# Sign Regulations in Joliet, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Joliet, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/joliet
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Joliet/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH8BUCOPRMA_ARTVIIISIMACAAW)

## At a glance

Joliet, Illinois regulates 13 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Ground Signboards in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 15 feet if constructed entirely of wood; 24 feet if facing is entirely sheet metal tall, with a Not closer to street line than the building line setback (Sec. Sec. 8-407; Sec. 8-408; Sec. 8-412; Sec. 8-366). Most commercial signs in Joliet require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 1 | 15 feet if constructed entirely of wood; 24 feet if facing is entirely sheet metal | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 31 feet above roof level if solid surface; 75 feet above roof level for non-solid surface on fireproof buildings (35% wind facing area); 50 feet above roof level for non-solid surface on nonfireproof buildings | 60 square feet in total area and not more than 10 feet in any one dimension | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Signboard | 15 feet if constructed entirely of wood; 24 feet if facing is entirely sheet metal | — | — | Not closer to street line than the building line | — | May not be erected closer to the street line than the building line of other buildings in the same block | — | Sec. 8-407; Sec. 8-408; Sec. 8-412; Sec. 8-366 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Signboard | 15 feet if constructed entirely of wood; 24 feet if facing is entirely sheet metal | — | — | — | — | Supported by uprights or braces placed upon the ground and not attached to any part of any building | — | Sec. 8-407; 8-408; 8-409; 8-410; 8-366; 8-375; 8-364; 8-373 |
| Roof Signboard | 31 feet above roof level if solid surface; 75 feet above roof level for non-solid surface on fireproof buildings (35% wind facing area); 50 feet above roof level for non-solid surface on nonfireproof buildings | — | — | Setback at least 3 feet from face of any front or rear wall | — | Not to project beyond any edge of the roof in any direction; must leave clear space of not less than 30 inches between roof level and lowest part of structure and at least 5 feet between vertical supports; must be at least 3 feet from face of any front or rear wall | — | Sec. 8-417; 8-418; 8-419; 8-420; 8-366; 8-374 |
| Wall Bulletin | — | — | — | May not extend beyond building line more than 10 inches | — | Front, rear, or side wall of any building; must not extend beyond building line more than 10 inches | — | Sec. 8-427; 8-428; 8-429; 8-366; 8-373 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 60 square feet in total area and not more than 10 feet in any one dimension | 10 feet (in any dimension) | — | Maximum three per parcel at one time | Must be outside public right-of-way and any clear vision triangle; not over or into any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public thoroughfare | — | Sec. 8-473; 8-475; 8-476 |
| Feather Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per 40 linear feet (max 3 for strip-center), maximum three at any one time | Must be outside right-of-way and clear vision triangle. | — | Sec. 8-474; 8-475; 8-476 |
| Banner | — | 60 square feet in total area and not more than 10 feet in any one dimension | 10 feet (in any one dimension) | — | Maximum three per parcel at one time; business logo banners: max 6 per site | Must be outside public right-of-way and any clear vision triangle | — | Sec. 8-472 (Banner, Business logo banner); 8-473 |
| Canopy | — | — | — | Not within 2 feet of curb line, min 8 ft above sidewalk | — | Extending from a building over a public way and attached to a sidewalk | — | Sec. 8-457 – 8-464 |
| Marquee | — | — | — | Lowest part min 12 ft above sidewalk, not within 2 ft of curb line | — | Permanent canopy of metal, glass or plastic attached over a public way | — | Sec. 8-457 – 8-464 |

## Prohibited signs in Joliet

- It is unlawful to post or affix, paint or impose any advertisement, sign or notice of any kind on any curbstone, sidewalk, street surface, trees, tree box, lamppost, telephone, telegraph or electric light pole, hydrant, bridge, road or railroad elevation, structure or retaining walls, or on any building, structure or retaining wall without the consent of the owner.
- No sign shall be posted in any place where it can be seen from public places that contains pictures, illustrations, or language of an obscene or immoral character.
- Signs shall not obstruct or be attached to any part of a fire escape.
- Galvanized steel chain must be used for the supports or guys of signs regulated by this article; cable or wire for supports or guys is prohibited.
- Ornamental or plain glass shall not be permitted to be hung over any public way within the city.
- No glass sign over public way is permitted.
- No marquee shall be constructed over any public way or public place at less than twelve (12) feet above the sidewalk or within two (2) feet of the curb line; canopies framework must not be less than eight (8) feet above the sidewalk and not within two (2) feet of the curb.
- No canopy or marquee may have attached any illuminated or other sign, transparency, placard, streamer or other advertising matter or device of any kind except the name of the business establishment.
- No temporary sign or banner shall be erected so as to extend over or into any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public thoroughfare.
- No temporary sign or banner shall be erected so as to project over any wall opening or prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No feather sign shall be erected or installed except pursuant to a permit issued by the building inspection division.
- Right-of-way temporary signs are prohibited except for public utility or governmental essential service signs.
- Temporary roof-mounted signs are a prohibited sign type.
- Prohibited sign includes, but is not limited to, roof-mounted signs, signs posted on utility poles or light poles, pennants and streamers, signs posted on unapproved supports, whirly-gigs, rotating and wind-dance air puppet signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Joliet

- Advertising painted upon the front, side or rear surface of building walls, or ground signboards not erected within sixteen (16) feet of any building, structure or public sidewalk, are exempt from this article unless otherwise specified.
- The posting of legal notices required by city, county, or state law, posted in the manner and place prescribed by law, are exempt.
- This division (temporary signs) does not apply to civic flags, political signs, directional signs, or 501(c)(3) signs, as long as they are not located in the public right-of-way or on public property.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For signs weighing between two hundred fifty (250) pounds and three hundred fifty (350) pounds, detailed plans must be submitted with the application for action by the building inspector.
- For signs weighing more than three hundred fifty (350) pounds, detailed plans and specifications must be submitted and approved individually by the building inspector.
- Permit applications for temporary signs, feather signs, or banners must include a drawing/site plan sufficient to indicate the proposed location and number of signs and their size on the subject real property.
- No explicit mention of a master sign plan requirement was found, but certain sign types and heavier signs require plan or site plan submission.

## Full detail

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/joliet