Lansing, MI Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Window sign cap
- 20% of visible window area
- Multi-pane windows
- panes combined for the calculation
- Permit threshold
- required if 10+ sq ft
- Mounting hardware
- must be concealed from view
- Dimensional appeals
- go to Board of Zoning Appeals
- Appeal deadline
- 30 days
Summary
Lansing caps window signage at 20 percent of the glass area visible from outside, whether that is a single pane or the combined surface of a multi-pane window, under City Codified Ordinances § 1310.14. Mounting hardware has to stay hidden from street view, and a window sign covering ten square feet or more still needs a Building Safety Office permit before it goes up.
Window signs shall not exceed 20 percent of the area of the window from which the sign can be seen from the exterior of the building. All mounting hardware and equipment shall be concealed from the exterior view of the building. In the case of multi-pane windows, the surface area of the window shall be the combined surface area of the individual panes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64).
Full Breakdown
14 measures the 20 percent cap against the area of the specific window the sign is visible through, not the whole storefront, and for a window built from several panes the City adds up every pane's surface area before applying the percentage. Mounting brackets, wiring, and other hardware must be concealed from anyone looking at the sign from the exterior. 04(f)(1). 04(e) and (j). 06: peeling paint, broken faces, or burned-out illumination puts it in violation regardless of size. 04(g)(2), and the appeal has to be filed within 30 days of the Zoning Administrator's decision.
Violations & Fines
A window sign over the 20 percent cap is enforced as a municipal civil infraction under § 1310.99, carrying the civil fine set by § 203.06 plus costs, with repeat offenses drawing the increased fine schedule in § 202.99(c)(2). The Zoning Administrator or Building Official can order an unsafe or noncompliant sign removed or corrected under § 1310.07(b), and unresolved violations can be pursued through court-ordered enforcement with costs assessed as a lien against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all window signs in Lansing need a permit?
How is the 20 percent window sign limit calculated for a storefront with several small window panes?
Where do I appeal if the City says my window sign is too large?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lansing
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