# Sign Regulations in Pinckneyville, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Pinckneyville, Illinois regulates 23 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the C-1 District, C-2 District, Business District zoning district are capped at 35 ft tall, 200 sq ft, and 20 ft (any dimension) wide, with a Must not project over public right-of-way; permanent anchoring required setback (Sec. § 154.392(D)(6), § 154.391(E)). Most commercial signs in Pinckneyville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1 District, C-2 District, Business District | 10 | 35 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District | 11 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| R-1 District, Residential District, Agricultural District | 4 | — | 6 sq ft per sign face; maximum 2 faces | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 32 sq ft | — |

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

### C-1 District, C-2 District, Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Message Board | — | Subject to overall sign area allowances | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 154.391(D), (E) |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 200 sq ft | 20 ft (any dimension) | Must not project over public right-of-way; permanent anchoring required | Maximum 2 per street front | On-premises street front | — | § 154.392(D)(6), § 154.391(E) |
| Flush-Mounted Sign (Wall Sign) | May extend up to 3 ft above roofline | Subject to sign area allowance | — | — | — | On building wall | — | § 154.392(D)(1), § 154.391(E) |
| Projecting Sign | 35 ft above ground or pavement; must be at least 8 ft above ground; may extend up to 3 ft above roofline | 32 sq ft | — | Projection limits required | 1 per street front | On building | — | § 154.392(D)(2), § 154.391(E) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | Subject to sign area allowance | — | — | — | Window | — | § 154.392(D)(4) |
| Sign on Awning, Canopy, or Marquee (Flush-Mounted) | As per flush-mounted sign: may extend up to 3 ft above roofline; not more than 18 inches from wall | Subject to sign area allowance | — | — | — | Awning/canopy/marquee, flush against surface | — | § 154.392(D)(3), (1) |
| Sign Suspended Under Awning, Canopy, or Marquee (Projecting) | 35 ft above ground; at least 8 ft above ground | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Under awning/canopy/marquee | — | § 154.392(D)(3), (2) |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign | 20 ft (any dimension); top edge no higher than 35 ft above pavement | 200 sq ft | 20 ft | — | — | On site | — | § 154.392(D)(5)-(6) |

### Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 200 sq ft | 20 ft (any dimension) | Must not project over public right-of-way; permanent anchoring required | Maximum 2 per street front | On-premises street front | — | § 154.392(D)(6), § 154.391(E) |
| Flush-Mounted Sign (Wall Sign) | May extend up to 3 ft above roofline | Subject to sign area allowance | — | — | — | On building wall | — | § 154.392(D)(1), § 154.391(E) |
| Projecting Sign | 35 ft above ground or pavement; must be at least 8 ft above ground; may extend up to 3 ft above roofline | 32 sq ft | — | Projection limits required | 1 per street front | On building | — | § 154.392(D)(2), § 154.391(E) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | Subject to sign area allowance | — | — | — | Window | — | § 154.392(D)(4) |
| Sign on Awning, Canopy, or Marquee (Flush-Mounted) | As per flush-mounted sign | Subject to sign area allowance | — | — | — | Awning/canopy/marquee, flush against surface | — | § 154.392(D)(3), (1) |
| Sign Suspended Under Awning, Canopy, or Marquee (Projecting) | 35 ft above ground; at least 8 ft above ground | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Under awning/canopy/marquee | — | § 154.392(D)(3), (2) |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign | 20 ft in any dimension; top edge no higher than 35 ft above pavement | 200 sq ft | 20 ft | — | — | On site | — | § 154.392(D)(5)-(6) |
| Billboard | 20 ft above ground or pavement | 300 sq ft | — | 50 ft from public right-of-way; 1,000 ft from another billboard | — | On site (must meet state permitting/statute requirements) | — | § 154.392(D)(8) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | On construction site | — | § 154.392(B)(1) |
| Directional/Informational Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 154.392(B)(2) |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 154.392(B)(3) |
| Garage Sale/Auction Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 154.392(B)(4) |
| Governmental/Public Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As needed | — | § 154.392(B)(5) |
| Holiday Decoration | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 154.392(B)(6) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft on residential; 16 sq ft on non-residential | — | — | 1 per street front | On premises | — | § 154.392(B)(15), § 154.394(A) |

