# Sign Regulations in Hinckley, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hinckley, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/hinckley
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Hinckley/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_CH18BUBURE_ARTVSI)

## At a glance

Hinckley, Illinois regulates 26 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Pole Sign (35,001 to 100,000 sq ft building)s in the Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-3) zoning district are capped at 18 feet tall and 150 sq ft (Sec. Sec. 18-135(a)(3); Sec. 18-138(4,6); Table 1). Most commercial signs in Hinckley require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-3) | 10 | 28 feet | 500 sq ft (1 frontage); 800 sq ft (2 frontages); 1,000 sq ft (3+ frontages) | — |
| Residential Districts | 5 | — | 5 sq ft | — |
| Manufacturing Districts | 10 | 28 feet | 500 sq ft (1 frontage); 800 sq ft (2 frontages); 1,000 sq ft (3+ frontages) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 16 ft | Total of all signs not to exceed 100 sq ft per zoning lot. | — |

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

### Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Base or Monument Sign | 6 feet total; base no more than 2 feet above grade | — | — | — | — | On private property; not projecting into a public right-of-way | — | Sec. 18-135(a); Sec. 18-138(1),(4); Sec. 18-150 |
| Wall Sign | — | 500 sq ft (1 frontage); 800 sq ft (2 frontages); 1,000 sq ft (3+ frontages) | — | — | Aggregate area limits cover all signs for the building; allocation among tenants is negotiable. | Attached/applied to exterior front, rear, or side wall of building. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(2); Sec. 18-138(1),(2),(3); Sec. 18-150 |
| Pole Sign (35,001 to 100,000 sq ft building) | 18 feet | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per arterial/collector street frontage (integrated centers only) | On private property, not projecting into public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(3); Sec. 18-138(4,6); Table 1 |
| Pole Sign (100,001 to 500,000 sq ft building) | 23 feet | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per arterial/collector street frontage (integrated centers only) | On private property, not projecting into public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(3); Sec. 18-138(4,6); Table 1 |
| Pole Sign (500,001+ sq ft building) | 28 feet | 250 sq ft | — | — | 1 per arterial/collector street frontage (integrated centers only) | On private property, not projecting into public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(3); Sec. 18-138(4,6); Table 1 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On inside of window. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(7); Sec. 18-132; Sec. 18-135(a)(3) |
| Fixed Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to building, can project over sidewalk (lowest part min. 9 ft above grade). | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(5)(6); Sec. 18-138(5); Sec. 18-142(b) |
| Temporary Signs (General) | — | — | — | — | Per subsection, varies by sign type (real estate, political, architect-contractor, produce). | See specific type: e.g. real estate, contractor, produce, political signs. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(4); Sec. 18-139 |

