# Sign Regulations in Milan, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Milan, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/milan
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-19
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/milanil/latest/milan_il/0-0-0-10260)

## At a glance

Milan, Illinois regulates 17 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Church)s in the Residential Districts (SE-1, SE-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 30 square feet, with a 10 feet from all lot lines setback (Sec. 10-9-5 H). Most commercial signs in Milan require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 96 square feet total | — |
| Agricultural Districts (AG-1, AG-2) | 4 | 25 feet | 500 square feet per face with up to 20% extensions | — |
| Residential Districts (SE-1, SE-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7) | 8 | 6 feet | 96 square feet | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4) | 10 | 25 feet | 500 square feet per establishment per street facing | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-3) | 9 | 25 feet | 500 square feet per establishment per street facing | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Districts (SE-1, SE-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Sign (Business Use) | — | 15 square feet | — | — | 1 (attached or freestanding) | Outside building wall | — | 10-9-4 F |
| Attached Sign (Church) | — | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 (attached or freestanding) | Outside building wall | — | 10-9-4 G |
| Freestanding Sign (Church) | 6 feet | 30 square feet | — | 10 feet from all lot lines | 1 (attached or freestanding) | On premises | — | 10-9-5 H |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (<2 Acres) | — | 6 square feet | — | 10 feet from any street right of way line | — | On the property | — | 10-9-8 A1 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (>=2 Acres) | — | 96 square feet | — | 10 feet from any street right of way line | — | On the property | — | 10-9-8 A2 |
| Temporary Sign (Other) | — | 6 square feet per face | — | 10 feet from any street right of way line | — | — | — | 10-9-8 A5, B |
| Portable Sign (Model Homes) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10-9-11 E2 |
| Temporary Sign (Contractor, Developer, etc.) | — | 96 square feet total | — | 10 feet from street right of way or zoning setback (more restrictive) | — | On the site being developed | — | 10-9-8 A3 |

### Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Sign | — | 500 square feet per establishment per street facing | — | — | — | Any facade of the building | — | 10-9-4 |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Wholly upon or over the roof of building in business or industrial districts | — | 10-9-6 |
| Freestanding On-Premises Sign | 25 feet | 120 square feet | — | 1 foot from front property line or buffer if area <=100 square feet; additional 1 foot for each 10 square feet over 100 square feet | — | Front property line or buffer area when required (B-4 only) | — | 10-9-5 B, C, D, E, G, J |
| Freestanding Sign (Major Home Occupation) | 6 feet | 30 square feet | — | 10 feet from all lot lines | 1 (attached or freestanding) | On premises | — | 10-9-5 I |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (>=2 Acres) | — | 96 square feet | — | 10 feet from any street right of way line | — | On the property | — | 10-9-8 A2 |
| Temporary Sign (Other) | — | 32 square feet per face | — | 10 feet from any street right of way line | — | — | — | 10-9-8 A5, B |
| Temporary Sign (Contractor, Developer, etc.) | — | 96 square feet total | — | 10 feet from street right of way or zoning setback (more restrictive) | — | On the site being developed | — | 10-9-8 A3 |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 square feet per face or 64 square feet total (divided equally among faces if more than one) | — | 10 feet from street right of way | — | — | — | 10-9-9; 10-9-11 E2 |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Sign | — | 500 square feet per establishment per street facing | — | — | — | Any facade of the building | — | 10-9-4 |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Wholly upon or over the roof of building in business or industrial districts | — | 10-9-6 |
| Freestanding On-Premises Sign | 25 feet | 120 square feet | — | 1 foot from front property line or buffer if area <=100 square feet; additional 1 foot for each 10 square feet over 100 square feet | — | Front property line or buffer area when required | — | 10-9-5 B, C, D, E, G, J |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign | — | 500 square feet per face with up to 20% extensions | — | — | — | — | — | 10-9-5 B, F |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (>=2 Acres) | — | 96 square feet | — | 10 feet from any street right of way line | — | On the property | — | 10-9-8 A2 |
| Temporary Sign (Other) | — | 32 square feet per face | — | 10 feet from any street right of way line | — | — | — | 10-9-8 A5, B |
| Temporary Sign (Contractor, Developer, etc.) | — | 96 square feet total | — | 10 feet from street right of way or zoning setback (more restrictive) | — | On the site being developed | — | 10-9-8 A3 |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 square feet per face or 64 square feet total (divided equally among faces if more than one) | — | 10 feet from street right of way | — | — | — | 10-9-9; 10-9-11 E2 |

## Prohibited signs in Milan

- Signs incorporating moving, scintillating, or revolving lights (except traffic warnings and public service information like time, date, temperature, weather); or flashing lights with frequency less than 5 seconds.
- Revolving signs with rotation frequency more than 5 revolutions per minute.
- String lights other than holiday decorations.
- Signs obstructing free passage on roofs or ingress/egress from doors, windows, fire escapes, or exits.
- Banners, flags, pennants, searchlights, portable signs, twirling signs, sandwich board signs, sidewalk/curb signs, balloons, or gas-filled figures unless authorized and in the specified manner.
- Signs at intersections obstructing free and clear vision.
- Signs that interfere with, obstruct the view of, or are confused with authorized traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- Signs using words like 'STOP', 'LOOK', 'DANGER' or similar to mislead or confuse traffic.
- Signs protruding into public rights-of-way.

## Signs exempt from permit in Milan

- House and business numbers identifying the address of a parcel of land.
- Announcement or professional signs and nameplates in residential zoning districts identifying the occupant, not exceeding 1 square foot in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of metal.
- Flags bearing the official design of a nation, state, municipality, educational institution, or nonprofit organization.
- Traffic or other municipal signs such as legal notices, railroad crossings, danger, and other emergency signs approved by the village board of trustees.
- Community special event signs approved by the village board of trustees.
- Bulletin boards not over 12 square feet for public, charitable, or religious institutions, located on premises and set back 10 feet from property lines.
- Signs for traffic direction on private streets or parking areas not exceeding 10 square feet and not illuminated, placed to avoid hazards.
- Nonelectric or electric signs inside buildings visible from outside that do not require electrical inspector approval, and all signs inside buildings not visible from outside.
- Community information signs advertising off-premises events sponsored by religious, charitable, business, or other associations.
- Credit card signs or stickers affixed to windows.

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

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