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POLE BANNER POLICY
DATE:
PURPOSE/OVERVIEW:
This policy establishes guidelines for the installation and removal of pole banners in designated public spaces.
Pole banners are intended to enhance the area's aesthetic appeal, promote community events, and convey
important information to residents and visitors. This Policy maintains City-owned buildings and property as a
non-public forum for banner purposes and for the purpose of expressing governmental speech. This Policy is
not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public. Approval by the City to install a banner under
this Policy constitutes an expression of the City’s official sentiments.
POLICY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
-Banners may be displayed by approved special events and educational institutions for promotions that
benefit the community. It is the City’s policy to display only those banners or other decorations that promote
or celebrate the City, its civic institutions, or public activities or events in the City of Muskegon (and that
otherwise promote the corporate interests and welfare of the City). The City displays banners for the purposes
of enhancing the atmosphere of the street scape through beautiful, festive, and decorative graphics, and
celebrating the City in a manner that attracts tourists, inspires citizens, and accords with the City’s commitment
to embracing diversity and respect for all persons, and is suitable for a broad-based audience of all ages.
-Banner restrictions:
1. No political banners.
2. No commercial advertising.
3. No reflective banners or banners with flashing lights.
4. No banners that attempt to direct or influence street traffic in any way.
5. Permits cannot be reassigned to another party without prior authorization from the City.
6. The city retains the right to refuse permits for any reason and revoke permits at any time.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
- Department of Public Works staff are responsible for receiving applications.
- Applicants must submit a completed application form along with a digital mock-up of the proposed banner
for review.
- Applications should be submitted at least 30 days before the intended display date.
- The City Manager or their designee and Department of Public Works will review applications based on
criteria such as community benefit, design quality, relevance to local events, and frequency of change.
- Applicants will be notified of approval or denial within 14 days of submission.
- Requests to appeal an altered approval or denial will be directed to the City Manager's Office.
FEES:
- The application fee is $50 for banners with a new image. Applications can be renewed for up to 4 years for
free. Every 5 years, banners must go through the full application process.
- Banners displayed on the 14 poles regularly used Downtown or in Lakeside (indicated by a yellow flag on
the map) have a fee of $500 to install.
- Banners displayed on any other pole (indicated by a blue flag on the map) will have a fee of $75 per pole to
install and remove each banner.
- Fees must be paid before banners are hung.
DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS:
- Banners must be the current stand size of pole banners. The size is currently 18" wide and 36" tall.
- All banners must be designed to withstand various weather conditions; vinyl is recommended.
- All banners must have a grommet at the top and bottom so they can be secure when installed.
- The design should be professional and in good taste, avoiding offensive language, images, or themes.
- Designs can be approved for up to 5 years. After 5 years, banner designs and quality must be reviewed again.
- Ask for the preferred vendor list for the production of the banners.
INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL:
- City personnel will install and remove approved banners.
- The applicant must bring the banners to the Department of Public Works at least 7 days before the scheduled
installation.
- The applicant must pick up removed banners within 5 days of the end of the display period. The city can store
banners that are intended to be displayed annually upon request.
- The city reserves the right to remove any banners that do not comply with this policy or are in poor condition.
- The city is not responsible for replacing any damaged or stolen banners.
- Duration will depend on the number of requests for a given period. If there is a conflict of requested dates,
staff will determine either to:
A) Reduce the number of requested banners and alternate with another requested banner or
B) Reduce the amount of time the banners are displayed.
AMENDMENTS: N/A
CONTACTS:
For assistance with the associated process and application, please contact the Department at 231-724-4100 or
email specialevents@shorelinecity.com
Document edit notes
Action Person Date Change
New Jacqui Erny 4/14/2025 New policy
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