# Sign Regulations in Princeton, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Princeton, Illinois regulates 31 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the Single-Family and Two-Family Districts (RE, R1A, R1, R2) zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 6 square feet, with a 8 feet from property line setback (Sec. 10-7-4A1, 10-7-4C3, 10-7-4C4a). Most commercial signs in Princeton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | May not exceed height of other temporary signs allowed at the same location | 4 square feet | — |
| Single-Family and Two-Family Districts (RE, R1A, R1, R2) | 9 | 20 feet (flagpole height) | 32 square feet | — |
| Multi-Family District (R3) | 10 | 20 feet (flagpole height) | 32 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Business Districts | 9 | 30 ft. or 4 ft above roof/parapet, whichever is higher | 400 sq. ft. | — |
| B1 District | 3 | 3 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| B2 District | 4 | 30'; 4' above roof/parapet, whichever is higher | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| B3 District | 1 | 6 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| B4 District | 1 | — | 50% or 24 sq. ft. of permitted sign face area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Single-Family and Two-Family Districts (RE, R1A, R1, R2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign (Freestanding) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Inside property line | — | 10-7-4A1, 10-7-4C1, 10-7-4C4a |
| Address Sign (Wall) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On wall | — | 10-7-4A1, 10-7-4C1, 10-7-4C4a |
| Residential Identification Sign (Freestanding) | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 | Inside property line | — | 10-7-4A1, 10-7-4C1, 10-7-4C4a |
| Residential Identification Sign (Wall) | — | 1 square foot | — | — | 1 | On wall | — | 10-7-4A1, 10-7-4C1, 10-7-4C4a |
| Incidental Sign | 4 feet | 2 square feet | — | — | Not specified | Inside property line | — | 10-7-4A1, 10-7-4C2, 10-7-4C4a |
| Temporary Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | 8 feet from property line | 3 per dwelling unit (see conditions) | 8 feet from property line | — | 10-7-4A1, 10-7-4C3, 10-7-4C4a |
| Institutional Sign (Freestanding) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | 10-7-4A1, 10-7-4C5 |
| Flag | 20 feet (flagpole height) | 5 ft x 8 ft per flag | — | 5 ft from any property line | 1 flagpole per lot, 2 flags per pole | Minimum 5 ft setback from property line, no rooftop flagpoles | — | 10-7-4C6 |

### Multi-Family District (R3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign (Freestanding) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Inside property line | — | 10-7-4B1, 10-7-4C1 |
| Address Sign (Wall) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On wall | — | 10-7-4B1, 10-7-4C1 |
| Residential Identification Sign (Freestanding) | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per driveway | Inside property line | — | 10-7-4B1, 10-7-4C1, 10-7-4C4b |
| Residential Identification Sign (Wall, per public entrance) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per public entrance | On wall at each public entrance | — | 10-7-4B1, 10-7-4C1, 10-7-4C4b |
| Incidental Sign | 4 feet | 2 square feet | — | — | Not specified | Inside property line | — | 10-7-4B1, 10-7-4C2 |
| Traffic Control Sign | — | See additional requirements | — | — | Not specified | Inside property line | — | 10-7-4B1 |
| Temporary Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | 8 feet inside property line | 3 per dwelling unit or 3 per driveway, whichever is less | 8 feet inside property line | — | 10-7-4B1, 10-7-4C3, 10-7-4C4b |
| Flag | 20 feet (flagpole height) | 5 ft x 8 ft per flag | — | 5 ft from any property line | 1 flagpole per lot, 2 flags per pole | Minimum 5 ft setback from property line; no rooftop flagpoles | — | 10-7-4C6 |

### Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | 10-7-5, 10-7-5B7, 10-7-5B7f |
| Freestanding Sign | 25'; 6' in B3; up to 70' in B2 within 1500' of interstate | 80 sq. ft.; 24 sq. ft. in B3 district; up to 300 sq. ft. in B2 within 1500' of interstate exit ramp | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Inside property line | — | 10-7-5, 10-7-5B1, 10-7-5B9, 10-6-10 |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window/door area on a single wall | — | — | — | Window/door | — | 10-7-5B11 |
| Awning Sign | — | 50% of awning surface | — | — | — | Affixed flat to awning surface, on building | — | 10-7-5B4 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | Inside property line, not within pedestrianway | — | 10-7-5, 10-7-5B5 |
| Advertising Sign | 30 ft. or 4 ft above roof/parapet, whichever is higher | 200 sq. ft. | 10 ft tall x 20 ft wide | — | — | Inside property line, not between front building line and street | — | 10-7-5, 10-7-5A, 10-7-5A2-5 |
| Shopping Center Sign | 25 ft. | 400 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 additional per unified development | Within property lines, on pole | — | 10-7-5B6 |
| Flag | 30' (flagpole height) | 5'x8' for commercial flags; 2'x4' if mounted on building | — | 5 ft from property line | Up to 3 flagpoles per building, 3 flags per pole | Min 5 ft from property line; within 30 ft of principal entrance | — | 10-7-5B10 |

## Prohibited signs in Princeton

- Animated signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Wind blown signs are prohibited, except temporary banners.
- Strings of lights are prohibited, except for temporary holiday decorations.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except sandwich board signs.
- Vehicles containing a commercial message and regularly parked on the street side of any business are considered portable signs and are prohibited unless the vehicle is regularly and customarily used in the business.
- Signs on benches are prohibited.
- Signs on trees are prohibited.
- Signs on utility poles are prohibited, other than signs installed by the utility and related to the utility facility.
- Signs blocking required means of egress from any building are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs within the public right of way or on public property are prohibited except as allowed in section 10-7-3 or projecting signs in accordance with subsection 10-7-5B2.
- Any sign not exempt under subsection 10-7-1B, not established as a lawful nonconforming sign per section 10-12-7, or not expressly allowed under another section, is prohibited.
- No display sign or outdoor advertising device may be placed, erected, altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
- No sign permitted in the public right of way or on public property may bear a commercial message other than one related to a utility or transit service, and may not be animated or lighted unless expressly required by law.
- Any other sign installed or placed in the public right of way is deemed unlawful and subject to immediate removal and penalty.
- Incidental signs may not bear any commercial message.
- Permanent signs in residential districts may not bear a commercial message other than one directly related to a business or occupation conducted on the premises lawfully (home occupations excepted).
- Temporary signs may not bear commercial messages except for specific listed purposes.
- A flag in residential districts may not bear commercial messages.
- No rooftop flagpoles are permitted in any district.
- Marquee and awning signs must not extend beyond the limits of the marquee/awning as regulated.
- Flashing lights, rapidly changing or intermittent type illumination, rotating beams, beacons or illumination resembling an emergency light are prohibited.
- Exterior window signs are prohibited; total copy area for window signs may not exceed 50% of window/door area.

## Signs exempt from permit in Princeton

- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance, or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
- Any sign inside a building not attached to a window or door and not legible from more than three feet beyond the property line, or any sign not intended to be legible from any street right of way or beyond the property line as determined by the zoning administrator.
- Traffic control signs on private property, such as 'Stop', 'Yield' and similar signs, that meet the Illinois 'Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices' standards and contain no commercial message.
- Temporary signs required by a valid law or posted by a public agency, provided they are not illuminated or animated, and are removed when no longer serving their purpose.
- Signs no larger than four square feet not requiring a building or electrical permit and not legible from more than three feet beyond the property line.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs regulated by this chapter but not exempted must be erected only after issuance of a permit by the zoning administrator. Application must include detailed drawing(s) showing dimensions, design, structure and location. One application/permit may include multiple signs on the same lot.
- For advertising signs (billboards) in the B2 district, approval through the special use process (section 10-11-5) is required.
- Temporary signs require a temporary sign permit specifying duration and are subject to all temporary sign requirements.
- Electronic message display panels may be permitted for institutional signs in residential districts by variance.
- Electronic message display panels and manual changeable copy signs are permitted in B2 and B4 districts, subject to specific standards and only as part of a freestanding sign, and only one per zoning lot.

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

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