# Sign Regulations in Quincy, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Quincy, Illinois regulates 33 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Subdivision/Project Identification Signs in the Residential Districts (RU1, RE, RS, R1A, R1B, R1C, R2, R3, NR1) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft per face, with a No sign placed upon the ground shall be located closer than 10 feet to any property line. setback (Sec. § 162.264(B)(1)(a), (B)(2)(g)). Most commercial signs in Quincy require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential Districts (RU1, RE, RS, R1A, R1B, R1C, R2, R3, NR1) | 10 | 8 ft | Per § 162.257(B), usually max 32 sq ft for special display | — |
| Commercial Districts (C1A, C1, C2, C3) | 16 | 30 ft | 150 sq ft per face | — |
| Industrial Districts (M1, M2, M3) | 2 | Per § 162.265(C) | Per § 162.265(C) | — |
| Downtown Districts | 6 | 8 ft | 50% of window area | — |

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

### Residential Districts (RU1, RE, RS, R1A, R1B, R1C, R2, R3, NR1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision/Project Identification Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | No sign placed upon the ground shall be located closer than 10 feet to any property line. | Two per development; at each street entrance. | At each entrance to the subdivision/development. | — | § 162.264(B)(1)(a), (B)(2)(g) |
| Church/Public/Semi-public Building Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | No sign placed upon the ground shall be located closer than 10 feet to any property line. | One per street frontage. | At church, public/semi-public building, or public park. | — | § 162.264(B)(1)(b), (B)(2)(c) |
| Construction Sign | 8 ft | 10 sq ft per face | — | No sign placed upon the ground shall be located closer than 10 feet to any property line. | One per street frontage. | At construction site. | — | § 162.264(B)(1)(c), (B)(2)(c) |
| Residential Project Construction Promotional Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | No sign placed upon the ground shall be located closer than 10 feet to any property line. | One per major entrance. | At major entrance to subdivision/project site. | — | § 162.264(B)(1)(d), (B)(2)(d) |
| Directional Sign | 3.5 ft above driveway elevation | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | Two per entry/exit. | At entries/exits. | — | § 162.264(B)(1)(e), (B)(2)(e) |
| Property Real Estate Sale Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | One per lot frontage. | On lot for sale/rent/lease. | — | § 162.264(B)(1)(f), (B)(2)(f) |
| Special Displays and Temporary Signs | 8 ft (for certain temporary signs) | Per § 162.257(B), usually max 32 sq ft for special display | — | — | — | — | — | § 162.264(B)(1)(g), § 162.257(B), (B)(2)(c) |
| Signs Not Exceeding 2 Square Feet | 4 ft | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Signs to prohibit trespassing, indicate privacy, driveways, or streets. | — | § 162.264(B)(1)(h) |

### Commercial Districts (C1A, C1, C2, C3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Overhanging Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per building, additional per street frontage if corner lot. | At least 10 feet above grade, may not extend over public right-of-way except by City Council permit. | — | § 162.265(B)(3), (C)(2), (D)(1) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (50 feet to 75 feet frontage) | 8 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | At least 10 feet from property line; not in sight triangle. | One per lot | Ground-mounted, at least 10 feet from property line. | — | § 162.265(B)(4)(b), (C)(3), (D)(1) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (75 feet to 200 feet frontage) | 8 ft | 75 sq ft per face | — | At least 10 feet from property line; not in sight triangle. | One per lot | Ground-mounted, at least 10 feet from property line. | — | § 162.265(B)(4)(c), (C)(3), (D)(1) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (over 200 feet frontage) | 8 ft | 150 sq ft per face | — | At least 10 feet from property line; not in sight triangle. | One per 200 ft frontage | Ground-mounted, at least 10 feet from property line. | — | § 162.265(B)(4)(d), (C)(3), (D)(1) |
| Pole Sign (50 feet to 75 feet frontage) | 30 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per 50-75 feet frontage | On lot with at least 50 ft frontage. Bottom at least 10 ft above grade. | — | § 162.265(B)(5)(b), (C)(4), (D)(1) |
| Pole Sign (75 feet to 200 feet frontage) | 30 ft | 75 sq ft | — | — | One per 75-200 feet frontage | On lot with 75 to 200 ft frontage. Bottom at least 10 ft above grade. | — | § 162.265(B)(5)(c), (C)(4), (D)(1) |
| Pole Sign (over 200 feet frontage) | 30 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | One per 150 feet frontage | On lot with over 200 feet frontage. Bottom at least 10 ft above grade. | — | § 162.265(B)(5)(d), (C)(4), (D)(1) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Pole Sign) | — | 32 sq ft (as part of pole sign) | — | — | One per lot | Attached to pole sign. | — | § 162.265(B)(6) |

### Downtown Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Wall Sign (Frontage) | — | — | — | — | — | Frontage walls. | — | § 162.268(A)(1), (3) |
| Attached Wall Sign (Non-Frontage) | — | — | — | — | — | Non-frontage walls, first floor only. | — | § 162.268(A)(2) |
| Projecting Sign (Over Public ROW) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | Over city right-of-way (by revocable permit only) | — | § 162.268(B) |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per face (excluding non-advertising structural components) | — | Minimum 2 ft from property boundary. | — | At least 2 ft from adjoining property boundaries; surrounding grading may include 18 in. of landscaping or seat wall. | — | § 162.268(C) |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window area | — | — | — | Painted or attached to window. | — | § 162.268(D) |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | For providing directions. | — | § 162.268(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Quincy

