# Sign Regulations in North Pekin, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

North Pekin, Illinois regulates 36 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Shopping Center/Business Park Sign)s in the Business District (B-1, B-2), Industrial District (I-1, I-2), Commercial District (C-1, C-2) zoning district are capped at 34 ft tall and 260 sq ft per side; max 50 sq ft per business panel, with a See location_of_sign and citation setback (Sec. 3-18-11(B)(6)). Most commercial signs in North Pekin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2) | 12 | — | 32 sq ft each | — |
| Agricultural District (A) | 5 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| Business District (B-1, B-2), Industrial District (I-1, I-2), Commercial District (C-1, C-2) | 16 | 34 ft | 260 sq ft per side; max 50 sq ft per business panel | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 4 ft above ground | 60 sq ft max | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate Sign (Single-family Dwelling) | — | 1 sq ft (excluding house number) | — | At least half of the required minimum setback specified in district regulations. Exception: street number identification signs. | 1 per single-family dwelling | — | — | 3-18-10(A)(1) |
| Identification Sign (Multi-family Dwelling) | — | 5 sq ft | — | At least half of the required minimum setback specified in district regulations. Exception: street number identification signs. | 1 per multi-family dwelling | Near main entrance | — | 3-18-10(A)(2) |
| Construction or Remodeling Sign | — | 32 sq ft each | — | 5 ft from lot/property line | 2 per building (4 on corner lots, 2 facing each street) | — | — | 3-18-10(A)(3) |
| Bulk Sale Signs (Multiple Dwelling Units/Lots) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street providing access | Facing each public street providing access | — | 3-18-10(B)(4) |
| Subdivision or Development Directional Sign (off-premises for developing subdivisions) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per developing subdivision | Private property, with permission | — | 3-18-10(D)(1) |
| Permanent Subdivision/Development Identification Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per corner of each entry street | Outside public right-of-way, on private property | — | 3-18-10(D)(2) |
| Permanent Ground Sign (Assisted Living/Senior/Nursing Facilities) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street entrance | On private property outside right-of-way | — | 3-18-10(D)(3) |
| Church/School/Nonprofit Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | At least half of minimum setback specified in district regulations. | 1 per lot (2 on corner lots, one per street) | — | — | 3-18-13(A) |

### Business District (B-1, B-2), Industrial District (I-1, I-2), Commercial District (C-1, C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Uses/Entrances) | — | — | — | — | One per operator/business | Front wall of principal building | — | 3-18-11(A)(4,5-8) |
| Ground (Freestanding) Sign (General) | 10 ft (in B-2 or <50 ft from any residential lot); 25 ft (A, B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2, C-1, C-2); 30 ft (in these districts, adjacent to four-lane divided roadway where speed limit is 45 mph or greater) | 160 sq ft per side; 1 sq ft per foot of frontage | — | — | See additional_requirements (depends on frontage length) | On-premises, not projecting into the right-of-way | — | 3-18-11(B)(1-5) |
| Ground Sign (Shopping Center/Business Park Sign) | 34 ft | 260 sq ft per side; max 50 sq ft per business panel | — | See location_of_sign and citation | — | On- or off-premises, but no more than 400 ft from advertised center; not <10 ft from right-of-way, <300 ft from residential property, or <500 ft from other commercial center sign/billboard | — | 3-18-11(B)(6) |
| Monument Sign (for each individual lot in business park/plaza) | 8 ft | 60 sq ft per side | — | — | — | — | — | 3-18-11(B)(6)(f) |
| Roof Sign | 8 ft above roof | — | — | — | — | Wholly within roof area | — | 3-18-11(C) |
| Service Station Rate/Price Sign | — | 8 sq ft each | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Exterior, service stations. | — | 3-18-11(F) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | 6 ft from face of building maximum | — | 1 per storefront | — | — | 3-18-11(H) |
| Electronic Message Board | — | 60 sq ft or 40% of total sign area | — | — | 1 per lot | Attached and subordinate to permitted wall or ground sign | — | 3-18-11(I) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board/Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft above ground | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Near public right-of-way or on sidewalk immediately adjacent to main entrance if storefront meets sidewalk | — | 3-18-9(E) |
| Portable Sign | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | 3-18-9(M) |
| Banner (On Building/Pole/Fence/etc.) | — | 60 sq ft max | — | — | 1 per 75 ft frontage | Attached to poles, fences, buildings, light poles, sign poles, etc. | — | 3-18-9(N) |
| Banner (Wall/Roof-mounted) | — | — | — | — | — | Wall/roof of business/shopping center | — | 3-18-9(N)(3) |
| Flag | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 75 ft of frontage | — | — | 3-18-9(O) |
| Political Sign | — | 12 sq ft in residential districts; 50 sq ft in agricultural, commercial, industrial districts. | — | — | — | Private property with permission | — | 3-18-9(Q) |
| Temporary Church/School/Institutional Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property, outside public right-of-way | — | 3-18-3(A)(6) |
| Welcome Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Near major community entrances, outside public right-of-way | — | 3-18-3(A)(7) |

