# Sign Regulations in Alton, Illinois

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Alton, Illinois, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Alton, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/alton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Alton, Illinois regulates 35 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Billboards in the M-1, M-2, M-3, M-4, C-2, C-5 zoning district are capped at 35 feet above natural grade tall, 200 square feet, and 20 feet (horizontal) wide, with a 200 ft from residential, 50 ft from any building, 200 ft from park/playground/school/library/worship, 50 ft from overhead power, 300 ft from another billboard setback (Sec. 11-10-3C2-5). Most commercial signs in Alton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 45 feet above ground | 36 square feet | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 2 | Flagpoles max 35 feet | 96 square feet per flag | — |
| Nonresidential Zoning Districts | 17 | 20 ft (HE, MED, C-1), 35 ft (others) | 18 square feet per banner | — |
| R-4 | 1 | — | 200 square feet, not in excess of 5% of principal structure's surface area | — |
| HE, MED, C-1 | 1 | 20 feet | — | — |
| C-4, MR | 1 | 35 feet | — | — |
| M-1, M-2, M-3, M-4, C-2, C-5 | 2 | 35 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| CR, HE, MED, C-1, C-2, C-4, C-5, MR, M-1, M-2, M-3 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial (C) Districts | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Development Identification Sign | — | 32 square feet per sign face, max 2 faces | — | — | Max 2 per entrance | At entrances to multi-family development, subdivision or neighborhood | — | 11-10-3A1 |
| Residential Sign (Noncommercial) | — | 6 square feet per sign face, max 2 faces | — | — | Max 1 per lot | On residential lot or parcel | — | 11-10-3A2 |
| Open House Sign (On site) | — | 6 square feet per sign face, max 2 faces | — | — | Max 1 per event | On property where open house occurs | — | 11-10-3A4 |
| Open House Sign (Off site) | — | 6 square feet per sign face, max 2 faces | — | — | Max 1 per event | Off site to direct to open house | — | 11-10-3A4 |
| Institutional Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 32 square feet per sign face | — | — | Max 1 | On principal wall of institution | — | 11-10-3A5 |
| Institutional Sign (Freestanding Sign) | — | 32 square feet per sign face, max 2 faces | — | — | Max 2 for place of worship with accessory/special use; otherwise max 1 | Freestanding at institution | — | 11-10-3A5 |
| Institutional Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 square feet per sign face, max total 12 sq ft for both faces | — | — | Max 1 | Temporary at institution | — | 11-10-3A5 |
| Election Sign | — | 6 square feet per sign face, max total 12 sq ft for both faces | — | — | No set limit | On any lot or parcel, with owner's permission | — | 11-10-3A6 |

### Nonresidential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign / Canopy Sign / Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 10% of wall area or 650 sq ft (whichever less); individual max 450 sq ft | — | — | — | On walls of principal buildings | — | 11-10-3B2a |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft (HE, MED, C-1), 35 ft (others) | — | — | — | — | Freestanding on lot | — | 11-10-3B2b/Table 1 |
| Parking Direction Sign | 3 feet | 3 square feet per face | — | No extension into public ROW | 1 per direction per driveway | At driveway (not in ROW unless public authority) | — | 11-10-3B3a |
| Parking Regulation Sign | 10 feet | 5 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot; >20 spaces: 1 per 20; 1 per accessible space | For each commercial/public parking lot | — | 11-10-3B3b |
| Covered Walkway Sign | Bottom of sign min 7 feet above sidewalk; max 18" drop from ceiling | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Hanging from ceiling of covered walkway in front of business | — | 11-10-3B3c |
| Sandwich Sign | — | 15 square feet per face | — | — | 1 per business | On commercial property during business hours | — | 11-10-3B3e |
| Light Pole Artwork Banner | — | 18 square feet per banner | — | — | Max 2 per light pole | On light/utility poles in or adjacent to parking lots or rights of way | — | 11-10-3B3f |
| Temporary Sign (On Site Construction) | 10 feet (top to grade), min 2 feet (bottom to grade) | — | — | Out of public right of way | Max 1 per development | On entire development | — | 11-10-3B4a/g |

### M-1, M-2, M-3, M-4, C-2, C-5

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 feet | — | — | — | — | Freestanding on lot | — | 11-10-3B2b/Table 1 |
| Billboard | 35 feet above natural grade | 200 square feet | 20 feet (horizontal) | 200 ft from residential, 50 ft from any building, 200 ft from park/playground/school/library/worship, 50 ft from overhead power, 300 ft from another billboard | Max 2 faces per structure | Within 660 feet of the nearest edge of ROW of a primary highway | — | 11-10-3C2-5 |

