# Sign Regulations in Chillicothe, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chillicothe, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/chillicothe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Chillicothe/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH6ALLI_ARTIIREES_DIV3OPRERE_S6-96DIBIDEWASI)

## At a glance

Chillicothe, Illinois regulates 9 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Communications Towers in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 190 feet tall, with a At least twice the height of the tower or 400 feet (whichever is greater) from any residential zoning district. Also, at least 50% of tower height setback from top of tower to existing grade for other property lines. setback (Sec. Sec. 106-286). Most commercial signs in Chillicothe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 190 feet | — | — |
| Business Districts, Retail Districts, Commercial Districts, Service Districts, CB-1, C-1, C-2, C-3 | 2 | 190 feet | — | — |
| Industrial Districts, Industrial Park Districts, I-1, I-2, I-P | 4 | 190 feet | — | — |
| Residential Districts, RCH Residential Country Home District | 2 | 15 feet at maximum tilt | — | — |
| Community Facilities Districts, C-F Community Facility District | 1 | 15 feet at maximum tilt | — | — |
| Agricultural Districts | 2 | 190 feet | — | — |
| Living History Farm and Museums Districts | 1 | 15 feet | — | — |
| Recreational Districts, REC Districts | 1 | 15 feet | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Overhanging Sign | Minimum 8 feet above sidewalk | — | — | Must not project nearer than one foot to any driveway | — | Overhanging public sidewalk | — | Sec. 106-283(e) |
| Communications Tower | 190 feet | — | — | At least twice the height of the tower or 400 feet (whichever is greater) from any residential zoning district. Also, at least 50% of tower height setback from top of tower to existing grade for other property lines. | Only limited warning/equipment information signs allowed (no advertising). | Permitted in agricultural, commercial, industrial, and RCH Residential Country Home Districts (see below for specific setback requirements) | — | Sec. 106-286 |
| Wind Energy Conversion System | — | — | — | Minimum 1.2 times the turbine height from all property lines, utility lines, public rights of way, and other turbines | Only necessary safety/warning signs allowed | By Special Use in any zoning district | — | Sec. 106-287 |
| Memorial | — | — | — | — | — | Any zoning district | — | Sec. 106-288 |
| Fence | See below | — | — | Sight triangle/visibility at intersections must be observed. Fences can be placed to the lot line except as specifically required for buffer/screening. | — | All zoning districts, see yard type and zone for height | — | Sec. 106-292 |
| Ground-mounted Solar Energy System | 15 feet at maximum tilt | — | — | See above | — | Rear yard only; 10 feet from property lines and principal structure; not in front/side/corner yard; 3 ft from easements; all zoning districts except CB-1 (prohibited there). Requires solid fence enclosure min 6 ft. | — | Sec. 106-293 |

### Business Districts, Retail Districts, Commercial Districts, Service Districts, CB-1, C-1, C-2, C-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Communications Tower | 190 feet | — | — | At least twice height or 400 feet from any residential zoning district | Warning/equipment signs only | Permitted at least twice tower height or 400 ft (whichever greater) from residential district | — | Sec. 106-286 |
| Ground-mounted Solar Energy System | 15 feet at maximum tilt | — | — | 10 ft from property lines and structure; 3 ft from easement | — | Rear yard only; not permitted CB-1; must meet rear/side yard setbacks and fencing as stated in General Regulations | — | Sec. 106-293 |

### Industrial Districts, Industrial Park Districts, I-1, I-2, I-P

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Communications Tower | 190 feet | — | — | At least twice tower height or 400 feet from residential | — | See General Regulations; allowed with setbacks. | — | Sec. 106-286; Sec. 106-284(4) |
| Adult-use Cannabis Dispensing Organization | — | — | — | — | Maximum 2 | Permitted as Special Use in I-1, I-2, I-P (and also C-1, C-2, C-3, CB-1; see previous zone entry). | — | Sec. 106-290 |
| Adult-use Cannabis Business Establishment | — | — | — | 500 ft from protected uses | Maximum 2 per: craft grower, cultivation center, infuser, processor, transporter | Permitted as Special Use in I-1, I-2, I-P | — | Sec. 106-291 |
| Ground-mounted Solar Energy System | 15 feet at maximum tilt | — | — | 10 ft from property lines and structure; 3 ft from easement | — | Rear yard only; setbacks and fencing as per General Regulations | — | Sec. 106-293 |

## Prohibited signs in Chillicothe

- No overhanging signs may be lower than eight feet above the sidewalk at any point (Sec. 106-283(e)).
- No overhanging canopies, marquees, awnings, or similar structures may project nearer than one foot to any driveway (Sec. 106-283(e)).
- In industrial park districts, no sign shall be permitted which exceeds 40 feet in height (Sec. 106-284(b)(6)a).
- Signs used for advertising purposes are prohibited on communications towers; only signs displaying warning or equipment information and meeting reasonable size limitations may be placed on towers (Sec. 106-286(b)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Chillicothe

- Parapet walls, chimneys, cooling towers, elevator bulkheads, fire towers, grain elevators, silos, spires, steeples, stacks, stage towers or scenery lofts, and necessary mechanical appurtenances are permitted to exceed maximum building height provisions when erected in accordance with all other ordinances of the city (Sec. 106-284(a)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All overhanging signs must maintain a minimum clearance of eight feet above the sidewalk at any point (Sec. 106-283(e)).
- Overhanging canopies, marquees, awnings, and similar structures (including signs) may not project nearer than one foot to any driveway (Sec. 106-283(e)).

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

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