## Prohibited signs in North Pekin

- No sign may be constructed, erected, remodeled, relocated, or expanded without first obtaining a sign permit unless expressly exempted.
- No sign shall be constructed on or project into the public right-of-way except signs installed by public governmental agencies and those signs specifically permitted in this chapter.
- All signs and their supporting structures must be properly maintained and kept in good repair, and must, where applicable, be easily readable from the nearest public right-of-way.
- Illuminated signs shall be shaded wherever necessary to avoid casting a bright light upon property located in any residential district or upon any public street or park.
- Illuminated signs shall not be lighted in an obtrusive manner or create a nuisance.
- No flashing or moving signs shall be permitted unless specifically allowed in this chapter.
- No sign shall flash or move in an obtrusive manner or create a nuisance.
- No rotating beam, beacon, strobe, or similar types of illumination devices shall be allowed.
- No sign shall block any required access way.
- No sign shall be located on vacant property except a sign advertising the premises for sale or lease which meets the applicable standards.
- No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole whether on public or private property.
- All signs must conform to the regulations and design standards of applicable Building and Electrical Codes.
- No sign shall be maintained at any location whereby reason of its position, size, shape, or color it may obstruct, impair, obscure, or interfere with traffic, or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal, or device, or where it may interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- No sign which advertises a business not being conducted on or immediately adjacent to the premises on which the sign is located is permitted, except as otherwise provided.
- No sign advertising a business which has been closed shall remain for more than ninety (90) days following the closure.
- No more than one portable sign per business may be displayed.
- Sidewalk signs must not impede pedestrian movement or vehicular visibility.
- No sign shall be painted directly upon the roof or sides of any building, except as specifically allowed.
- No vehicle, trailer, cargo container, construction trailer or semitrailer may be used as advertising beyond the permitted duration or in violation of code.
- No political signs may be illuminated, exceed specified size, or be placed on public property.
- No person shall place, maintain, or display any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device upon or in view of any street which purports to be or resembles an official traffic-control device or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic.
- No person shall place or maintain any sign which hides from view or interferes with the movement of traffic or effectiveness of any traffic-control device.
- No person shall place or maintain any traffic sign or signal bearing any commercial advertising upon a highway.
- No person shall maintain or operate in view of any street or highway any flashing or rotating beacon of light.
- It is unlawful to deface, injure, move, or interfere with any official traffic sign or signal.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Pekin

- Flags or emblems of a government or of a political, civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organization, displayed on private property, are exempt from permit requirements and most regulations except subsection 3-18-11(A).
- Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal notices, and warnings at railroad crossings, are exempt from permit requirements and most regulations except subsection 3-18-11(A).
- Address numerals and other signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule, or regulation are exempt from permit requirements and most regulations except subsection 3-18-11(A), provided that content and size do not exceed requirements.
- Small signs, not exceeding two (2) square feet in area, displayed on private property for the convenience of the public are exempt from permit requirements and most regulations except subsection 3-18-11(A).
- Flags, streamers, placards, pennants not exceeding six (6) square feet in area, and small balloons not exceeding five (5) cubic feet in volume per balloon are exempt from permit requirements and most regulations except subsection 3-18-11(A).
- Temporary signs, banners, and displays for special church, school, institutional, civic, or community events erected outside public right-of-way and displayed no more than sixty (60) days prior and three (3) days after the scheduled event are exempt from permit requirements and most regulations except subsection 3-18-11(A).
- Welcome signs erected outside public right-of-way near major community entrances that contain no advertising other than participating groups or organizations are exempt from permit requirements and most regulations except subsection 3-18-11(A), but are subject to review and approval of the Village Board prior to construction.
- Signs permitted by section 3-18-10 (signs accessory to residential uses) are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other regulations of the chapter.
- Changing advertising copy or message on an approved painted sign, changeable letter panels or bulletin boards designed for replaceable copy, and painting, repainting, cleaning and normal maintenance and repair of a sign structure do not require a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before constructing, erecting, remodeling, relocating, or expanding any sign unless the sign is expressly exempted in section 3-18-3.
- A sign permit application must include prints or drawings of plans and specifications indicating method of construction and attachment, except for banner, inflatable, and temporary sign permits.
- Signs exempt from permit requirements must still comply with other applicable regulations unless otherwise specified.
- Variance from sign regulations may only be granted by the Village Board after a public hearing before the Village Board.
- Business parks, retail plazas, or shopping centers consolidating individual ground signs for an enlarged center sign are subject to additional requirements (but no explicit requirement for a master sign plan is stated in the ordinance).

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

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