# Sign Regulations in Plano, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Plano, Illinois regulates 20 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Religious, Service Org, School, Golf, Taxing District)s in the Residential Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 50 sq ft total, or two signs sharing 50 sq ft equally, with a Minimum 10 ft from any lot line setback (Sec. 5-14-8(C)). Most commercial signs in Plano require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 6 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft total, or two signs sharing 50 sq ft equally | — |
| Business Zoning Districts, Manufacturing Zoning Districts | 6 | 30 ft or 2 stories, whichever is less; cannot extend above roofline | 150 sq ft | — |
| Route 34 Commercial District, Downtown Commercial District | 1 | Pole: 20 ft; Ground: 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Unified Business Center | 2 | — | 120 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 12 ft or height of first floor, whichever greater | 50 sq ft per flag (except US flag exempt) | — |

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

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Religious, Service Org, School, Golf, Taxing District) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft total, or two signs sharing 50 sq ft equally | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line | One per facility, or two if square footage divided equally | At facility entrances; minimum 10 ft setback from any lot line | — | 5-14-8(C) |
| Temporary Sign - Residential Real Estate | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building, dwelling or lot | On the property for sale, lease, or rent | — | 5-14-8(B)1, 5-14-12(B)4 |
| Temporary Sign - Political | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | Set back from right of way | Unlimited (subject to safety) | On private property, set back from right of way | — | 5-14-8(B)2, 5-14-12(B)6 |
| Temporary Sign - Garage/Yard Sale | 5 ft | 4 sq ft (single-faced) / 8 sq ft (multifaced) | — | — | 1 per lot side abutting public street (max 2) | At lot where sale is held | — | 5-14-8(B)3, 5-14-12(B)8 |
| Temporary Sign - Construction | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | On the premises under construction | — | 5-14-8(B)4, 5-14-12(B)9 |
| Permanent Subdivision Identification Sign (Exempt) | — | 50 sq ft per sign (both sides of a 2-sided sign) | — | — | One per corner at each primary entry | At primary entry or complex entry, outside vision triangle | — | 5-14-4(H) |

### Business Zoning Districts, Manufacturing Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Pole Sign) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from property line; 18 ft from building | 1 per lot, shopping center, or outlot | No closer than 10 ft to property line and 18 ft to building identified; not obscuring architectural features | — | 5-14-9(A) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground/Monument Sign) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from property line; 18 ft from building | 1 per lot, shopping center, or outlot | No closer than 10 ft to property line and 18 ft to building identified; not obscuring architectural features | — | 5-14-9(A) |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft or 2 stories, whichever is less; cannot extend above roofline | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment (2 for qualifying corner units) | On wall of building facade with main public street frontage; secondary allowed on other facade facing nonresidential; corner units may have two wall signs, each on separate walls facing a public street | — | 5-14-9(B) |
| Canopy or Marquee Sign | — | See formula | — | — | 1 per lot or establishment | Mounted on vertical edge of canopy/marquee | — | 5-14-9(C) |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Above general public entrance, bottom edge of canopy | — | 5-14-9(C)10 |
| Awning Sign | — | 30% of awning surface | — | — | — | On awning of building | — | 5-14-9(D) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Freestanding | 4 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | 2 ft from public right of way | 1 per zoning lot/business | On permittee's property, min 2 ft from public right of way | — | 5-14-12(B)1 |
| Temporary Sign - A-Frame (Sandwich Board) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On sidewalk within 3 ft of front face of business's building | — | 5-14-12(B)1d |
| Temporary Sign - Banner | 12 ft or height of first floor, whichever greater | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business/lot (+ additional with frame/lot frontage) | Affixed to building walls (frameless), or poles (framed) | — | 5-14-12(B)2 |
| Official, Corporate and Ancillary Flag | Flagpole: see below | 50 sq ft per flag (except US flag exempt) | — | 10 ft from property line | Max 2 flags per pole | On permanent flagpole/staff only, min 10 ft setback from property line | — | 5-14-14 |
| Business Nameplate (Exempt) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal use | On premises | — | 5-14-4(G) |

