Sign Regulations in Macomb, Illinois
Macomb, Illinois has specific sign regulations covering 17 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Temporary Sign, Monument Sign, Monument Sign - Development Entry. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: May 8, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Macomb, Illinois
Sample Sign Requirements in Macomb
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard | 30 ft above surface of lot | Greater than 150 sq ft is a billboard. Bulletin-size billboards >=400 sq ft require special use permit | No part closer than 20 ft to right-of-way. At least 750 ft from nearest residence. At least 500 ft between billboards. |
| Flag | 40 ft pole (B-1, B-2, O/I, M, and ROS); 24 ft pole all other districts | Up to 120 sq ft (B-1, B-2, O/I, M, and ROS); 20 sq ft in all other districts | — |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft (exempt); 3 sq ft for identifying building name (other limits in table) | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for MacombFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
17
- Temporary Sign
- Monument Sign
- Monument Sign - Development Entry
- Window Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
8
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Macomb
Other Cities in Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Macomb vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Macomb, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Macomb, regulated sign types include Temporary Sign, Monument Sign, Monument Sign - Development Entry, Window Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Macomb vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Macomb are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Macomb has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Macomb, Illinois Sign Rules at a Glance
Macomb, Illinois regulates 17 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the B-1 Business District, B-2 Business District zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 16 sq ft per face (Sec. Sec. 17-895(e), Table 7.3.5.E.). Most commercial signs in Macomb require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Macomb, Illinois
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Macomb (8 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 40 ft pole (B-1, B-2, O/I, M, and ROS); 24 ft pole all other districts | Greater than 150 sq ft is a billboard. Bulletin-size billboards >=400 sq ft require special use permit | — |
| AG-1 Agricultural District | 6 | 30 ft | Max 300 sq ft combined for all wall signs, subject to frontage/setback formula | — |
| R-1 District, R-2 District, RMH District | 3 | 16 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — |
| R-3 District, R-4 District | 4 | 16 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — |
| O/I Office/Institutional District, ROS Recreation and Open Space District | 7 | 30 ft or building wall height | 200 sq ft per face | — |
| B-1 Business District, B-2 Business District | 9 | 30 ft or wall height | Max 700 sq ft for all flat/wall combined; ≤25% of wall surface | — |
| B-3 Downtown Business District, ASMU Adams Street Mixed Use District | 10 | 30 ft | Combined flat/wall sign area not to exceed 100 sq ft or 25% of wall surface, whichever is less | — |
| M-1 Manufacturing District, M-2 Manufacturing District | 8 | 30 ft | Combined wall/flat signs not to exceed 400 sq ft | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Macomb(sample of 3 of 8 zones)
B-1 Business District, B-2 Business District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 16 sq ft per face | — | — | 2 | — | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(e), Table 7.3.5.E. |
| Feather Flag | 10 ft | 16 sq ft per flag | — | — | 1/100 l.f. | — | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(e), Table 7.3.5.E. |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft or wall height | Max 700 sq ft for all flat/wall combined; ≤25% of wall surface | — | — | 4/use | On wall/flat on building | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(e), Table 7.3.5.E. |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1/lot | Freestanding, must be within landscaping area | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(e), Table 7.3.5.E. |
| Monument Sign - Development Entry | 16 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1/use | Development entry | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(e), Table 7.3.5.E. |
| Window Sign | 30 ft (max per table, effectively limited by window height) | 25% of window area per floor | — | — | No limit | Window | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(e), Table 7.3.5.E. |
| Marquee Sign | First floor | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1/use | Marquee of building | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(e), Table 7.3.5.E. |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | 30 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1/use | On canopy or awning | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(e), Table 7.3.5.E. |
B-3 Downtown Business District, ASMU Adams Street Mixed Use District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 | — | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(f), Table 7.3.5.F. |
| Projecting Sign | Building wall height | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Building facade (projecting) | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(f), Table 7.3.5.F. |
| Feather Flag | 10 ft | 16 sq ft per flag | — | — | 1 per 100 l.f. | — | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(f), Table 7.3.5.F. |
| Flat Sign | 10 ft | Combined flat/wall sign area not to exceed 100 sq ft or 25% of wall surface, whichever is less | — | — | 4/structure | Building wall | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(f), Table 7.3.5.F. |
| Wall Sign | Building wall height | Combined flat/wall sign area not to exceed 100 sq ft or 25% of wall surface, whichever is less | — | — | 4/structure | Building wall | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(f), Table 7.3.5.F. |
| Sidewalk Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1/lot | On sidewalk (in ASMU, min. 3 ft pedestrian clearance required) | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(f), Table 7.3.5.F. |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | 30 ft | 40 sq ft on one side; 30 sq ft for each addtl side | — | — | 1/use | On canopy/awning | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(f), Table 7.3.5.F. |
