# Sign Regulations in Creston, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Creston, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/creston
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Creston/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIILADERE_CH105ZO_ARTVILAUSDEST_DIV8SI)

## At a glance

Creston, Illinois regulates 15 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Neighborhood Business District (C-1) zoning district are capped at 15 ft max tall and 32 sq ft (per Table 105-658; check for Shopping Center or Development Sign), with a 10 ft from front lot line and driveway; 10 ft from building (3 ft if sign <4 ft tall) setback (Sec. 105-657(3)). Most commercial signs in Creston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agriculture District (A-1) | 5 | 30 feet from grade or two stories, whichever is less. | Per Table 105-658: up to 10% of wall area or 32 sq ft (whichever is less, check Table); not greater than 6 ft tall. | — |
| Residential District (R-1), Village Residential District (R-2) | 4 | 6 ft (real estate), 8 ft (oversized real estate), otherwise 8-15 ft; check if special use. | 40% of window area | — |
| Neighborhood Business District (C-1) | 7 | 30 ft from grade or two stories, whichever is less | Wall-mounted: 60 sq ft; freestanding: 32 sq ft, 8 ft high | — |
| Central Business District (C-2) | 7 | 30 ft from grade or 2 stories, whichever is less. | See 105-657(1)-(2) and Table 105-658. | — |
| Highway Commercial District (C-4) | 7 | 30 ft from grade or 2 stories | Per wall area restriction, see Table 105-658 | — |
| Industrial District (I-1) | 7 | 30 ft from grade or 2 stories | See above or Table 105-658 | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 6 ft (real estate); oversized up to 8 ft (see 105-659(3)) | 16 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Neighborhood Business District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft from grade or two stories, whichever is less | Max 10% of wall area, but not to exceed limits in Table 105-658. | — | — | 1 per street frontage/public entrance | On wall with street frontage or public entrance | — | 105-657(8), 105-654(c), 105-663 |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft max | 32 sq ft (per Table 105-658; check for Shopping Center or Development Sign) | — | 10 ft from front lot line and driveway; 10 ft from building (3 ft if sign <4 ft tall) | 1 per street frontage | At least 10 ft from front property line and driveway; at least 10 ft from building (or 3 ft if <4 ft tall) | — | 105-657(3) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | 16 ft max | Not specified; limited by 10% of wall area or as per Table 105-658. | — | — | Not more than 1 per awning/canopy per frontage | Awnings/canopies over public entry/doors or facing street; not to project more than 8 ft from wall (awning), canopy signs not to project more than 12 in from canopy. | — | 105-657(1)-(2) |
| Window Sign | — | 40% of window surface | — | — | Unlimited, provided total area is within 40% of window area | In commercial windows facing street/entrance | — | 105-655(9) |
| Projecting Sign | Not above roofline or 14 ft from grade, whichever less | 16 sq ft | — | No projection within 2 ft of curb | 1 per frontage per establishment | Affixed to wall with public entrance | — | 105-657(5) |
| Portable Sign (Grand Opening) | — | 50 sq ft | — | See freestanding sign | 1 per lot | Meets location/setback for freestanding signs | — | 105-657(4), 105-659(4) |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft (freestanding) | Wall-mounted: 60 sq ft; freestanding: 32 sq ft, 8 ft high | — | — | 1 per frontage (except possibly for grand opening—match regular sign limits) | Same as underlying sign type | — | 105-657(7) |

### Central Business District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft from grade or 2 stories, whichever is less. | 10% of wall area; larger only if >300 ft from ROW & approved. | — | — | One per street-facing wall/public entrance | On facade with street frontage/public entrance | — | 105-657(8); Table 105-658 |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft per Table 105-658; shopping center or special use may approve larger. | — | 10 ft min | 1 per street frontage | At least 10 ft from property line & driveway | — | 105-657(3), Table 105-658 |
| Awning/Canopy | 16 ft | See 105-657(1)-(2) and Table 105-658. | — | — | 1 per awning/canopy per frontage | Awnings/canopies over entrance or street frontage | — | 105-657(1)-(2) |
| Window Sign | — | 40% of glass area | — | — | Limited by area requirement | Window facing street or public entrance | — | 105-655(9) |
| Projecting Sign | 14 ft from grade or not above roofline | 16 sq ft | — | No projection within 2 ft of curb | 1 per wall/public entrance | Wall with public entrance | — | 105-657(5), Table 105-658 |
| Portable Sign (Grand Opening) | — | 50 sq ft | — | Same as freestanding | 1 per lot | As for freestanding sign, obeying all setbacks | — | 105-657(4), 105-659(4) |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft (freestanding) | Wall sign: 60 sq ft; freestanding: 32 sq ft, 8 ft high | — | — | 1 per frontage | Same as permanent sign types | — | 105-657(7), 105-659(4) |

### Highway Commercial District (C-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft from grade or 2 stories | 10% of wall area or as per Table 105-658 | — | — | One per wall/public entrance | On wall with street/public entrance | — | 105-657(8); Table 105-658 |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft (shopping centers may have larger area with approval) | — | 10 ft min | 1 per street frontage | At least 10 ft from front lot line/building/driveway | — | 105-657(3), Table 105-658 |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | 16 ft max | Per wall area restriction, see Table 105-658 | — | — | One per awning/canopy per frontage | Above public entrance | — | 105-657(1)(2), Table 105-658 |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 40% of total window area | — | — | Unlimited; limited by area | Storefront or entrance window | — | 105-655(9) |
| Projecting Sign | 14 ft or not above roofline | 16 sq ft | — | Cannot project within 2 ft of curb | 1 per street frontage/public entrance | On wall/public entrance | — | 105-657(5) |
| Portable Sign (Grand Opening) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Same as freestanding | — | 105-657(4), 105-659(4) |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft (freestanding) | Wall: 60 sq ft; Freestanding: 32 sq ft, 8 ft max height | — | — | 1 per frontage (except grand opening, may match permanent sign count) | As underlying type | — | 105-657(7), 105-659(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Creston