## Prohibited signs in Plano

- No sign shall be constructed, erected, converted, altered, rebuilt, enlarged, remodeled, relocated or expanded until a permit for such sign has been obtained in accordance with the standards and procedures set out in this chapter, unless otherwise exempted.
- All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter or exempt from regulation under section 5-14-4 are prohibited.
- Signs containing statements, words or pictures of an obscene or pornographic nature are prohibited.
- Any sign or advertising device painted or displayed on any vehicle or trailer parked for the flagrant purpose of providing advertisement and visible from a public right of way is prohibited.
- Signs nailed, tacked, or otherwise affixed to trees or vegetation in such a way as to puncture bark are prohibited.
- Handbills, posters, notices, or similar devices posted or affixed on traffic control boxes, signs, lamp poles, utility poles, or traffic control support are prohibited.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- Any sign attached to a chimney, fence or fence type wall, retaining wall, bench, fence post, refuse enclosure, utility box, storage shed, bus shelter, satellite dish, antenna, or other accessory structure is prohibited.
- Any exterior string of lights or exposed light bulbs, except those temporarily displayed in conjunction with traditionally accepted civic, patriotic, or religious holidays for a duration not to exceed sixty days, is prohibited.
- Any additional or subsequent sign painted on, attached, or affixed to poles or permitted signs is prohibited.
- Off site signs, including 'snipe signs', are prohibited except as otherwise permitted.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent or inhibit free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, inhibit the use of fire protection systems, attach to a standpipe or fire escape, or interfere with required ventilation openings.
- No sign or its parts shall be permitted to be movable or rotating.
- No sign shall be located in any vision triangle formed by intersecting streets as specified in section 5-14-6.
- No sign shall be allowed to encroach upon the public right of way or public property, except as expressly permitted.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be erected or maintained in such a manner as to interfere with, obstruct the view of, resemble, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- A sign which displays a commercial message is permitted only on the premises where the business or activity represented on the sign is located.
- No sign shall interfere with any opening required for ventilation.

## Signs exempt from permit in Plano

- Government signs: Any public notice, warning, directional, and other instructional or regulatory signs required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Interior signs: Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, which cannot be read from vehicles passing on adjoining streets.
- Nonsign decorations: Temporary displays, including holiday lights, decorations, painted window areas, works of art, flags (not exceeding 50 square feet), memorial signs, religious or historic symbols, and other displays with no commercial message.
- Traffic control signs: On private property, such as stop, yield, and similar signs which meet Illinois Department of Transportation standards and contain no commercial message.
- Memorial signs: Memorial signs or tablets listing names or buildings and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of the building or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
- Directional and warning signs: Signs, not exceeding five square feet in area, which provide instruction, direction, or warning and are located entirely on the property to which they pertain, to identify restrooms, public telephones, walkways, parking lot entrances and exits, and features of a similar nature, or containing warnings like 'no trespassing', 'no dumping', and similar warning messages.
- Business nameplates: Nonelectrical nameplates denoting the business name of an occupation legally conducted on the premises, provided the sign area does not exceed two square feet and only one sign per principal use is erected.
- Permanent subdivision identification signs: Subdivision and multiple-family complex identity signs, subject to corner/entrance, separation, size, content, and location standards as outlined.
- Vending machine signs: Permanent, non-flashing signs on vending machines, gasoline pumps, ice containers, ATMs, or other similar machines, relating only to what is dispensed by the machine and may be illuminated only on the front.
- Window signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No permit shall be issued for a sign to be located in a unified business center until a comprehensive sign plan, as a component of the site plan approval, has been approved for the center and the sign complies with the provisions thereof.
- A comprehensive sign plan is defined in the ordinance as a sign plan approved by the plan commission indicating the size and location of all signs to be located in a unified business center or on a business or manufacturing property, and is a component of the overall site plan submittal and approval process.
- Landscape plans, including the proposed location, quantity, size, and species of required landscape improvements, must be included with all applications for ground mounted or pole signs.

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

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