# Sign Regulations in Lockport, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lockport, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/lockport
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Lockport, Illinois regulates 30 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Temporary Sign (Residential, Yard Sign)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 6 sq ft, with a 5 ft from property line setback (Sec. § 155.07(B)). Most commercial signs in Lockport require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 15 ft | 75 sq ft | — |
| Historic District | 10 | Awnings min clearance 7.5 ft above sidewalk; sign on valance only (8 in max height, 70% max valance length); valance 10-12 in high | 32 sq ft | — |
| City Residential District, Residential Zoning Districts | 3 | — | 5 sq ft | — |
| City Business District, Nonresidential Zoning Districts | 9 | 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District | 4 | 20 ft | 64 sq ft (per face) | — |
| Business Centers | 4 | 20 ft | 128 sq ft per face (tenant sign); 32 sq ft (entry/intersection sign) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 15 ft | 75 sq ft | — | 25 ft from property line | — | All zoning districts for nonresidential land uses; no closer than 25 ft to property line | — | § 155.08(D) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 3.5 sq ft | — | — | 2 per entrance; more possible with authorization | At entrance to business or shopping center in nonresidential zoning districts | — | § 155.08(F) |
| Service Station Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per each of 3 sides | On up to 3 sides of service station canopy | — | § 155.08(G) |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 32 sq ft (on sponsor/commercial lot); 16 sq ft (residential lot/right-of-way) | — | — | Max 10 per private property | On property owned/controlled by sponsoring organization or with private property owner's permission | — | § 155.07(A) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential, Yard Sign) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 2 per street frontage (except political signs) | Residential lot; yard | — | § 155.07(B) |
| Political Sign (Residential) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | No limit | Residential lot; yard | — | § 155.07(B)(8) |
| Monument Sign (Subdivision Entry in Residential Zones) | 6 ft (private), 42" (in median) | 64 sq ft | — | — | 2 per subdivision/development access at each entry | Residential zoning districts, at major entry points to subdivisions or developments on commonly owned private open space or as approved in right-of-way | — | § 155.08(E) |
| Electronic Message Center - Monument Sign Only | — | — | — | 100 ft from residential zoning district boundary; 500 ft from others | — | Nonresidential zoning districts only, prohibited in Historic District and residential zoning districts | — | § 155.08(J) |

### Historic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dimensional Surface Sign (Single-family, attached) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per unit | Attached to building or freestanding | — | § 155.09(A)(1)(a) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per commercial building | Entire structure within property line | — | § 155.09(A)(3)(e) and (7) |
| Projecting Sign | 4 ft max dimension, no part higher than 13 ft or lower than 9 ft above sidewalk | 12 sq ft | 4 ft any dimension | — | 1 per commercial unit entrance (Option: may have second on 2nd frontage) | Street entrance of each commercial unit | — | § 155.09(A)(3)(d),(2)(a),(f) |
| Flat Sign | Not higher than bottom of 2nd floor windowsill | — | — | — | See additional_requirements | Commercial facades | — | § 155.09(A)(3)(a),(b) |
| Dimensional Surface Sign (Commercial) | No higher than bottom of 2nd floor windowsill; no lower than 9 ft, max 15 ft from sidewalk | — | — | — | 1 per unit, may have another at rear/secondary entrance | Affixed to or mounted on building | — | § 155.09(A)(3)(c) |
| Awning Sign | Awnings min clearance 7.5 ft above sidewalk; sign on valance only (8 in max height, 70% max valance length); valance 10-12 in high | — | — | — | 1 per entrance, may have second at secondary entrance | Entrance and upper-story windows; over windows/doors, not above first story | — | § 155.09(A)(2)(c), (4) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | Max 20% of window area | — | — | 1 per unit | In commercial building window | — | § 155.09(A)(2)(d), (3)(f) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft from sidewalk | — | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | On sidewalk in front of business, keep 5 ft pedestrian way clear | — | § 155.09(A)(5) |

### City Business District, Nonresidential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Outlot) | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per outlot | Inside property line of outlot within development | — | § 155.09(C)(6) |
| Monument Sign (Other lots) | 10 ft | 64 sq ft | — | — | — | Inside property line | — | § 155.09(C)(6) |
| Projecting Sign | 6 ft dimension; 9-14 ft above grade (max 15 ft if bldg over 1 story) | 18 sq ft (per face) | 6 ft | — | 1 per unit | At entrance to unit/tenant | — | § 155.09(C)(5) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | See additional requirements | On building wall | — | § 155.09(C)(2) |
| Secondary Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per qualifying rear/side wall | Rear or side wall with access/parking frontage | — | § 155.09(C)(2) |
| Awning Sign | — | Signage max 20% of total canopy area | — | — | — | Above windows and doors of commercial building, traditional canvas only | — | § 155.09(C)(4) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | — | 2 ft | — | 1 per business | Within 1 ft of building wall but not touching; 5 ft walkway required | — | § 155.09(C)(9) |
| Drive-up Facility Sign | 7 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 2 per drive-through lane | Adjacent to drive-through lane | — | § 155.09(C)(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Lockport

