six square feet maximum
- Permit term
- Up to 90 days
- Removal deadline
- 24 hours after permit expires
- Enforcement
- Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Dept.
Summary
Detroit regulates a garage-sale sign as a temporary sign under the sign code: one per property, a permit, a size cap as low as six square feet in residential districts, and removal within 24 hours after the sale ends.
(a) Not more than one temporary sign may be permitted on any one premises at any one time, except that, for a multi-tenant building or structure, one, but not more than one, temporary sign may be permitted for any one ground floor tenant at any one time. ... (d) Any temporary sign may be permitted only until the conclusion of the occasion to which it is intended to direct attention, upon which date the permit shall expire. No temporary sign may be permitted for a period of time exceeding 90 days.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Detroit's sign code treats a yard or garage sale sign the same as any other temporary sign under Chapter 4, Division 7. Only one is allowed per premises at a time, and a property can pull no more than two temporary-sign permits per calendar year. In a low-density residential sign district the sign cannot exceed six square feet; higher-density residential districts allow up to 12 square feet. The permit expires when the sale ends and never runs longer than 90 days. Once it expires, the owner must take the sign, its frame and its supports down within 24 hours, and placement must not obstruct pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
Violations & Fines
An expired, damaged, or unpermitted temporary sign draws a correction notice from the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department; missing the cure period, disputing a valid notice, or repeat violations escalate to a blight violation citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a garage sale sign in Detroit?
How big can my garage sale sign be?
How long can I leave the sign up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
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Garage Sale Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle garage sale signs.