# Sign Regulations in East Moline, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

East Moline, Illinois regulates 31 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboards in the Business Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts, Conservation Zoning Districts, B-3 General Business Districts, I-1 Light Industrial Districts, I-2 General Industrial Districts zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall, 300 sq ft, and 25 ft wide, with a 25 ft from right of way, 10 ft from side property line, 50 ft from residential use district setback (Sec. 4-9-7(A)(6)). Most commercial signs in East Moline require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 9 | 6 ft | 96 sq ft | — |
| Business Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts, Conservation Zoning Districts, B-3 General Business Districts, I-1 Light Industrial Districts, I-2 General Industrial Districts | 10 | 40 ft (general); within 660 ft of Interstate Highway (ramps excluded): may exceed 40 ft, not to exceed 5 ft above the centerline of pavement | 900 sq ft per street facing | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Nonconforming Uses | 2 | 6 ft | 15 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Wall Sign (Residential Use Facia Sign) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises of said use | — | 4-9-6(A)(6) |
| Attached Wall Sign (Religious/Institutional Use) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of institutions | — | 4-9-6(A)(7) |
| Freestanding Sign (Religious/Institutional Use) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of institutions | — | 4-9-7(A)(8) |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial Use approved by Board of Zoning Appeals) | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all lot lines | 1 | On premises | — | 4-9-7(A)(9) |
| Attached Wall Sign (Special Use Permit) | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | 4-9-6(A)(8) |
| Freestanding Sign (Special Use Permit) | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | 4-9-7(A)(10) |
| Temporary Sign (Real Estate for Sale/Rent/Lease, <2 acres) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | On property of less than 2 acres | — | 4-9-9(A)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Contractor/Development Site) | — | 96 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way or lesser, as permitted by district setback rules | — | On property | — | 4-9-9(A)(3) |

### Business Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts, Conservation Zoning Districts, B-3 General Business Districts, I-1 Light Industrial Districts, I-2 General Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Wall Sign | No more than 4 ft above building facade; must not extend above more than 4 ft above the facade | 900 sq ft per street facing | — | — | — | Any facade of the building facing a street | — | 4-9-6(A)(2), 4-9-6(A)(4)-(5) |
| Attached Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Over public sidewalk: at least 10 ft above. Over driveway/thoroughfare: at least 15 ft above. | — | 4-9-6(A)(1), (9)-(11) |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 ft (general); within 660 ft of Interstate Highway (ramps excluded): may exceed 40 ft, not to exceed 5 ft above the centerline of pavement | 900 sq ft | — | 1 ft from property line if ≤100 sq ft, plus 1 ft per 10 sq ft additional area | — | Within 1 ft of front property line if ≤100 sq ft; each additional 10 sq ft requires 1 ft additional setback. | — | 4-9-7(A)(2)-(5), (7), (11)-(12) |
| Billboard | 25 ft | 300 sq ft | 25 ft | 25 ft from right of way, 10 ft from side property line, 50 ft from residential use district | 1 per 600 ft of lot frontage; 1 additional per additional 600 ft | Unimproved lots only | — | 4-9-7(A)(6) |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign | — | 675 sq ft per face (extensions up to 225 sq ft allowed) | — | — | — | As allowed by separation requirements | — | 4-9-6(A)(3) |
| Roof Sign | — | Counted as part of attached sign aggregate area | — | — | — | Only in business, industrial, and conservation districts; at least 5 ft from outside wall (1 ft if sign under 20 sq ft) | — | 4-9-8(A)-(C) |
| Temporary Sign (Contractor/Development Site or Real Estate ≥2 acres) | — | 96 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way or less if district rule is less restrictive | — | On site being developed or sold | — | 4-9-9(A)(2)-(3) |
| Temporary Sign (Other Temporary Signs) | — | 32 sq ft per face, max 64 sq ft total | — | 0 ft minimum | — | — | — | 4-9-9(A)(6) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| House and Business Number Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4-9-3(A)(1) |
| Professional/Nameplate Sign (Residential) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | In residential zoning districts | — | 4-9-3(A)(2) |
| Memorial/Date Tablet/Building Name | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4-9-3(A)(3) |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4-9-3(A)(4) |
| Bulletin Board (Public/Charitable/Religious) | — | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all property lines | — | On premises; residential districts; set back 10 ft from all property lines | — | 4-9-3(A)(7) |
| Directional Sign (Private Streets/Parking Areas) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | Parking areas/private streets | — | 4-9-3(A)(8) |
| Inside Sign (Not visible outside) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside buildings | — | 4-9-3(A)(9) |
| Credit Card Sign/Sticker Window | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to windows | — | 4-9-3(A)(11) |

