# Sign Regulations in Forreston, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Forreston, Illinois regulates 16 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Instructional or Directional Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 15 sq ft total for all signs (Sec. § 155.072(B)). Most commercial signs in Forreston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 4 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 4 | — | — | — |
| Commercial District | 5 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Instructional or Directional Sign | 4 ft | 15 sq ft total for all signs | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 155.072(B) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On lot for sale, rental, or lease | — | § 155.072(C) |
| Construction Site ID Signs | — | 35 sq ft | — | — | — | On construction sites | — | § 155.072(D) |
| Commercial Building Address Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On commercial building | — | § 155.072(E) |
| Auction and Garage Sale Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property only; not attached to or located on public property | — | § 155.072(F) |
| Political Campaign Sign (Residential District) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property only; not on public property | — | § 155.072(G) |
| Political Campaign Sign (Other Districts) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property only; not on public property | — | § 155.072(G) |
| Special Event Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | Max 10 special event signs total per day; pro-rata for multiple orgs | On or over property owned/controlled by village or public right-of-way | — | § 155.075 |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On wall of building, parallel to wall, mounted no more than 18 inches away | — | § 155.071 (Wall Sign Definition), § 155.076, § 155.074 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Secured to ground, not attached to building | — | § 155.071 (Freestanding Sign Definition), § 155.076, § 155.074 |
| Projecting Yard Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Approximately perpendicular to wall, may project into yard but not into public right-of-way | — | § 155.071 (Projecting Yard Sign Definition), § 155.076, § 155.074 |
| Bulletin Board | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 155.071 (Bulletin Board Definition), § 155.076, § 155.074 |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On wall of building, parallel to wall, mounted no more than 18 inches away | — | § 155.071 (Wall Sign Definition), § 155.076, § 155.074 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Secured to ground, not attached to building | — | § 155.071 (Freestanding Sign Definition), § 155.076, § 155.074 |
| Canopy or Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On canopy or awning of building | — | § 152.14, § 155.071 (Canopy or Awning Sign Definition) |
| Projecting Yard Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Approximately perpendicular to wall, may project into yard but not into public right-of-way | — | § 155.071 (Projecting Yard Sign Definition), § 155.076, § 155.074 |
| Bulletin Board | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 155.071 (Bulletin Board Definition), § 155.076, § 155.074 |

## Prohibited signs in Forreston

- No sign or outdoor advertising sign structure may be erected, constructed, established, maintained, enlarged, relocated or changed except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
- No sign or outdoor advertising structure may be erected on public right-of-way.
- Banners, flags, pennants, spinners, portable signs and streamers are prohibited except as provided for in this chapter.
- Any flashing sign is prohibited except time and temperature signs; any illuminated sign whose lighting projects into a residential area or public right-of-way; any sign with any visible moving part, revolving parts, or mechanical movement of any description or other apparent movement achieved by electrical, electronic or mechanical means, including intermittent electrical pulsations or by action of normal wind currents.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure which is structurally unsafe is prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure that constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment is prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure that is not kept in good repair is prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it is prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure, by reason of its size, location, content, coloring or illumination, that obstructs or detracts from the visibility of any governmentally erected sign or control device is prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure, not erected by the village or its agents, which extends over or touches upon any village property or public right-of-way unless specifically permitted by this chapter, is prohibited.
- Signs or outdoor advertising sign structures which make use of words such as 'Stop', 'Look', 'Danger' or any words, phrases, symbols or characters that interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic are prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure that obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire exit or other required exitway is prohibited.
- Any non-conforming sign or outdoor advertising sign structure which refers to a business no longer in existence or operation at the advertised location is prohibited.
- Business signs advertising non-conforming uses which do not conform to the sign regulations of the most restrictive district where the non-conforming use is permitted are prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure unlawfully constructed, installed, erected or maintained is prohibited.
- Any roof sign is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Forreston

- Non-business signs not specifically prohibited or regulated by the ordinance.
- Instructional or directional signs not exceeding a total of 15 square feet in area and 4 feet in height.
- One real estate sign per lot not exceeding 12 square feet in surface area.
- Signs identifying architects, engineers, developers or contractors on construction sites not exceeding 35 square feet, to be removed within 14 days of construction completion.
- Signs identifying the street address of a commercial building, not exceeding 5 square feet.
- Signs announcing auctions and garage sales not exceeding 32 square feet, posted up to 30 days before and removed within 7 days after the event (total display not to exceed 37 days). Such signs must be on private property.
- Political campaign signs confined to private property (not on public property), up to 16 square feet in residential districts and 32 square feet in other districts, removed within 7 days after the election.
- Flags of any country, state, or unit of local government, not exceeding 40 square feet in size.
- Businesses may display one temporary or portable sign per business frontage advertising a new on-site business for up to 30 days from business start date, or one temporary/portable sign for on-premises activities for up to 4 weeks per calendar year (no period less than 1 week). No permit is required for such signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No reference is made in the provided ordinance text to a required Master Sign Plan, sign plan, or variance hearing for signage. Permit applications must be made in the format required by the village and obtained from the Village Clerk. Permits are required for all signs except those specifically exempted. There is no mention of a sign plan requirement.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Forreston, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Forreston+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-forreston

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