# Sign Regulations in Belleville, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Belleville, Illinois regulates 11 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Graphics in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 20 feet above ground or pavement (graphic), total structure may extend higher only in industrial district tall, 100 sq ft, and 12 feet in any dimension (excluding posts/supports) wide, with a Minimum 5 ft from side lot line setback (Sec. § 155.028). Most commercial signs in Belleville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 20 feet above ground or pavement (except industrial, where 25 ft above roof allowed for roof signs) | 100 sq ft | — |
| A-1 (Single-Family Residence) Zoning District | 1 | — | — | — |
| A-2 (Two-Family Residence) Zoning District, B-1 (Multi-Family Residence) Zoning District | 3 | — | 6 sq ft (if solely residential, more than 1 family; 30 sq ft for all other permitted establishments) | — |
| C-1 (Commercial) Zoning District, C-2 (Commercial) Zoning District, Commercial Zoned Districts | 7 | 20 ft above ground or pavement | 100 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District | 5 | 25 ft above roof level | 300 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Business Area (Area of Special Control) | 6 | 20 ft above ground (unless otherwise approved for compatibility) | 100 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flush-Mounted Graphic) | 20 feet above ground or pavement (except industrial, where 25 ft above roof allowed for roof signs) | — | — | — | — | Parallel to wall; cannot project over property line/right-of-way. | — | § 155.004, § 155.005, § 155.026, § 155.068-155.071 |
| Projecting Graphic | 20 feet above ground or pavement | 16 sq ft | May not project more than 4 feet from building | — | 1 per street frontage | Perpendicular to building; must comply with clearance/placement rules. | — | § 155.027 |
| Freestanding Graphic | 20 feet above ground or pavement (graphic), total structure may extend higher only in industrial district | 100 sq ft | 12 feet in any dimension (excluding posts/supports) | Minimum 5 ft from side lot line | 2 per street frontage | May not project into public right-of-way; minimum 5 ft from side lot line. | — | § 155.028 |
| Window Graphic (Permanent) | — | 100 sq ft or maximum window area, whichever is less | — | — | — | Within the window area | — | § 155.029 |
| Awning, Canopy, and Marquee Graphic | — | 16 sq ft | May not project more than 4 feet from building | — | 1 per street frontage | On/below awning/canopy/marquee | — | § 155.030 |
| Street Banner | — | 30 inches x 60 inches (standard banner dimensions) | — | — | 2 per streetlight/utility pole | On public streetlight or utility pole (commercial zones only) | — | § 155.033 |

### C-1 (Commercial) Zoning District, C-2 (Commercial) Zoning District, Commercial Zoned Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flush-Mounted Graphic) | 20 ft above ground or pavement | — | — | — | — | Flush to wall | — | § 155.026, § 155.049 |
| Projecting Graphic | 20 ft above ground or pavement | 16 sq ft | 4 ft from building | — | 1 per street frontage | Perpendicular to building | — | § 155.027, § 155.049 |
| Freestanding Graphic | 20 ft above ground or pavement | 100 sq ft | 12 ft in any dimension (excluding supports) | 5 ft from side lot line | 2 per street frontage | Free-standing on site | — | § 155.028, § 155.049 |
| Window Graphic (Permanent) | — | 100 sq ft or window area as available | — | — | — | Window | — | § 155.029, § 155.049 |
| Awning, Canopy, and Marquee Graphic | — | 16 sq ft | 4 ft from building | — | 1 per street frontage | On or under awning/canopy/marquee | — | § 155.030, § 155.049 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side (no more than 2 ft x 3 ft per side) | 2 ft | — | 1 per business per frontage | Sidewalk (cannot block pedestrian movement) | — | § 155.010(E) |
| Street Banner | — | 30 inches x 60 inches | — | — | 2 per streetlight/utility pole | On public streetlight or utility pole | — | § 155.033 |

### Downtown Business Area (Area of Special Control)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flush-Mounted Graphic) | 20 ft above ground (unless otherwise approved for compatibility) | — | — | — | — | As in commercial district, but subject to Grafics Review Board and City Council approval | — | § 155.052, § 155.053, § 155.067 |
| Projecting Graphic | 20 ft above ground or pavement | 16 sq ft | 4 ft from building | — | — | As in commercial district, but subject to approval | — | § 155.052, § 155.053 |
| Freestanding Graphic | 20 ft above ground (unless otherwise compatible/approved) | 100 sq ft | 12 ft in any dimension (excluding supports) | — | — | As in commercial district, but subject to approval | — | § 155.052, § 155.053 |
| Window Graphic (Permanent) | — | 100 sq ft or as otherwise compatible/approved | — | — | — | As in commercial district, but subject to approval | — | § 155.052, § 155.053 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | 2 ft | — | 1 per business per frontage | Sidewalk, per criteria | — | § 155.010(E) |
| Street Banner | — | 30 inches x 60 inches | — | — | 2 per streetlight/utility pole | On public streetlight or utility pole | — | § 155.033 |

