# Sign Regulations in Litchfield, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Litchfield, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/litchfield
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Litchfield/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITXVLAUS_CH153SI)

## At a glance

Litchfield, Illinois regulates 27 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Billboard (Off-premises advertising)s in the Commercial District, Industrial District, Business District, Manufacturing District, Commercial Zone, Heavy Industrial Zone, Light Industrial Zone zoning district are capped at 30 feet above ground or pavement tall and 60 square feet (city billboards excluded), with a 20 feet or overall height of sign and structure, whichever greater, from all property lines. setback (Sec. Sec. 153.061(B)). Most commercial signs in Litchfield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 10 | — | 40 square feet | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District, Business District, Manufacturing District, Commercial Zone, Heavy Industrial Zone, Light Industrial Zone | 12 | 30 feet above ground or pavement | Determined by formula; max 300 sf | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 32 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On the site of construction | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(1); Sec. 153.041(A) |
| Directional and Informational Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | On premises for convenience of public (entrances, exits, restrooms, etc.) | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(2); Sec. 153.041(A) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On private residential property | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(4); Sec. 153.041(A) |
| House Number/Occupant Name Sign | — | 3 square feet (single-family); 6 square feet (multi-family) | — | — | — | On the lot to which the sign pertains | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(7); Sec. 153.041(A) |
| Institutional Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On premises of public, charitable, or religious institution | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(8); Sec. 153.041(A) |
| Political Campaign Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | On private property | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(11); Sec. 153.041(A) |
| Public Interest Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per event per property | In any residential district | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(13); Sec. 153.041(A) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6.25 square feet (per street front) | — | — | 1 per street front | On property for sale, rent, or lease | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(14) |

### Commercial District, Industrial District, Business District, Manufacturing District, Commercial Zone, Heavy Industrial Zone, Light Industrial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flush-mounted Sign (Wall Sign) | Can extend max 3 feet above roof line | Determined by formula; max 300 sf | — | — | — | Parallel to wall, awning, canopy, or marquee | — | Sec. 153.055; Sec. 153.043; Sec. 153.021(B)(1),(2) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | Covers no more than 30% of any window | — | — | — | Affixed to, painted on, or suspended behind a window | — | Sec. 153.057 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 120 square feet per sign | — | No part intrudes into/projections over ROW. On corner lots, no obstruction in triangle 25 ft from intersection, above 4 ft. | 1 per street front | On site, not projecting/encroaching on right-of-way. | — | Sec. 153.059; Sec. 153.043; Sec. 153.021(B)(2) |
| Billboard (Off-premises advertising) | 30 feet above ground or pavement | 60 square feet (city billboards excluded) | — | 20 feet or overall height of sign and structure, whichever greater, from all property lines. | — | Prohibited except by special use permit; only in commercial, heavy industrial, or light industrial zones | — | Sec. 153.061(B) |
| Banner (Promotional) | — | 50 square feet each | — | — | 2 per property | On property where business is located (commercial/industrial zones) | — | Sec. 153.062(B),(A) |
| Poster Sign (Promotional) | — | 6 square feet each | — | — | 4 per property | On property where business is located (commercial/industrial zones) | — | Sec. 153.062(C),(A) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet (mobile/portable), 50 square feet (banner) | 4 ft x 8 ft for mobile/portable | — | — | On property of business enterprise | — | Sec. 153.063 |
| Off-site Directional Sign for Tract Sales | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | Off-site, not on public ROW, with owner's written permission | — | Sec. 153.064 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Memorial/Integral Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Carved/attached to building, inlaid/part of structure | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(9),(18) |
| Interior Sign (Non-visible from exterior) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside building/lobby/courtyard | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(10) |
| Utility Company/Public Safety Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Where needed for public safety or utility function | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(17) |
| Public Entertainment/Public Interest Event Street Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On city-owned or other property (with approval) | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(16) |
| Athletic Field Perimeter Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Inside fence of athletic field | — | Sec. 153.041(C)(19) |