- No flashing signs, except for electronic message boards displaying time, temperature, business, or public service messages with at least two-second intervals (Sec. 105-653(1)).
- No signs mounted on trailers or motor vehicles, except those identifying the owner or user, and except for portable signs as otherwise defined (Sec. 105-653(5)).
- No attention-getting devices, including but not limited to, inflatable, moving, rotating or undulating signs, light beams, unless allowed by a special events permit (once annually per establishment) (Sec. 105-653(6)).
- No signs that, by size, location, content, color, or illumination, obstruct motorists’ vision or interfere with traffic devices (Sec. 105-653(7)).
- No signs using words like 'Stop,' 'Look,' 'One-Way,' 'Danger,' 'Yield' or similar that may confuse/obstruct traffic or pedestrians (Sec. 105-653(8)).
- No signs installed within or extending over a public right-of-way, except governmental signs (Sec. 105-653(9)).
- No signs that obstruct ingress or egress to any fire escape, door, window or other exit/entrance (Sec. 105-653(10)).
- No advertising, business, or identification signs on light poles (Sec. 105-653(11)).
- No signs painted directly on trees, rocks, fences, or certain structures/objects, except walls (Sec. 105-653(12)).
- No festoon lighting (Sec. 105-653(13)).
- No signs displaying obscene, indecent or immoral material (Sec. 105-653(4)).
- No signs which constitute a hazard to public health or safety (Sec. 105-653(3)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Creston

- Flags, symbols, or crests of nations, states, cities, or political/fraternal/religious/civic organizations, up to four (plus one company flag if flown alongside American flag and not larger than American flag) (Sec. 105-655(1)).
- Holiday or special event decorations not displayed for more than 60 days (Sec. 105-655(2)).
- Signs directing/regulating movement of pedestrians/vehicles on a site, subject to size and location limits (Sec. 105-655(3)).
- Occupant/building identification signs (not exceeding 20 sq ft or 8 ft high, and not within 50 ft of property line) (Sec. 105-655(4)).
- Small signs (≤2 sq ft) naming occupant, address, or indicating entrances/exits (Sec. 105-655(5)).
- Legal notices/governmental signs required by law (Sec. 105-655(6)).
- Political signs up to 16 sq ft, displayed up to 30 days before and 5 days after the election (Sec. 105-655(7)).
- Memorial signs/tablets containing the building name and date, if cut into masonry/bronze or similar permanent construction (Sec. 105-655(8)).
- Nonilluminated window signs if in aggregate they do not exceed 40% of window area (Sec. 105-655(9)).
- Real estate signs (≤6 sq ft), one per street yard, freestanding, set back 10 ft from lot line, ≤6 ft high, not illuminated, and removed within 2 days of transaction closing (Sec. 105-655(10)).
- Signs, ≤6 sq ft, attached to the underside of a canopy, mounted at right angles, ≥7 ft above sidewalk, not within 1 ft of edge (Sec. 105-655(11)).
- Public telephone, gasoline pump and vending machine graphics/logos/instructions (Sec. 105-655(12)).
- Signs ≤3 sq ft, not closer to property line than 10 ft, legible from property line, and up to number justified by special circumstances (Sec. 105-655(13),(17)).
- Construction project signs ≤32 sq ft and ≤8 ft high, identifying architects/contractors/etc., only during construction (Sec. 105-655(14)).
- Works of art without a commercial message, graphic or logo (Sec. 105-655(15)).
- One menu board sign for drive-in window up to 32 sq ft in area and 6 ft in height (Sec. 105-655(16)).
- Religious symbols, emblems, or historical plaques up to 16 sq ft (Sec. 105-655(18)).
- Agricultural property: seed/hybrid product signs ≤2 sq ft, and for sale signs ≤32 sq ft (Sec. 105-655(19)).
- Hours of operation or 'open/closed' signs ≤4 sq ft (Sec. 105-655(20)).
- Portable signs ≤10 sq ft on sidewalk along a commercial facade, during business hours, not blocking pedestrians (Sec. 105-655(21)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan is required for model home sales areas, specifying standards for color, lettering, illumination, materials, locations, and dimensions for all signs in the sales area and subdivision (Sec. 105-659(6)).
- The master sign plan must include the identification sign, standards for temporary signs, and for additional signage identifying individual model homes/manufacturers/builders in the model home area (Sec. 105-659(6)).
- The village may require a sign plan when acting upon requests for special use permits for certain sign types, or for signage in planned developments (Sec. 105-659(6), see also provisions for special use permits and planned developments throughout Article IV and Article VI).
- Any signage exceeding general requirements or requesting deviation/variation (e.g., larger than usual or unique signage for multi-tenant or planned developments) may require submittal and village approval of a collectively coordinated sign plan (implied by the requirement for ‘consistency among signs’ and regulation of additional signs in model home sales areas and other coordinated developments).

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

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