# Sign Regulations in Hillcrest, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hillcrest, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/hillcrest
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Hillcrest/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH82ZO_ARTVILAUSDEST_DIV8SI)

## At a glance

Hillcrest, Illinois regulates 13 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Agriculture District (A-1), Residential District (R-1), Village Residential District (R-2), Neighborhood Business District (C-1) zoning district are capped at 6 ft on local/collector; 15 ft on arterial tall and 16 sq ft on local/collector; 35 sq ft on arterial, with a At least 10 ft from any driveway and lot line setback (Sec. Sec. 82-658; Sec. 82-657(3); Sec. 82-653, 82-654, 82-663). Most commercial signs in Hillcrest require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agriculture District (A-1), Residential District (R-1), Village Residential District (R-2), Neighborhood Business District (C-1) | 5 | 30 ft (if wall height not less than 30 ft, max 2 stories) | 40% of the window sign display area | — |
| Central Business District (C-2) | 8 | 30 ft (if wall height not less than 30 ft, max 2 stories) | 40% of sign display area (window) | — |
| Highway Commercial District (C-4) | 5 | 30 ft | 50 sq ft on arterial; 40 sq ft on local/collector | — |
| Industrial District (I-1) | 5 | 30 ft or 2 stories | 50 sq ft (arterial); 40 sq ft (local/collector) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Agriculture District (A-1), Residential District (R-1), Village Residential District (R-2), Neighborhood Business District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft on local/collector; 15 ft on arterial | 16 sq ft on local/collector; 35 sq ft on arterial | — | At least 10 ft from any driveway and lot line | 1 per street frontage per lot | At least 10 ft from front property line; as far as possible from any transition side property line | — | Sec. 82-658; Sec. 82-657(3); Sec. 82-653, 82-654, 82-663 |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft (if wall height not less than 30 ft, max 2 stories) | 20% of sign display area | — | — | 1 per street frontage or wall with public entrance per establishment | Affixed to wall having public entrance or wall facing public street | — | Sec. 82-658; Sec. 82-657(8); Sec. 82-653, 82-654, 82-663 |
| Window Sign | — | 40% of the window sign display area | — | — | — | Inside windows facing public street or public entrance | — | Sec. 82-658; Sec. 82-657(9); Sec. 82-655(9) |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft freestanding | 32 sq ft for freestanding; 60 sq ft if attached to wall/awning/canopy/roof | — | As for permanent sign of type used | 1 per street frontage (except as above) | See allowed sign types (freestanding, wall, canopy, awning, window); must otherwise comply with location of respective permanent sign | — | Sec. 82-657(7); Sec. 82-658; Sec. 82-655(2), (14), (20) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | 16 ft (or highest point of awning/canopy if lower) | 20% of sign display area | — | — | 1 per awning/canopy | On awning/canopy over entrance/public street; must not project into right-of-way more than 8 ft, must be set back 2 ft from curb | — | Sec. 82-657(1),(2); Sec. 82-658 |

### Central Business District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft (if wall height not less than 30 ft, max 2 stories) | 30% of sign display area | — | — | 1 per street frontage or wall with entrance | Affixed to wall having public entrance or wall facing public street | — | Sec. 82-658 (C-2); Sec. 82-657(8) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | Not specified in table — reference prohibited (C-2) for freestanding | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 82-658 (C-2) |
| Roof Sign | 30 ft or 2 stories, whichever is less | 30% of sign display area | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On mansard, penthouse, or parapet above roofline, single-faced, facing street | — | Sec. 82-658 (C-2); Sec. 82-657(6) |
| Canopy Sign | 16 ft or highest point of canopy | 30% of sign display area | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On face of canopy over public entrance | — | Sec. 82-658 (C-2); Sec. 82-657(2) |
| Projecting Sign | 14 ft or top of wall/roof | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance/wall | Affixed to wall with public entrance | — | Sec. 82-658 (C-2); Sec. 82-657(5) |
| Awning Sign | 16 ft | 15% of sign display area | — | — | 1 per awning | On awning over public entrance/street | — | Sec. 82-658 (C-2); Sec. 82-657(1) |
| Window Sign | — | 40% of sign display area (window) | — | — | — | On or within 3 ft of window facing public street/entrance | — | Sec. 82-658 (C-2); Sec. 82-657(9) |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft freestanding | See respective allowed sign type; max 32 sq ft for freestanding, 60 sq ft for wall/canopy/awning/roof | — | — | 1 per street frontage (except for grand opening) | As per allowed permanent sign types | — | Sec. 82-657(7); Sec. 82-658; Sec. 82-655 |

