Grand Rapids, MI · Kent County
Sign Variance Application
Property owners and eligible applicants use this application to request permission from Grand Rapids to install a sign that does not meet zoning requirements.
What this form is
This application asks the Board of Zoning Appeals to review a request for a sign that would not otherwise be allowed under the zoning requirements. Applicants provide property, ownership, and project details and explain how the request meets the sign variance review standards. The packet also requires signed application pages, plans and drawings, and neighborhood outreach information; incomplete applications are not accepted.
Who needs it
A property owner or an applicant with a legal interest in the property needs this application to request a sign variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
How to submit it
Submit the complete application to the Planning Department at the Development Center, 1120 Monroe Avenue NW; the document lists weekday submission hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and a FY2027 fee of $1,830.
About notarization
This application is signed and dated without a notary; the applicant signs, and the property owner also signs if different from the applicant.
How to submit this form
- 1
Download The Application
Download the Sign Variance Application packet from the Grand Rapids Planning Department website or obtain it from the department.
- 2
Complete And Sign The Forms
Fill in the application and review standards, then sign and date the form. The property owner must also sign if different from the applicant.
- 3
Gather Required Attachments
Include the required site plan, dimensioned drawings and plans, neighborhood outreach information, and fee listed on the checklist.
- 4
Submit To The Planning Department
Submit the complete packet to the Planning Department at the Development Center, 1120 Monroe Avenue NW.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a notary for the Sign Variance Application?
- No. The application calls for the applicant’s signature and date, and the property owner’s signature if different; it does not require a notary.
- How do I submit the Sign Variance Application?
- Submit a complete application to the Planning Department at the Development Center, 1120 Monroe Avenue NW. The document lists weekday submission hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- What attachments are required with the application?
- The checklist calls for a signed application, responses to the review standards, a dimensioned site plan from a property survey, dimensioned drawings and plans, neighborhood outreach information, and the fee.
- Who can apply for a sign variance?
- The applicant must have a legal interest in the property, such as being the property owner, a purchaser by land contract or agreement, or a lessee or tenant. If the applicant is not the owner, the owner must sign.