# Sign Regulations in Mascoutah, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mascoutah, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/mascoutah
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Mascoutah/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH34UNLADECO_ARTXSIRE)

## At a glance

Mascoutah, Illinois regulates 35 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Billboards in the Non-residential zoning districts, NC, DC, GC, LI, GI, AP zoning district are capped at 35 ft above grade tall, 200 sq ft max area; 15 ft max vertical; 20 ft max horizontal, and 20 ft wide, with a See additional requirements for distances setback (Sec. Sec. 34-10-9(a)-(e)). Most commercial signs in Mascoutah require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning districts | 15 | 45 ft above ground level | 64 sq ft maximum per flag | — |
| Non-residential zoning districts, NC, DC, GC, LI, GI, AP | 22 | 45 ft above ground | 200 sq ft max area; 15 ft max vertical; 20 ft max horizontal | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Development Identification Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign face; 2 sign faces | — | — | One double-faced sign or two single-faced signs per entrance | At entrance to residential development, subdivision or neighborhood | — | Sec. 34-10-7(a) |
| Residential Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign face; 2 faces max | — | — | One per lot or parcel | On residential lot or parcel | — | Sec. 34-10-7(b) |
| Open House Sign - Onsite | — | 6 sq ft per sign face; 2 faces max | — | — | One onsite per event | On property during open house | — | Sec. 34-10-7(d) |
| Open House Sign - Offsite | — | 6 sq ft per sign face; 2 faces max | — | — | One offsite per event | Offsite during open house | — | Sec. 34-10-7(d) |
| Institutional Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One wall sign per institution | On premises of schools, country clubs, monasteries, convents, places of worship | — | Sec. 34-10-7(e); Sec. 34-10-5(a) |
| Institutional Freestanding Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign face; 2 sign faces max | — | — | One per institution; additional for accessory uses as stated | On premises of schools, country clubs, monasteries, convents, places of worship | — | Sec. 34-10-7(e); Sec. 34-10-5(a) |
| Institutional Temporary Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign face, 12 sq ft total | — | — | One temporary sign per institution at a time | On premises of institution | — | Sec. 34-10-7(e) |
| Flag | 25 ft (35 ft on lots over 1 acre) | 64 sq ft maximum per flag | — | — | Max 5 per lot; more for bigger lots as above | On private property | — | Sec. 34-10-6(a) |

### Non-residential zoning districts, NC, DC, GC, LI, GI, AP

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Low Monument (100-149 feet frontage) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per face; 2 faces | — | — | — | On site with 100-149 ft of sign frontage | — | Sec. 34-10-8(b)(2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (150 feet or more frontage) | 20 ft | 64 sq ft per face; 2 faces | — | — | — | On site with 150 ft or more of sign frontage | — | Sec. 34-10-8(b)(2)(c) |
| Parking Direction Sign | 3 ft | 3 sq ft per face | — | — | One per driveway direction | At driveway entrance | — | Sec. 34-10-8(d)(1) |
| Parking Regulation Sign | 10 ft | 5 sq ft | — | — | One per lot; one/20 spaces for larger lots; ADA signs as required | In parking lots | — | Sec. 34-10-8(d)(2) |
| On-Site Construction Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | See temporary sign size table (based on sign frontage); max 10 ft height | — | — | One per development | Out of public right-of-way, on development site | — | Sec. 34-10-8(e)(1)&(7) |
| A-Frame Sign (Temporary) | 42 in (vertical dimension) | 30" x 42" per panel (each of two panels) | 30 in (horizontal dimension) | — | — | On premises or immediately adjacent in sidewalk area | — | Sec. 34-10-8(e)(2) |
| Flag | Subject to maximum building height | 64 sq ft maximum per flag | — | — | Max 5 per lot; more for bigger lots as above | Any lot or parcel | — | Sec. 34-10-6(a) |
| Billboard | 35 ft above grade | 200 sq ft max area; 15 ft max vertical; 20 ft max horizontal | 20 ft | See additional requirements for distances | — | GC, LI, GI, AP only; within 660 ft of I-64 ROW and within airport overlay | — | Sec. 34-10-9(a)-(e) |