### Manufacturing Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Base or Monument Sign | 6 feet total; base no more than 2 feet above grade | — | — | — | — | On private property; not projecting into a public right-of-way | — | Sec. 18-135(a); Table 1; Sec. 18-138(1), (4); Sec. 18-150 |
| Wall Sign | — | 500 sq ft (1 frontage); 800 sq ft (2 frontages); 1,000 sq ft (3+ frontages) | — | — | Aggregate area limits cover all signs for the building; allocation among tenants is negotiable. | Attached/applied to exterior front, rear, or side wall of building. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(2); Sec. 18-138(1),(2),(3); Sec. 18-150 |
| Pole Sign (35,001 to 100,000 sq ft building) | 18 feet | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per arterial/collector street frontage (integrated centers only) | On private property, not projecting into public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(3); Sec. 18-138(4,6); Table 1 |
| Pole Sign (100,001 to 500,000 sq ft building) | 23 feet | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per arterial/collector street frontage (integrated centers only) | On private property, not projecting into public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(3); Sec. 18-138(4,6); Table 1 |
| Pole Sign (500,001+ sq ft building) | 28 feet | 250 sq ft | — | — | 1 per arterial/collector street frontage (integrated centers only) | On private property, not projecting into public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(3); Sec. 18-138(4,6); Table 1 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On inside of window. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(7); Sec. 18-132; Sec. 18-135(a)(3) |
| Fixed Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to building, can project over sidewalk (lowest part min. 9 ft above grade). | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(5)(6); Sec. 18-138(5); Sec. 18-142(b) |
| Temporary Signs (General) | — | — | — | — | Per subsection, varies by sign type (real estate, political, architect-contractor, produce). | See specific type: e.g. real estate, contractor, produce, political signs. | — | Sec. 18-135(a)(4); Sec. 18-139 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | 10 sq ft per sign; on corner lots, one such sign may face each street. | — | — | 1 (2 on corner lots) | On private property (not in right-of-way). | — | Sec. 18-139(1) |
| Architect-Contractor Sign (Temporary, Residential) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises where work is in progress. | — | Sec. 18-139(2) |
| Architect-Contractor Sign (Temporary, Business/Manufacturing) | — | 20 sq ft | — | Minimum 8 feet from property line or one-half the distance between property and building line, whichever is less. | 1 per street frontage | On premises where work is in progress. | — | Sec. 18-139(2) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | Total of all signs not to exceed 100 sq ft per zoning lot. | — | — | Aggregate 100 sq ft per zoning lot | Not permitted in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18-139(4) |
| Agricultural Produce Sign (Temporary) | — | 10 sq ft per sign | — | — | Maximum 2 per premises | On private property of resident where produce grown. | — | Sec. 18-139(5) |
| Temporary Subdivision Advertising Sign (Onsite) | 16 ft | — | 32 ft | — | 1 per arterial route frontage | Onsite, for subdivision until 95% of lots sold. | — | Sec. 18-140(3) |
| Temporary Subdivision Advertising Sign (Off-site) | 10 ft | — | 12 ft | — | 1 per subdivision per arterial route | Private property fronting arterial route. | — | Sec. 18-140(4) |
| Temporary Subdivision Advertising Sign (Public Right-of-Way) | 2 ft | — | 2 ft | — | 3 per land being developed | Arterial route right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18-140(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Hinckley

- It is unlawful to display any sign in violation of this article.
- Any sign type not specifically listed as a permitted sign is expressly prohibited unless determined otherwise by the village president or designee.
- Signs on fences or on walls not part of a building or structure are prohibited.
- Flashing signs (illuminated signs with flashing lights or creating an illusion of movement), except for time and temperature information or scrolling light message subject to limitations, are prohibited.
- Signs within 300 feet of any traffic control signal shall not have illumination of red, green, or amber color.
- Billboards and poster boards are prohibited.
- No sign, retractable canopy, or awning may be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape; nor attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign, retractable canopy, or awning may be erected or maintained so as to obstruct free and clear vision or distract the attention of drivers.
- No sign, retractable canopy, or awning within 300 feet of an intersection shall make use of the words 'stop,' 'go,' 'look,' 'slow,' 'danger,' or similar words, phrases, symbols, or characters, or colored lamps/lights that could mislead or confuse traffic.
- On corner lots, within a triangular area of 25 feet from the intersection of street rights-of-way, no sign more than 30 inches above the crown of the road is allowed.
- Any sign advertising a business no longer conducted or a product no longer sold shall be removed within 30 days of notice.
- Any sign is deemed a public nuisance if displayed in violation of this article or found to be a hazard to health or safety.
- Signs not conforming to building, electrical, and structural codes are prohibited.
- No sign shall be maintained in a dilapidated, unsafe, or nonconforming condition.
- No permit shall be issued if the sign constitutes a hazard to traffic or the public by reason of obstruction of view, distraction, or endangering safety.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hinckley

- Any sign of the United States, state, or municipal corporation.
- The flag, emblem, or insignia of a nation, governmental unit, school, or religious group.
- Signs located completely within an enclosed building unless affixed to a window, except that regulations on flashing and moving signs apply if visible from public property.
- Paper signs affixed to the interior of a window for less than 30 days.
- Identification and addresses of establishments on awnings or marquees.
- Street or house number signs not exceeding 1.5 square feet in area.
- Directional or instructional signs conveying directions or instructions for safety or convenience, or necessary for operation of premises, not exceeding 3 square feet in area.
- A barber pole or similar symbol or device used in connection with a barber shop.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application for any regulated sign must be accompanied by plans and specifications showing size, character, material, location, bracing, anchorage, support, means of attachment, and other structural characteristics.
- The village may require sketches, drawings, or photographs for sign variance applications to indicate the present and intended condition of property or sign.
- Permanent signs, except for exempted categories, require permit issuance following review of plans for conformance with the ordinance.
- For variations to sign requirements, sketches, drawings or photographs shall be required as necessary by the zoning board of appeals or the village board.

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

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