# Sign Regulations in Elgin, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Elgin, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/elgin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Elgin/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_TIT19ZO_CH19.82PUHENOSI)

## At a glance

Elgin, Illinois regulates 26 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Graphics in the CF Community Facility District, RB Residence Business District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 40/60/80/120 sq ft (see speed limit above), with a Setback not less than height from any residence or residence conservation district; no part may project over required setback. setback (Sec. 19.50.070.A-E). Most commercial signs in Elgin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CF Community Facility District, RB Residence Business District | 11 | 20/40/50 ft (per street speed above) | 80 sq ft (<100 ft setback); 120 sq ft (100-200 ft); 240 sq ft (200-400 ft); 480 sq ft (400+ ft) | — |
| NB Neighborhood Business District, AB Area Business District, CC1 Center City District, CC2 Center City District, ORI Office Research Industrial District, GI General Industrial District, CI Commercial Industrial District | 20 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| MFR Multiple-Family Residence District | 2 | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| SFR1 Single-Family Residence District, SFR2 Single-Family Residence District, RC1 Residence Conservation District, RC2 Residence Conservation District, RC3 Residence Conservation District, TFR Two (2) Family Residence District | 1 | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 20/40/50 ft | 25/60/100 sq ft (see above) | — |
| Areas of Special Character | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### CF Community Facility District, RB Residence Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Graphic | 10 ft | 40/60/80/120 sq ft (see speed limit above) | — | Setback not less than height from any residence or residence conservation district; no part may project over required setback. | 1 per principal building, or 1 per 150 linear ft of same public right-of-way | 1 per principal building on zoning lot; not to exceed 1 per 150 linear ft of street frontage | — | 19.50.070.A-E |
| Wall Graphic | — | 80 sq ft (<100 ft setback); 120 sq ft (100-200 ft); 240 sq ft (200-400 ft); 480 sq ft (400+ ft) | — | — | 1 per ground floor occupant, or 1 per building face per street frontage | 1 per occupant on ground floor, or 1 per building face per street frontage on different public rights-of-way | — | 19.50.080.A-E, H-I |
| Awning Graphic | — | 25% of awning vertical surface | — | — | 1 per awning | Awnings on windows or doors for ground floor businesses | — | 19.50.080.I |
| Window Graphic | — | 25% of window area | — | — | Unlimited | Windows | — | 19.50.080.H |
| Canopy Graphic | — | 25% of vertical canopy surface | — | — | 1 per canopy face, max 3 per lot | 1 per vertical canopy surface, max 3 per building/lot | — | 19.50.090.B |
| Directional Graphic (2 lane, <35 mph) | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | As needed | At exit or entrance of premises with 2+ driveways | — | 19.50.090.C |
| Directional Graphic (multilane or 35+ mph) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | As needed | At exit or entrance of premises with 2+ driveways | — | 19.50.090.C |
| Temporary Graphic (General) | — | 3 sq ft | — | 5 ft min from any other privately-owned property | 1 property at a time (other specifics in code) | On property at any time. 1 per property. | — | 19.50.090.H |

### NB Neighborhood Business District, AB Area Business District, CC1 Center City District, CC2 Center City District, ORI Office Research Industrial District, GI General Industrial District, CI Commercial Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Graphic | 10 ft | 40/60/80/120 sq ft (depends on street speed) | — | Setback at least equals height from any residence district; no part may project over required setback. | 1 per principal building, or 1 per 150 linear ft of street | 1 per principal building, not to exceed 1 per 150 linear ft of street frontage. | — | 19.50.070.A-E, 19.50.040.B-C |
| Monument Graphic (Shopping Center Identification) | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Only in NB, AB, and CC2. 1 per shopping center per street frontage. Does not count against regular monument sign allocation. | — | 19.50.070.D.5 |
| Integral Roof Graphic | May not extend above roofline | Subject to wall sign area/facing calculation | — | — | 2 per building | NB, AB, CC2, CI only | — | 19.50.080.F |
| Projecting Graphic | May not project above roofline or 18 ft (whichever lower); if in ROW, not above 2nd-story sill. | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage per occupant | Over sidewalk and public ROW (if conditions met: bldg setback ≤10 ft from sidewalk, public entry within 10 ft) | — | 19.50.090.E |
| A-Frame Graphic | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage per occupant (if abuts >1 ROW, one per sidewalk) | On/adjacent to sidewalk, must leave 5 ft sidewalk clear | — | 19.50.090.A |
| Directional Graphic (2-lane under 35 mph) | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | As needed | At entrance or exit with 2+ driveways | — | 19.50.090.C |
| Directional Graphic (Multi-lane/35+ mph) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | As needed | At entrance or exit with 2+ driveways | — | 19.50.090.C |
| Temporary Graphic (General) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft min from any other privately-owned property | 1 at a time | Only on property with principal use and valid certificate of occupancy/temporary use per permit. | — | 19.50.090.H.2 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | 20/40/50 ft | 25/60/100 sq ft (see above) | — | — | Max 3 per zoning lot | — | — | 19.50.090.J |
| Building Marker Graphic | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal building | 1 per principal building | — | 19.50.090.K |
| Vehicle Graphic | — | — | — | — | — | On licensed/insured/operational vehicles only | — | 19.50.090.L |
| Temporary Graphic (Residential General, not Snipe) | — | 3 sq ft | — | 5 ft from other private property | 1 at a time | On property at any time, residential | — | 19.50.090.H.1.a |

