# Sign Regulations in North Utica, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

North Utica, Illinois regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Monument Subdivision Identification Sign (Multiple-family complexes, 6+ units)s in the Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-R) zoning district are capped at 6 ft above grade tall and 24 sq ft, with a 8 ft from any lot line setback (Sec. 10-15-6B). Most commercial signs in North Utica require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | — | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-R) | 3 | 6 ft above grade | 24 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3) | 10 | Max 20 ft above grade | Max 120 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District (I-1, I-2) | 6 | Max 20 ft above grade | Max 120 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10-15-6A |
| Monument Subdivision Identification Sign (Multiple-family complexes, 6+ units) | 6 ft above grade | 24 sq ft | — | 8 ft from any lot line | 1 per multiple-family complex | At least 8 ft from front, side, or rear lot lines | — | 10-15-6B |
| Noncommercial Sign (Freestanding or Attached) | 6 ft above grade (freestanding); attached signs must comply with wall mounting rules | 8 sq ft | — | 8 ft from any lot line | 1 per lot | At least 8 ft from any lot line | — | 10-15-6C |

### Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning, Canopy, or Marquee Business Sign (C-1, C-2) | Min 8 ft above grade, Max 20 ft above grade | Max 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | May not extend more than 6 ft from wall; no extension over public street/thoroughfare | — | 10-15-7B |
| Awning, Canopy, or Marquee Business Sign (C-3) | Min 8 ft above grade, Max 20 ft above grade | Max 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | May not extend more than 6 ft from wall; no extension over public street/thoroughfare | — | 10-15-7B |
| Wall Business Sign (C-1, C-2, C-3) | Max 20 ft above grade | Max 120 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment, 2 on corner lot (one per street frontage) | Affixed or painted only on side facing right-of-way; special use required for painted wall signs. | — | 10-15-7C |
| Projecting Business Sign (C-1, C-2, C-3) | Max 20 ft above grade; min 8 ft clearance above grade | Max 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment, 2 on corner lot (one per street frontage) | Extended at 90 degrees from building, not more than 4 ft from structure; one per street frontage if corner lot. | — | 10-15-7D |
| Freestanding Business Sign (C-2, C-3) | Max 15 ft above grade (C-2); max 20 ft (C-3) | Max 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment (2 if property abuts multiple streets) | One per establishment (two if abutting two or more streets) | — | 10-15-7E |
| Monument Business Sign (C-2, C-3) | Max 10 ft above grade | 75 sq ft per sign; 150 sq ft aggregate if 2 | — | — | 1 per lot (2 if abutting multiple streets) | One per lot (two per lot if abutting multiple streets); must not interfere with motorists' visibility; attached securely to ground. | — | 10-15-7F |
| Unified Center Identification Sign (C-3) | Max 15 ft above grade | Max 120 sq ft | — | — | 1 per unified center | Shopping centers ≥3 acres, 1 per center, at least 150 ft from other freestanding signs | — | 10-15-7G |
| Temporary Inflatable Sign (C-3) | Max 20 ft above grade | Sign: 30 sq ft, Device: 150 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per lot per year (1 per event/sale) | Affixed to ground or pole, not to interfere with health/safety | — | 10-15-7H |

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10-15-7A |
| Awning, Canopy, or Marquee Business Sign | Min 8 ft above grade, Max 20 ft above grade | Max 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | May not extend more than 6 ft from wall; no extension over public street/thoroughfare | — | 10-15-7B |
| Wall Business Sign | Max 20 ft above grade | Max 120 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment, 2 on corner lot (one per street frontage) | Affixed or painted only on side facing right-of-way; special use required for painted wall signs. | — | 10-15-7C |
| Projecting Business Sign | Max 20 ft above grade; min 8 ft clearance above grade | Max 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment, 2 on corner lot (one per street frontage) | Extended at 90 degrees from building, not more than 4 ft from structure; one per street frontage if corner lot. | — | 10-15-7D |
| Freestanding Business Sign | Max 15 ft above grade | Max 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment (2 if property abuts multiple streets) | One per establishment (two if abutting two or more streets) | — | 10-15-7E |
| Monument Business Sign | Max 10 ft above grade | 75 sq ft per sign; 150 sq ft aggregate if 2 | — | — | 1 per lot (2 if abutting multiple streets) | One per lot (two per lot if abutting multiple streets); must not interfere with motorists' visibility; attached securely to ground. | — | 10-15-7F |