- Any sign erected in a location prohibited by this subchapter (§ 162.260(A)).
- Any sign erected in a public easement or right-of-way, except as otherwise provided in this code (§ 162.260(B)).
- Any sign erected so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door or window, or any other exit way required by the building or fire codes (§ 162.260(C)).
- Any sign attached to any public utility pole, tree, fire hydrant, curb, sidewalk or other surface located on public property, except as otherwise provided (§ 162.260(D)).
- Any sign erected in any location where it obstructs the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal or control device or interferes/confuses with such devices, or obstructs public right-of-way visibility for vehicle operators (§ 162.260(E)).
- Any on-premises sign advertising a product or service not offered on the premises, except permitted standard outdoor advertising structures; vending machine signs prohibited (§ 162.260(F)).
- Any sign or advertising device (including banners, pennants, streamers, wind-operated or fluttering signs) used more than 30 days in any 12-month period without a permit (§ 162.260(G)).
- Any 'A' frame or other temporary portable sign not permanently affixed, except by permit for a period of 30 days in any 12-month period (§ 162.260(H)).
- Off-site or off-premises signs except as provided in the subchapter (§ 162.260(I)).
- Signs displaying obscene, indecent, prurient, or immoral content (§ 162.260(J)).
- Moving or flashing signs, including those with flashing lights, intermittent illumination, or moving parts, except permitted slow changing message displays; illumination must be constant intensity and color (§ 162.260(K)).
- Vehicle signs: signs painted on or affixed to vehicles/trailers, except those incidental to the primary use of the vehicle/trailer (§ 162.260(L)).
- Search lights: search or spot lights shining into the air and not focused on a sign or building (§ 162.260(M)).
- Balloon/Inflatable signs: inflatable, balloon, air or gas filled signs or fixtures tethered to the ground or building (§ 162.260(N)).
- No sign, banner, awning, etc. may extend or be located upon any part of any sidewalk, street, alley, parkway or publicly owned area except as otherwise permitted (§ 91.110).
- Unlawful to post any signs on public property without Council authority and on private property without owner's consent (with certain exceptions for church directional signs) (§ 130.06).
- No sign or device purporting to be or imitating a traffic sign or directing movement of traffic may be placed upon/in view of any street unless authorized; unauthorized devices are considered a nuisance (§ 70.06(A)).
- No sign, fence, plant, or other object may be installed on premises adjacent to a street to obstruct view and endanger traffic (§ 70.06(B)).
- No person may deface, injure, move, or interfere with any official traffic sign or signal (§ 70.06(C)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Quincy

- Flags of any nation, state, county, city or governmental unit and any not-for-profit organization (§ 162.256(B)(1)).
- Temporary holiday decorations or displays for patriotic, religious or local holidays/events (§ 162.256(B)(2)).
- Official traffic, fire, and police signs, signals, devices, and markings (§ 162.256(B)(3)).
- Non-illuminated directional or informational public signs (§ 162.256(B)(4)).
- Political signs or signs announcing political candidates/issues (§ 162.256(B)(5)).
- Residential garage or patio sale signs (≤6 sq ft), provided on-premises and removed within 72 hours (§ 162.256(B)(6)).
- Property real estate signs (≤6 sq ft), advertising sale, rental, lease of the premises only (§ 162.256(B)(7)).
- Memorial signs/tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection (cut into masonry or of bronze/incombustible material) (§ 162.256(B)(8)).
- Non-illuminated professional name plates or home occupation signs (≤2 sq ft), wall-mounted by main entrance (§ 162.256(B)(9)).
- Signs inside a building not visible through windows (§ 162.256(B)(10)).
- Informational/directional signs for hospital emergency room entrances or drives (§ 162.256(B)(11)).
- Special displays (see § 162.257(B)) provided removed within 14 days of event/holiday/purpose (§ 162.256(B)(12)).
- No permit required for signs or banners attached to/painted on interior windows/doors provided they do not cover more than 50% of the window/door area (§ 162.258(C)(2)).
- Church directional signs may be placed on public property (≤18x24 inches, on a regulation sign post, not block/interfere with traffic) without Council authority (§ 130.06).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application for any sign (except those specifically exempted) must be submitted to the Building Inspector for review and must conform to the requirements of the code (§ 162.258(C)(1), § 162.258(B)(2)).
- A set of plans is required for pole signs: must include all construction and electrical details, representation of the sign (width, length, height, wind load, etc.), and a site plan with location, distances to property lines/buildings/driveways/street intersections (§ 162.265(D)(4)).
- The Building Inspector may not approve sign permits unless the plans conform with the ordinance; construction must follow the plans as approved (§ 162.258(B)(2), § 162.258(E)).
- Signs over public right-of-way (projecting, banners, awnings, etc.) require a permit from the City Council, via application to the Building Inspector, with plans including location, purpose, lettering, size, lighting, and duration (§ 91.111, § 91.112).
- Applications for appeals or variances from sign requirements are reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals (§ 162.262).
- Change to a permitted sign (design, copy, structure, etc.) requires a new permit and submission of updated plans (§ 91.112(G), § 162.258(D)).

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

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