# Sign Regulations in Madison, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Madison, Illinois regulates 27 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Business Districts zoning district are capped at 30 ft (may be increased by variance) tall and 400 sq ft, with a Structural supports at least 10 ft from right-of-way (unless approved). setback (Sec. § 155.316(D), (E), (F), (G)). Most commercial signs in Madison require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts, Agricultural Districts | 4 | 5 ft | 6 sq ft (total for all additional signs) | — |
| Business Districts | 5 | 30 ft (may be increased by variance) | 400 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Zones | 2 | 30 ft (may be increased by variance, same as business) | 300 sq ft (total all wall and freestanding signs) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 18 | 6 ft (if ground mounted) | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts, Agricultural Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Dwelling Unit) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Anywhere on premises except as restricted by § 155.208(A); if wall mounted, must be flush and not project above the roof line. | — | § 155.315(A)-(B) |
| Ground Mounted Sign (Single Dwelling Unit) | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Anywhere on premises except as restricted by § 155.208(A); if ground mounted, not over 5 feet above ground. | — | § 155.315(A)-(B) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Dwelling Units) | — | 6 sq ft (total for all additional signs) | — | — | 1 additional per building for multiple dwellings | Anywhere on premises except as restricted by § 155.208(A); must be flush mounted and not project above roof line if wall mounted. | — | § 155.315(C) |
| Ground Mounted Sign (Multiple Dwelling Units) | 5 ft | 6 sq ft (total for all additional signs) | — | — | 1 additional per building for multiple dwellings | Anywhere on premises except as restricted by § 155.208(A); if ground mounted, not over 5 feet above ground. | — | § 155.315(C) |

### Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building face fronting a public street | Each side of a building fronting a public street. | — | § 155.316(B)-(C) |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft (may be increased by variance) | 400 sq ft | — | Structural supports at least 10 ft from right-of-way (unless approved). | — | Anywhere on premises provided regulations of § 155.208(A) are met; no sign shall intrude into any public right-of-way and structural supports at least 10 ft from right-of-way unless approved. | — | § 155.316(D), (E), (F), (G) |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the vertical faces of marquees. | — | § 155.316(F)(3) |
| Incidental Sign (Wall Mounted) | — | — | — | No closer than 10 ft to the public right-of-way. | — | Wall mounted. | — | § 155.316(H)(2) |
| Incidental Sign (Freestanding) | — | — | — | No closer than 10 ft to the public right-of-way. | — | On permanently installed structure. | — | § 155.316(H)(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 16 sq ft (per firm) | — | — | — | On a property under construction. | — | § 155.318(A) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Property) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises for sale, rental or lease. | — | § 155.318(B) |
| Real Estate Sign (Non-Residential Property) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises for sale, rental or lease. | — | § 155.318(B) |
| Political Campaign Sign (Residential or Agricultural District) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On private property. | — | § 155.318(C) |
| Political Campaign Sign (Non-Residential Property) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On nonresidential property. | — | § 155.318(C) |
| Yard Sign (Garage or Yard Sale) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property. | — | § 155.318(E) |
| Institutional Sign | 6 ft (if ground mounted) | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises. | — | § 155.318(H) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft (not including decorative mounting) | — | — | — | At subdivision entrance; so as not to create intersection safety hazard. | — | § 155.318(M) |

## Prohibited signs in Madison

- No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole.
- No sign shall have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or other illuminating device with changing light intensity, brightness, or color. Beacon lights are not permitted.
- Neither direct nor reflected light from primary sources on signs shall create a traffic hazard to motor vehicle operators.
- No exposed lamps or bulbs exceeding 15 watts shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign so as to expose the face of the bulbs, light, or lamp to any public street or adjacent property.
- No sign may be erected, altered, or relocated without a permit issued by the Administrative Official, except as otherwise provided.
- Signs which contain statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character which offend public morals or decency are prohibited.
- Signs which contain or are an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal are prohibited.
- Any sign of a size, location, movement, content, coloring, or illumination that could be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hides from view any traffic or street sign or signal is prohibited.
- Signs that advertise an activity, business, product, or service no longer conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located are prohibited.
- Signs that move in any manner or have a major moving part are prohibited.
- Signs that include, contain, or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similarly moving devices are prohibited unless specifically permitted by other ordinances.
- Signs that may swing or otherwise noticeably move as a result of wind pressure due to their suspension or attachment are prohibited.
- All signs must display, in a place conspicuous to inspectors, a tag approved by the Administrative Official containing pertinent data such as name of owner, date of erection and size in square footage.
- All signs and components thereof must be kept in good repair and in safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition.
- Any sign existing in violation of the code shall be removed, altered, or repaired within three months of passage of the code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Madison

- Construction signs (non-advertising, up to 16 sq ft per firm, removed within 14 days of project use or end of subcontract) are exempt from permit requirements, subject to general regulations.
- Real estate signs advertising sale, rental, or lease (4 sq ft for residential property, 16 sq ft for other property, on-premises, removed within 7 days of sale/rental/lease) are exempt from permit requirements, subject to general regulations.
- Political campaign signs (one per premises; up to 32 sq ft on nonresidential property, up to 16 sq ft in residential/agricultural areas, within private property, removed within 7 days after the election) are exempt from permit requirements, subject to general regulations.
- Street banners advertising a public entertainment or event, if approved by the Administrative Official and only for designated locations, permitted for 14 days before and 7 days after the event, are exempt from permit requirements, subject to general regulations.
- Garage or yard sale signs (on private property, up to 4 sq ft, dated, removed 7 days after posting) are exempt from permit requirements, subject to general regulations.
- Signs publicizing a charitable or nonprofit event of general public interest (up to 4 sq ft in residential zones, 32 sq ft in business/industrial zones, for 14 days before and 7 days after the event) are exempt from permit requirements, subject to general regulations.
- Signs in the public interest erected by a public officer in performance of public duty (such as safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, traffic signs, plaques, historical signs) are exempt from permit requirements when notification is given to the Administrative Official.
- Institutional signs setting forth the name or simple announcement for any public, charitable, educational, or religious institution on the premises (up to 24 sq ft, regulations on event timing and height apply) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Integral signs (names of buildings, dates of erection, citations, tablets, etc., carved or formed integrally into the structure) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Private traffic direction signs (not exceeding 3 sq ft each) and horizontal signs on and flush with paved areas are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs for urban home occupations (up to 2 sq ft, attached flat against the building, stationary, not illuminated, only name and occupation of resident) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs on vehicles, painted or attached directly to the body of the original vehicle (with minor extension for magnetic signs), are exempt from permit requirements.
- Subdivision entrance signs (not exceeding 6 sq ft, non-illuminated, non-pole mounted, not higher than 5 ft, not a safety hazard) are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit application must include location, owner, erector, design, and location of the sign and any other pertinent information as the Administrative Official may require to ensure compliance.
- A permit is required before erecting, altering, or relocating any sign except those signs specifically exempted under § 155.318.
- If a proposed sign is in a newly created zone district not covered by current code, a written interpretation by the Zoning Board of Appeals or new sign regulations must be provided before a sign is permitted.

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

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