# Sign Regulations in Mount Morris, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Mount Morris, Illinois regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (<200 sq ft)s in the Highway Business (C-2) zoning district are capped at 30 ft above ground tall and <200 sq ft, with a 20 ft from ROW line; not within 30 ft of any ROW intersection setback (Sec. 10-11-1.B.2.g). Most commercial signs in Mount Morris require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2) | 6 | 10 ft above curb level | 25 sq ft per sign | — |
| General Business (C-1) | 6 | 20 ft above ground | 200 sq ft | — |
| Highway Business (C-2) | 7 | 30 ft above ground | 300 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2) | 7 | 30 ft above ground | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 7 ft above walk/public way; 15 ft above vehicle-used public way | — | — |

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

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Premises Sign | — | 10 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 | On the property pertaining only to the sale, lease, or identification of the premises. | — | 10-11-1.A.1 |
| Directional Sign | — | 10 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | On premises for any use permitted in the residential district | — | 10-11-1.A.2 |
| Accessory Name Plate/Identification Sign (One- and Two-Family) | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | For each dwelling unit, indicating name or address of occupant/occupation | — | 10-11-1.A.3.a |
| Accessory Identification Sign (Multifamily/Other Buildings) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | For apartment hotels, multifamily, buildings other than dwellings | — | 10-11-1.A.3.b |
| Construction/Remodeling Sign | — | 25 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1; 2 on corner lots | On-site where construction/remodeling is occurring | — | 10-11-1.A.3.c |
| All Sign Types - Height & Projection | 10 ft above curb level | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10-11-1.A.3.d, 10-11-1.A.3.e |

### Highway Business (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs (Illuminated & Non-Illuminated) - Total Sign Area | — | — | — | — | — | On-lot or premises | — | 10-11-1.B.2.a, 10-11-1.B.2.e |
| Single Sign (Largest Allowed Non-Illuminated) | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | — | On-lot or premises | — | 10-11-1.B.2.b |
| Illuminated Signs - Total Sign Area | — | — | — | — | — | On-lot or premises | — | 10-11-1.B.2.c |
| Illuminated Sign (Largest Single) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | On-lot or premises | — | 10-11-1.B.2.d |
| Freestanding Sign (<200 sq ft) | 30 ft above ground | <200 sq ft | — | 20 ft from ROW line; not within 30 ft of any ROW intersection | — | Wholly or partially independent of building for support | — | 10-11-1.B.2.g |
| Freestanding Sign (>=200 sq ft) | 30 ft above ground | >=200 sq ft | — | At least 20 ft from ROW line; not within 30 ft of any ROW intersection | — | Wholly or partially independent of building for support | — | 10-11-1.B.2.g |
| All Signs - Illumination Restrictions | — | — | — | — | — | Not in direct line of vision of traffic control signal | — | 10-11-1.B.2.f |

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs (Illuminated & Non-Illuminated) - Total Sign Area | — | — | — | — | — | On-lot or premises | — | 10-11-1.C.1, 10-11-1.C.5 |
| Single Sign (Largest Allowed Non-Illuminated) | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | — | On-lot or premises | — | 10-11-1.C.2 |
| Illuminated Signs - Total Sign Area | — | — | — | — | — | On-lot or premises | — | 10-11-1.C.3 |
| Illuminated Sign (Largest Single) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | On-lot or premises | — | 10-11-1.C.4 |
| Freestanding Sign (<200 sq ft) | 30 ft above ground | <200 sq ft | — | 20 ft from ROW line; not within 30 ft of any ROW intersection | — | Wholly or partially independent of building for support | — | 10-11-1.C.7 |
| Freestanding Sign (>=200 sq ft) | 30 ft above ground | >=200 sq ft | — | At least 20 ft from ROW line; not within 30 ft of any ROW intersection | — | Wholly or partially independent of building for support | — | 10-11-1.C.7 |
| All Signs - Illumination Restrictions | — | — | — | — | — | Not in direct line of vision of traffic control signal | — | 10-11-1.C.6 |

## Prohibited signs in Mount Morris

- No person shall erect or maintain any sign or signboard, or rigid canopy over any street, alley, sidewalk or other public way in the Village without first obtaining a permit.
- All signs and canopies extending over any sidewalk, street, alley or other public place must be securely fastened and constructed.
- The lowest part of any sign or canopy, or of any nonrigid awning or support which extends over any public way shall be at least seven feet (7') above the level of the walk or public way over which it extends.
- No sign shall be maintained over any public way used by vehicles if any part of it or its support is less than fifteen feet (15') above the level of such public way.
- No sign shall hereafter be erected, altered or enlarged unless it complies with the regulations and restrictions imposed in the zoning district in which it is or will be located.
- If any sign, canopy, or awning extending over a public way is found to be insecurely fastened, the owner or occupant must repair or remove the sign within ten (10) days after notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mount Morris

- A temporary permit may be issued for the maintenance of a temporary sign or canopy for a short time, upon the payment of a fee.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No language in the provided ordinance text indicates the requirement for a master sign plan, sign plan, or required variance meeting for signage. Sign permits are required for all signs or signboards, or rigid canopies extending over public ways.

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

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