# Sign Regulations in Dixon, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Dixon, Illinois regulates 25 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Business, Manufacturing zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall, with a At least 1/2 of required minimum zoning setback; at least 3' from property line as measured from closest edge. setback (Sec. 6-6-27(A)). Most commercial signs in Dixon require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential | 5 | — | 50 sq ft per sign/side | — |
| Business, Manufacturing | 8 | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District | 1 | — | — | — |
| B-2, LM, GM | 1 | — | — | — |
| Shopping Centers | 3 | 50 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 64 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | — | — | 6-6-23(A)2 |
| For Sale Sign - Single Property | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property, or 2 on a corner lot | On property being sold | — | 6-6-23(B)1,2 |
| For Sale Sign - Multiple Dwelling Units (6+) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per public street frontage | On property being sold | — | 6-6-23(B)3 |
| Ground Sign (Special Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On property with Special Use | — | 6-6-23(C) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 50 sq ft per sign/side | — | — | One per corner at each primary entry | Primary entry(s) to subdivision or multi-family complex, outside site clearance triangle, with landscaped base | — | 6-6-16(P) |

### Business, Manufacturing

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Front Wall | — | — | — | — | 1 per principal building | Front wall of building; must be at least 8' above sidewalk/ground (Central Business District: max extension 18" from wall; elsewhere: max 72" from wall, and not over ROW more than 18") | — | 6-6-26(A), 6-6-24(A)7 |
| Wall Sign - Side Wall | — | — | — | — | — | Side wall; must be parallel; max 18" projection from wall | — | 6-6-26(B) |
| Wall Sign - Rear Wall | — | — | — | — | — | Rear wall; must be parallel; max 18" projection from wall | — | 6-6-26(C) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | — | — | At least 1/2 of required minimum zoning setback; at least 3' from property line as measured from closest edge. | Max 4 per lot | On lot, at least 3 ft from property line (edge of sign closest to property line); must not be within 8' vertical/4' horizontal of high-voltage wires. | — | 6-6-27(A) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to wall over sidewalk, driveway, or alley | — | 6-6-24(A)8 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Over sidewalk | — | 6-6-24(A)9 |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Over sidewalk | — | 6-6-24(A)10 |
| For Sale Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | On for sale property | — | 6-6-25 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 20% of window area per window | — | — | — | Affixed to interior surface of window | — | 6-6-16(Q) |
| Temporary Sign (Civic, Philanthropic, Educational, Religious Event) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Not in public right-of-way | — | 6-6-16(M) |
| Professional Name Plate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 6-6-16(B), 6-6-16(F) |
| Construction Sign | — | 64 sq ft | — | — | One per construction project | On construction site | — | 6-6-16(E) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On property of the institution | — | 6-6-16(D) |
| Memorial Sign or Tablet | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6-6-16(G) |
| Incidental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6-6-16(O) |

## Prohibited signs in Dixon

- No sign shall be constructed, erected, initially painted, converted, altered, rebuilt, enlarged, remodeled, relocated or expanded without a permit, except for routine maintenance.
- It shall be unlawful to erect, repair, alter, relocate or maintain any sign or advertising structure without first obtaining a permit.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected at any street intersection so as to obstruct clear vision, or at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or use misleading words or symbols related to traffic.
- All signs not expressly permitted or exempt are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to erect, post or maintain any sign within the public right-of-way or on public property, except as otherwise allowed.
- It is unlawful to maintain any sign that extends over public property and is wholly or partially illuminated by floodlight or spotlight.
- It is unlawful to display obscene, indecent, pornographic or immoral matter on any sign.
- It is unlawful to attach or maintain any sign to a tree or utility pole on public or private property.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain portable signs.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain roof signs.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain a billboard in the Central Business District or in zoning districts where not permitted.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain a flashing sign.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain an off-premises sign except permitted billboards.
- No vehicle or trailer may be parked for the purpose of advertising with a sign attached, prominently visible from the right-of-way, for more than seven consecutive days.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain animated signs, except electronic message signs.
- It is unlawful to place, maintain, or display any unauthorized sign or device which imitates or resembles an official traffic control device.
- It is unlawful to display any sign that interferes with the view or effectiveness of any traffic control device or railroad sign or signal.
- It is unlawful to maintain or operate in view of any street or highway any flashing or rotating beacon of light, except permitted signs.
- It is unlawful for any person to deface, injure, move, or interfere with any official traffic sign or signal.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dixon

- Real estate signs not exceeding six (6) square feet in area advertising the sale of the premises, subject to additional requirements.
- Professional name plates not exceeding two (2) square feet.
- Signs painted on the exterior surface of a building or structure, if not having raised borders, letters, decorations or lighting appliances.
- Bulletin boards not over sixteen (16) square feet for public, charitable or religious institutions on their premises.
- Construction signs up to sixty-four (64) square feet, installed up to thirty days before and during active construction, not in residential districts.
- Nameplates not exceeding two (2) square feet.
- Memorial signs, tablets, building names/date cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or incombustible materials.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger, and temporary/emergency/nonadvertising signs approved by the City Council.
- Flags, emblems, or insignia of a nation, political subdivision, or corporate flag.
- Decorative banner signs associated with national, local or religious holidays.
- Signs located within the interior of any building, stadium, enclosed lobby or court, and interior or entrance signs of theaters (not exempt from structural/electrical/material codes).
- "No trespassing" or "no dumping" signs not exceeding one and a half (1.5) sq ft and up to four per premises (more possible by permission).
- Temporary signs for civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations, not exceeding 8 sq ft, posted up to 14 days before and removed 3 days after the event (not in public right-of-way).
- Signs warning the public of danger, containing no advertising.
- Incidental signs (as defined in code).
- Subdivision or multiple family complex identification signs, meeting specific standards for number, area, content, spacing and location.
- Window signs affixed inside commercial windows, advertising on-premises goods/services, totaling not more than 20% of window area.
- Banner signs hung on City/government/public utility light posts advertising the City or City event, with required approvals.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No indication of a general master sign plan requirement or sign plan required for all applicants is found in the provided code sections.
- A permit application must include detailed sign plans, specifications, and attachments (6-6-5), which may be considered as a form of individual sign plan.
- Appeals or variances may require an application and hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals (6-6-9), but a formal 'sign plan' or master sign plan is not described.
- Written authorization from the owner is required in some cases (such as for shopping center signage, 6-6-29), but not as a general requirement across all signs or zones.

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

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