## Prohibited signs in Alton

- Signs visible from a public right of way that imitate, blend or conflict with, or that may be confused with traffic signals and signs, including imitations of 'stop', 'go', 'caution', 'danger' or 'warning'.
- Signs that are of a size, location, movement or illumination as may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which might obstruct from view any traffic or street sign or signal.
- Signs on public land or public right of way, except those erected at the direction of, or with the permission of, an appropriate public authority.
- Strips or strings of lights used to call attention to a use or occupancy by outlining property lines, rooflines, doors, windows, wall edges or other architectural features of a building site, or which are suspended from or attached to poles or similar structures. (Exempted: holiday lighting displayed from Nov 21 - Jan 15.)
- Moving signs, including those of which all or any part of the sign moves or appears to move, including strings of light bulbs and rotating signs. (Exceptions: automated time and temperature sign, stock market sign, or similar message sign.)
- Commercial message signs in residential zoning districts, except for specified real estate signs and signs used in connection with a preexisting nonconforming use.
- Snipe signs as defined in section 11-2-2.
- Unkempt or unsightly signs as defined in section 11-2-2.
- Roof signs as defined in section 11-2-2.
- Any sign structure which no longer supports a sign unless temporarily void due to a permitted alteration or repair with an active sign permit; alteration/repair must be completed within 30 days of permit issuance.
- Permanent or temporary window signs above the ceiling of the second floor, including lettering painted or applied to glass.
- Portable signs as defined in section 11-2-2, except for sandwich boards displayed on premises during business hours.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons, except for special event balloons.
- Signs extending over a roadway except those approved by the zoning administrator.
- Signs that advertise an activity or business no longer conducted on the premises; such signs must be removed within six months after cessation (possible one six-month extension).
- Signs erected in a way that would impair the view of motorists at intersections or along public streets.
- Any sign not permitted by section 11-10-3 or exempted by subsection 11-10-2A is prohibited.
- No sign shall project beyond a property line or into a public right of way, except traffic control signs and permitted projecting signs.
- All signs must comply with applicable building codes; noncompliant signs may be denied approval by the zoning administrator.
- Signs in unsafe, unkempt, or structurally unsound condition must be repaired, made safe, or removed within specified time or are subject to removal.
- All new signs must conform with the provisions of the zoning ordinance and have any required permit issued; nonconforming signs destroyed or damaged by 50% or more may not be rebuilt except in full conformity.

## Signs exempt from permit in Alton

- Governmental and official signs, including public notices posted or authorized by government officials, or signs for the control or direction of traffic and other appropriate public purposes.
- "No parking", "no trespassing" and "no hunting" signs not larger than one square foot in area and six feet or less in height (up to 3 sq ft in nonresidential zones).
- Driveway signs at entrances not exceeding one square foot in area and three feet or less in height, and address numbers on signs not larger than one square foot (if on a freestanding sign, height limited to three feet).
- Illuminated or nonilluminated bulletin board signs (as defined in 11-2-2) erected by the city, a place of worship, or a school, not exceeding 24 sq ft in area and 8 ft in height.
- Residential garage, patio or estate sale signs not exceeding 6 sq ft per face (max two faces), posted no more than 3 days prior to sale and removed after the sale.
- Incidental signs as defined in section 11-2-2.
- Flags in any zoning district (no permit required), subject to limits: no more than 5 flags per lot (unless parcel exceeds 5 acres: 1 flag per acre), no flag exceeding 96 square feet in size, flagpoles up to 35 ft in height in residential; in other districts, subject to max building height.
- Holiday lighting (strips or strings of lights) displayed from November 21 through January 15.
- Temporary window signs not exceeding 6 sq ft in size, provided total window signs do not exceed 25% of total window area (no permit required).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement in the ordinance for a 'master sign plan' or comprehensive sign plan for all zones, but sign permits are required for most permanent or special event/commercial signs as specified.
- A sign permit must be issued by the zoning administrator or designee for any sign requiring a permit prior to it being erected, constructed, painted, or placed.
- Permits are required for residential development identification signs, subdivision information/model home signs, wall/canopy/freestanding signs in nonresidential districts, special purpose signs, subdivision direction signs, special event balloons, special event banners, and billboards.
- No separate process for master sign plan or required sign variance meeting is described in the provided ordinance text.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 9 zoning districts in Alton — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Alton+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-alton

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