# Sign Regulations in McCook, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** McCook, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/mccook
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/McCook/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH18BUBURE_ARTXISICO)

## At a glance

McCook, Illinois regulates 32 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Identification Signs in the Industrial zoning districts, Commercial zoning districts zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall, 100 sq ft per side (each of 2 sides), and 18 inches thick wide, with a Min 10 ft from lot line; 3 ft from driveway/parking setback (Sec. Sec. 18-304(d)). Most commercial signs in McCook require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 3.5 ft | Up to 40 sq ft for ≤10 acres, up to 64 sq ft for >10 acres | — |
| A single-family residential district, B multifamily residential district, Residential zoning districts | 5 | Top of sign max 5 ft above ground | Max 30 sq ft per sign; total 60 sq ft per property | — |
| Industrial zoning districts, Commercial zoning districts | 15 | Cannot project higher than 30 ft above curb level | 500 sq ft per side per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | Up to 40 sq ft for ≤10 acres, up to 64 sq ft for >10 acres | — | — | One sign per site | Must be on site of construction, construction shed, or trailer | — | Sec. 18-301(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Over 6 sq ft) | — | 40 sq ft (for ≥1 acre tracts or tracts <1 acre on arterial/major collector roads); 6 sq ft for tracts <1 acre not on major roads | — | — | One per lot or parcel | On the property to be sold/leased | — | Sec. 18-301(b) |
| Not-for-profit/Religious Sign | — | Max 40 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | May face each street on corner lot, total area not to exceed 40 sq ft per sign | — | Sec. 18-301(c) |
| Directional Sign | 3.5 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 18-301(g) |
| Parking Area Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per lot; one per exit/entrance | At parking area entrances/exits; not for single-family dwellings | — | Sec. 18-301(h) |
| Temporary Window Signs (Real Estate, Personal, Garage Sale, Special Events) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per property at a time; max 1 per type | Interior of building | — | Sec. 18-302(j) |
| Political Campaign Sign | — | 16 sq ft per zoning lot | — | — | — | Only on private property | — | Sec. 18-302(k) |
| Public Event Sign (Government) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property, not on right-of-way or utility poles | — | Sec. 18-302(l) |

### A single-family residential district, B multifamily residential district, Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign (Single-family) | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | 6 ft from property line (except on mailbox) | Maximum 2 per dwelling | On mailbox or minimum 6 ft from property line | — | Sec. 18-303(a) |
| Street Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | 6 ft from property line (except on mailbox or near door) | Maximum 2 per dwelling | On mailbox or near doorway; otherwise 6 ft from property line | — | Sec. 18-303(b) |
| Nameplate Sign (Multifamily dwellings) | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Per dwelling unit | — | Sec. 18-303(c) |
| Multifamily Identification Sign | Top of sign max 5 ft above ground | 20 sq ft per sign | — | At least 6 ft from property line | One per entrance | At each vehicular entrance from public right-of-way and each major public entrance | — | Sec. 18-303(c) |
| Identification Sign (Institutional and Nonresidential Use) | — | Max 30 sq ft per sign; total 60 sq ft per property | — | No closer than 15 ft to any other lot, parcel or tract | Max 2 per property | — | — | Sec. 18-303(d) |

### Industrial zoning districts, Commercial zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall-Mounted Sign (General) | Cannot project higher than 30 ft above curb level | 150 sq ft (may be higher for 250+ ft setback: up to 3% of building face) | — | — | Based on building frontage (see additional requirements) | On building wall facing public street or access | — | Sec. 18-304(c) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per side (each of 2 sides) | 18 inches thick | Min 10 ft from lot line; 3 ft from driveway/parking | One per lot/frontage as described | No closer than 10 ft from lot line; up to one per lot (two if 300+ ft frontage; one per frontage for large corner lots) | — | Sec. 18-304(d) |
| Ground Sign (Retail/Commercial Development 3+ acres) | 16 ft | 160 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from lot line; 3 ft from driveway/parking | One per street facing | Facing each street | — | Sec. 18-304(e) |
| Ground Sign (Retail/Commercial Development 10+ acres) | 30 ft | 500 sq ft per side per sign | — | 10 ft from right of way; 3 ft from driveway/parking | Up to two | Up to two, not less than 10 ft from right of way; identifies shopping center and tenants | — | Sec. 18-304(f) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (Tenant Public Entrance) | — | — | — | — | One per street frontage | One per public street or access road frontage, if tenant has exterior public entrance | — | Sec. 18-304(g)(1) |
| Menu Board Sign (Drive-up Restaurant) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | Up to 2 per restaurant | Drive-up restaurant use | — | Sec. 18-304(g)(4) |
| Gasoline Price Sign (Automobile Service Stations) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per end of pump isle | At each end of pump isle | — | Sec. 18-304(h)(2) |
| Electronic Message Center Window Sign | — | 25 sq ft per sign, and not more than 20% total up to max 50 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per business | First floor commercial window (inside, within 12 inches of glass) | — | Sec. 18-304(j)(8) |

