# Sign Regulations in Channahon, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Channahon, Illinois regulates 50 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Identification Ground Sign (Nonresidential Use)s in the Residential and Agricultural Districts zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft (Sec. § 156.175(D)). Most commercial signs in Channahon 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 | 17 | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential and Agricultural Districts | 7 | 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts | 20 | 15 ft | 150 sq ft (sign face), 250 sq ft (total area) | — |
| Industrial Zoning Districts | 5 | 15 ft | 120 sq ft (face), 180 sq ft (total area) | — |
| Public Recreation-1 Districts (PR-1) | 2 | 10 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| Town Center Zoning District | 1 | — | — | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Marketing Sign (Directional, Residential Subdivision) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 6 | Entirely on private property | — | § 156.174(E) |
| Company Logo Flag | — | No larger than American flag flown with it | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 156.174(I) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | At curb, residential | — | § 156.174(J) |
| Edible Farm Product or Auction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Entirely on privately-owned property | — | § 156.174(K) |
| Political/Social Issue Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Min 3 ft from property line/right-of-way | — | Entirely within private property; min 3 ft setback from property line/public ROW | — | § 156.174(L) |
| Political/Social Issue Sign (Non-Residential) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Min 3 ft from property line/right-of-way | — | Entirely within private property; min 3 ft setback from property line/public ROW | — | § 156.174(L) |
| Off-premise (Directional Sign Plaza) Sign | — | As assigned by village | — | — | — | As designated by Village Board; not within 1,000 ft of another on same frontage | — | § 156.174(N) |
| Portable Commercial Sign | 4 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | Entirely on private property | — | § 156.174(O) |

### Residential and Agricultural Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name and Address Plate (Multi-unit building) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 156.175(C) |
| Identification Ground Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building entrance | At entrance, on private property | — | § 156.175(D) |
| Residential Development Ground Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | 2 per entrance | At each entrance to residential development, on private property | — | § 156.175(E) |
| Temporary Real Estate Marketing Sign (Major Entrance, Subdivision) | 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At major entrance | — | § 156.175(F) |
| Temporary Real Estate Marketing Sign (Undeveloped/Vacant Land) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Entirely on private property | — | § 156.175(G) |
| Temporary Residential Real Estate Sign (Developed Lot) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On developed lot, private property | — | § 156.175(H) |
| Temporary Real Estate Marketing Sign (Model Home) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Private property, at model home | — | § 156.175(I) |

### Commercial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Single/Combined Use Building and Lot) | 10 ft | 64 sq ft (sign face), 96 sq ft (total area) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | § 156.176(C)(1) |
| Pole Sign (Single/Combined Use Building and Lot) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | § 156.176(C)(1) |
| Ground Sign (Shopping Plaza) | 10 ft | 120 sq ft (sign copy/face), 180 sq ft (total area) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | § 156.176(C)(2) |
| Pole Sign (Shopping Plaza) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | § 156.176(C)(2) |
| Ground Sign (Shopping Center or Single/Combined Use Over 5 Acres) | 15 ft | 150 sq ft (sign face), 250 sq ft (total area) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | § 156.176(C)(3) |
| Pole Sign (Shopping Center or Single/Combined Use Over 5 Acres) | 15 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | § 156.176(C)(3) |
| Temporary Real Estate Marketing Sign (Major Entrance, Commercial Development) | 10 ft | 80 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | Major entrance of development | — | § 156.176(E)(9) |
| Temporary Real Estate Marketing Sign (Undeveloped/Vacant Land, Directional) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 | On private property | — | § 156.176(E)(10) |

