# Sign Regulations in Danville, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Danville, Illinois regulates 17 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the B-2, B-3 zoning district are capped at 20 feet (B-2); 16 feet (B-3) tall and 40 square feet (80 sq ft when monument style for both B-2 and B-3), with a Minimum 5 feet from property lot lines setback (Sec. § 150.104, Table VII-1, § 150.112(A)). Most commercial signs in Danville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-1 | 4 | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| B-2, B-3 | 5 | 30 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| B-4 | 4 | 12 feet | 60 square feet | — |
| P-1 | 2 | 12 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| I-1, I-2 | 5 | 40 feet (I-1) | 300 square feet (I-1) or as allowed; I-1 max height 40 ft | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 4 | 12 feet | 32 square feet per sign | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — |

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

### B-2, B-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet (B-2); 16 feet (B-3) | 40 square feet (80 sq ft when monument style for both B-2 and B-3) | — | Minimum 5 feet from property lot lines | One per street/highway frontage | One per street or highway frontage | — | § 150.104, Table VII-1, § 150.112(A) |
| Wall Sign | Cannot project above the top or ends of the wall surface | — | — | — | — | On wall of building per frontage | — | § 150.105, Table VII-2, § 150.112(A) |
| Projecting Sign | Must clear sidewalks by at least 8 feet; cannot project above the highest point of the roof | 32 square feet (B-2/B-3); 60 sq ft (B-4 only) | — | — | One per street or highway frontage if no freestanding sign is present | One per street or highway frontage where no freestanding sign is displayed | — | § 150.107, Table VII-3, § 150.112(A) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Awning/canopy must clear sidewalks by at least 8 feet | 32 square feet (B-2/B-3) | — | — | One per tenant per street or highway frontage | Each tenant per street or highway frontage | — | § 150.108, Table VII-4, § 150.112(A) |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign/Billboard | 30 feet | 300 square feet | — | Underlying zoning district setback requirements | One per lot | Only one per lot | — | § 150.110, Table VII-5 |

### I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 ft | I-1: 25 sq ft (50 sq ft for monument style); I-2: 40 sq ft (80 sq ft for monument style) | — | Minimum 5 feet from property lot lines | One per street/highway frontage | One per street or highway frontage | — | § 150.104, Table VII-1, § 150.112(A) |
| Wall Sign | Cannot project above the top or ends of the wall surface | — | — | — | — | On wall of building per frontage | — | § 150.105, Table VII-2, § 150.112(A) |
| Projecting Sign | Must clear sidewalks by at least 8 feet; cannot project above the highest point of the roof | 32 square feet | — | — | One per street or highway frontage if no freestanding sign is present | One per street or highway frontage where no freestanding sign is displayed | — | § 150.107, Table VII-3, § 150.112(A) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Awning/canopy must clear sidewalks by at least 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | One per tenant per street or highway frontage | Each tenant per street or highway frontage | — | § 150.108, Table VII-4, § 150.112(A) |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign/Billboard | 40 feet (I-1) | 300 square feet (I-1) or as allowed; I-1 max height 40 ft | — | Building setback requirements of underlying district | One per lot | I-1 and I-2 lots only; must not be within 200 ft of residential district boundary | — | § 150.110, Table VII-5 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | 10% of window area per building facade | — | — | — | On windows of tenant's building facade | — | § 150.109(A) |
| Directional Sign (Two Lane Streets or less than 35 mph) | 4 feet | 2 square feet | — | — | One per entrance/exit | At each entrance/exit from a lot on two lane streets and streets with <35 mph posted speed | — | § 150.109(B) |
| Directional Sign (Multi-lane, 35 mph or greater) | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | One per entrance/exit | At each entrance/exit from a lot on multi-lane roads and 35+ mph posted speed | — | § 150.109(B) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Zone) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | One per lot | On residential lot | — | § 150.113(A)(1), (A)(3), (C)(3) |
| Temporary Sign (Non-Residential Zone) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | One per 100 ft street frontage | On non-residential lot | — | § 150.113(A)(1), (A)(3) |
| A-frame/Tee-Pee/Similar Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business per lot | One per business per lot | — | § 150.113(C)(1), (A)(3) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | One per street frontage | On property being offered for sale or lease | — | § 150.113(C)(4) |
| Garage Sale Sign (Temporary) | — | 5 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 150.113(C)(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Danville

- No sign shall be erected in a public right-of-way or encroach onto a public right-of-way, unless specifically authorized by ordinances, regulations, or by specific authorization of the Zoning Administrator.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, nor at any location where by its position, shape, or color it may interfere with or obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with a driver’s view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic are prohibited.
- Signs which blink, flash, or are animated by lighting in any fashion that would cause such signs to have the appearance of traffic safety signs and lights, or municipal vehicle warning lights from a distance are prohibited.
- Signs attached to any utility pole, light standard, street tree, or any other public facility located within the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except as allowed as temporary signs.
- Any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property is prohibited, except for signs meeting all of the following: (1) The primary purpose is not the display of signs; (2) The signs are magnetic, decals or painted upon an integral part of the vehicle or equipment as originally designed by the manufacturer and do not break the silhouette; (3) The vehicle/trailer is in operating condition, currently registered and licensed, and actively used or available for use in the daily function of the business.
- Balloons, streamers, ribbons, or pinwheels are prohibited except those temporarily displayed as part of a special sale, promotion, or community event (not more than 20 days in any calendar year).
- Any sign which directs attention to a product, place, activity, person, institution, or business which was formerly but is no longer in operation or existence on the lot is prohibited.
- Roof signs are not permitted in any zoning district.
- No animated or flashing sign shall project into any public right-of-way.
- Signs illuminated by flashing, intermittent, or moving lights and located within 50 feet of a public street right-of-way must be at least 20 feet (bottom of sign) above grade elevation.
- No sign shall be erected or displayed without a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator unless exempted.
- Signs must conform to building code and any other applicable ordinance or regulation of the City.
- No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device which purports to be, or is an imitation of, or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the movement of traffic or the effectiveness of any traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal.
- No person may place or maintain, nor may any public authority permit, upon any highway any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
- It is unlawful for any person to possess a city-owned traffic-control sign, signal, or marker, except as allowed for employees, officers, or contractors.
- No person shall sell or offer for sale any traffic-control device to be used on any street or highway in the city which does not conform to the requirements of the applicable code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Danville

- Official notices authorized by a court, public body, or public safety official.
- Directional, warning or information signs authorized by federal, state, or municipal governments.
- Memorial plaques, building identification signs, and building cornerstones when cut or carved into masonry or made of noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure.
- The flag of a governmental unit or noncommercial institution, such as a school.
- Religious symbols and seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season.
- Street address signs and combination nameplate and street address signs that contain no advertising copy and do not exceed four square feet.
- Signs placed by a public utility showing the location of underground facilities.
- A temporary sign not directed towards or prominently visible from the public right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected or displayed unless the Zoning Administrator has issued a permit for the sign or unless exempted by the subchapter.
- A person proposing to erect or display a sign shall file an application for a permit with the Zoning Administrator, unless exempt.
- Temporary signs listed in § 150.113(C) and signs exempted from the provisions of this subchapter do not require a permit.
- There is no explicit master sign plan or required variance meeting for signage outlined in the general provisions; approvals are handled via permitting unless otherwise provided.

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

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