# Sign Regulations in Paris, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Paris, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/paris
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-02
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paris/latest/paris_il/0-0-0-25684)

## At a glance

Paris, Illinois regulates 7 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Most commercial signs in Paris require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | — | — |
| Single-family Residence District (R-1, R-2); Two-family Residence District (R-3); Multiple Dwelling District (R-4) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Neighborhood Shopping District (C-1); Commercial District (C-2); Central Business District (C-3); Light Industrial District (M-1); Heavy Industrial District (M-2) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs - Construction and Design Standards | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §§ 158.35–158.44; § 158.02; §§ 158.18–158.24 |
| Electric Signs - Electrical Standards | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 158.38; § 158.24(B), (C) |
| Free-standing Sign - Structural Standards | — | — | — | — | — | Self-supporting structure erected on and permanently attached to a concrete foundation. | — | § 158.37; § 158.24(B), (C); §§ 158.43–158.44 |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Manual) - Copy Change Exempt | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 158.55(B)(1)–(2) |
| Changing Sign (Automatic) - Message Center/Readerboard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 158.01 (Changing Sign definition); § 158.57(B); § 158.57(H)(5)–(6) |

### Single-family Residence District (R-1, R-2); Two-family Residence District (R-3); Multiple Dwelling District (R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner / Flag / Pennant (Temporary - Model Home Demonstration) | — | — | — | — | — | Residential districts, in conjunction with demonstration of model homes in a new subdivision. | — | § 158.57(F)(1)–(2) |

### Neighborhood Shopping District (C-1); Commercial District (C-2); Central Business District (C-3); Light Industrial District (M-1); Heavy Industrial District (M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner / Flag / Pennant / Search Light / Twirling Sign / Balloon (Temporary - Commercial/Industrial) | — | — | — | — | — | Commercial and Industrial districts at a business location. | — | § 158.57(F)(1)–(2); § 158.57(G) |

## Prohibited signs in Paris

- No sign may be erected, constructed, enlarged, moved, or converted without first obtaining a sign permit, unless specifically exempt by this code (§158.15(A)).
- Only a licensed building contractor or licensed/certified sign contractor/master sign erector may install a sign (§158.16).
- No sign may be erected or maintained without the property owner's (or authorized representative's) consent (§158.17).
- Signs may not obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window, or door opening used as a means of egress (§158.36(C)).
- Signs may not be attached in any way that interferes with required ventilation openings (§158.36(D)).
- Signs must maintain minimum clearances from overhead electrical conductors: at least 8 feet horizontally or 13 feet vertically from lines over 750 volts; for lines under 750 volts, clearances per the National Electric Safety Code; in all cases, no closer than 36 inches to any electrical conductor or public utility guy wire (§158.36(E)).
- Signs must be anchored to prevent lateral movement; no sign may be suspended by a chain or device that allows it to swing due to wind unless specifically designed with approved methods to allow movement (§158.44).
- Outdoor advertising/off-site signs with a face larger than 25 square feet are prohibited (§158.57(A)).
- Moving signs (nonstationary/nonfixed) are prohibited, except rotating barber poles, changing signs, or multi-prism units; multi-prism indexing may not exceed 2 complete revolutions every 20 seconds; vehicular signs are not prohibited (§158.57(B)).
- Abandoning any sign is prohibited (§158.57(C)).
- Driving a vehicle on public streets with a sign that interferes with the driver’s or other drivers’ vision, or with a moving sign, is prohibited (§158.57(D)).
- No sign may be placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other surface on public property, or over/across any street or public thoroughfare, except as expressly authorized by this code (§158.57(E)).
- Banners, flags, pennants, search lights, twirling signs, sandwich board signs, sidewalk or curb signs, balloons, or other gas-filled figures are prohibited except for limited allowances stated in §158.57(F)(2) (§158.57(F)).
- A-frame (sandwich board), sidewalk, or curb signs are prohibited (§158.57(G)).
- Signs with obscene or pornographic content are prohibited (§158.57(H)(1)).
- Signs painted on or attached to fences (except temporary construction fences) or on any wall/structure not structurally part of a building are prohibited, except to identify a residence by occupant name and address (§158.57(H)(2)).
- Signs employing stereopticon or motion picture projection, with visible moving parts, or that give the illusion of motion are prohibited except as expressly permitted (§158.57(H)(3)).
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter are prohibited (§158.57(H)(4)).
- Signs that imitate or resemble an official traffic sign or signal are prohibited (§158.57(H)(5)).
- Signs that by size, location, movement, content, coloring, or illumination could be confused with traffic-control devices or emergency/road equipment lights, or that hide traffic/street signs or signals from view, are prohibited (§158.57(H)(6)).
- Holiday decorations that partially camouflage or divert attention from traffic signals or directional signals are prohibited (§158.56(E)).
- No sign shall be placed or erected in violation of the city’s zoning ordinance (Title XV, Appendix A) (§158.02).