## Prohibited signs in North Utica

- Abandoned signs which have not been in use for a period of ninety (90) days must be removed within ten (10) days of the determination they are abandoned.
- Flashing or blinking signs are prohibited, except as expressly provided elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except as permitted in the C-1 district.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs displaying indecent, immoral, or obscene matter are prohibited.
- Signs displaying words or phrases which may confuse or interfere with pedestrian and vehicular traffic are prohibited.
- Signs attached to a tree, utility pole, fire hydrant, or other objects located on or projecting over public property are prohibited, with the exception of private property signs.
- Signs that are unsafe due to poor maintenance, structure, or disrepair are prohibited.
- Permanent signs which must be inflated are prohibited.
- Signs mounted or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers which are parked so as to be visible from a public right of way where the apparent primary purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business activity located on the same or nearby property are prohibited.
- No sign shall be located closer than ten feet (10') from any public right of way.
- No sign shall be erected within twenty feet (20') of any line conductors, service drops or power lines without consent of the power company.
- All signs or advertising structures shall be located on the premises for which the sign is advertising, with certain exceptions for billboards.
- Signs or advertising structures shall not be located on or project over the roof of a structure.
- Signs shall not be painted directly on the wall of any structure except as permitted in section 10-15-7C.
- Signs or advertising structures that require the use of hoisting machines over the sidewalk must have the sidewalk roped off during the work; no hoisting machines are permitted to occupy the sidewalk area.
- Signs shall not be permitted which prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No signs of any kind may be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs or structures must not be placed in a public right of way, except for certain projecting signs and awnings or marquees approved by the village board.
- Signs or structures must not be erected where pedestrian/vehicle conflicts occur.
- Signs or structures must not obstruct visibility of traffic signs or signals or the flow of traffic.
- Signs or structures must not be worded, phrased, or lighted in such a way as to mislead or confuse traffic.
- No illuminated sign shall cause a traffic hazard, interfere with a driver’s ability to see traffic, or have glare upon the street or adjacent property.
- No flashing or blinking or continuously scrolling illuminated signs are permitted unless a special use is granted.
- Signs must not endanger the health and safety of the public.
- Signs shall not be permitted which would hinder removal of signs by the zoning enforcement officer if determined to be unsafe or lacking a permit.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Utica

- A sign permit is not required for minimal alterations to an existing sign, regular maintenance, or painting, provided the content of the sign is not altered.
- Temporary construction signs (with particular size and height limits, required removal before occupancy) do not require a sign permit.
- Temporary yard, garage, or rummage sale signs (with specific area, timeframe, frequency, and placement restrictions) do not require a sign permit.
- Temporary political signs (with size, location, timing, quantity, and owner consent requirements) do not require a sign permit.
- Temporary real estate and open house signs (with limitations on number, size, illumination, and required removal) do not require a sign permit.
- Temporary portable signs (one per establishment, with specific area, height, content, timing, location, illumination, and removal requirements) do not require a sign permit if all listed criteria are met.
- Commemorative plaques on designated historical or similar properties do not require a sign permit.
- Government or municipal signs required by statute or ordinance do not require a sign permit.
- Private property signs not exceeding 1.5 square feet and not more than four per lot do not require a sign permit.
- Signs within completely enclosed buildings and not visible from the outside do not require a sign permit.
- Home occupation signs (not exceeding two square feet per lot, not illuminated, and mounted flat against the principal building) do not require a sign permit.
- Nameplate signs not exceeding one square foot per lot do not require a sign permit.
- Temporary inflatable signs permitted in the C-3 district and subject to specific district provisions do not require a sign permit.
- Permit is not required to change the copy on a message board (changeable copy sign).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications must include a scale drawing showing the proposed sign, lot, setbacks, building footprint, existing signs, north arrow, and scale, as well as landscaping plans for freestanding signs.
- All permanent freestanding signs must include a landscaping plan; one square foot of landscaping per two square feet of sign area is required, with a minimum of 30 square feet of landscaping per sign. The landscaping plan must be submitted with the sign permit application.
- A sign variance requires an application (with diagram or plan) and a hearing before the planning commission; variances may be appealed to the village board.
- Signs painted directly on a wall require a special use permit.
- Freestanding or monument signs in the C-1 district require a special use permit.
- Certain temporary signs (e.g., to be erected without the mandatory 14-day elapse period) require a special use permit.
- Certain signs not meeting exemption criteria for portable or banner signs may require a separate special use permit.
- Administrative Variances for banner sign numbers in C-1/C-2/C-3 districts are handled by the zoning enforcement officer; denial can be appealed to the Planning Commission and Village Board of Trustees.
- The owner is responsible for maintenance of all signs, whether or not a permit is required.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/north-utica