# Sign Regulations in Morris, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Morris, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/morris
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Morris/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH44TRVE_ARTIISISI)

## At a glance

Morris, Illinois regulates 37 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Real Estate Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 6 sq ft, with a 10 ft from any lot line setback (Sec. Sec. 48-259(6)). Most commercial signs in Morris 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 | 14 | 36 in | 40% of an individual window pane | — |
| Downtown city sign district | 5 | 8 ft | Up to 100 sq ft (less area of primary wall sign) | — |
| Residential districts | 8 | 6 ft above curb level | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business districts, B-2, B-3, B4 | 9 | 60 ft | 400 sq ft (total), up to 5 tenants (100 sq ft each, total max 500 sq ft) | — |
| Manufacturing districts, M1, M2 | 5 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Tag | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Affixed to item or property | — | Sec. 48-259(1) |
| Memorial Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 48-259(2) |
| Directional and Warning Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site | — | Sec. 48-259(3) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any lot line | 1 per yard abutting public street | Each yard abutting a public street; freestanding | — | Sec. 48-259(6) |
| Rummage Sale/Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 4 directional per event | On-site and off-site (with owner's consent) | — | Sec. 48-259(7) |
| Flag/Pennant/Insignia | — | Not larger than American flag | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 48-259(8)-(9) |
| Sidewalk Sign (A-frame/Sandwich Board) | 36 in | — | 30 in | — | 1 per business | Directly in front of the premises being advertised | — | Sec. 48-259(10) |
| Window Sign | — | 40% of an individual window pane | — | — | — | Within or on exterior/interior of window, visible from outside | — | Sec. 48-259(11) |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Exempt Signs (see General) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 48-262(1) |
| Temporary Sign (for nonresidential uses) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 48-262(2) |
| Nameplate Sign - Single Family or Two Family | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling | At or near entry | — | Sec. 48-262(3)(a) |
| Nameplate Sign - Multiple Family (3-9 units) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | At or near entry | — | Sec. 48-262(3)(b) |
| Nameplate Sign - Multi-Family (>9 units) | 6 ft above curb level | 32 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from front lot line | 1 per building | Front yard, not less than 5 ft from front lot line | — | Sec. 48-262(3)(c) |
| Home Occupation Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | At or near entry | — | Sec. 48-262(4) |
| Identification Sign (for nonresidential uses) | 6 ft (10 ft if 4+ acres) | 32 sq ft (64 sq ft if 4+ acres) | — | — | 1 per building entrance | One per building entrance | — | Sec. 48-262(5) |
| Permanent Residential Development Sign | — | — | — | — | Max 2 per entrance | Major entrances to a residential subdivision or planned development | — | Sec. 48-262(6) |

### Business districts, B-2, B-3, B4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 10 ft (8 ft if adjacent to residential) | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per lot | Freestanding; no closer than 5 ft from property line | — | Sec. 48-263(2) |
| Menu Board Sign (Freestanding for Restaurant Drive-Throughs) | 8 ft | 24 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per lot | Freestanding at restaurant drive-through | — | Sec. 48-263(2)(h) |
| Pole Sign (Option for Route 47 Frontage) | 20 ft | Same as ground sign (max 100 sq ft) | — | 10 ft from property line | 1 per lot (instead of ground sign) | Only properties fronting Route 47 from I-80 (North) to Armstrong St (South), 10 ft from property line | — | Sec. 48-263(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | See formula | On facade with public entrance or street frontage | — | Sec. 48-263(4) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | See wall sign restriction | On canopy or awning, if no wall sign faces same street frontage | — | Sec. 48-263(4)(g) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (as part of wall/ground/pole sign) | — | Electronic: 40% of sign area; Manual: 50% of sign area | — | — | — | Integral to ground, pole, or wall sign | — | Sec. 48-263(5) |
| Highway Identification Pole Sign (B-3) | 60 ft | 400 sq ft (total), up to 5 tenants (100 sq ft each, total max 500 sq ft) | — | Min 500 ft from residential/park/school/church and other highway ID poles | 1 per subdivision/planned development | On-premises, within 1,500 ft of Interstate 80 centerline and not closer than 500 ft to residential, park, school, etc. | — | Sec. 48-267(3) |
| Directory Sign (B-3 only) | 35 ft | 300 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — | 10 ft (front), 18 in (side/rear) | 2 per development (+1 extra if adjacent to I-80) | Freestanding, at vehicle access points in shopping/business/industrial parks | — | Sec. 48-267(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Morris

