Detroit, MI Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Window opens
- 30 days before primary election
- Window closes
- 7 days after general election
- Size limit
- 6 sq ft per sign
- Aggregate limit
- 18 sq ft per premises
- Setback
- 5 feet from property front
Summary
Detroit lets residential properties post portable temporary signs, including campaign signs, only from 30 days before a City primary through seven days after the following general election, capped in size.
(3)Portable temporary signs. For any premises located in a low-density residential sign district or high-density residential/mixed use sign district that is currently occupied, whether wholly or partially, for residential purposes, portable temporary signs, in any number but not exceeding six square feet in area for any single sign or 18 square feet in aggregate area for all signs, are permissible. Such signage is permissible only during the period commencing 30 days prior to the date of any primary election in the City and concluding seven days after the date of the subsequent general election in the City. Any such sign must be set back from the front of the premises not less than five feet.(b)Adjustments and waiver under Section 4-4-22 of this Code of the dimensional standards set forth in the section are prohibited. (Ord. No. 2020-13, § 1, eff. 12-9-2020)
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
Under Detroit City Code § 4-4-183(a)(3), portable temporary signs on residential premises are limited to six square feet each and 18 square feet combined per property. The window runs from 30 days before any City primary election through seven days after the subsequent general election, and every sign must sit at least five feet back from the front of the premises. Outside that window, or above those size and setback limits, no waiver or adjustment is available under § 4-4-183(b).
Violations & Fines
Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department enforcement follows Chapter 3, Article II's blight-violation process, carrying a civil fine; § 4-4-186 requires removal within 24 hours of expiration, and each additional day counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put up a political yard sign in Detroit?
How big can a Detroit political sign be?
What happens if I leave my sign up past the deadline?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
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Political Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle political signs.