# Sign Regulations in Ottawa, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ottawa, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/ottawa
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Ottawa/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH6AD_ARTIISI)

## At a glance

Ottawa, Illinois regulates 19 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 50 sq ft per face, 100 sq ft total (Sec. Sec. 6-34(i)(3), (f), (m)). Most commercial signs in Ottawa require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 25 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| I-80 sign zone | 3 | 40 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Residential District (A, B, nonconforming) | 2 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District | 2 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| C-4 central core business district (C-4), C-5 secondary central business district (C-5), C-6 downtown transition district (C-6) | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 30 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per business (except where building fronts on two or more public rights-of-way) | — | — | Sec. 6-34(i)(2), (e), (m) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 50 sq ft per face, 100 sq ft total | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 6-34(i)(3), (f), (m) |
| Flexible Banner | — | 50 sq ft per face | — | — | 2 per business site | Firmly attached to building wall or anchor; must not be in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 6-34(s) |
| Feather Banner | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | See size restrictions | Must be firmly anchored in ground; not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 6-34(w) |
| Realtor Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On the same building lot as the property for sale/rent; not extending over public property | — | Sec. 6-34(q)(2) |
| Realtor Sign (Commercial and Industrial Districts) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On the same building lot as the property for sale/rent; not extending over public property | — | Sec. 6-34(q)(3) |
| Contractor Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property where construction occurs | — | Sec. 6-34(t) |
| Contractor Sign (Commercial and Industrial Districts) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property where construction occurs | — | Sec. 6-34(t) |

### I-80 sign zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard - I-80 sign zone | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | — | Within 2,500 lineal feet from the centerline of the median of Interstate Route 80 | — | Sec. 6-34(n)(1), (5) |
| Projecting Sign - I-80 sign zone | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | Within 2,500 lineal feet from the centerline of the median of Interstate Route 80 | — | Sec. 6-34(n)(2), (5) |
| Freestanding Sign - I-80 sign zone | 40 ft | 300 sq ft per face, 600 sq ft total | — | — | — | Within 2,500 lineal feet from the centerline of the median of Interstate Route 80 | — | Sec. 6-34(n)(3)-(4), (5) |

### Residential District (A, B, nonconforming)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Realtor Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On same building lot, not over public property | — | Sec. 6-34(q)(2) |
| Contractor Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property where construction occurs | — | Sec. 6-34(t) |

## Prohibited signs in Ottawa

- No person shall erect, suspend, fasten, relocate or modify any sign within the city without obtaining a permit therefor, except as otherwise exempted.
- No sign or portion thereof shall be permitted which spins, rotates or moves either mechanically or purposefully propelled by wind, solar power or other means, except for the rotation of barber poles.
- No sign of any type shall be mounted on the roof of any building. The highest point of any sign shall be at least two feet below the highest point on the building to which it is attached.
- No sign may be erected or otherwise placed within the city's right-of-way of any public way, except certain temporary signs as specified.
- No sign shall project farther from the property line than the allowed extension over public property, or have any lowest point less than seven and one-half feet above the sidewalk or ground line.
- No post, pole, support, brace or guy wire for any sign shall be placed on public property.
- Signs or sign structures of any nature, whether moveable or permanent, shall not be placed on or over city property where it will interfere with the normal vision of persons driving vehicles on any of the city streets or property of the city.
- No sign shall be permitted which is animated by means of flashing, scintillating, blinking, or traveling lights or any other means not providing constant illumination.
- All signs or displays over public property shall be constructed of noncombustible or fire-retardant materials.
- Flashing signs, LED, LEC or similar signs, including electronically controlled message centers, are prohibited in the C-4, C-5 and C-6 zoning districts.
- All signs shall be maintained in good condition. The commissioner may order repair of any dilapidated sign within ten days.
- Abandoned signs or sign faces must be removed or refitted with a blank face within 60 days after abandonment. Supports and other structural elements must be removed within one year of abandonment.
- Advertising signs located on benches, planters, trash receptacles or other appurtenances must conform to the requirements of this article, be located on private property, securely fastened, and a permit must be obtained.
- Electrical signs must comply with the National Electrical Code.
- Mobile signs may not stand at any address for more than 14 consecutive days in any calendar year, nor be placed within A or B residential zones, nor have flashing or blinking lights, nor moving parts, rotating wheels, bells, sirens, whistles, horns, or devices distracting to motorists.
- No mobile sign shall be permitted to stand at any address which is zoned 'A' or 'B' residential under the permanent zoning ordinance of the city or on which the zoning ordinance prohibits the placement of advertising signs.
- All mobile signs must be on private property, not encroaching on public rights-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected whose size exceeds the specific limitations for billboards, projecting, or freestanding signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ottawa

- No permit is required for a change of copy on any sign.
- No permit is required for the repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure for which a permit has previously been issued.
- Temporary signs (defined as not more than 16 square feet in area and not erected more than 60 days) do not require a permit.
- Sign permits are not required for realtor signs.
- No permit is required for flexible banners.
- Sign permits are not required for contractor signs (subject to size and other requirements).
- Any permit request by a not-for-profit entity for feather banners will be exempt from paying the permit fee.
- Any permit request for a city sponsored event for feather banners will be exempt from paying the permit fee.
- Painted mobile signs on a wooden base advertising a charitable event and eight square feet or less do not require a permit.
- A separate sign permit is not required for advertising messages on awnings, canopies, or marquees, but sufficient information of the size and location must be submitted to determine compliance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- With the application for a sign permit the applicant shall submit detailed plans and specifications for a projecting or freestanding sign or sign structure exceeding 100 pounds or a wall-mounted sign or sign structure projecting less than one foot from a wall exceeding 200 pounds under the seal of an architect or structural engineer licensed in the state.
- No canopy or marquee shall be constructed or erected until a permit for the same shall have been obtained from the city clerk. Prior to the issuance of such permit, the applicant shall submit detailed plans and specifications for any canopy or marquee exceeding 100 pounds under the seal of a licensed architect or engineer certifying the canopy or marquee is structurally capable of sustaining such loads as may reasonably be anticipated in accordance with the building code of the city.
- If an application for a sign permit is denied, the applicant may appeal and make application for a variance; the city council refers the application to the zoning hearing board for a public hearing before making a final decision.

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

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