## Signs exempt from permit in Paris

- Permit-exempt operations must still conform to all other building, structural, and electrical laws and regulations (§158.55(A)).
- Copy changes on approved signs designed for replaceable copy (marquee/changeable copy/message centers, etc.) do not require a permit (§158.55(B)(1)).
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance without structural changes; replacement of a plastic face due to breakage/deterioration (not to substitute a new/different advertiser) do not require a permit (§158.55(B)(2)).
- Changes in the content of show window displays and permitted temporary signs do not require a permit (§158.55(B)(3)).
- Construction signs: one per project; size per zoning; may be erected no more than 5 days before permitted construction begins; confined to the site; removed within 5 days after completion and before occupancy (§158.56(A)).
- Directional/instructional signs up to 4 sq ft (e.g., restrooms, telephones, walkways, parking entrances/exits); directional signs for garage sales/auctions/temporary activities limited to 48 hours (§158.56(B)).
- Flags/emblems/insignia of any nation or political subdivision, and corporate flags (§158.56(C)).
- Governmental signs for traffic control, regulatory purposes, and public safety erected by or on order of a public officer (§158.56(D)).
- Holiday signs: decorative; displayed no more than 30 consecutive days and no more than 60 days per year; any type/number/area/height/illumination/animation allowed within those limits; must be set back at least 10 feet from all lot boundaries and maintain clear sight area as specified; may not camouflage/divert attention from traffic signals (§158.56(E)).
- House numbers and name plates up to 2 sq ft per residential building (§158.56(F)).
- Incidental signs: up to two; each up to 5 sq ft; total not to exceed 10 sq ft; may be attached to a free-standing sign structure or building wall (§158.56(G)).
- Interior signs not visible from the public right-of-way (still subject to structural/electrical/material specs) (§158.56(H)).
- Memorial signs/tablets; names and dates cut into or inlaid in masonry or constructed of bronze/other incombustible material (§158.56(I)).
- Notice bulletin boards up to 24 sq ft for medical, public, charitable, or religious institutions (§158.56(J)).
- No trespassing/no dumping signs up to 1.5 sq ft each; maximum four per lot unless the administrator approves more for special circumstances (§158.56(K)).
- One occupant sign per dwelling unit up to 2 sq ft indicating occupant name or identifying a home professional office (§158.56(L)).
- Plaques or name plate signs up to 2.5 sq ft fastened directly to the building (§158.56(M)).
- Political/campaign signs: allowed starting 45 days before an election; must be removed within 15 days after; not allowed within or over the public right-of-way (§158.56(N)).
- Official public notices posted by public officers/employees (§158.56(O)).
- Public signs required or authorized by law; may be of any type/number/area/height/location/illumination/animation as required by law (§158.56(P)).
- Real estate for sale/rent/lease signs: one per lot (second allowed for frontage >300 ft or dual street frontages); must be entirely on the property, not illuminated, area per zoning, and removed within 7 days after transaction consummation (§158.56(Q)).
- Permanent window signs: up to two per ground-floor occupancy; total copy area limited to 25% of window area or 1 sq ft per linear foot of premises (whichever is less); except where prohibited by zoning (§158.56(R)).
- Signs in a business display window that are incorporated with a display relating to services offered (§158.56(S)).
- Religious/historical symbols, plaques, or identification emblems up to 4 sq ft, placed flat against a building (§158.56(T)).
- Temporary signs up to 4 sq ft for civic/philanthropic/educational/religious drives or events; posted only during the drive or up to 30 days before the event and removed within 7 days after; City Council may grant a temporary permit for signs or banners over a street/public way, and a temporary banner may exceed 4 sq ft (§158.56(U)).
- Warning signs indicating danger with no advertising; sized as necessary; removed when the danger subsides (§158.56(V)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or multi-tenant sign plan requirement is stated in the provided text.
- A 'Comprehensive Design Plan' (building design and signs integrated into one architectural plan) is defined, but no section requires its submission or approval.
- Permit applications must include drawings showing the location of the proposed sign and all other existing permitted signs on the same premises, plus dimensions, construction supports, foundation, electrical components, materials, and attachment details; engineering certification may be required by the administrator (§158.18(B)).
- If a sign permit is denied, an appeal may be taken to the Board of Appeals (Title XV, Appendix A, Article XVIII) (§158.21).
- City Council may grant a temporary permit for signs or banners over a street or public way (§158.56(U)).
- Certain exempt sign size limits are controlled by the Zoning Ordinance in Appendix A (e.g., construction and real estate signs), but no sign plan requirement is referenced.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Paris, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Paris+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-paris

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