## Prohibited signs in Elgin

- Graphics that by color, location, or design resemble or conflict with traffic-control graphics or signals.
- Street graphics attached to light poles or standards.
- Portable street graphics, except for temporary graphics authorized in this chapter.
- A-frame graphics, except within the CC1 Center City District or CC2 Center City District Zoning Districts.
- Projecting graphics, except within the CC1 Center City District, CC2 Center City District, NB Neighborhood Business District or AB Area Business District Zoning Districts.
- Roof graphics, except when designed in conjunction with an architectural detail and approved by city council as part of a planned development or as part of a development plan required by a planned development, and except integral roof graphics.
- Off-premises graphics.
- Vehicle graphics on unlicensed, uninsured or inoperable vehicles.
- Any graphics that rotate, revolve, or have any visible moving part. Any graphic that gives the appearance of movement.
- Flashing graphics.
- Graphics that move mechanically. Mechanical changeable copy is permitted if the graphic change is no more than once every twenty-four (24) hours.
- Bare bulb illumination.
- Attention-getting devices, including searchlights, festoon lighting, pennants, banners, spinners, streamers, balloons, inflatable graphics and other similar devices, or ornamentation designed for the purposes of attracting attention or promotion, except as otherwise expressly permitted in this chapter.
- Any structure that constitutes a hazard to public health or safety under the provisions of this Code.
- Painted wall graphics, but not including murals.
- Pole graphics.
- Electronic video display graphics.
- Street graphics erected on the right-of-way of any public or private street, road or right-of-way, except street graphics required by federal, state or local law to be erected by a governmental agency.
- Neon tube lighting or light emitting diode (LED) lighting outlining or illuminating the features of a building or structure, including windows, but excluding sign bands when approved by city council as part of a planned development or as part of a development plan required by a planned development.
- Obsolete copy must be removed within thirty (30) days of the discontinuance of the activity which is the subject of said copy.
- Compliance with the requirement to remove obsolete copy is not satisfied by reversing, rotating, altering, covering, or otherwise hiding or obfuscating such copy.
- Snipe graphics.
- A street graphic may not be animated or have exposed bare bulb or flashing illumination.
- Street graphics that are externally lit must be illuminated only with steady, stationary, down directed, and shielded light sources directed solely onto the graphic.

## Signs exempt from permit in Elgin

- Street graphics required by law.
- Government graphics.
- A street graphic that cannot be viewed from a public right-of-way.
- A street graphic carried by a person.
- Street graphics owned by a governmental unit and located in a public right-of-way.
- Temporary outdoor graphics on residential property which municipalities may not prohibit the display of pursuant to section 11-13-1(12) of the Illinois Municipal Code; provided, however, such graphics shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in surface area or ten (10) feet in height.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A program for graphics may be established to provide an opportunity for unique signage that may not conform to all of the provisions of the other sections of this chapter. The city council shall have the authority to pass an ordinance granting a program for graphics, subject to the provisions of this section.
- A program for graphics shall contain required documentation including a site plan, a graphic sketch, a statement of purpose and conformance, and other required documents.
- Approval of a program for graphics requires recommendation by the planning and zoning commission and approval by the city council based on specific standards.
- Subsequent to the approval of a program for graphics, no graphic shall be erected, placed, painted, or maintained, except in conformance to such plan. The program for graphics may be amended, subject to the provisions of this section.
- When a proposed program for graphics is not approved by the city council, the applicant may establish any street graphic on the zoning lot that is otherwise permitted by this chapter and in accordance with all applicable provisions of this chapter.
- No allowable departure from the requirements of this chapter shall be granted unless it has been found that the requested departures are mitigated through an equivalent and more restrictive application of other regulations of this title or chapter.
- Allowable departures under a program for graphics may not authorize graphics prohibited by section 19.50.110 or graphics not allowed in the zoning district.
- A permit application does not require submission of all sign information if a program for graphics has been approved for the premises or occupancy and the approved program is attached to the application.
- Variances from the regulations of this chapter may be granted only in conformance to chapter 19.70 and only in the instances authorized in section 19.50.130.
- Areas of special character may be designated by city council ordinance to adopt special regulations (sign plans) for those areas that supersede this chapter. These special regulations may contain visual representations and specify locations, area, height, and other features, and may be more or less restrictive than the general code.
- Any development permit that authorizes substantial development or remodeling requires all nonconforming street graphics on the premises to be brought into conformity with the provisions of this chapter.

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

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