# Sign Regulations in Pontiac, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pontiac, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/pontiac
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Pontiac/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIZOLADE_CH103ZO_ARTVSI)

## At a glance

Pontiac, Illinois regulates 15 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the R-4 Multiple-Family Residential District zoning district are capped at 5 ft. tall and 25 sq. ft., with a 8 ft. from property line setback (Sec. Table 7.06.1, Table 7.06.3). Most commercial signs in Pontiac require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-1 Agricultural District, ER Estate Residential District, E-1 One-Family Residential District, R-1-A One-Family Residential District, R-1 One-Family Residential District, R-2 Two-Family Residential District, R-3 Townhouse Residential District | 5 | 25 ft. (pole, single-family); 30 or 35 ft. otherwise (see 103-445(4)e) | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| R-4 Multiple-Family Residential District | 5 | 30 or 35 ft. (depends on building height, see Sec 103-445(4)e) | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| B-1 Limited Neighborhood Business District | 7 | 5 ft. | 25% of window area | — |
| B-2 CBD Central Business District | 7 | 12 ft. | 30 sq. ft. | — |
| B-3 General Business and Wholesale District | 6 | 12 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — |
| M-1 Limited Manufacturing District, P-I Planned Industrial/Business Park District | 6 | 18 ft. (M-1); 12 ft. (P-I) | 100 sq. ft. (M-1); 40 sq. ft. (P-I) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 25–35 ft. (based on building height) | 50 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### R-4 Multiple-Family Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft. | 25 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft. from property line | 1 per lot, plus 1 per 400 ft street frontage | On zoning lot | — | Table 7.06.1, Table 7.06.3 |
| Wall Sign | — | 9 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Attached to primary building wall | — | Table 7.06.1, Table 7.06.3 |
| Building Marker | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed to building | — | Sec. 103-445(3) |
| Identification Sign | — | 9 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | On building | — | Table 7.06.1; 103-445(6) |
| Flag | 30 or 35 ft. (depends on building height, see Sec 103-445(4)e) | 50 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from property line | Up to five flagpoles nonresidential | 10 ft. setback from property line | — | Sec. 103-445(4) |

### B-1 Limited Neighborhood Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft. from property line | 1 per lot, plus 1 per 200 ft street frontage | On zoning lot | — | Table 7.06.1, Table 7.06.3 |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall area; up to maximum zone area per Table 7.06.2 | — | — | — | On principal building wall | — | Table 7.06.1, Table 7.06.2; Sec. 103-445(5) |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On awning, canopy, or marquee | — | Sec. 103-445(1); Table 7.06.1 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | Projection max 36 inches from building | — | — | Attached to building, projects outward | — | Sec. 103-445(9) |
| Suspended Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | Suspended under horizontal surface | — | Sec. 103-445(10) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Inside window | — | Sec. 103-445(12) |
| Banner | — | — | — | — | — | On building or over right-of-way (see regulation) | — | Sec. 103-445(2) |

### B-2 CBD Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft. | 30 sq. ft. | — | Setback equal to height not less than 5 ft. | 1 per lot, 1 per 200 ft of street frontage | On zoning lot | — | Table 7.06.1, Table 7.06.3; Sec. 103-448 |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall area (see Table 7.06.3) | — | — | — | On wall, below roof line | — | Table 7.06.1, Table 7.06.3; Sec. 103-448 |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On awning, canopy, or marquee (see placement rules for Historic District) | — | Sec. 103-445(1); 103-448 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | Projects max 36 inches from building | — | — | At or above transom, below 2nd story sill; 9 ft clearance required in Historic District; 10 ft elsewhere | — | Sec. 103-445(9); 103-448(1)b; |
| Suspended Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | Suspended below horizontal surface, under awning/canopy/etc. | — | Sec. 103-445(10); 103-448(1)c |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Inside window, facing out | — | Sec. 103-445(12) |
| Banner | — | — | — | — | — | On building or over right-of-way (see regulation) | — | Sec. 103-445(2); 103-448 |

