Grand Rapids, MI Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage cap
- 25% of window/door area
- Applies in
- every Zone District citywide
- Electronic window sign limit
- 25% or 3 sq ft, whichever less
- Static window sign permit
- none required
Summary
Grand Rapids limits painted, stenciled, or applied window signs to no more than 25 percent of the window, door, or transparent surface area, citywide, in every zone district.
Any painted, stenciled, or applied signs on windows, doors, or other transparent surfaces, regardless of material, shall not cover more than twenty-five (25) percent of the window, door, or other transparent surface.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 61 (Zoning Ordinance), Article 15 - Signs, Section 5.15.07(H) sets a flat coverage cap for window and door signage: any painted, stenciled, or applied sign on a window, door, or other transparent surface cannot exceed 25% of that surface, regardless of material used, and the rule applies to every Zone District in the city. Static window signs meeting the cap need no sign permit (Table 5.15.11.B). Electronic or changeable-copy window signs face a tighter separate limit under Section 5.15.10(B)(2) - 25% of the window area and no more than 3 square feet - and must also comply with the Article's electronic-sign standards and permit requirement.
Violations & Fines
Window signage exceeding the 25% coverage cap is a Chapter 61 sign-code violation; the Planning Director can require the owner to reduce or remove the excess signage to bring it into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a static window sign need a permit in Grand Rapids?
What's the limit on electronic or changeable-copy window signs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
Compare Grand Rapids to another location·View the Michigan sign regulations overview
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How other cities in Kent County handle window signs.