# Sign Regulations in Antioch, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Antioch, Illinois regulates 23 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Antioch Downtown Sign District (VC, TC, MT) zoning district are capped at 4 ft (wood/hard signs), 6 ft (wood pole hanging signs) tall and 20 sq ft, with a Minimum 5' setback. setback (Sec. 10-14-8:B). Most commercial signs in Antioch require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Antioch Downtown Sign District (VC, TC, MT) | 6 | 4 ft (wood/hard signs), 6 ft (wood pole hanging signs) | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 4 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft monument; 20 sq ft sandblasted wood option | — |
| Non-residential zoning districts | 6 | 8 ft (10 ft for commercial developments >100,000 sq ft, 48 sq ft) | 600 sq ft | — |
| Business District, Manufacturing District, Commercial District | 4 | 8 ft (10 ft for developments >100,000 sq ft; 48 sq ft) | 80/400/600 sq ft (see formula) | — |
| Industrial District | 1 | 8 ft | 34 sq ft | — |
| Industrial/Business Park | 1 | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| Multi-family Development | 2 | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| Institutional Uses (Government, Schools, Parks, Churches) | 2 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 48 sq ft per sign | — |

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

### Antioch Downtown Sign District (VC, TC, MT)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 4 ft (wood/hard signs), 6 ft (wood pole hanging signs) | 20 sq ft | — | Minimum 5' setback. | Either one ground sign or one wall sign along with one projecting sign per building/storefront. | — | — | 10-14-8:B |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Either one ground sign or one wall sign, plus one projecting sign per building/storefront. Rear signage permitted and regulated to 1 sq ft per linear store frontage in the rear. | — | — | 10-14-8:C |
| Projecting Sign | Not more than 4 ft on any exterior dimension. No part lower than 9 ft or higher than 13 ft from ground. | 12 sq ft | 4 ft | — | One projecting sign per building/storefront. | Projecting max 6 ft from building. | — | 10-14-8:D |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10-14-8:E |
| Sandwich Board / Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | May be located partially or entirely on sidewalk within public right-of-way adjacent to building/occupant space. Minimum 5' section of public right-of-way must remain unobstructed. | — | 10-14-17 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10-14-8:F |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | Not permitted in the vision triangle. | No more than one structure per corner at entrance. | In easements or landscape outlots at subdivision entrance. | — | 10-14-6:A |
| Real Estate Sign | — | — | — | — | No more than one per street frontage. | On site. | — | 10-14-3:10 |
| Garage Sale/Open House Sign | — | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On site or off-site with owner permission. | — | 10-14-3:7 |
| Institutional Sign (churches, governmental, school, or allowed per special use) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft monument; 20 sq ft sandblasted wood option | — | — | 1 | On institutional property. | — | 10-14-12 |

### Non-residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument (Ground) Sign | 8 ft (10 ft for commercial developments >100,000 sq ft, 48 sq ft) | 40 sq ft | — | 10' minimum. | 1 per lot. | Not closer than 10' to ROW. Not within 30' of another monument sign. Not in vision triangle. | — | 10-14-6:B |
| Wall Sign (Buildings/Units ≤40,000 sq ft) | — | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building or retail unit, except: Corner units - max 3 (including rear); 1 rear sign allowed if not abutting residential (max 20 sq ft). | On building wall. | — | 10-14-6:C |
| Wall Sign (Buildings/Units >40,000–100,000 sq ft) | — | 400 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building or retail unit, except: Corner units - max 3 (including rear); 1 rear sign allowed if not abutting residential (max 20 sq ft). | On building wall. | — | 10-14-6:C |
| Wall Sign (Buildings/Units >100,000 sq ft) | — | 600 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building or retail unit, except: Corner units - max 3 (including rear); 1 rear sign allowed if not abutting residential (max 20 sq ft). | On building wall. | — | 10-14-6:C |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On awnings/canopies at first floor windows/doors. | — | 10-14-9 |
| Window Sign (permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | On windows. | — | 10-14-6:D |

