# Sign Regulations in Champaign, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Champaign, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/champaign
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Champaign/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_CH37ZO_ARTVIIISI)

## At a glance

Champaign, Illinois regulates 29 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Individual Freestanding Sign (Single Business)s in the CG zoning district are capped at 20 ft (30 ft if advertises more than 1 business) tall and 50 sq ft (100 sq ft if sign advertises more than 1 business), with a 5 ft from property line setback (Sec. Table VIII-B; Sec 37-437). Most commercial signs in Champaign require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 3 ft 6 in (generally); 6 ft (institutional campus sites) | 35 sq ft | — |
| SF1, SF2, IT-SF1, IT-SF2, IT-MR1, MHP | 2 | 6 ft | 35 sq ft | — |
| MF1, MF2, MF3, MFUNIV, IT-MR2, IT-MX | 3 | 6 ft | up to 50 sq ft (not to exceed 5% of wall) | — |
| CO | 2 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft (standard); up to 150 sq ft per elevation on 50+ acre developments, 10% wall area | — |
| CN | 5 | 12 ft | 100 sq ft (up to 7% of wall area); up to 135 sq ft on one wall if no freestanding sign and still within 7% wall area | — |
| CG | 6 | 20 ft (30 ft if advertises more than 1 business) | 100 sq ft (changeable), 50 sq ft (permanent) per structure | — |
| CB1, CB2, CB3 | 5 | 25 ft (at property line); +1 ft/2ft set back, 35 ft max | 100 sq ft changeable copy, 75 sq ft permanent | — |
| CI, I1, I2, IBP | 1 | — | — | — |
| IOP | 1 | — | — | — |
| OASS Overlay District | 1 | For freestanding: 25 ft at setback line +1 ft/2ft additional setback to max 35 ft | 300 sq ft per structure | — |
| Planned Regional Shopping Center | 7 | 15 ft above adjacent grade | 300 sq ft | — |
| Institutional campus-major | 3 | 10 ft (15 ft for university/research park) | 50 sq ft (75 sq ft for university/research park) | — |
| Institutional campus-minor | 3 | 6 ft | ≤50% of face, max 17.5 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### CG

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Individual Freestanding Sign (Single Business) | 20 ft (30 ft if advertises more than 1 business) | 50 sq ft (100 sq ft if sign advertises more than 1 business) | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per frontage per lot | 5 ft setback from property lines | — | Table VIII-B; Sec 37-437 |
| Wall Sign | Not above roof or cornice line | 10% of wall area, up to 150 sq ft per business (per 2 adjacent wall elevations) | — | — | 1 per building elevation per business | On wall; 18 in max projection | — | Table VIII-B Sec 37-437 |
| Theater Marquee Sign | Not above second story or roof line | 100 sq ft (changeable), 50 sq ft (permanent) per structure | — | — | 1 per business | Within marquee structure | — | Table VIII-B |
| Awning, Canopy, or Roof Overhang Sign | Not above second story or roof line | Ends: 10 sq ft. Maximum calculated as wall sign for face | — | — | Max 1 per face or end as described | On/under canopy/awning | — | Table VIII-B |
| Projecting Arm Sign | Not above second story or roof line | 1 sq ft per ft frontage (max 30 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per business | Pinned directly to building | — | Table VIII-B |
| Roof Sign | Building height (measured roof surface to top) | (permitted sign height)x(1/4 width of building wall facing street), max 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per main building | On roof | — | Table VIII-B |

### CB1, CB2, CB3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft (at property line); +1 ft/2ft set back, 35 ft max | 1 sq ft per ft of lot frontage (max 150 sq ft) | — | 5 ft | 1 per frontage per lot | Set back 5 ft from property lines | — | Table VIII-C |
| Wall Sign | Not above roof or cornice line | 15% of wall area, up to 200 sq ft per wall | — | — | 1 per business per elevation | On wall | — | Table VIII-C |
| Theater Marquee Sign | Not above second story/roof line | 100 sq ft changeable copy, 75 sq ft permanent | — | — | 1 per marquee facing (max 3) | Within theater marquee structure | — | Table VIII-C |
| Awning or Canopy or Roof Overhang Sign | Not above roof line | 10 sq ft (suspended), 1 sq ft per ft frontage up to 50 sq ft (fascia) | — | — | 2 per business frontage | On or beneath canopy/awning | — | Table VIII-C |
| Projecting Arm Sign | Not above second story/roof line (unless as above) | 1 sq ft per ft of lot frontage (max 30 sq ft); max 100 sq ft if 4+ stories and >50,000 sq ft occupying, not above 4th story/roofline | — | — | 1 per business per elevation | Pinned directly to building | — | Table VIII-C |

