# Sign Regulations in Pana, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pana, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/pana
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Pana/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH25ZORE_ARTIVSI)

## At a glance

Pana, Illinois regulates 30 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Large Auto/Boat/RV/Motorcycle Sales)s in the Commercial District zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall and 100 sq ft per sign, with a 100 ft setback (Sec. Sec. 25-247(h)). Most commercial signs in Pana 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 | 11 | — | 35 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 6 | 12 ft | 35 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District | 12 | 30 ft | 400 sq ft (total display area) | — |
| Industrial District (I1, light industrial district); Industrial District (I2, heavy industrial district) | 4 | 20 ft | 400 sq ft (if using commercial district standards) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs for On-Site Customer Traffic | — | — | — | Min 20 ft from street right-of-way. | — | Min 20 feet from any adjacent street right-of-way. | — | Sec. 25-216 |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential District) | — | 6 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On lot, one per street frontage. | — | Sec. 25-217(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial District) | — | 12 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On lot, one per street frontage. | — | Sec. 25-217(b) |
| Real Estate Sign (Industrial District under 5 acres) | — | 16 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On lot, one per street frontage. | — | Sec. 25-217(c) |
| Real Estate Sign (Industrial District 5 acres or more) | — | 32 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On lot, one per street frontage. | — | Sec. 25-217(d) |
| Construction Site Sign | — | 35 sq ft | — | — | — | Erected only when visible work is ongoing, must be removed within 14 days after construction complete. | — | Sec. 25-218 |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | Not attached to or located on public property. | — | Sec. 25-219 |
| Flag, Public / Business Flag | — | 4 ft x 6 ft (business flag) | 4 ft (business flag) | — | 1 public flag + 1 business flag | Business flag must be mounted on flagpole. | — | Sec. 25-220(e) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft per dwelling unit | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On dwelling unit (single-family or two-family structure). | — | Sec. 25-246(a) |
| Multi-family Identification Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | Indicates only name/address/management of premises, at multifamily dwellings. | — | Sec. 25-246(b) |
| Wall Sign (Other Use in Residential, with Special Permit/Variance) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per authorized lot | On wall, for uses with special use permit or variance. | — | Sec. 25-246(c)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Other Use in Residential, with Special Permit/Variance) | 12 ft | 35 sq ft | — | — | 1 per authorized lot | In front or side yard of authorized lot (residential use by special permit/variance). | — | Sec. 25-246(c)(2) |
| Projecting Yard Sign (Other Use in Residential, with Special Permit/Variance) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per authorized lot | Per authorized lot. | — | Sec. 25-246(c)(3) |
| Parking Lot Identification Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Accessory parking lot for associated use. | — | Sec. 25-246(d) |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Corner Lot) | 20 ft | Total area ≤ length+width of lot | — | — | — | Permitted in commercial district; specific rules for sign triangle (see additional requirements). | — | Sec. 25-247(a)(1), (f)(1), (c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-Corner Lot) | 20 ft | Total area ≤ 2 x frontage | — | — | — | Permitted in commercial district. | — | Sec. 25-247(a)(2), (c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Off-Premises Commercial Lot) | 20 ft | Total area ≤ frontage | — | — | — | On a lot other than business premises. | — | Sec. 25-247(a)(3), (c) |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft | Total sign area follows the lot limits as above | — | — | — | On building wall. | — | Sec. 25-247(a),(c) |
| Facia-Mounted Canopy or Awning Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | May not project into required yard >2 feet | — | On canopy or awning; may substitute for wall sign. | — | Sec. 25-247(b) |
| Temporary Sign or Portable Sign | 20 ft | Must conform to size/height for commercial district | — | — | 1 per business | On business premises. | — | Sec. 25-247(d) |
| Grand Opening Inflatable Sign/Balloon | 25 ft | — | — | Min property line setback = height of balloon + 5 ft; min 10 ft clearance from overhead wire | 1 per premises | On premises for grand opening, first 30 days, 3 days only (Fri-Sun). | — | Sec. 25-247(e)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Large Auto/Boat/RV/Motorcycle Sales) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per sign | — | Minimum separation between signs: 100 ft | 1 per franchise per frontage | One per franchise per frontage; facility must be at least 2.5 acres (108,900 sq ft) | — | Sec. 25-247(h) |

