# Sign Regulations in Ladd, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ladd, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/ladd
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Ladd/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.68SI)

## At a glance

Ladd, Illinois regulates 33 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Advertising Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at As necessary to accommodate poster/bulletin size tall, Total for up to 2 poster panels: 750 sq ft (15x25x2);  or 825 sq ft for bulletin (15x55), and 25 ft (poster panel); 55 ft (bulletin) wide, with a Not within 150 ft of ag or res boundary unless otherwise allowed. setback (Sec. 17.68.090). Most commercial signs in Ladd require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | Signs/letters on marquees/canopies may project up to 24 inches above same. | Total for up to 2 poster panels: 750 sq ft (15x25x2);  or 825 sq ft for bulletin (15x55) | — |
| A, agricultural zoning district (A) | 7 | 15 ft above grade at pavement edge | 750 sq ft (poster panels); 825 sq ft (bulletin) | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 6 | 20 ft above grade | 180 sq ft | — |
| Business District | 5 | — | — | — |
| B-1 business district (B-1), B-3 business district (B-3) | 4 | Max height for structures in district (as per other zoning regulations). If within 50 ft of street intersection, lowest level must be at least 10 ft above grade; if within 3 ft of driveway, lowest level must be at least 12 ft above grade. | 100 sq ft or 3 sq ft per lineal foot of building facade (whichever is greater) | — |
| B-2 business district (B-2) | 5 | Max height of structures in district. If within 50 ft of street intersection, lowest level must be at least 10 ft above grade; if within 3 ft of driveway, lowest level must be at least 12 ft above grade. | 300 sq ft or 3 sq ft per lineal foot of building facade (whichever is greater) | — |
| Manufacturing District | 6 | — | 160 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs | — | — | — | 10 feet from right-of-way, must meet residential setbacks if abutting, 50 feet from side/rear lot lines of adjoining residential district. | — | No sign or sign structure, other than official highway markers, can be placed on any street or highway right-of-way. Sign structures or columns must be set back a minimum of ten feet from right-of-way lines unless otherwise allowed. On-premises sign structures on lots adjoining residential districts must conform to residential district setbacks, and if facing adjoining residential districts must not be within 50 feet of side or rear lot lines. | — | 17.68.020, 17.68.040, 17.68.050, 17.68.060, 17.68.110 |
| Wall Sign (All Types) | May not project more than 6 feet above roof/parapet line. | — | — | — | — | Affixed to building walls; may not extend above roof/parapet line by more than 6 feet. | — | 17.68.050 D |
| Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per lot (2 per corner lot); Unified/planned: 1 additional per street | One per lot; two (one facing each street) on a corner lot. Planned/unified developments get 1 additional per street. | — | 17.68.070 |
| Marquee/Canopy/Awning Sign | Signs/letters on marquees/canopies may project up to 24 inches above same. | — | — | — | — | Must be affixed flat to surface, cannot extend beyond marquee/canopy/awning (except individual letters max 24" above). Projecting signs, marquees/canopies/awnings must clear sidewalk by 8 feet. | — | 17.68.080 |
| Advertising Sign | As necessary to accommodate poster/bulletin size | Total for up to 2 poster panels: 750 sq ft (15x25x2);  or 825 sq ft for bulletin (15x55) | 25 ft (poster panel); 55 ft (bulletin) | Not within 150 ft of ag or res boundary unless otherwise allowed. | — | Not closer to street/highway than minimum setback for district. Not within 150 ft of agricultural or residential boundary unless otherwise allowed. Not allowed on roof, except for aviation safety. | — | 17.68.090 |
| Special Sign - Temporary Construction/Development | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.68.100 A,B |
| Special Sign - Event Posters, Flags, Pennants, Bunting | — | — | — | — | — | Not permitted outdoors except by permit. | — | 17.68.100 D |

### A, agricultural zoning district (A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign (Agricultural Use) | 15 ft above grade at pavement edge | 6 sq ft | — | No nearer than 15 ft from lot line adjoining street | 1 per principal dwelling (2 per corner lot) | One per principal farm dwelling, 2 on corner lot (one per street), crop ID allowed during season. | — | 17.68.120 A.1.a |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign (Nonagricultural Use) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot (2 per corner lot) | Single sign, 2 on corner lot (one per street), indicates only name/address. | — | 17.68.120 A.1.b |
| "For Sale" and "For Rent" Sign | 15 ft above grade at pavement edge | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot (2 per corner lot) | 1 per lot, 2 on corner lot (one per street) | — | 17.68.120 A.2 |
| Business Signs Accessory to Roadside Stands | 15 ft above grade at pavement edge | 12 sq ft per sign | — | No nearer than 15 ft from lot line | Max 2 per lot | On same lot as roadside stand, advertising agricultural products for sale. | — | 17.68.120 A.3 |
| Bulletin Sign (Public/Private Community Facility) | 15 ft above grade at pavement edge | 16 sq ft | — | No nearer than 15 ft from lot line adjoining street | 1 per lot (2 per corner lot) | 1 per lot, 2 on corner lot (one per street), not closer than 8 ft to any other lot. | — | 17.68.120 B.1 |
| Business Signs (Accessory to Special Uses, per B-1/B-2 standards) | — | — | — | — | — | Accessory to special uses (see B-1/B-2 parameters). | — | 17.68.120 B.2 |
| Advertising Sign (Agricultural Use) | — | 750 sq ft (poster panels); 825 sq ft (bulletin) | 25 ft (poster panel), 55 ft (bulletin) | Not <50 ft from property line abutting highway/side street; Not <150 ft from residence/institution; Not <100 ft from business/comm. district with residential/institutional use | 1 per 1000 ft frontage, add'l per 1000 ft, max 2 structures joined, 1000 ft apart facing same way | 1 per 1000 ft frontage, max 1 additional per extra 1000 ft; max 2 joined together, 1000 ft interval between structures facing same direction. See detailed location rules below. | — | 17.68.120 B.3 |