- Off-site signs are prohibited in all zoning districts unless granted a conditional use permit within the B4 district or specifically approved as part of a planned unit development.
- Animated signs are prohibited in all zoning districts unless specifically approved as part of a planned unit development. Exception: traditional barber poles meeting specified criteria.
- Obsolete signs are prohibited. Property owners are required to remove signs within 30 days of the date that the business, organization, activity, or service has ceased to operate or occupy the site of the sign, unless the structure is in good repair and a blank panel is installed.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited, except when (a) the vehicle does not remain in one place for more than 24 consecutive hours; (b) the vehicle is actually used for transportation; (c) the vehicle displays current registration and is insured; and (d) the sign does not pose a traffic or pedestrian danger.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Exposed light bulbs, flashing, blinking or traveling and similar sign illumination are prohibited unless approved as part of a planned unit development.
- Obscenity is prohibited: It is unlawful to display on any sign any matter which as a whole predominantly appeals to prurient interests and goes substantially beyond customary limits of candor.
- Signs may not be painted directly on any surface of a building unless specifically permitted by section 48-261.
- No sign (except those exempted in section 48-259) shall be erected, altered or moved without first obtaining a permit from the building and zoning officer.
- When a sign type is not specifically listed in the permitted signs sections, it is expressly prohibited unless determined otherwise by the building and zoning officer.
- Only signs erected by the city or the state are permitted within public rights-of-way. All other signs must be at least five feet from any lot line.
- No sign over 30 inches high may be placed within a 25-foot triangular area of the intersection of two street right-of-way lines at corner lots.
- All signs must be in good repair and maintained in compliance with local building, electrical and fire codes.
- All signs must be legible.
- All illumination for signs adjacent to residentially zoned lots must be turned off on or before 11:00 p.m. or business closing, whichever is later.
- Any violation of these provisions shall be subject to penalties as provided by ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Morris

- Identification tags showing only owner name, address, and telephone number, limited to one square foot in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets and signs denoting building erection date, no larger than five square feet.
- On-site directional and warning signs not exceeding five square feet in area.
- Signs erected by a governmental body, or under its direction (traffic signs, safety signs, public school/playground signs, community entry signs, and governmental directional signs).
- Political signs.
- Real estate signs not exceeding six square feet, one per street yard, set back at least ten feet from any lot line, not exceeding six feet in height, and not illuminated.
- Rummage sale or garage sale signs with limitations: no more than four square feet per sign, put up no more than 24 hours before and removed no later than 24 hours after the event, off-site placement with landowner consent, and no more than four directional signs per event.
- Flags, pennants, or insignias of any government or of a religious, charitable, or fraternal organization, provided it is flown with and not larger than the American flag.
- One company logo flag, flown with and not larger than the American flag.
- Sidewalk (sandwich) signs: one per business, directly in front of advertised premises, not interfering with pedestrian movement, not exceeding 30 inches wide and 36 inches high, displayed only during business hours, not electrically powered or illuminated, and not containing moving parts. In the B-2 district, sign must be close to building frontage and sidewalk must remain at least four feet wide.
- Window signs, provided the total window sign area does not exceed 40% of the window pane area and contains no flashing elements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign (unless exempted in section 48-259) shall be erected, altered or moved within the city without first obtaining a permit from the building and zoning officer. Permit process involves submitting a plan drawn to scale showing the sign's design, materials, square footage, height, lighting, construction method, and means of attachment.
- Variances from sign ordinance requirements (including sign plans that do not strictly comply) must be approved by the city council after recommendation by the zoning board of appeals at a public meeting with supporting documentation and potential conditions.
- Any mural that will exceed the maximum allowed wall area requires site plan review as detailed in the site plan review ordinance (article XXVII of the chapter).
- For planned unit developments, certain prohibited signs (off-site/animated) and types or deviations may be permitted as part of the PUD approval, which may require submission of a sign plan as part of the development plan.

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

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