# Sign Regulations in Olney, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Olney, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/olney
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-09
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/olneynew/Title%2015%20%20Buildings%20and%20Construction%207.09.2024.pdf?t=20240709122841696&t=20240709122841696#page=44)

## At a glance

Olney, Illinois regulates 11 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Projecting Graphics in the Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4) zoning district are capped at Not more than 3 feet above roof line; not less than 10 feet above ground or pavement tall and 12 square feet, with a Minimum 2 feet from curb or edge of right-of-way setback (Sec. 15.48.190 B.2). Most commercial signs in Olney require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | As per section 15.48.100 | As per section 15.48.100 for freestanding and off-premise | — |
| Agricultural District (A-1) | 1 | 40 feet | 300 square feet total for all freestanding graphics including mobile/portable | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4) | 10 | 40 feet | 300 square feet total for all freestanding graphics including mobile/portable per establishment | — |
| Industrial Districts (M-1, M-2) | 10 | 40 feet | 300 square feet total for all freestanding graphics including mobile/portable per establishment | — |
| Commercial Recreation District (S-1) | 10 | 40 feet | 300 square feet total for all freestanding graphics including mobile/portable per establishment | — |
| Resort District (S-2) | 10 | 40 feet | 300 square feet total for all freestanding graphics including mobile/portable per establishment | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flush-Mounted Sign | Not more than 3 feet above roof line | — | — | — | — | Attached to building wall | — | 15.48.190 B.1 |
| Projecting Graphic | Not more than 3 feet above roof line; not less than 10 feet above ground or pavement | 12 square feet | — | Minimum 2 feet from curb or edge of right-of-way | One per street frontage | Supported by exterior wall of building or suspended beneath awning/canopy/marquee | — | 15.48.190 B.2 |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 feet | 300 square feet total for all freestanding graphics including mobile/portable per establishment | — | Comply with Title 17 zoning requirements | Not specified; limited by total area | Private property | — | 15.48.100 A, 15.48.210 B |
| Off-Premise Sign | 40 feet | 72 square feet per lot (permitted only in C-2) | — | Outside required yards per Title 17 | Maximum 5 per mile; 300 feet spacing | On commercial lots (only C-2) | — | 15.48.100 B, 15.48.210 C |
| Shopping/Office Center Identification Freestanding Sign | 40 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | One per center | For shopping/office center | — | 15.48.210 A |
| Mobile/Portable Changeable Copy Sign - First Year | — | 48 square feet | — | — | One | Private property | — | 15.48.210 E.2.a |
| Mobile/Portable Changeable Copy Sign - Indefinite | — | 48 square feet | — | — | One | Private property, affixed to permanent foundation or surface | — | 15.48.210 E.2.b |
| Other Mobile/Portable Sign | — | Included in total freestanding area limit | — | — | No limit if within total area | Private property | — | 15.48.210 E.3 |

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flush-Mounted Sign | Not more than 3 feet above roof line | — | — | — | — | Attached to building wall | — | 15.48.190 B.1 |
| Projecting Graphic | Not more than 3 feet above roof line; not less than 10 feet above ground or pavement | 12 square feet | — | Minimum 2 feet from curb or edge of right-of-way | One per street frontage | Supported by exterior wall of building or suspended beneath awning/canopy/marquee | — | 15.48.190 B.2 |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 feet | 300 square feet total for all freestanding graphics including mobile/portable per establishment | — | Comply with Title 17 zoning requirements | Not specified; limited by total area | Private property | — | 15.48.100 A, 15.48.210 B |
| Off-Premise Sign | 40 feet | 300 square feet per lot | — | Outside required yards per Title 17 | Maximum 5 per mile; 300 feet spacing | On industrial lots | — | 15.48.100 B, 15.48.210 C |
| Shopping/Office Center Identification Freestanding Sign | 40 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | One per center | For shopping/office center | — | 15.48.210 A |
| Mobile/Portable Changeable Copy Sign - First Year | — | 48 square feet | — | — | One | Private property | — | 15.48.210 E.2.a |
| Mobile/Portable Changeable Copy Sign - Indefinite | — | 48 square feet | — | — | One | Private property, affixed to permanent foundation or surface | — | 15.48.210 E.2.b |
| Other Mobile/Portable Sign | — | Included in total freestanding area limit | — | — | No limit if within total area | Private property | — | 15.48.210 E.3 |

### Commercial Recreation District (S-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flush-Mounted Sign | Not more than 3 feet above roof line | — | — | — | — | Attached to building wall | — | 15.48.190 B.1 |
| Projecting Graphic | Not more than 3 feet above roof line; not less than 10 feet above ground or pavement | 12 square feet | — | Minimum 2 feet from curb or edge of right-of-way | One per street frontage | Supported by exterior wall of building or suspended beneath awning/canopy/marquee | — | 15.48.190 B.2 |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 feet | 300 square feet total for all freestanding graphics including mobile/portable per establishment | — | Comply with Title 17 zoning requirements | Not specified; limited by total area | Private property | — | 15.48.100 A, 15.48.210 B |
| Off-Premise Sign | 40 feet | 72 square feet per lot | — | Outside required yards per Title 17 | Maximum 5 per mile; 300 feet spacing | On lots in district | — | 15.48.100 B, 15.48.210 C |
| Shopping/Office Center Identification Freestanding Sign | 40 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | One per center | For shopping/office center | — | 15.48.210 A |
| Mobile/Portable Changeable Copy Sign - First Year | — | 48 square feet | — | — | One | Private property | — | 15.48.210 E.2.a |
| Mobile/Portable Changeable Copy Sign - Indefinite | — | 48 square feet | — | — | One | Private property, affixed to permanent foundation or surface | — | 15.48.210 E.2.b |
| Other Mobile/Portable Sign | — | Included in total freestanding area limit | — | — | No limit if within total area | Private property | — | 15.48.210 E.3 |