## Prohibited signs in Litchfield

- Any sign or other street graphic not expressly permitted by this chapter shall be deemed prohibited.
- No sign or other street graphic shall revolve, rotate, or mechanically move in any manner.
- No sign shall have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or other illuminating devices which have a changing light intensity, brightness, or color; beacon lights and illumination by flame are prohibited.
- No exposed reflective type bulb and no strobe light or incandescent lamp which exceeds 15 watts shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign in a manner so as to expose the face of the bulb, light, or lamp to any public street or to adjacent property.
- No sign or other street graphic shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent access or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or driveway.
- No sign or other street graphic shall be erected or maintained in a manner that it interferes with, obstructs the view of, or is likely to be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign shall be located so as to obstruct vision at an intersection or vehicular entry or exit from the property.
- Every sign or other street graphic shall be designed and constructed in conformity with the applicable provisions of the latest adopted International Building Code.
- The electrical component of any illuminated sign or other street graphic shall conform to the applicable requirements of the latest edition of the National Electrical Code.
- Mobile/portable marquees are strictly prohibited everywhere in this city.
- Snipe signs are strictly prohibited everywhere in this city.
- Signs, including posts and other supports, that advertise or identify an activity, business, or service no longer conducted on the premises where the sign is located must be removed within 60 days from the date of the discontinuance of that business, activity, or service.
- Signs painted on roofs or walls advertising off-premises businesses are strictly prohibited everywhere in this city.
- All new roof-mounted signs are strictly prohibited everywhere in this city after the effective date of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Litchfield

- Construction signs (not exceeding 32 square feet, confined to the construction site, must be removed within 14 days after substantial completion).
- Directional and informational signs for public convenience (not exceeding 3 square feet).
- National flags, flags of political subdivisions, and symbolic flags of any institution or religion.
- Garage sale signs on private residential property (not exceeding 4 square feet, for no more than 3 days, not allowed on street right-of-way).
- Governmental or public signs (e.g., traffic-control signs, railroad crossing signs, legal notices).
- Holiday decorations such as Christmas lights and ornaments (must be removed within a reasonable time after the holiday).
- House numbers and name of occupant signs (not exceeding 3 square feet for single-family dwellings and 6 square feet for multi-family dwellings).
- Institutional signs for public, charitable, or religious institutions (located on premises, not obstructing motorists' vision, not exceeding 32 square feet).
- Integral signs carved into stone or inlaid as part of the building (such as date of erection, name of building, memorial tributes).
- Interior signs located inside buildings or enclosed lobbies not visible from exterior.
- Political campaign signs on private property (not exceeding 3 square feet).
- Property regulation signs (e.g., no trespassing, no hunting, not exceeding 3 square feet).
- Public interest signs publicizing charitable or nonprofit events of general public interest (requirements on size and duration depending on district; permit required but no fee).
- Real estate signs indicating sale, rental, or lease of premises (residential not exceeding 6.25 square feet, others not exceeding 32 square feet; limits per lot and removal after sale).
- Residential development identification structures at major entrances (not exceeding 40 square feet, no commercial advertising).
- Street signs advertising public entertainment or public interest events (permit required, approvals depending on property ownership, no fee).
- Utility company signs serving as an aid to public safety or showing the location of facilities.
- Memorial signs/tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into masonry or made of bronze/incombustible material.
- Any sign installed on the inside of the fence enclosing an athletic field (not exceeding 32 square feet).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign, billboard, or other street graphic, except those listed as general exemptions, shall be erected, expanded, altered, relocated, or reconstructed without a street graphic permit issued by the Building Official/Zoning Official.
- Applicants for a street graphic permit must submit detailed information, including narrative or graphic descriptions, and other requirements as determined by the Building Official/Zoning Official.
- Completed applications for public interest signs must be submitted to the Building and Zoning Department for review and issuance of a sign permit prior to installation (no permit fee required for public interest signs).
- Completed applications for temporary signs must be submitted to the Building and Zoning Department for review and issuance of a sign permit prior to installation (no permit fee required for temporary signs).
- Street signs advertising public entertainment or public interest events require approval and permit (no fee).
- For billboards, a special use permit may be required in commercial and industrial zones.
- Requests for variances or appeals from administrative decisions regarding sign permits will require a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals and may require a variance process.

## Full detail

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

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