## Prohibited signs in Belleville

- No street graphic which mechanically revolves, rotates or moves in any manner shall be permitted anywhere in the city.
- No graphic, other than those providing time and temperature information or other electronically changing messages, shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color. Beacon lights and illumination by flame are prohibited.
- No street graphic shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free access to, or egress from any door, window, fire escape, ladder, driveway, or opening intended to provide light, air, access or egress for any building or premises.
- No street graphic of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No street graphic shall be erected or maintained in such a manner as to be likely to interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device as determined by the City Engineer.
- No street graphic shall contain the words 'stop', 'go', 'caution', 'danger', 'warning' or similar words.
- Mobile or portable marquees, banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners or similar devices are prohibited street graphics.
- Graphics which are attached to any tree, fence or public utility pole, other than warning signs issued by public utilities, are prohibited.
- Graphics advertising or identifying an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted on the premises on which the graphic is located are prohibited.
- Sandwich boards are prohibited except where otherwise allowed in commercial districts and under special conditions.
- No free-standing graphic shall project into the public right-of-way.
- No graphic shall use red, yellow, orange, green, or other colored lights in a way that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic.
- No exposed reflective-type bulb, strobe light, or incandescent lamp exceeding 15 watts shall be used on the exterior surface of any graphic in such manner as to expose the face of the bulb, light or lamp to any public street or adjacent property.
- No billboard or other off-premises advertising graphics shall be erected or maintained in the city after the effective date of this chapter.
- It is unlawful to maintain any sign, signal, marking, or device which resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or hides such device from view, or attempts to direct traffic, in view of any street or highway.
- It is unlawful to maintain or operate in view of any street or highway any flashing or rotating beacon of light.
- No person shall nail, tack, paste, paint or fasten any sign or any other foreign substance or material onto any telegraph, telephone, electric light, police and fire alarm pole or post, or any street or traffic sign located on any sidewalk, street, alley, or public grounds, or injure or deface any such pole or post.
- No person shall place any sign, advertisement or banner across any street or alley in the city without first obtaining permission from the City Council.

## Signs exempt from permit in Belleville

- Traffic or other municipal street graphics such as railroad crossing signs, legal notices and such temporary emergency signs as may be authorized by the City Council.
- Signs of public utility companies indicating danger, serving as an aid to public safety, or showing the location of underground facilities or of public telephones.
- Directional, informational or public service signs not exceeding two square feet in area, erected for the convenience of the public, such as signs identifying entrances, exits, parking areas, no parking areas, restrooms, public telephones, walkways and similar features or facilities.
- House numbers and/or name of occupant signs located on the lot to which the sign is appurtenant and not exceeding three square feet.
- Signs located in the interior of any building or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building or group of buildings, which signs are designed and located to be viewed exclusively by the patrons of such buildings.
- No trespassing signs or other such signs regulating the use of a property, such as no hunting, no fishing and the like, of no more than two square feet in area.
- Graphics advertising a public entertainment or event, displayed only at locations and only during the time period approved by the City Council not longer than 14 days before and two days after the event.
- On-premises signs of a professional such as a physician, dentist, lawyer, accountant, architect, engineer, minister and the like, limited to two square feet in area and have no commercial advertising.
- Flags of any country, state or unit of local government.
- Real estate signs not extending outside the property line and not more than six square feet per face in area which indicate the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are located. No more than one real estate sign per street side shall be placed on any lot.
- Residential development identification structures at major entrances designed to identify a residential subdivision or planned unit development and containing no commercial advertising.
- Construction signs identifying the architects, engineers, contractors and other individuals or firms involved with the construction, and/or announcing the character of the building enterprise, or the purpose for which the building is intended, but not advertising any product, not to exceed 20 square feet in area, confined to the site of construction and removed within ten days after the beginning of the intended use.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of the building or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
- Signs of historical societies containing no advertising and not more than five square feet in area.
- Bulletin board not over 20 square feet in area for a public, charitable or religious institution, when located on the premises of such institution and not obstructing the vision of motorists.
- Holiday decorations such as Christmas lights and ornaments, provided these are removed within a reasonable time after the holiday.
- Temporary graphics advertising a sale or similar temporary activity; provided such graphics are not displayed longer than seven days at any one time, nor more than four times in any calendar year.
- Political campaign signs that announce or support political candidates or issues in connection with any national, state or local election, including only those signs specifically advocating for a person, or a position on a question to be considered by voters on a certified ballot.
- Political message signs, other than a political campaign sign, that express a non-commercial message regarding an issue of political or public concern.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for all street graphics except those exempted under § 155.011 of this chapter.
- Application for a street graphic permit requires submission of plans, specifications, and sketches to the Building Commissioner as per § 155.069.
- Street banners on public streetlight or utility poles in commercial zoned districts require approval by the Street Graphics Review Board after filing a formal application and review at a public hearing (§ 155.033).
- No sign, advertisement or banner shall be placed across any street or alley without first having obtained permission from the City Council (§ 158.110).
- Variances may be granted from sign regulations upon application to the Street Graphics Review Board and City Council, including a public hearing and finding of need (§§ 155.092–155.099).
- In the downtown business area (area of special control), no street graphic may be erected and no existing street graphic may remain for more than five years unless approved by the City Council upon the recommendation of the Graphics Review Board (§ 155.052).

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

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