### Planned Regional Shopping Center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Freestanding Mall Identification Sign | 15 ft above adjacent grade | 100 sq ft (per sign) | — | 5 ft | 4 per center | Not farther than 100 ft from entrance/street ROW; 5 ft from property line | — | Table VIII-D |
| Wall Sign (Anchor Store) | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 per elevation | Mounted flat to wall | — | Table VIII-D |
| Wall Sign (Stores with Direct Outside Entrance) | — | 150 sq ft (2 adjacent elevations combined), ≤10% wall area | — | — | 1 per elevation | On wall | — | Table VIII-D |
| Wall Sign (Mall Entrance) | — | 50 sq ft per wall sign | — | — | 1 per mall entrance | At mall entrances | — | Table VIII-D |
| Instructional or Directional Sign (Vehicular Entrance) | 12 ft | 50 sq ft per sign | — | — | As needed for circulation/entrances, subject to Zoning Admin approval | Vehicular entrances | — | Table VIII-D |
| Instructional or Directional Sign (Other locations) | 9 ft | 25 sq ft per sign | — | — | As needed | Throughout parking areas, ground-mounted | — | Table VIII-D |
| Real Estate Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 2 for center | On parcel for sale/lease | — | Table VIII-D |

## Prohibited signs in Champaign

- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure that is not specifically allowed or regulated in this article is prohibited.
- No sign or outdoor advertising sign structure may be erected, constructed, established, maintained, enlarged, relocated, or changed except in accordance with the provisions of this article.
- No sign or outdoor advertising sign structure may be installed, erected, constructed, or placed without a permit from the Zoning Administrator, except as specifically provided for by this article.
- Any sign which is structurally unsafe is prohibited.
- Any sign which constitutes a hazard to safety or health or is apparently abandoned is prohibited.
- Any sign which is not kept in good repair is prohibited.
- Any sign which is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it is prohibited.
- Any sign supported by hanging or swinging from eye bolts, cables, or similar means is prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure which, by reason of its size, location, content, coloring, or intensity of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or detracts from visibility of governmentally erected traffic signs or control devices, or resembles such a device, is prohibited.
- Signs or outdoor advertising sign structures which use words or symbols to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic are prohibited (e.g., 'Stop', 'Look', 'Danger').
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure which obstructs free ingress or egress from required door, window, fire escape, or other required exits is prohibited.
- Any sign, whether temporary or permanent, or outdoor advertising sign structure, not erected by the City or its agents, which extends over or touches any City property or public right-of-way unless specifically permitted by this article is prohibited.
- Any nonconforming sign or outdoor advertising sign structure which refers to a business no longer in existence or in operation at the location advertised is prohibited.
- Business signs advertising nonconforming uses which do not conform to the sign regulations of the most restrictive district where the nonconforming use is located are prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure unlawfully constructed, installed, erected, or maintained is prohibited.
- Flags, banners, pennants, spinners, streamers, and other similar devices, and portable signs are prohibited unless and only to the extent expressly allowed in this article.
- Any signs with moving parts, the appearance of moving parts, or electronically changeable images are prohibited except as specifically allowed.
- Any sign with visible moving or revolving parts or mechanical movement by electrical, electronic, or mechanical means, including those visible from the right-of-way or residential areas, is prohibited except for permitted searchlights.
- Electronic changing image signs are prohibited in residential zoning districts, except as allowed in specific exceptions.
- Electronic changing image signs (other than time/temperature/allowed exceptions/outdoor advertising sign structures) shall not change more than once every 30 seconds and may use only instantaneous full-face changes (no wipes, fades, or flashing effects).
- The maximum area of any sign face that may have a changing electronic image (other than exceptions) is fifty percent of the allowable area or 25 square feet, whichever is less.
- All nonconforming signs, except theater marquee signs, must be removed or made conforming within 5 years from the date they became nonconforming.

## Signs exempt from permit in Champaign

- Signs erected by the City or its agents in the public right-of-way for public purposes.
- Signs identifying the street address of a building not exceeding six (6) square feet in area.
- Parking signs warning of relocation of trespassing vehicles, as provided in Section 33-168, not exceeding six (6) square feet in area.
- Signs required by federal, state, or local laws for the operation of certain businesses.
- Public flags mounted on a flag pole or structure.
- Other flags (not public or business flags) mounted on a flag pole or structure.
- Temporary signs located in residential zoning districts not exceeding six (6) square feet in area.
- Instructional or directional signs satisfying applicable area and height limitations.
- Signs for on-site customer traffic that meet distance, letter size, and logo size requirements (not readable from the right-of-way and meeting Sec. 37-417 standards).
- Real estate signs meeting specified size and timing restrictions.
- Construction site signs meeting specified area and timing restrictions.
- Garage sale and auction signs meeting area and display period limits and located only on private (not public) property.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications for Outdoor Advertising Sign Structures (OASSs) must include a site plan prepared by a licensed surveyor, showing at minimum the footprint of the proposed OASS, other buildings, and permanent commercial freestanding signs within 400 feet. Applications must also include photographs of the site from 100 to 200 feet from various directions.
- A master sign plan is required prior to issuance of a permit or permits for signage within an institutional campus, or any changes to signage within an institutional campus. The plan must show locations and designs of existing and proposed signs, including placement of electronic changing image or message board signs.
- Display of special event signs or signs for special events of statewide interest (on or over city property) requires a permit from the Zoning Administrator, who may add permit conditions.
- Changes to a residential subdivision identification sign (including change of sign face, design, or location) require a new permit issued by the Zoning Administrator.
- Erection of any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure not specifically exempted requires a permit from the Zoning Administrator.

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

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