Dearborn, MI Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- 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
Summary
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.
(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.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-07: Code: Updated through: July 22, 2026 | Zoning: Updated through: July 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5-1337(g) caps temporary window signs at 30% opaque coverage per window, limits a building to three temporary window signs, bars them from doors, and requires no permit as long as they come down within 30 days. Permanent or semi-permanent window signs are also capped at 30% opaque coverage unless approved by the Economic Development Director, in which case coverage can reach 100% provided any area beyond 30% keeps at least 70% visual light transmission; permanent signs need a permit, are limited to one per window, and cannot go on doors. Temporary and permanent window signs cannot be displayed in the same window at once.
Violations & Fines
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can a sign cover in Dearborn?
Do I need a permit for a temporary window sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dearborn
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Window Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle window signs.