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign (Single-/Two-Family Dwelling) | 10 ft above average ground grade at building walls (if affixed); 4 ft if in yard | 1 sq ft per dwelling unit | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Flat against building or in yard adjoining street; if in yard, not nearer to street than half the depth of the yard. | — | 17.68.130 A.1.a, A.3 |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign (Other Than Single-/Two-Family) | 10 ft above floor grade at entrance doorways (wall); 15 ft above grade (ground sign) | 30 sq ft | — | Ground sign: not less than 20 ft from interior lot line and not less than half the depth of the required yard from adjoining street lot line. | 1 per building | Flat against building or ground sign facing street. | — | 17.68.130 A.1.b, A.4 |
| Identification Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 15 ft above grade (ground sign); 10 ft above floor grade at entrance doorway (wall) | — | — | Ground sign: not less than 20 ft from interior lot line, not less than half the required yard from street lot line. | 1 wall and 1 ground sign per street | One wall and one ground sign facing each street. | — | 17.68.130 A.4 |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | For entrances to subdivisions. Must be located on private property. | — | 17.68.130 A.5 |
| "For Sale" and "For Rent" Sign | — | 6 sq ft (residential); 12 sq ft (nonresidential) | — | Not less than 8 ft from lot line. | 1 per lot (2 per corner lot) | 1 per lot; 2 on corner lot (one per street); must be on property being offered/sold. | — | 17.68.130 B |
| Identification Sign (Planned Residential Development) | 20 ft above grade | 180 sq ft | — | Not less than 15 ft from street, not less than 50 ft from intersection, not less than 20 ft from adjoining lot line. | 1 per street frontage | At each street frontage; may be ground or attached to building. | — | 17.68.130 C |

## Prohibited signs in Ladd

- No sign shall be permitted on a lot unless the classification of the sign is enumerated as a permitted or special use regulated by the provisions of this chapter.
- No sign shall be permitted unless erected, constructed, and displayed in conformance with the provisions of this chapter and other applicable provisions of this title.
- No sign shall be permitted unless written authorization to erect the sign has been received from the property owner or his agent.
- No sign or sign structure other than official highway markers shall be placed upon any street or highway right-of-way.
- No rotating beam, beacon or flashing illumination resembling an emergency light shall be used in connection with any sign display.
- Light from illuminated signs shall not be projected toward or onto properties located in a residential district.
- Any sign illumination visible from a residential district must not exceed ten foot candles per square foot, measured at the residential district line.
- Illumination of signs must be extinguished between the close of business and seven a.m.
- Roof signs are not permitted, except those required for aviation direction or safety.
- All signs and sign structures must be designed and constructed to withstand wind pressure of not less than thirty pounds per square foot.
- All signs shall be maintained in a structurally sound, clean and sanitary condition.
- Signs which are no longer functional, or are abandoned, shall be removed or relocated in compliance with nonconforming provisions.
- 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 of any kind shall be attached to a stand pipe or fire escape.
- Signs or sign structures shall not be erected at locations where they may interfere with or obstruct the view of vehicular-traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- Signs or sign structures shall not be erected in such a manner as to obstruct materially the clear view of the intersection of a street or highway with a railroad grade crossing.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ladd

- All signs permitted in subdivision 1 through 4 of subsection A of Section 17.68.130 are exempt from the improvement location permit requirement.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For unified or planned developments under single ownership or control, including shopping centers, industrial parks and housing clusters, additional signs may be permitted, and such developments are subject to provisions for sign types, implying a sign plan may be required.
- In a planned (residential or business) development initially under single ownership or control, special sign standards apply, which may entail submission or approval of a sign plan.
- Master sign plan or sign plan requirements are not explicitly referenced in this chapter, but special and planned developments under unified or single ownership are distinguished and subject to additional signage allowances and requirements, suggesting these may require additional planning or approvals.

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

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