## Prohibited signs in Pontiac

- No sign shall be constructed, erected, converted, altered, rebuilt, enlarged, remodeled, relocated, or expanded without first obtaining a permit, except as exempted (§103-440(a)).
- No sign shall be placed as to interfere with any window, opening, or exit way required by the city building code or fire ordinance (§103-442(a)).
- No sign shall be located in the vision clearance triangle of a corner lot as set forth in section 103-16 (§103-442(b)).
- No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole (§103-442(c)).
- No sign shall be permitted to be placed on any wall, fence, or structure facing the side of any adjoining lot located in a residential district (§103-442(d)).
- Signs which may be in conflict with public traffic signals shall not be permitted (§103-442(e)).
- No sign shall project beyond the property line into the public right-of-way, except as provided for specific sign types (§103-442(f)).
- A sign which displays a commercial message is permitted only on the premises where the business or activity represented on the sign is located (§103-442(g)).
- No sign shall be allowed to cast bright light upon property located in any residential district; signs shall be shaded to avoid this (§103-442(h)).
- Signs containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene or pornographic nature are prohibited (§103-449(1)).
- Any sign or advertising device displayed on a vehicle or trailer parked for the primary purpose of advertisement is prohibited (§103-449(2)).
- Signs nailed, tacked, or otherwise affixed to trees or vegetation so as to puncture bark are prohibited (§103-449(3)).
- Handbills, posters, notices, or attention gathering devices may not be posted or affixed to traffic control boxes, utility poles, lamp poles, or similar structures (§103-449(4)).
- Animated signs, except for changeable text signs, are prohibited (§103-449(5)).
- Exterior strings of lights or exposed light bulbs are prohibited, except for holiday/civic/religious events for a duration not to exceed 60 days (§103-449(6)).
- Additional or subsequent signs painted on, attached to, or otherwise affixed to permitted signs are prohibited (§103-449(7)).
- Beacons, including rotating or multi-beam lights, are prohibited (§103-449(8)).
- Roof signs are prohibited (§103-449(9)).
- Pennants are prohibited except as allowed for a maximum 15-day temporary use (§103-449(10)).
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons are prohibited except as allowed for a maximum 15-day temporary use (§103-449(11)).
- All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter or exempt from regulation are prohibited (§103-449).

## Signs exempt from permit in Pontiac

- Any public notice, warning, directional, and other instructional or regulatory signs required or permitted by an applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance (§103-441(a)(1)).
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, which cannot be read from vehicles passing on adjoining streets (§103-441(a)(2)).
- Temporary displays, including holiday lights, decorations, painted window areas, religious or historic symbols, and other displays with no commercial message (§103-441(a)(3)).
- Works of art that contain no commercial message (§103-441(a)(4)).
- Traffic control signs on private property, such as 'Stop,' 'Yield,' and similar signs that meet state DOT standards and do not contain commercial messages (§103-441(a)(5)).
- Building markers (§103-441(b)(1)).
- Flags (§103-441(b)(2)).
- Incidental signs (§103-441(b)(3)).
- Identification signs (§103-441(b)(4)).
- Residential signs (§103-441(b)(5)).
- Any signs erected by a religious institution on property on which the religious institution operates (§103-441(b)(6)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Wall signs in the B-1, B-2, and B-3 districts require special sign review by the planning and zoning board (§103-444, Table 7.06.1 note (5)).
- No permit shall be issued for a sign to be located in a unified business center or planned unit development until a comprehensive sign plan has been approved for the center and the sign complies with that plan (§103-447).
- A sign plan (called 'comprehensive sign plan') is required for unified business centers or planned unit developments and must be approved by city council after planning and zoning board review (§103-447).
- Applicants within a PUD must describe in graphic form the proposed design for all signs for the purpose of establishing a uniform format and appearance. The requirements of Article V apply except as modified in accordance with a sign plan approved by the city (§103-663(g)).
- Applications for sign installation may require plans drawn by an architect or structural engineer, licensed by the state, before a permit is issued (§103-276(5)).
- For signs projecting into the public right-of-way, an indemnity bond or proof of adequate sign liability insurance is required (§103-450).

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

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