# Sign Regulations in Mattoon, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Mattoon, Illinois regulates 29 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Typical)s in the Commercial Zoned Districts, Commercial Districts, Commercial or industrial zones, Commercial or industrial zoning districts zoning district are capped at 25 ft from ground tall and Max 150 sq ft/side (base); up to 400 sq ft/side with increased setback, with a 20 ft from curb or 8 ft clearance setback (Sec. §160.08(A)(2)-(6), (7)). Most commercial signs in Mattoon require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3), Residentially Zoned Districts | 13 | 12 ft or building facade height, whichever is less | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zoned Districts, Commercial Districts, Commercial or industrial zones, Commercial or industrial zoning districts | 14 | 100 ft from ground | Max 150 sq ft/side (base); up to 400 sq ft/side with increased setback | — |
| Industrial Zoned Districts, Industrially Zoned Districts | 9 | 100 ft from ground | Max 150 sq ft/side (base); up to 400 sq ft/side with increased setback | — |
| All zoning districts, All other zoning districts, General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | See district-specific limitations | — |

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

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3), Residentially Zoned Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flush Wall Sign (One-, Two-, Three-, Four-Unit Dwellings) | 12 ft or building facade height, whichever is less | 1 sq ft per dwelling unit | — | N/A | — | On building facade, must be flush wall sign for multi-dwelling and home occupations | — | §160.07(A)(1),(C)(1),(D),(E),(G)(3) |
| Flush Wall Sign (Home Occupations) | 12 ft or building facade height, whichever is less | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On building facade, must be flush wall sign | — | §160.07(A)(1),(C)(2),(D),(E),(G)(2) |
| Flush Wall Sign (Schools, Government buildings, Churches, Public auditoriums) | 12 ft or building facade height, whichever is less | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | On building facade | — | §160.07(C)(3),(D),(E) |
| Flush Wall Sign (Multi-unit dwelling developments & Mobile home parks) | 12 ft or building facade height, whichever is less | 12-50 sq ft | — | — | No limit | On building facade | — | §160.07(C)(4),(D),(E) |
| Flush Wall Sign (Bed and breakfast/inns) | 12 ft or building facade height, whichever is less | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On building facade | — | §160.07(C)(5),(D),(E) |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft or building facade height, whichever is less | — | — | 20 ft from curb or 8 ft clearance | 1 per street frontage (minimum 50 ft frontage) | 20 ft setback or 8 ft clearance, must be on private property, cannot encroach on ROW | — | §160.07(A)(2),(B),(D),(G) |
| Directory Sign (multi-unit dwelling developments/mobile home parks >5 units) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property | — | §160.09(K) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft/side, 2 sides permitted | — | — | 1 per lot frontage | On private property, not in ROW | — | §160.09(A)(3) |

### Commercial Zoned Districts, Commercial Districts, Commercial or industrial zones, Commercial or industrial zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Typical) | 25 ft from ground | Max 150 sq ft/side (base); up to 400 sq ft/side with increased setback | — | 20 ft from curb or 8 ft clearance | 1 per frontage (or 2 if >200 ft frontage, min 75 ft apart) | Private property, 20 ft from curb or 8 ft clearance | — | §160.08(A)(2)-(6), (7) |
| Freestanding Sign (within 5000 ft of IL Route 16/I-57 or IL Route 45/I-57) | 100 ft from ground | Max 150 sq ft/side (base), max 400 sq ft/side (with setback formula) | — | 20 ft from curb or 8 ft clearance | — | Private property within 5000 ft of stated intersections | — | §160.08(A)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business with >200 ft frontage, Option 2 sign) | 25 ft (or 100 ft in special area) | See above | — | 20 ft from curb or 8 ft clearance | 2 per qualifying frontage | On business property, on frontage over 200 ft | — | §160.08(A)(6)(b) |
| Architectural Sign (Wall, Canopy, Awning, Projecting) | May not project >5 ft above top of facade | 15% of facade area | — | Not closer than 3 ft to curb line (unless flush on private property), projections max 6 ft (see exceptions), 8 ft ground clearance if projecting over sidewalk/ROW | No limit, subject to total area restriction | On private property, not closer than 3 ft to curb line. Projection max: 6 ft from facade unless flush/painted. Projections over ROW must have 8 ft clearance. | — | §160.08(B)(1)-(6) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 32 sq ft/side, 2 sides | — | 8 ft clearance or 20 ft setback if freestanding | 1 per lot frontage | On private property, not in ROW | — | §160.09(A)(2) |
| Temporary Sign, Banner, Portable | 6 ft if freestanding | 100 sq ft/side, 2 sides | — | 20 ft from curbline unless building closer | — | On private property, not within 20 ft of curbline unless building setback <20 ft | — | §160.09(F) |
| Subdivision Entrance/Identification Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft/side | — | — | 1 pair per entrance, min 300 ft between pairs | At subdivision entrance(s) | — | §160.09(I) |
| Directory Sign (Office Park) | 12 ft | 64 sq ft/side | — | — | 1 per entrance | At office park entrance | — | §160.09(L) |