## Prohibited signs in Pinckneyville

- Any sign or street graphic not expressly permitted by the sign ordinance is prohibited within the city.
- Signs attached to trees or public utility poles (except certain warning and local school sports signs) are prohibited.
- Defunct signs, including posts or supports for businesses no longer conducted or products no longer sold on the premises, are prohibited.
- Roof-mounted signs are strictly prohibited everywhere except in the industrial district.
- Billboards are strictly prohibited everywhere except in the industrial district.
- No flush-mounted sign shall project more than 18 inches from the wall or more than three feet above the roofline to which it is attached.
- No projecting sign shall project more than four feet from a building, extend more than three feet above the roofline, project over a street/alley/driveway or closer than two feet to a curb, extend below eight feet above ground, extend above 35 feet, or exceed 32 square feet.
- No sign or street graphic may prevent free access or egress from any door, window, fire escape or driveway.
- No sign or graphic may interfere with or obstruct view of traffic signs/signals or be likely to be confused with an authorized traffic device; no street graphic may contain 'stop,' 'go,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'warning,' or similar words.
- Flashing signs, moving signs, propellers, paddle wheels, or devices designed to be set in motion by wind are prohibited.
- No signs may be erected, maintained, or operated with blinking, flashing, fluttering lights or illuminating devices with changing intensity, brightness or color, except for messages on electronic message board signs or changeable copy signs.
- No sign may use red, yellow, green or other colored lights that may confuse or interfere with vehicular traffic.
- Beacon lights and illumination by flame are prohibited on signs.
- No exposed reflective bulbs, strobe lights, or incandescent lamps above 15 watts may be used on the exterior of any sign facing public streets or adjacent property.
- No part of any freestanding sign may project into or over the public right-of-way or obstruct traffic view.
- No business may display more than 400 square feet of signs except as otherwise provided.
- No more than one projecting sign per establishment per street front is allowed.
- No more than two freestanding signs are allowed per lot's street front.
- No person shall place or display any sign that resembles an official traffic signal or sign, attempts to direct the movement of traffic, hides or interferes with movement of traffic or effectiveness of traffic signs or signals.
- No person shall maintain or operate in view of a street or highway any flashing or rotating beacon or light.
- No sign may be posted on city property, right-of-way, or boulevard without permission from the Zoning Commission.
- Any sign advertising a business or product no longer present on the premises must be removed within 60 days of notice.
- Temporary signs and banners must be removed within one week of the event advertised.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pinckneyville

- Construction signs (up to 32 sq ft, on site, removed post-construction)
- Directional and informational signs for public convenience (up to 3 sq ft)
- Flags of any country, state, or local government
- Garage sale/auction signs (up to 4 sq ft, not posted more than 5 days)
- Government or public signs (e.g. traffic, city welcome, railroad, legal notices, signs for underground cables)
- Holiday decorations (must be removed in a reasonable time after holiday)
- Home occupation signs (non-illuminated, up to 4 sq ft, name/occupation only)
- House numbers and occupant name signs for dwellings (3 sq ft for single-family, 6 sq ft for multi-family)
- Institutional signs for public/charitable/religious institutions (up to 60 sq ft, not obstructing motorists' vision)
- Integral/interior signs not visible from outside the premises
- Political campaign signs on private property (up to 16 sq ft in ag/res districts; must be removed within 7 days after election in other districts)
- Property regulation signs (such as no trespassing, up to 3 sq ft)
- Public interest signs for charitable or nonprofit events (14 days before to 7 days after event; 16 sq ft in ag/res, 32 sq ft elsewhere)
- Real estate signs (6 sq ft for residential, 16 sq ft for other, one per street front, must be removed within 30 days after sale/lease)
- Residential development identification structures (no commercial advertising; up to 40 sq ft)
- Mobile/portable signs or street banners advertising public events (approval required; limit of 21 days before to 7 days after event; over 60 continuous days must be made permanent or removed)
- Utility company signs for public safety or utility location
- Murals or non-commercial artistic public graphics
- Temporary signs (max 4 ft high) in front of C-1 or C-2 businesses (must not interrupt traffic/pedestrian flow, removed at close of business)
- Off-premises directional signs for businesses over 250 ft from highways (4 sq ft in residential, 12 sq ft elsewhere, max 2 per business)
- Temporary real estate signs, window promotional signs, political signs, and banners advertising special events are not subject to permit (provided not on city property or right-of-way)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit reference to a master sign plan or comprehensive sign plan requirement in the ordinance.
- Permit application requires submittal of detailed narrative and/or graphics, including location, dimensions, area, height, illumination, support method, traffic device relationship, and total area of existing and proposed signage.
- Variance to sign requirements requires an application, public hearing, and approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Individual applicants (including shopping centers and multi-tenant developments) must calculate sign area allowed and provide detailed sign proposal data for permitting.
- All existing signs must be registered with the Zoning Administrator within one year of ordinance adoption.
- Approval or permit is required for signs except those specifically exempted in the ordinance.

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

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