### Highway Commercial District (C-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft on arterial; 10 ft on local/collector | 50 sq ft on arterial; 40 sq ft on local/collector | — | At least 10 ft from property line or driveway | 1 per street frontage per lot | At least 10 ft from front property line and driveways | — | Sec. 82-658 (I-1/arterial); Sec. 82-657(3) |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft | 40% of sign display area | — | — | 1 per street frontage or wall with entrance | Affixed to wall with public entrance or wall facing public street | — | Sec. 82-658 (I-1); Sec. 82-657(8) |
| Canopy Sign | 16 ft or highest point of canopy | 40% of sign display area | — | — | 1 per entrance/frontage | On face of canopy over entrance | — | Sec. 82-658 (I-1); Sec. 82-657(2) |
| Window Sign | — | 40% of window sign display area | — | — | — | On/within 3 ft of window facing street/entrance | — | Sec. 82-658 (I-1); Sec. 82-657(9) |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft freestanding | 32 sq ft freestanding; 60 sq ft wall/awning/canopy/roof | — | As per permanent type | 1 per street frontage (except grand opening) | As per allowed sign type | — | Sec. 82-657(7); Sec. 82-658; Sec. 82-655, 82-659 |

## Prohibited signs in Hillcrest

- No flashing signs are permitted, except for electronic message boards that show temperature, time, business, or public service messages for not less than two-second intervals.
- No signs mounted on trailers or motor vehicles, except for signs identifying the business owner or user and portable signs as defined in the division.
- No attention-getting devices, including but not limited to inflatable, moving, rotating or undulating signs, or light beams, except by special event permit (once annually per establishment).
- No signs which, by size, location, content, color, or manner of illumination, obstruct the vision of motorists or interfere with visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device.
- No signs which display the words 'Stop', 'Look', 'One-Way', 'Danger', 'Yield', or other similar words, symbols, or lights that may confuse pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- No signs may be displayed within or extend over a public right-of-way, except those erected or authorized by a government authority.
- No signs may obstruct ingress to or egress from any fire escape, door, window, or other exit or entrance.
- No advertising, business, or identification signs may be displayed on the light poles of establishments.
- No signs painted directly on trees, rocks, fences, and other structures or objects, except walls.
- No signs may be illuminated so as to project beams or illumination onto adjacent property or cause glare constituting a nuisance or traffic hazard.
- No signs may be located within any sight triangle as defined in the ordinance.
- No festoon lighting is permitted.
- No signs constitute a hazard to public health or safety.
- No signs displaying obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
- No signs may obstruct ingress to or egress from any fire escape, door, window, or other exit or entrance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hillcrest

- Flags, symbols, or crests of nations, states, cities, or political, fraternal, religious, or civic organizations (with specific number and size limits).
- Holiday or special event decorations displayed for no more than 60 days.
- Signs which direct or regulate the movement of pedestrians or vehicles into or within a site, meeting specific standards (no more than one per driveway, max area and height, minimal advertising).
- Building name and date memorial signs or tablets integrated into building masonry or constructed of noncombustible material and permanently attached.
- Address or occupant name/logo signs not exceeding two square feet in area, which may be illuminated.
- Legal notices or identification, informational, directional, traffic or other signs erected or required by government authority.
- Political signs no greater than 16 square feet in area, following display period limits.
- Nonilluminated window signs covering no more than 40 percent of the window area.
- Real estate signs not more than six square feet in area, no more than one per street frontage, with prescribed setback and display requirements.
- Signs attached to underside of a canopy (with size, mounting, and clearance limits).
- Public telephone, gasoline pump, and vending machine graphics, logos, and instructions.
- Signs not exceeding three square feet in area, at least ten feet from property lines, and legible to a person of average eyesight standing on the nearest property line.
- Construction site signs (one per lot, up to 32 square feet and eight feet in height, removed when construction concludes).
- Works of art with no commercial message, graphic, or logo.
- One menu board sign for a drive-in window operation (max. 32 square feet area, six feet height).
- Warning or informational signs (e.g., 'beware of dog', 'no trespassing'), no more than four per lot unless additional permitted.
- Religious symbols, identification emblems of religious orders, or commemorative plaques of recognized historical agencies (no greater than 16 square feet in area).
- Small agricultural signs on properties used for agriculture (specific size and subject matter requirements).
- Hours of operation or open/closed signs (no greater than four square feet in area).
- Portable signs up to ten square feet in area on sidewalks, displayed only during business hours and not interfering with pedestrian movement.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan is required for model home sales areas and subdivisions; the plan must specify standards for consistency in color, lettering/graphic style, illumination, decorative lighting, materials, location, and dimensions for all signs in the sales area and subdivision (Sec. 82-659(6)).
- For model home sales areas, the master sign plan is a prerequisite for display of identification and directional signs.
- All sign types (unless exempted in Sec. 82-655) require a zoning certificate issued upon review by the zoning administrator before erection, enlargement, alteration, or relocation.
- Application for sign approval/zoning certificate must include plans, drawings, location specifications, and may require owner consent and proof of insurance or bond (Sec. 82-663).
- Signs subject to variation, special use permit, or non-conforming status must proceed through the relevant hearing and approval processes as outlined in the general zoning procedures (e.g., article IV, division 3 and Sec. 82-660 for special uses; variation procedures apply for deviations from general sign standards).
- Message board, electronic message center, advertising (billboard), and marquee signs require a special use permit and/or site plan review, as specified in Sections 82-660 and 82-657.
- All approved plans and sign permits must conform to the master sign plan, applicable district standards, and other applicable requirements, in addition to approval of the village board (as relevant) or other delegated reviewing authority.

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

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