## Prohibited signs in Olney

- Any graphic or sign not expressly permitted by this Chapter is prohibited in the City.
- Graphics attached to trees, fences or public utility poles other than warning signs issued by public utilities.
- Abandoned signs including the posts and other supports which advertise or identify an activity, business, product, or service no longer conducted on the premises where such graphic is located.
- Roof-mounted graphics that extend more than three feet above the highest point of the roof.
- Off-premise signs except as provided in Section 15.48.210(G).
- Mobile/portable changeable copy signs except as provided under Sections 15.48.190(A)(12) and 15.48.210(E).
- Signs located within a road right of way, except as otherwise specifically permitted in this Chapter.
- No graphic which contains any animated or moving parts shall be permitted in the City.
- No graphic shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free access to any door, window, fire escape or driveway.
- No graphic shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that it interferes with, obstructs the view of, or can be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No red, yellow, orange, green or other colored light shall be used within two hundred (200) feet of a traffic sign or device.
- Signs which contain oscillating, rotating, flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights are prohibited, except the following: 1. Signs giving public service information including, but not limited to, time, weather, date and temperature and signs with displays that change not more frequently than once every 60 minutes. 2. Pole supported business or brand identification signs inside business areas with constant illumination and color and in which the only movement is a slow rotation of the entire body of the sign so as to be visible from all directions.
- Signs which project beams or rays of light at the traveled way or cause such beams or rays to create glare or to impair the vision of a driver of any motor vehicle are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Olney

- Construction signs identifying the architects, engineers, contractors and other individuals or firms involved with the construction, and/or announcing the character or purpose of the building, but not advertising any product. Such signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area, shall be confined to the site of the construction, and shall be removed within ten working days after construction has been completed.
- On-premise directional signs such as signs identifying entrances, exits, parking areas, no-parking areas, restrooms, public telephones, walkways and similar features or facilities. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet in area.
- Flags of any country, state or unit of local government.
- Garage sale signs advertising a garage or yard sale in compliance with Section 17.24.020(J).
- Governmental or public signs, such as traffic control signs, railroad crossing signs, legal notices, and such temporary emergency signs as may be authorized by the Administrator.
- Holiday decorations such as Christmas lights and ornaments.
- House numbers and/or resident only name signs located on the lot to which the sign pertains. Such signs shall not exceed three square feet in area for single-family dwellings nor six square feet for multiple-family dwellings.
- Integral signs, memorial signs or tablets carved into stone or inlaid so as to become part of the building, and containing such information as date of erection, name of building and memorial tributes.
- Interior signs located in any building or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building or group of buildings or interior enclosed/fenced sporting areas.
- Political campaign signs, announcing candidates seeking public office and/or political issues and other pertinent information. Such signs shall be confined to private property and shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area in residential zoning districts and thirty-two (32) square feet in area in all other zoning districts.
- Property regulation signs such as no trespassing, no hunting, no fishing, etc. Such signs shall not exceed three square feet in area.
- Public interest signs publicizing a charitable or nonprofit event of general public interest and street banners or mobile/portable signs or graphics that advertise the City or a public entertainment or event. Such signs shall be permitted only for thirty (30) days before and seven days after the event.
- Real estate signs indicating the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which said signs are located. Such signs on residential property shall not exceed nine square feet in area; on other commercial property such signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet. No more than one (1) real estate sign per realtor shall be placed on any lot. Such signs shall be removed within seven days after the sale, rental or lease.
- Residential development identification structures at major entrances designed to identify a residential subdivision, apartment complex, or planned unit development; containing no commercial advertising; and not exceeding forty (40) square feet in area and located on-premise.
- Utility company signs that serve as an aid to public safety or that show the location of public telephones, underground cables, etc.
- Historic building signs or plaques containing no advertising and limited to four square feet in area. Applicants desiring a historic sign status, containing advertising and/or greater than four square feet in area, shall request historic status through the procedure defined in Section 15.48.240.
- Public signs such as street identification signs, traffic signs, and other public interest signs erected by the City or the State of Illinois and any directional signs authorized by the City Council of the City to be placed within a road right of way.
- A sign not more than four (4) square feet in area located on the building identifying a home occupation as defined in Section 17.08.010.
- Graphics which contain or consist of banners, pennants, streamers, ribbons, spinners or similar devices (excluding strings of exposed light bulbs) and are attached to a building and project, if at all, not more than three feet from the building to which they are attached.
- Mobile/portable signs not more than four (4) square feet in area with non-commercial messages including, but not limited to, educational, athletic, patriotic, and religious content.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No signage shall be permitted in a planned unit development unless it receives specific approval as part of the development plan.
- If application for sign permit is for signage for a building to be newly constructed, a site plan displaying all sign locations, a complete set of final drawings displaying all elevations, and the building permit number.
- Every application for a graphic variance shall be filed with the Administrator on a prescribed form... The application shall contain... A site plan, sketch or other graphic, illustrating the proposed graphic.

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

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