## Prohibited signs in East Moline

- Signs illuminated by strobe lighting are not permitted, erected, or maintained in any zoning district.
- Any sign which obstructs free passage from one part of a roof to any other part and free ingress or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, roof opening, or other required exit-way is prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any street, alley or driveway so as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign shall make use of the words Stop, Look, Danger, or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- It is unlawful to mutilate or disfigure in any way any lawful sign or advertisement.
- No unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to imitate or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign/signal, or which attempts to direct movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the movement of traffic or effectiveness of any traffic-control device or railroad sign/signal, and no sign bearing commercial advertising on any highway, is permitted.
- It is unlawful to maintain any sign, signal, marking or device, other than a traffic sign or signal authorized by the City Council or the Illinois Department of Public Works and Buildings, which purports to imitate or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, in view of any street or highway.
- It is unlawful to place or maintain any sign which hides from view any lawful traffic-control devices.
- It is unlawful to maintain or operate, in view of any street or highway, any flashing or rotating beacon of light.
- It is unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to disobey the instructions of any traffic sign or signal placed in view by authority of the City Council or in accordance with Illinois law, except on direction of a police officer.
- It is unlawful for any person to deface, injure, move or interfere with any official traffic sign or signal.
- All prohibited signs (as listed) must be removed or made conforming within 90 days of the adoption of the ordinance.
- No glass shall be permitted on signs except in the lighting mechanism.
- No supplementary sign or appendage may be hung from or supported by an approved sign or its supports if it will adversely affect the structure or make the approved sign nonconforming.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Moline

- House and business numbers identifying the address of a parcel of land.
- Announcement or professional signs and nameplates in residential zoning districts identifying the occupant and not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of metal.
- Flags bearing the official design of a nation, state, municipality, educational institution, or nonprofit organization.
- Traffic or other municipal signs such as legal notices, railroad crossings, danger, and other emergency signs approved by the city council.
- Community special event signs approved by the city council.
- Bulletin boards not over twelve (12) square feet in area for public, charitable, or religious institutions, located on the premises and set back ten feet (10') from all property lines.
- Signs used exclusively for traffic direction, on private streets or in parking areas, not exceeding ten (10) square feet in area and not illuminated, and placed so as not to cause hazards.
- Nonelectric or electric signs not requiring electrical inspector approval inside buildings and visible from the outside, and all other signs inside buildings which are not visible from the outside.
- Community information signs advertising events or promotions not conducted on the premises, sponsored by religious, charitable, business or other associations and organizations.
- Credit card signs or stickers affixed to windows.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required to erect, structurally alter, or relocate any sign except temporary signs; plans/specifications must be submitted with the application.
- When requested by the building inspector, blueprints, drawings, stress sheets and calculations (showing design for dead load and wind pressure) must be submitted for sign permit applications.
- Site plans or additional plans may be required by the inspector to show compliance for complex or large signs.
- Applications for signs encroaching or hanging over public right of way require evidence of $100,000 liability insurance holding the city harmless.
- All signs with electrical wiring must also obtain an electrical permit, requiring plans/specifications for inspection.
- Variance from the strict application of requirements may be requested from the Board of Zoning Appeals and is subject to a public hearing.
- Appeals and variances can be made through the Board of Zoning Appeals, and decisions require public hearing and findings.

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

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