| Nameplate, Identifying Building Name | 8 ft if ground mounted | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1/building | On building or ground | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(f), Table 7.3.5.F. |
M-1 Manufacturing District, M-2 Manufacturing District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 | — | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(g), Table 7.3.5.G. |
| Feather Flag | 10 ft | 16 sq ft per flag | — | — | 1/100 l.f. | — | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(g), Table 7.3.5.G. |
| Wall/Flat Sign | Height of wall | Combined wall/flat signs not to exceed 400 sq ft | — | — | 3/structure | Structure wall | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(g), Table 7.3.5.G. |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 2/lot | Freestanding, must be in landscape area | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(g), Table 7.3.5.G. |
| Pole Sign | 30 ft | 150 sq ft; or 100 sq ft per use (if multi-use) | — | — | 2/lot | — | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(g), Table 7.3.5.G. |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area per floor | — | — | No limit | Window | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(g), Table 7.3.5.G. |
| Projecting Sign | Height of wall | Max 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Projecting from building wall | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(g), Table 7.3.5.G. |
| Nameplate, Identifying Building Name | 8 ft if ground mounted | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1/building | On building or ground | — | Unlock | Sec. 17-895(g), Table 7.3.5.G. |
PermitPal covers all 8 zoning districts in Macomb — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 8 zones for Macomb — start freeProhibited Signs in Macomb
- Signs which move, or give the appearance of movement. This includes signs which flutter, undulate, swing, rotate, oscillate, or otherwise move by natural or artificial means. (Feather flags, pennants, banners, and streamers may only be used on a temporary basis in business and industrial zones and require permit approval.)
- Roof signs.
- Signs which imitate traffic signs by use of similar shapes and colors to existing traffic signs, except those accessory to parking lots.
- Portable or wheeled signs.
- Signs placed on parked vehicles or trailers.
- Inflatable images such as balloons may be used only on a temporary basis in business and industrial zones and may not be used for longer than five days in any 30-day period.
- Signs or other similar devices, internal or external, containing rapidly flashing or running lights or lights being at an interval, color, or shape similar to lights as utilized by emergency service vehicles.
- No sign, whether temporary or permanent, shall be located within or shall obstruct the public right-of-way in any manner without the prior written consent of the city council.
- No sign shall be erected or placed so as to prevent free ingress and egress from any door, window, or fire escape, nor shall such sign be attached to any standpipe or fire escape.
- Nails, tacks, or wires or other hazardous projections are prohibited for permanent sign construction.
Exempt Signs in Macomb
- Signs used for safety purposes relative to the repair or maintenance of streets, sidewalks, or utilities in a public right-of-way.
- Nameplates not to exceed two square feet in area.
- Address plaque not to exceed two square feet in area.
- Paper notices placed on designated information kiosks.
- Signs and public notices erected or required by governmental bodies, or authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute, or ordinance. Such signs may be of any type, number, area, height, location, or illumination as authorized.
- Flags up to 120 square feet in size and a 40 foot height of pole in B-1, B-2, O/I, M, and ROS districts; in all other districts and the downtown overlay district, flags limited to 20 square feet in size and 24 foot pole height to be considered a flag. (Flags must be rectangular, made of weather resistant material, capable of being raised or lowered daily, and suspended from a freestanding pole.)
- A flag that has been adopted by the federal, state, or local government may be displayed as provided under applicable law.
- Plaques and cornerstones not to exceed two square feet in area, constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials and permanently affixed to the building or premises.
- Matter appearing on gasoline pumps, newspaper vending boxes, ATMs, and other vending machines as purchased or installed.
- Matter appearing on or adjacent to entry doors not exceeding one square foot in area per establishment.
- Matter appearing on display windows or doors to retail or service establishments not exceeding a cumulative total of two square feet in area per establishment.
- Temporary or neighborhood signs not exceeding eight square feet in area in residential districts and 32 square feet in nonresidential districts. No limit on the number of such signs. Signs shall be removed within seven days after the event in nonresidential districts.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Macomb
- No explicit general requirement for a master sign plan or comprehensive sign plan is stated for all signs; however, a permit application for each sign must include a detailed drawing or blueprint showing construction details, sign face(s), lighting, location, and relation to nearby buildings and streets, as per Sec. 17-893(c).
- For billboards (Sec. 17-896), application for a billboard permit must include a site plan, a plan of the proposed billboard, a map showing spacing with respect to existing billboards, and evidence of any federal or state permits.
- For approval of changes or deviations to an approved landscape plan (which may be required as part of a comprehensive site plan), changes shall require the approval of the community development coordinator and may be subject to the procedures for a variance as established in article IV.
- For monument—development entry signs in R-1, R-2, RMH, R-3, and R-4 districts, a special use permit is required, which is similar in process to seeking a variance or a type of site/sign plan approval.
- All permanent and temporary signs require a permit, and the permit application must be reviewed and approved by the community development coordinator for compliance before issuance. There is no blanket master sign plan process, but comprehensive submittals are required per permit.
Source: municode municipal code