# Sign Regulations in Nauvoo, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Nauvoo, Illinois regulates 25 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the Nonresidential Districts zoning district are capped at 20 ft above mean centerline street grade tall and 20 sq ft per premises, with a Not less than 10' from all side lot lines setback (Sec. 10-5-5(B)). Most commercial signs in Nauvoo 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 | 16 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — |
| Residential Districts | 2 | — | 48 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 7 | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 50 sq ft per premises | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Temporarily located on the premises advertised | — | 10-5-3(A) |
| Name and Warning Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On the premises | — | 10-5-3(B) |
| Home Occupation and Professional Home Office Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On the premises | — | 10-5-3(C) |
| Bulletin Board | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | On the premises of public, charitable, or religious institutions | — | 10-5-3(E) |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On site or attached to trailers on the site of construction | — | 10-5-3(M) |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | Not closer than 10 ft to adjacent property | — | Not in public right of way; Not closer than 10 ft to adjacent property | — | 10-5-6 |
| Billboard (Vacant Property) | 12 ft | — | 20 ft | Distance from inner line of adjacent sidewalk: height of billboard plus 10 ft | — | Vacant property | — | 6-1-1, 6-1-2, 6-1-3 |
| Billboard (Attached to Building) | 12 ft | — | 20 ft | — | — | Attached to building | — | 6-1-1, 6-1-2, 6-1-3 |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Real Estate Development Sign | — | As determined by Planning Commission | — | Must meet all yard requirements of the district | — | Entrance to subdivision or development | — | 10-5-4(A) |
| Temporary Development Sign | — | 48 sq ft | — | Must meet all yard requirements of the district | — | — | — | 10-5-4(B) |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft per premises | — | — | — | Placed against exterior wall of building | — | 10-5-5(A) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 20 sq ft per premises | — | Not less than 10' from all side lot lines | — | Fastened to, suspended from, or supported by structures; can project up to 6' into yard and 3' into public right of way | — | 10-5-5(B) |
| Pole Sign | 20 ft above mean centerline street grade | 32 sq ft on one side, 64 sq ft all sides per premises | — | Must meet all yard requirements of the district | — | — | — | 10-5-5(C) |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft above mean centerline street grade | 32 sq ft on one side, 64 sq ft all sides per premises | — | Must meet all yard requirements of the district | — | — | — | 10-5-5(D) |
| Sidewalk Sign | — | — | — | No more than 30" from business building | — | Central business district between Bluff and Barnett Streets on Mulholland St; no more than 30" from business building | — | 10-5-5(D)(7) |
| Marquee/Awning/Canopy Sign (Flat to Surface) | — | — | — | To within 1' of the vertical plane of the curb | — | Affixed flat to surface of marquee/awning/canopy | — | 10-5-5(E) |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 50% of glass area | — | — | — | Inside of commercial buildings | — | 10-5-5(G) |

## Prohibited signs in Nauvoo

- No sign shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without conforming with the provisions of this chapter.
- Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate the shape, size, form, or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- Signs shall not be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No signs shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs shall not be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
- Signs shall not be lighted in such a way as to cause glare or impair driver visibility upon public ways.
- Signs shall not be revolving or animated, except copy on time and temperature devices may be cyclical.
- Signs in residential districts may be illuminated only with planning commission approval.
- Roof signs are prohibited in the city of Nauvoo.
- Billboards are prohibited in the city of Nauvoo corporate limits; billboards that become vacant for three consecutive months are no longer exempt and must be removed within thirty days of notice.
- Supporting members or braces of all signs must be constructed of proper materials as specified, and sign attachment means must be secure.
- No signs or any part thereof or sign anchors, braces, or guide rods shall be attached, fastened, or anchored to any fire escape, fire ladder, or standpipe; nor shall such signage hinder or prevent ingress or egress through doors, doorways, or windows or prevent the raising or placing of ladders by the fire department.
- Nonconforming signs shall not be enlarged, expanded, or extended.
- Nonconforming signs may not be relocated except as allowed when moved by governmental action.
- Damaged nonconforming signs beyond 50% of surface area or structure may not be reconstructed except in compliance with current requirements.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nauvoo

- The following signs are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit, subject to specified regulations: real estate signs (up to 8 sq ft), name and warning signs (up to 2 sq ft), home occupation and professional office signs (up to 4 sq ft), rummage and garage sale signs (not in public right of way and removed within 24 hours after the sale), bulletin boards for public/charitable/religious institutions (up to 8 sq ft), building identification signs (memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings, date of erection when cut into masonry or affixed flat), flags of any government or non-profit organization, temporary holiday decorations or displays, official traffic/fire/police signs and devices, non-illuminated directional or informational signs of a public nature, political signs (specific time limits apply), hospital directional signs, construction signs (restrictions on size and removal after project completion).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For sign types not included in the ordinance (e.g., for multi-tenant buildings, wall murals, etc.), sign design must be reviewed and approved by the planning commission.
- Permit applications must include scale drawings, location, dimensions, materials, type of illumination, and other information as required by the building inspector or planning commission.
- For more complex sign designs, or sign types not explicitly addressed, design review and approval by the planning commission is required.
- Appeals of permit denials or revocations may be taken to the zoning board of appeals.
- The planning commission determines the appropriate size and time period for approval of permanent real estate development and temporary development signs in residential districts.

## Full detail

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

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