# Sign Regulations in Fairmont City, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fairmont City, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/fairmont-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Fairmont_City/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH40ZO_ARTVIISI)

## At a glance

Fairmont City, Illinois regulates 42 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Business/Industrial)s in the Business District, Industrial District zoning district are capped at 30 ft above center of frontage pavement tall, 350 sq ft per street front, and 30 ft wide, with a 10 ft from public right-of-way for portions under 10 ft high setback (Sec. Sec. 40-1083; 40-1091; 40-1092). Most commercial signs in Fairmont City require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservation District | 11 | Street Banner: 4 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 11 | Street Banner: 4 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Business District, Industrial District | 18 | 30 ft above center of frontage pavement | 350 sq ft per street front | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### Conservation District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign (Conservation District) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Site of construction only | — | Sec. 40-1085(1); 40-1089 |
| Real Estate Sign (Conservation District) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street front | On premises being sold, rented, or leased | — | Sec. 40-1085(2); 40-1089 |
| Real Estate Directional Sign (Conservation District) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property, with owner's permission | — | Sec. 40-1085(3); 40-1089 |
| Political Sign (Conservation District) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/premises | On lot/premises | — | Sec. 40-1085(4); 40-1089 |
| Garage Sale Sign (Conservation District) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Private residential property | — | Sec. 40-1085(5); 40-1089 |
| Public Interest Sign or Street Banner (Conservation District) | Street Banner: 4 ft | Public Interest Sign: 32 sq ft; Street Banner: 30 ft length x 4 ft height | Street Banner: 30 ft | — | — | — | — | Sec. 40-1085(6); 40-1089 |
| Institutional Sign (Conservation District) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of institution | — | Sec. 40-1085(8); 40-1089 |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign (Conservation District) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property at entrance of subdivision | — | Sec. 40-1085(11); 40-1089 |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign (Residential District) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Site of construction only | — | Sec. 40-1085(1); 40-1090 |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential District) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street front | On premises being sold, rented, or leased | — | Sec. 40-1085(2); 40-1090 |
| Real Estate Directional Sign (Residential District) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property, with owner's permission | — | Sec. 40-1085(3); 40-1090 |
| Political Sign (Residential District) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/premises | On lot/premises | — | Sec. 40-1085(4); 40-1090 |
| Garage Sale Sign (Residential District) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Private residential property | — | Sec. 40-1085(5); 40-1090 |
| Public Interest Sign or Street Banner (Residential District) | Street Banner: 4 ft | Public Interest Sign: 32 sq ft; Street Banner: 30 ft length x 4 ft height | Street Banner: 30 ft | — | — | — | — | Sec. 40-1085(6); 40-1090 |
| Institutional Sign (Residential District) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of institution | — | Sec. 40-1085(8); 40-1090 |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign (Residential District) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property at entrance of subdivision | — | Sec. 40-1085(11); 40-1090 |

### Business District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign (Business/Industrial) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Site of construction only | — | Sec. 40-1085(1); 40-1091 |
| Real Estate Sign (Business/Industrial, < 10 acres) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street front | On premises being sold, rented, or leased | — | Sec. 40-1085(2); 40-1091 |
| Real Estate Sign (Business/Industrial, >= 10 acres) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street front | On premises being sold, rented, or leased | — | Sec. 40-1085(2); 40-1091 |
| Political Sign (Business/Industrial) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/premises | On lot/premises | — | Sec. 40-1085(4); 40-1091 |
| Public Interest Sign or Street Banner (Business/Industrial) | Street Banner: 4 ft | Public Interest Sign: 32 sq ft; Street Banner: 30 ft length x 4 ft height | Street Banner: 30 ft | — | — | — | — | Sec. 40-1085(6); 40-1091 |
| Freestanding Sign (Business/Industrial) | 30 ft above center of frontage pavement | 350 sq ft per street front | 30 ft | 10 ft from public right-of-way for portions under 10 ft high | 2 per street front | Private property, not in public right-of-way | — | Sec. 40-1083; 40-1091; 40-1092 |
| Projecting Sign (Business/Industrial) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 per street front | Attached to building | — | Sec. 40-1094 |
| Mobile Marquee Sign (Business/Industrial) | 8 ft above centerline of frontage pavement | 8 ft length, 4 ft height; max overall height 8 ft above pavement | 8 ft | — | 1 per street front | Private property, not intruding the public right-of-way | — | Sec. 40-1098 |

## Prohibited signs in Fairmont City

- Any sign not expressly permitted in this article is prohibited.
- Signs erected within the public right-of-way other than traffic control or other signs posted by government officials are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees, fences, or public utility poles, other than warning signs posted by government officials or public utilities, are prohibited.
- Defunct signs, including their supports, that advertise or identify an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted on the premises are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited, subject to specific regulations.
- No sign shall employ red, yellow or green lights so as to confuse or interfere with vehicular traffic.
- No sign other than electronic message boards and those providing time and temperature information shall have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or any other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color.
- Illuminated signs must not create a nuisance to adjacent property nor a traffic hazard.
- Any sign or portion thereof that revolves, rotates, or mechanically moves is prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free access or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or driveway.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to interfere with, obstruct the view of, or likely to be confused with any authorized traffic control device.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fairmont City

- Construction signs meeting requirements (size and timing) are permitted in any district.
- Real estate signs meeting requirements (number, size, timing) are permitted in any district.
- Real estate directional signs meeting requirements (location, size, timing) are permitted in any district.
- Political signs meeting requirements (number, size, timing, not in public right-of-way) are permitted in any district.
- Garage sale signs meeting requirements (size, timing, not in public right-of-way) are permitted in any district.
- Public interest signs and street banners publicizing a charitable or non-profit event, meeting requirements and with written approval, are permitted in any district.
- Governmental, public and directional signs such as traffic control signs, legal notices, and directional signs are permitted in any district.
- Institutional signs identifying a public, charitable, or religious institution (with limits) are permitted in any district.
- Integral signs carved into stone or inlaid so as to become part of the building, containing limited information, are permitted in any district.
- Home occupation signs identifying the name and occupation of the residents (with restrictions) are permitted in any district.
- Subdivision entrance signs identifying a residential subdivision or apartment complex (with restrictions) are permitted in any district.
- House numbers and/or name of occupant signs (with restrictions) are permitted in any district.
- Interior signs located inside buildings or within enclosed lobbies/courts, designed to be viewed exclusively by occupants, are permitted in any district.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any person, firm or corporation wishing to erect any sign other than those expressly permitted by section 40-1085 shall first secure a certificate of sign compliance in accordance with the provisions of section 40-246.

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

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