# Sign Regulations in Earlville, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Earlville, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/earlville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Earlville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH44ZO_ARTIVSI)

## At a glance

Earlville, Illinois regulates 25 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5.5 feet (measured from grade at edge of nearest right-of-way to top of sign) tall and 40 square feet, with a Minimum 15 feet from nearest right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 44-552, 44-574(b)). Most commercial signs in Earlville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 5.5 feet (measured from grade at edge of nearest right-of-way to top of sign) | 40 square feet | — |
| Residential districts | 13 | 20 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Business and manufacturing districts | 7 | 5.5 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Agricultural districts | 3 | — | 24 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flush-mounted) | Not above roofline | 40 square feet | — | — | Maximum 1 per street front exposure per parcel or storefront | On the wall of the premises, may not project more than 6 inches or extend above roofline | — | Sec. 44-552, 44-574(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 5.5 feet (measured from grade at edge of nearest right-of-way to top of sign) | 40 square feet | — | Minimum 15 feet from nearest right-of-way | Max 1 per parcel | On premises | — | Sec. 44-552, 44-574(b) |
| Service Station Accessory Sign (Portable Price Sign) | — | 10 square feet | — | — | 1 per service station | Exterior of service stations | — | Sec. 44-574(c) |
| Temporary Sign / Attention-Getting Device | — | — | — | Min 8 feet from right-of-way | — | On premises, not less than eight feet from edge of nearest right-of-way | — | Sec. 44-574(d) |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Contractor Sign | 5.5 feet | 32 square feet | — | Min 8 feet from property line | — | Any required yard, minimum 8 feet from any property line | — | Sec. 44-601(b)(1); Sec. 44-572(2) |
| Development Identification Sign | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — | Min 10 feet from lot line | — | Any required yard, but not less than 10 feet from lot lines | — | Sec. 44-601(b)(2); Sec. 44-572(3) |
| Garage Sale and Rummage Sale Sign | 5.5 feet | 6 square feet | — | Min 8 feet from property line | — | Any required yard, min 8 feet from property line | — | Sec. 44-601(b)(4), 44-572(12) |
| Nameplate | 5.5 feet | 2 square feet | — | Min 8 feet from property line | — | Any required yard, min 8 feet from property line | — | Sec. 44-601(b)(8), 44-572(8) |
| Political Campaign Sign | 5 feet | 32 square feet | — | Min 8 feet from property line | — | Any required yard, min 8 feet from property line | — | Sec. 44-601(b)(9), 44-572(10) |
| Real Estate Sign (Less than 1 Acre) | 5.5 feet | 6 square feet | — | Min 8 feet from property line | — | Any required yard, min 8 feet from property line | — | Sec. 44-601(b)(11), 44-572(11) |
| Real Estate Sign (1-5 Acres) | 5.5 feet | 32 square feet | — | Min 8 feet from property line | — | Any required yard, min 8 feet from property line | — | Sec. 44-601(b)(11), 44-572(11) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | 5.5 feet | 32 square feet | — | Min 8 feet from property line | — | Any required yard, not less than 8 feet from property line | — | Sec. 44-601(b)(12), 44-574(d) |

### Business and manufacturing districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 44-602(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 5.5 feet | 40 square feet | — | Min 15 feet from right-of-way | 1 per parcel | On premises | — | Sec. 44-602(2), Sec. 44-574(b) |
| Public Information Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 44-602(3) |
| Temporary Sign (Business/Manufacturing) | — | — | — | Min 8 feet from nearest right-of-way | — | Not less than eight feet from edge of nearest right-of-way | — | Sec. 44-602(6), 44-574(d) |
| Wall Sign (Flush-mounted) | Not above roofline | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 per street front exposure per parcel/store front | Attached flat or pinned to the wall, not projecting more than six inches, not above roofline | — | Sec. 44-602(7), 44-574(a) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Inside window or display window | — | Sec. 44-602(8) |
| Exempted Signs and Signs Allowed in Residential Districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 44-602(4), 44-602(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Earlville

- It is unlawful to erect, construct, alter, maintain or relocate any sign without meeting all ordinance requirements and obtaining a permit, except as specifically provided.
- No attention getting devices unless specifically permitted.
- No flashing signs.
- No moving signs.
- No projecting signs.
- No portable signs.
- No festoon lighting.
- No roof signs.
- No vehicle signs.
- No sign or sign structure that constitutes a hazard to public health or safety as determined by the zoning administrator.
- No signs that, by reason of size, location, coloring, or illumination, obstruct drivers' vision or detract from traffic signs/devices, as determined by the zoning administrator.
- No on-premises sign advertising a business no longer conducted or a product no longer sold on the premises.
- No signs on trees, utility poles, or public property other than public information or directional signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Earlville

- Highway directional signs and markers made and installed per city specifications.
- Contractor signs meeting area, setback, permit, timing and removal standards.
- Development identification signs meeting area, height, setback, permit, timing, and removal standards.
- Flags up to eight feet by 12 feet.
- Information signs.
- Symbols such as crosses or other religious representations.
- Memorial signs.
- Nameplates up to two square feet.
- No trespassing signs up to two square feet.
- Political campaign signs not exceeding 32 square feet or 5 feet high and not in public right-of-way.
- Real estate signs up to six square feet on less than one acre, up to 32 square feet on larger parcels and set back 10 feet from property lines.
- Garage sale signs up to six square feet, displayed for up to five days not more than four times/year at any location.
- Public utility signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is generally required for erection, construction, alteration, maintenance, or relocation of any sign unless specifically exempted.
- Permit applications must include sign plans/specifications showing method of construction, location, support, scale drawing with dimensions, message, and color.
- Applications must provide any information deemed necessary by the zoning administrator to determine full compliance.
- Variances from sign ordinance standards require evidence of hardship due to unique site circumstances and follow the city’s zoning variance procedures.

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

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