### Industrial Zoned Districts, Industrially Zoned Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Typical) | 25 ft from ground | Max 150 sq ft/side (base); up to 400 sq ft/side with increased setback | — | 20 ft from curb or 8 ft clearance | 1 per frontage (or 2 if >200 ft and 75 ft apart) | Private property, 20 ft from curb or 8 ft clearance | — | §160.08(A) |
| Freestanding Sign (within 5000 ft of intersection - Option) | 100 ft from ground | Max 150 sq ft/side (base); up to 400 sq ft/side with setback | — | 20 ft from curb or 8 ft clearance | — | Private property within 5000 ft of stated intersections | — | §160.08(A)(2) |
| Architectural Sign (Wall, Canopy, Awning, Projecting) | May not project >5 ft above top of facade | 15% of facade area | — | Not closer than 3 ft to curb; projections max 6 ft (exceptions); 8 ft clearance if over sidewalk/ROW | No limit per establishment, subject to area | On private property, not closer than 3 ft to curb line (exceptions may apply) | — | §160.08(B) |
| Minor Directional Sign | 15 ft | 10 sq ft/side, 2 sides | — | — | — | On premises, affixed to ground or permanent structure | — | §160.09(D) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 100 sq ft/side, 2 sides allowed | — | 8 ft clearance or 20 ft setback if freestanding | One per 800 ft of frontage | On private property, not in ROW | — | §160.09(A)(1) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft/side, 2 sides | — | — | — | On project property | — | §160.09(B)(2)-(4) |
| Industrial Park Identification Sign | 25 ft | 125 sq ft/side | — | — | 1 per entrance | At industrial park entrance; must not impede vision | — | §160.09(J) |
| Minor Directional Sign | 15 ft | 10 sq ft/side, 2 sides | — | — | — | On premises | — | §160.09(D) |

## Prohibited signs in Mattoon

- No sign, advertisement, or other matter or material may be painted or affixed onto any street, curb, sidewalk, utility pole, tree, post or other fixture in any street, or onto any sidewalk, or onto any city property (except election notices by government officials, under specific conditions).
- No sign or canopy may be erected over any street or alley, and no canopy may extend out over the curb line of any street.
- Off-premises signs with a surface area over 100 square feet are prohibited.
- Pennants, propellers, paddle wheels, streamers, spinners or other attraction devices designed to be set in motion by the wind are prohibited, except as permitted under special signs.
- Festoon lights are prohibited.
- Moving signs are prohibited, except as specifically permitted in nonresidential regulations.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Bare bulb illumination exceeding 25 watts per bulb is prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except as permitted under special signs.
- No political sign may be attached to utility poles, trees on public right-of-way, street light poles, street signs, traffic signs, fire hydrants, or any other property owned or controlled by the city.
- No temporary sign may be erected upon or suspended over public right-of-way, except as specifically permitted.
- No yard sale sign may be erected on or attached to utility poles, trees, or public right-of-way, street light poles, street or traffic signs, or fire hydrants, nor be located on the public right-of-way.
- No real estate sign may be erected on, suspended over, or encroach upon the public right-of-way.
- The use of flashing, blinking or pulsating lights to depict sudden or intense actions such as explosions, moving borders or similar actions is prohibited.
- All signs must conform to construction and maintenance standards; signs not kept in good repair or in violation must be repaired or removed upon notice.
- Obsolete signs must be removed or covered upon notice from the city.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mattoon

- Flags of nations, organizations of nations, states, cities, fraternal, religious, and civic organizations are not considered signs.
- Merchandise, pictures, models, products, or services incorporated in a window display are not considered signs.
- Signs not exceeding one square foot bearing only property numbers, post office box numbers, names of occupants, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations are not considered signs.
- Legal notices, informational, or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies are not considered signs.
- National, state, religious, fraternal, professional, and civic symbols or crests are not considered signs.
- Decorations clearly incidental and customarily associated with any national, local or religious holiday displayed for not more than 60 consecutive days are not considered signs.
- Signs painted on or magnetically affixed to vehicles that do not contain changeable letters or copy, and otherwise attached signs not exceeding five square feet and not containing changeable letters or copy are not considered signs.
- Maintenance of existing sign areas, as defined, does not require a permit.
- Temporary construction signs (as specified) do not require a permit.
- Window promotional signs do not require a permit.
- Yard sale signs do not require a permit.
- Signs permitted for single unit dwellings do not require a permit.
- Signs for historic places and buildings do not require a permit.
- Political signs do not require a permit.
- Temporary real estate signs advertising real estate for sale, rent or lease do not require a permit.
- Temporary signs, pennants, banners, and portable signs do not require a permit.
- Posting of election notices by county and city officials as required by statute is exempt, provided such notices are removed within five days after legal posting period.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permits are required before a sign is erected, altered, or relocated, including for new signs, moved signs, enlarged signs, replacement signs made of new material, or signs with structural changes (other than routine maintenance).
- It is the responsibility of the sign owner or their agent/contractor to obtain the permit.
- Permits must be displayed on the premises at the time erection begins and for the next seven days.
- Permits are not required for certain exempted signs as listed, but all other regulations must still be met.
- Permit applications must be accompanied by appropriate fees, related to sign size.
- Any canopy (or sign) extending over a sidewalk requires an application to the City Clerk including a sketch and structural details; structural review and approval are required and fees apply.
- Variance requests for exceptions to technical requirements may be submitted through a petition process involving the Building Inspector, Planning Commission, and City Council, with possible notification to property owners within 150 feet.
- Obsolete or nonconforming signs may need to be removed or altered following notification procedures.

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

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