## Prohibited signs in Channahon

- Signs containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character that offend public morals or decency.
- Signs that contain or imitate an official traffic sign or signal or display words such as 'stop', 'go slowly', 'caution', 'danger', 'warning', or similar words.
- Signs of size, location, movement, content, coloring, or illumination that may be confused with or construed as a traffic-control device or hide any traffic or street sign or signal.
- Signs advertising an activity, business, or product not located or no longer located on the property upon which the sign is located.
- Moving, rotating, or animated signs, except for traditional barber poles meeting specific criteria.
- Searchlights (except for grand openings).
- Windows painted or posted in excess of 50% of the viewing area.
- Signs not listed as permitted in the code (§§ 156.174 through 156.178 are permitted; others are prohibited).
- Signs in public rights-of-way that are not public signs, except for banners on light poles as approved by the Village Board.
- Streamers, posters, ribbons, light strings (except residential holiday lighting), bulbs, bands, spinners, blinking, electronic, or flashing signs (except time, temperature, date, and informational signs with a copy interval of at least three seconds), signs with changing light or color effects, festoon lighting, and neon signs.
- Signs attached to trees, fences, utility poles, standpipes, gutter drains, or fire escapes (excluding warning signs issued by government officials or utilities).
- Signs that emit odor, sound, or visible matter.
- Signs projecting rail light directly into a public way or onto a neighboring property.
- Nonconforming signs cannot be structurally altered, enlarged, or extended unless such action results in compliance.
- Signs that have been discontinued for six consecutive months or are abandoned may not be reestablished and must be brought into conformity.
- No signs having a height of more than 30 inches above the crown of adjacent streets shall be placed within a triangular area of 25 feet from the intersection of two street right-of-way lines on corner lots.
- Except wall-mounted signs not projecting more than 12 inches, no sign may be placed closer than five feet from any lot line.
- Temporary mobile signs must be at least one foot from the property line and must not obstruct traffic visibility.
- The illumination of signs must be diffused or indirect, with no direct rays reflecting into public ways or onto adjacent lots.
- Signs and all parts must be constructed and maintained in compliance with local building, electrical, and fire codes and kept in a good state of repair.
- Gang signs are prohibited in public places.

## Signs exempt from permit in Channahon

- Name and address plates not more than one square foot in area that only give the name and address of the resident.
- Memorial signs or tablets and signs denoting date of erection of buildings, no larger than five square feet.
- No trespassing and other regulatory signs (max two square feet in residential districts/six square feet in commercial/industrial).
- Real estate signs not exceeding six square feet per side, removed within 15 days after sale or lease.
- Up to six temporary real estate marketing signs (max six square feet each) for residential subdivisions, up for 48 hours over a 72-hour period, entirely on private property.
- On-premises traffic, parking, lavatory, and public phone area signs less than six square feet, with no commercial advertising.
- Signs erected by a governmental body, or under its direction, bearing no commercial advertising (e.g., traffic, railroad, safety, school, playground signs).
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any government, religious, charitable, or fraternal organization.
- One company logo flag flown with and no larger than the American flag.
- Garage sale signs, not exceeding six square feet, at the curb in residential areas, displayed for no more than six days.
- Signs no larger than 32 square feet advertising edible farm product sales on premises or auctions, up to 30 days, entirely on private property, removed after the event.
- Political or social issue candidate signs (max six square feet in residential/32 in all other zones), must be installed and maintained to avoid deterioration or hazard, and at least three feet from property lines or public rights-of-way.
- Window signs of paper or similar material in commercial districts notifying of sales or prices, covering no more than 50% of window area.
- Portable commercial signs no larger than nine square feet and no higher than four feet, located on private property, taken indoors after close of business, and not interfering with pedestrian traffic.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit from the Building Department is required to erect, alter, or move any permanent sign. Required submittals include a plot plan (showing sign location, including vicinity to buildings and thoroughfares) and a plan showing sign design, materials, construction, and attachment method.
- A permit from the Building Department is required to erect or place any temporary sign. Application must include written property owner consent.
- Signs within the Town Center zoning district must comply with Town Center Design Guidelines. All signage proposals in this district must be submitted with building plans as part of the architectural review process.
- Off-premise signs require Village Board approval, with a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- On-premise directional and instructional signs must be identified on site plans for new developments or approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission for existing businesses.
- Permanent residential development ground signs and permanent industrial development entrance signs require approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Village Board.

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

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