## Prohibited signs in McCook

- No person shall erect, maintain or alter a sign in the village except in compliance with this article.
- It shall be unlawful to proceed with the erection, enlargement, alteration or reinstallation of any sign or illumination thereof unless a permit has first been obtained from the building commissioner, unless otherwise exempted.
- No attachment, addition or alteration shall be made to a sign or illuminated sign unless all provisions are fully complied with and unless a permit is first issued for such attachment or addition.
- It shall be unlawful to depart from the approved permit application or to perform work in violation of the approved plans or this article. Such violation annuls the permit unless corrected within 30 days from notification.
- No sign shall be painted, pasted or similarly posted directly on the surface of any building, wall, fence, or structure.
- No person, firm or corporation shall place on, or suspend from, any building, sign, structure, canopy, lot, or place any goods, wares or merchandise or any other thing so that same shall project over the public way except as herein provided.
- It shall be unlawful to make any structural component or electrical work on a sign without a permit if one is required.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained where it would or might constitute a dangerous obstruction to the view or a menace to the physical welfare of persons traveling on any highway, sidewalk, path or abutting way.
- No projecting sign over public property exceeding 50 square feet in area of one face shall be erected except under the authority of a village board order in addition to the regular permit.
- No sign shall be attached to or supported by a chimney or water tank unless village board approval is obtained.
- Signs flat against the building must be entirely flat or must clear the walk by nine feet.
- Flat signs shall not project above the parapet of the building.
- Signs supported by structures from roof or ground shall not exceed 60 feet in vertical height unless board approval is obtained.
- Signs or electric signs projecting over public property shall have a thickness not to exceed 16 inches (with exceptions as noted).
- Signs erected entirely above the roof of a building, or supported from the ground with the top more than 24 feet above adjoining street level, must comply with structural standards and minimum material thicknesses.
- No sign shall be installed over an alley less than 16 feet above the roadway.
- Signs must meet the light shielding requirements near adjacent residentially zoned property.
- Subtenants with no direct exterior public entrance are not entitled to exterior signage.

## Signs exempt from permit in McCook

- The provisions of this article do not apply to signs which cannot be seen from a public right-of-way or other areas open to the public (Exception: drive-up menus not seen from public rights-of-way).
- Changing of the advertising copy or message on an existing approved painted or printed sign, changeable copy sign or similar approved sign, is exempt from permit if the sign is specifically designed for replaceable copy.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning or other normal maintenance and repair (not involving any structural component or electrical work) of a sign for which a permit has been previously issued, is exempt from permit. Replacement of the plastic face due to breakage or deterioration is also exempt.
- Changes in the content of a window display, window signs and window promotional signs are exempt from permit.
- Changes in the content of permitted temporary signs are exempt from permit.
- Public signs are allowed without a permit.
- Signs painted on or attached to a vehicle used in the normal course of business (not primarily for sign display and not parked overnight visible to a public right-of-way) are exempt from permit.
- Tablets, grave markers, headstones, memorial statuary and plaques, or other remembrances of persons or events which are noncommercial in nature, are exempt.
- Any flag, emblem or insignia of a government or noncommercial enterprise is allowed without permit, provided that it is not larger than 96 square feet and is not used as an attention-getting device for commercial purposes.
- "No trespassing" signs, warning signs, notification signs for emergency personnel, and similar signs are allowed without a permit, provided that each is no more than two square feet in area, and no more than two such signs are on the lot.
- Temporary window real estate, personal celebration, special events and garage sale signs are allowed without a permit if they do not exceed six square feet, no more than two are placed at a time (and only one of each type), are not illuminated, are within the building, meet time restrictions, and meet other limitations in Sec. 18-302(j).
- Signs for candidates seeking public office and for referenda are allowed without permit up to 16 square feet per lot, on private property, and within time restrictions.
- Signs for a public event at a location in the village conducted by a unit of government not exceeding eight square feet located on private property (not public right-of-way/utility poles), within time limits, are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A drawing prepared by a licensed architect or structural engineer bearing their seal must be presented with all applications for the erection of all signs exceeding 25 square feet in area of one face of a projecting sign (Sec. 18-309).
- Development identification signs (monument signs) for residential subdivisions, retail centers, or commercial developments require approval of the size, location, content, and construction materials by the village board prior to building department approval and issuance of a permit (Sec. 18-304(g)(3)).
- Board approval is required for roof or ground signs over 25 feet in height (Sec. 18-315).
- No projecting sign over public property exceeding 50 square feet in area of one face shall be erected except under the authority of a village board order in addition to the regular permit (Sec. 18-315).
- Board approval is required before a sign may be attached to or supported by a chimney or water tank (Sec. 18-318(c)).
- Consent of a majority of taxpayers on both sides of any residential street block is required before a sign, illuminated sign, or illuminated signboard may be erected where more than one-half of the buildings are used exclusively for residence (Sec. 18-314).

## Full detail

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

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