# Sign Regulations in Freeport, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Freeport, Illinois regulates 31 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Nameplate (One- and Two-Family Dwelling)s in the Residence Districts zoning district are capped at 15 ft or one story, whichever is lower tall and 1 sq ft (Sec. 1468.25(a)(1)A, C, D). Most commercial signs in Freeport require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| A-1 Agricultural District | 3 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Residence Districts | 8 | 15 ft or one story, whichever is lower | 25 sq ft per face | — |
| P-1 Professional Use District | 4 | 15 ft or one story, whichever is lower | 25 sq ft per face (plus .25 sq ft/lf over 100 ft) | — |
| Business Districts | 6 | 25% of lot width, max 45 ft | 8 x sign height (in feet), per face | — |
| Manufacturing Districts | 6 | 45 ft | 6 x linear feet of frontage | — |
| Shopping Centers | 3 | — | — | — |
| Business, Commercial, Manufacturing, Agricultural and Flood Plain zoned areas | 1 | 14 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| B-3 Commercial and Wholesale Business District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Residence Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (One- and Two-Family Dwelling) | 15 ft or one story, whichever is lower | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling unit | On dwelling unit exterior | — | 1468.25(a)(1)A, C, D |
| Identification Sign (Multi-family, Apartments, Non-Residential) | 15 ft or one story, whichever is lower | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per building | On building | — | 1468.25(a)(1)B, C, D |
| Bed and Breakfast Identification Sign | — | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On a common support | — | 1468.25(a)(1)E |
| "For Sale" or "To Rent" Sign | 15 ft or one story, whichever lower | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per zoning lot; two if corner lot | — | — | 1468.25(a)(2) |
| Parking Area Accessory Sign (Entrance/Exit) | 7 ft above curb | 2 sq ft each | — | — | One per exit/entrance | At entrance or exit | — | 1468.25(a)(3) |
| Parking Area Condition/Identity Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per parking area (two if corner lot) | Per parking area (2 allowed on corner lot - one per street) | — | 1468.25(a)(3) |
| Business Sign (e.g. Church Bulletins, Schools, Nonprofit) | 15 ft or one story, whichever less | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per zoning lot, two if corner lot | — | — | 1468.25(b) |
| Business Sign (Non-conforming Business) | — | 25 sq ft per face | — | — | — | — | — | 1468.25(c) |

### Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All signs and nameplates permitted in Residence Districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1468.27(a) |
| Marquee, Canopy, and Awning Sign | 24 inches above marquee/canopy (marquee/canopy sign); awning sign: must be affixed flat, non-illuminated | — | 36 inches above marquee/canopy; awning sign: must not extend vertically/horizontally beyond awning | — | — | On marquee, canopy, or awning | — | 1468.27(b) |
| Pylon/Standard/Clock/Support Sign (Lots <80 ft frontage) | 20 ft | 8 x sign height (in feet), per face | — | — | — | On standards or separate supports, entirely within property lines | — | 1468.27(c) |
| Pylon/Standard/Clock/Support Sign (Lots >80 ft frontage) | 25% of lot width, max 45 ft | 8 x sign height (in feet), per face | — | — | — | On standards or separate supports, entirely within property lines | — | 1468.27(c) |
| Masonry Pylon Sign (Integral Part of Building) | Cannot project above roof line more than 12 ft | — | — | — | — | On face of masonry pylon integral to building | — | 1468.27(d) |
| Church Identification Sign (Public Way Between Sidewalk and Curb) | — | — | — | — | — | Public way between sidewalk and curb | — | 1468.27(f) |

### Manufacturing Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All signs and nameplates permitted in Business Districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1468.28 |
| Advertising Sign (Flashing) | — | 3 x linear feet of frontage | — | — | — | On zoning lot | — | 1468.28(a) |
| Advertising Sign (Non-Flashing) | — | 6 x linear feet of frontage | — | — | — | On zoning lot | — | 1468.28(a) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign | 45 ft | — | — | — | — | On zoning lot | — | 1468.28(b) |
| Roof-Mounted Sign | 25 ft above roof at base of sign | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | 1468.28(b) |
| Advertising Sign (Special Location Restrictions) | — | — | — | — | — | On zoning lot | — | 1468.28(c)-(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Freeport

- No person shall erect or maintain a sign which is unsafe, insecure, a menace to the public or being maintained in violation of this chapter.
- Any sign which is an immediate peril to persons or property may be removed summarily and without notice by the Mayor.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any street so as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign shall use the words 'STOP', 'LOOK', 'DRIVE-IN', 'DANGER', 'SLOW', 'CAUTION', or similar words/symbols in a manner that distracts, misleads, or confuses traffic, or affects the speed or direction of traffic.
- No sign shall have nails, tacks or wires protruding from its surface if constructed on street lines or within five feet thereof, except electrical reflectors and devices over the top and in front.
- No person shall maintain any sign which extends over public property which is wholly or partially illuminated by floodlights or spotlights.
- No person shall post, paint, nail or otherwise affix any sign or advertisement upon any private property whatsoever without the express consent of the owner of the property.
- No person shall destroy, tear, mutilate, change, cover or injure any properly posted sign without the consent of the owner.
- No sign consisting of two single-faced signs erected without a roof or ceiling (V-shaped sign) shall be installed or maintained.
- No signs, other than directional signs, are permitted unless required by Federal or State law, except identification signs per code.
- No sign shall be posted within the public right-of-way or City street or thoroughfare, or on any sign post, utility pole, or tree (see garage sale signs section).
- No person shall attach or maintain on public utility poles any signs, advertisements, handbills, circulars, pictures, racks or fixtures.
- No person shall erect, fix, fly or maintain any banner, sign, flag, advertisement or other such device, over and across any street, alley or public way, except with prior City Manager approval.

## Signs exempt from permit in Freeport

- Public and quasi-public information signs and highway directional signs and markers constructed and installed in accordance with City specifications are permitted in all districts.
- Signs required by Federal or State law are allowed.
- Directional signs as defined are permitted.
- Non-conforming signs in place and in safe condition as of January 1, 1975 may be continued except as otherwise provided in Section 1266.
- Signs informing the public of specific legal restrictions (e.g., tobacco, age requirements, 'No Solicitors Invited', etc.) as required by specific other city ordinances are allowed.
- Signs that are authorized to be posted by City personnel within the public right-of-way are not prohibited by 1468.08.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for the construction, erection or placement of any sign in the City, including off-premises signs. (Section 1442.20)
- The application for a permit must include all information and drawings required by the Zoning Administrator.
- For off-premises signs, the application must be accompanied by plans and specifications to fully inform the Building Commissioner of the sign's construction.
- For variances from the sign code, a verified petition with necessary supporting data including a scale drawing of the proposed sign relative to the property, as well as a dimensional drawing of the sign, must be submitted. This must proceed through the Board of Zoning Appeals and City Council for a decision.
- No person, firm or corporation shall display a portable temporary sign without first obtaining a permit from the Zoning Administrator.

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

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