## Prohibited signs in Pana

- No sign or outdoor advertising sign structure may be erected, constructed, established, maintained, enlarged, relocated, or changed except in accordance with this ordinance.
- No sign or outdoor advertising sign structure may be installed, erected, constructed, or placed without a permit from the zoning officer, except as specifically provided for by this ordinance.
- Hazardous signs are prohibited, including those that are structurally unsafe, constitute a hazard by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment, are not kept in good repair, are capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it, or are supported by hanging or swinging from eye bolts, cables, or similar means.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure that, by reason of its size, location, content, coloring, or intensity of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or detracts from the visibility of any governmentally erected traffic sign or control device, or any sign which resembles a traffic sign or control device, is prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure making use of words, phrases, symbols, or characters so as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic is prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure which obstructs free ingress or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exits is prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure, not erected by the city or its agents, which extends over or touches upon any city property or public right-of-way unless specifically permitted, is prohibited.
- Any nonconforming sign or outdoor advertising sign structure which refers to a business no longer in existence or in operation at the location advertised is prohibited.
- Business signs advertising nonconforming uses which do not conform to the sign regulations of the most restrictive district where the nonconforming use is located are prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure unlawfully constructed, installed, erected, or maintained is prohibited.
- Banners, pennants, spinners, portable signs, and streamers are prohibited except pursuant to a permit if provided for in this ordinance.
- Any flashing sign, changing electronic message sign, or illuminated sign with lighting that projects into a residential area or public right-of-way are prohibited even if indoors if visible from the right-of-way, with narrow exceptions.
- Any sign which has visible moving part(s), visible revolving parts, visible mechanical movement, or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic, or mechanical means, including intermittent electrical pulsations, or by action of wind currents, is prohibited even if indoors if visible from the right-of-way or residential areas.
- Signs may not be affixed to public structures located in the right-of-way including utility poles, streetlights, trees or traffic control devices.
- Signs regulated by special event provisions may not be erected in violation of specific sign prohibitions (section 25-202).
- Signs regulated by special event provisions may not be located within the visibility triangle setbacks as defined.
- Garage sale and auction signs shall not be attached to or located on public property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pana

- Signs for on-site customer traffic are exempt from permitting if the sign is placed a minimum of twenty (20) feet from any adjacent street right-of-way, letters are less than 1.5 inches in height, and pictures/logos are less than 1.5 square feet.
- One (1) real estate sign per street frontage may be placed on a lot without a permit if it does not exceed the size limitations by district and is removed within 10 days after closing.
- Construction site signs not exceeding thirty-five (35) square feet in area are exempt if placed only while visible work is being conducted and removed within fourteen (14) days of completion.
- Garage sale and auction signs not exceeding five (5) square feet, posted no more than two (2) days before and removed within two (2) days after the event, are exempt if not attached to or located on public property.
- Nonbusiness signs (not defined as business sign and not prohibited or regulated), signs identifying street address up to five (5) square feet, parking signs up to six (6) square feet, and signs required by law up to seven (7) square feet are exempt.
- Public flags and one (1) additional business flag (max 4 ft x 6 ft) mounted on a flag pole are exempt.
- Signs used to identify accessory parking lots up to six (6) square feet are permitted in residential and commercial districts without mention of permit requirement.
- Signs required by federal, state, or local laws are exempt up to seven (7) square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications for Outdoor Advertising Sign Structures (OASS) shall include a site plan prepared by a licensed surveyor and drawn to scale, showing the proposed OASS, any buildings, and permanent commercial freestanding signs within sixty (60) feet.
- OASS applications must include color photographs of the proposed site with sign location marked.
- All freestanding and wall signs in commercial districts require a permit. Each request for permits must include diagrams of the proposed sign(s).
- When a use or sign does not conform or requires a variance or special use in a residential district, a special use permit or variance must be obtained.
- The zoning officer may add conditions to a special event sign permit elaborating on permit requirements.

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

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