- Animated or moving signs, including any sign or part of a sign that changes physical position or light intensity by any movement or rotation, or that gives the appearance of such movement or rotation. This includes flashing, blinking, scrolling, chasing, animated signs, trivision and video. Exception: Electronic message centers meeting the requirements of § 155.08(J) are exempt.
- Attention-getting devices such as searchlights, pennants, banners, propellers, spinners, streamers, balloons and similar devices.
- Roof signs: any sign wholly constructed or maintained on the top of the roof or attached to a wall and projecting above the roof line. Exception: Signs located on a mansard facade are not considered roof signs.
- Perimeter or border window lighting, either internally or externally around the window perimeter or border; exception for static, indirect lighting, and temporary decorative lighting during holidays for up to 14 days after the holiday.
- Off-premises signs.
- Pole signs.
- Signs in locations that do not meet clear sight distance requirements at intersections or are considered visual obstructions by the Zoning Administrator.
- Signs that block or interfere with building features needed for safety, ingress or egress, including doors, windows, fire escapes or required exit-ways.
- Signs (on building exteriors) that conceal any windows, doors or unique architectural features. Not applicable to window signs.
- Signs in or over the public rights-of-way, except for certain governmental or authorized signs.
- Signs in easements for overhead utilities, unless approved by the utility and city requirements.
- Use of prohibited design elements: flashing lights; motor vehicles (unless functional, registered, and signage is incidental and properly parked); semi-trailers or portable storage units (unless functional and signage is incidental and properly located); sound, smoke, or odor emitters; spinning or moving parts.
- Prohibited sign content: text or graphics that present a clear and present danger by potentially being confused with traffic control or public safety signs, indecent or immoral material harmful to minors, advertisement of unlawful activity, obscenity, fighting words, defamation, incitement to imminent lawless action, or true threats.
- Temporary signs that are illuminated.
- Sign illumination that exceeds one foot-candle at any commercial property line or 50 foot-candles when measured four feet from the sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lockport

- Street addresses posted in locations visible from the street, where address numbers and letters are not more than 14 inches in height, or as otherwise approved by the Fire Chief, are not included in the calculation of sign area.
- Signs constructed or required by governmental bodies, or authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute, or ordinance of a governmental body.
- Carried signs, provided such signs are not set down or propped on objects.
- Flags not larger than 30 square feet in area, affixed to permanent or building-mounted flagpoles.
- Interior signs intended to provide information for interior use of a property and not visible from adjoining property or public rights-of-way.
- Official and legal notice signs issued by any court, public body, person, or officer in performance of a public duty, or for giving legal notice.
- Outdoor political campaign signs on residential property (subject to size regulations but otherwise not restricted in number or time).
- Signs with de minimus area: a) affixed to a building/structure not exceeding one square foot in area (one per elevation), b) signs less than 0.75 square feet affixed to machines, equipment, fences, gates, walls, gasoline pumps, public telephones, or utility cabinets.
- Traffic control signs and other signs related to public safety installed by the city or another jurisdiction or required of a developer.
- Window displays of merchandise, fixtures, or models of products incorporated into a window display.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permit is required for the construction or maintenance of any sign, unless specifically exempted (e.g., temporary signs on residential properties in residential zoning districts, as in § 155.07(B)).
- Permit application must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator. The city has seven calendar days to issue or deny a sign permit after a complete application and payment of the fee.
- Variances from sign code may be granted by the Planning and Zoning Commission or Zoning Administrator in accordance with administrative variation and appeal procedures. Requests may require a public meeting or hearing per Zoning Ordinance § 156.121–122.
- Additional directional signs beyond the standard allocation must be authorized by the Zoning Administrator through the conventional site plan review process.
- Electronic message centers require a written certification from the sign manufacturer or contractor regarding light intensity and dimmer programming prior to permit issuance.
- Nonconforming sign structures are regulated under § 155.10(E); substantial modification, movement, or repair beyond permitted thresholds triggers requirements to conform to current code. Discontinued nonconforming signs must be removed or brought into conformity.
- Temporary signs in nonresidential districts require a temporary sign permit approved by the Zoning Administrator; limit three permits per year per location.
- Changes to signs (e.g., maintenance, changing parts) are allowed without permit only if they do not alter area, height, copy, or make the sign nonconforming.

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

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