## Prohibited signs in Antioch

- No sign shall be maintained at any location where by reason of its position, size, shape or color it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal, or device, or where it may interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- All signs must comply with setbacks and shall not be located within the vision triangle as defined in the ordinance.
- All signs placed within public right-of-way without approval are subject to immediate removal without notice.
- Signs that incorporate animation are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Signs which move or assume a non-stationary position by mechanical means except as expressly permitted are prohibited.
- No sign that is not professionally fabricated is permitted.
- Parking of advertising vehicles is prohibited; no person shall park any non-operational vehicle or trailer on public or private property so as to be visible from the public right-of-way with any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of advertisement or directing people.
- Billboards or other large outdoor advertising devices are prohibited.
- Window signs that exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of window area are prohibited.
- Painted wall graphics are prohibited except for approved murals or artwork.
- Flashing open signs or scrolling message signs located within interior windows are prohibited.
- Neon tube lighting or LED lighting outlining a building, structure or window is prohibited.
- Pylon signs are prohibited.
- Back lit awnings/canopies are prohibited.
- Box signs are prohibited.
- Home occupation signage is prohibited.
- Inflatable signs located in the Antioch Downtown Sign District are prohibited.
- Ground signs on adjoining lots must have a minimum separation distance of thirty feet (30').
- A-frame signs are prohibited except as allowed for sandwich boards in the Antioch Downtown Sign District.
- Off-site directional signs are prohibited, except for residential marketing for developments in excess of fifty homes.
- Portable trailer signs are prohibited.
- Attention getting devices are prohibited except temporary flutter flags (max 3) approved by the Community Development Director for special promotional events.
- Flutter flags located on public sidewalks or public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Permanent ground signs in residential districts are prohibited except for enumerated exceptions (such as subdivision signs, multi-family signs, real estate signs, garage sale signs, certain institutional and special uses).

## Signs exempt from permit in Antioch

- Street signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Address numerals in conformity with Village regulations are exempt from permit requirements.
- Civic event signs, including community event temporary signs and permanent civic signs (subject to approval by the Community Development Director), are exempt from permit requirements.
- Construction identification signs up to a maximum of 32 square feet (one per frontage per development, confined to the construction site, must be removed within 7 days after Certificate of Occupancy) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Informational signs not exceeding 3 sq ft per sign face (e.g., restrooms, freight entrances, parking areas) displayed on private property are exempt from permit requirements.
- Flags (governmental, political, civic, philanthropic, educational, religious, or corporate) are exempt from permit requirements, subject to size, number, and mounting restrictions.
- Garage sale and open house signs (not exceeding 4 sq ft per face, time and removal restrictions, off-site on private property with owner consent) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Building markers cut into masonry or made of bronze or other permanent material (one per building, not exceeding 4 sq ft) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Political signs, subject to specific time, location, and removal restrictions, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Real estate signs, subject to number, illumination, and removal restrictions, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Traffic, municipal or emergency signs, legal notices, or public notices installed by the Village or authorized agents are exempt from permit requirements.
- Window signs posted in public view do not require a temporary permit, but must not exceed 35% of each window or surface area.
- Signs posted on the sides of vehicles, provided the vehicle is licensed, insured, operational, and regularly used in connection with the occupant's activity at the premises, are exempt from permit requirements (with restrictions on use as advertising vehicles).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any person proposing to erect or display a sign as identified in this chapter shall file an application for a permit with the Community Development Department, including a scaled drawing, electrical and illumination plans (if applicable), and a landscape plan for monument signs.
- The Community Development Director shall review and approve or deny sign permits, taking into account compliance with regulations, variances granted, any special regulations for areas of special character, and any sign program ("any program for graphics") previously approved under this chapter.
- Site plan review approval may include monument sign illumination (internal) considered only as part of site plan review approval.
- All civic event signs require approval by the Community Development Director.
- Subdivision entrance signs require a plan (including landscaping) to be reviewed and approved by the Community Development Department.
- Development permits or site plan reviews for building expansions of 25% or more require ALL nonconforming signs on the premises to be brought into conformity with the current ordinance.

## 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 Antioch — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Antioch+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-antioch

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