## Prohibited signs in Mascoutah

- Signs visible from a public right-of-way that imitate, blend or conflict with, or that may be confused with traffic signals and signs, including imitations of 'stop', 'go', 'caution', 'danger' or 'warning'.
- Signs that are of a size, location, movement or illumination as may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which might obstruct from view any traffic or street sign or signal.
- Signs on public land, except those erected at the direction of, or with the permission of, an appropriate public authority.
- Strips or strings of lights used to call attention to a use or occupancy by outlining property lines, roof lines, doors, windows, wall edges or other architectural features, or which are suspended from or attached to poles or similar structures. Exempted are holiday lighting displayed from November 1 through January 15.
- Moving signs, including those of which all or any part of the sign moves or appears to move, including strings of light bulbs and rotating signs, except automated time and temperature signs limited to display of time and temperature information.
- Commercial message signs in residential zoning districts, except for specified real estate signs and signs used in connection with a pre-existing nonconforming use.
- Snipe signs, except those advertising garage, yard sales or auction events, and subject to strict time and placement limitations.
- Unkempt or unsightly signs.
- Roof signs.
- Any sign structure which no longer supports a sign, unless temporarily void due to permitted alteration or repair with a permit on file. Repair/alteration must be completed within 30 days of approved permit.
- Permanent or temporary window signs above the ceiling of the second floor, including lettering painted or applied to glass.
- Portable signs.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons, except for special event balloons.
- Signs extending over a roadway except projecting signs in the DC district.
- Signs that advertise an activity or business no longer conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located. Such signs must be removed within six months after the activity or business ceases operation, unless granted an extension.
- Signs erected in a way that would impair the view of motorists at intersections or along public streets.
- Animated signs (no physical movement), except LED or like electronic message display boards.
- Any sign not permitted by sections 34-10-7 to 34-10-9 or exempted by section 34-10-3.
- No sign shall project beyond a property line or into a public right-of-way, except traffic control signs and permitted projecting signs in the DC district.
- All signs must be maintained in a safe, clean and attractive condition; unsafe or structurally unsound signs must be repaired or removed.
- All new signs must comply with all provisions of the Code and have required permits before construction or erection.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mascoutah

- Governmental and official signs, including public notices and official notices posted or authorized by government officials in the performance of their duties, and signs for the control or direction of traffic and other appropriate public purposes.
- 'No Parking', 'No Trespassing' and 'No Hunting' signs not larger than one square foot and sign height of six feet or less; in nonresidential zones, up to three square feet.
- Driveway signs at driveway entrances not exceeding one square foot in gross sign area and sign height of three feet or less.
- Residential address numbers on signs not larger than one square foot in gross sign area (if freestanding, limited to three feet in height).
- Illuminated or non-illuminated bulletin board signs erected by the city, a place of worship, or a school, not exceeding 24 square feet in area or eight feet in height.
- Residential garage, patio or estate sale signs not exceeding six square feet per sign face (max two faces), erected not more than three days prior and removed the day following the sale.
- Incidental signs, as defined in section 34-2-3.
- Flags permitted in all zoning districts without a permit, subject to limitations on number, size, and height, with exceptions during national holidays.
- Temporary window signs not exceeding six square feet in gross sign area (provided total does not exceed 25% of window area). No permit required.
- Incidental window signs not exceeding one square foot in gross sign area. No permit required.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permits are required for most permanent and certain temporary signs as described throughout the ordinance. A full application—including scale/dimensional drawings, materials, location, and data on existing signs on site—is required (Sec. 34-10-14).
- Permit application for any freestanding sign over ten feet in height must include sealed engineering drawings and wind-load analysis (Sec. 34-10-11(d)).
- All signs erected, constructed, painted, or placed requiring a permit must have the permit issued before installation (Sec. 34-10-14(d)).
- Variances from the sign code, including for size, number, location, and similar, must be reviewed and approved by the planning commission, as described in Sec. 34-10-13.
- Signs requiring a Conditional Use Permit or special approval (such as certain off-premise signs) require additional submittals and planning commission review.
- Permit applications must be accompanied by information on the size and location of all existing signs on the site (Sec. 34-10-14(a)).

## Full detail

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

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