# Sign Regulations in Rockdale, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rockdale, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/rockdale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Rockdale/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH90ZO_ARTVISI)

## At a glance

Rockdale, Illinois regulates 34 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Single/Combined Use Building and Lot)s in the Commercial Districts (B zone, B Group (a), B Group (b)) zoning district are capped at 4 feet (ground sign); 1 additional foot for every 3 feet of added setback up to 10 additional feet tall and 100 square feet, with a Standard minimum setback; additional height for additional setback setback (Sec. Sec. 90-257(2)a). Most commercial signs in Rockdale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | — | No more than 50% of total window area | — |
| Residential and Agricultural Districts | 5 | 15 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts (B zone, B Group (a), B Group (b)) | 12 | 30 feet | 220 square feet per sign face | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1 zone, I-2 zone, P zone, U zone) | 5 | 15 feet | 200 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name and Address Plate | — | 1 square foot | — | — | — | Building | — | Sec. 90-255(1) |
| Memorial Sign or Tablet | — | 5 square feet | — | — | — | Building | — | Sec. 90-255(2) |
| No Trespassing/Regulatory Sign - Residential Districts | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On property | — | Sec. 90-255(3) |
| No Trespassing/Regulatory Sign - Commercial & Industrial Districts | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | On property | — | Sec. 90-255(3) |
| Real Estate Sign (Standard, All Districts) | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | — | On property | — | Sec. 90-255(4) |
| Traffic/Parking/Facility Signs | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | On property | — | Sec. 90-255(5) |
| Company Logo Flag | — | Not larger than the American flag | — | — | One | Must be flown with American flag | — | Sec. 90-255(8) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | At curb in residential areas | — | Sec. 90-255(9) |

### Residential and Agricultural Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name and Address Plate (Multiple Dwelling Units) | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | For buildings with more than two dwelling units | — | Sec. 90-256(2) |
| Identification Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 feet (if ground sign) | 32 square feet | — | — | One per building entrance | One per building entrance | — | Sec. 90-256(3) |
| Residential Development Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Entrance to residential development or planned unit development | — | Sec. 90-256(4) |
| Temporary Residential Marketing Sign (On-site) | 15 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | — | Major entrances to planned unit developments or residential subdivisions | — | Sec. 90-256(5) |
| Temporary Residential Marketing Sign (Off-site) | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | Up to four (total, village-wide) | No more than four off-site locations within village | — | Sec. 90-256(6) |

### Commercial Districts (B zone, B Group (a), B Group (b))

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Single/Combined Use Building and Lot) | 4 feet (ground sign); 1 additional foot for every 3 feet of added setback up to 10 additional feet | 100 square feet | — | Standard minimum setback; additional height for additional setback | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 90-257(2)a |
| Pole Sign (Single/Combined Use Building and Lot) | 25 feet; 1 additional foot for every 3 feet of added setback, max 10 additional feet | 100 square feet | — | Standard minimum setback; additional height for additional setback | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 90-257(2)a |
| Ground Sign (Shopping Plaza) | 6 feet | 150 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 90-257(2)b |
| Pole Sign (Shopping Plaza) | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 90-257(2)b |
| Ground Sign (Shopping Center) | 6 feet | 120 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | One ground sign per street frontage | — | Sec. 90-257(2)c |
| Pole Sign (Shopping Center) | 30 feet | 220 square feet per sign face | — | — | One per street frontage | One pole sign per street frontage | — | Sec. 90-257(2)c |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial; Large Parcel) | 10 feet | 32 square feet per face per 1 acre of land (max 100 square feet per face) | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 90-257(2)d |
| Gasoline Price Sign (Pole) | — | 15 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage; attached to poles | — | Sec. 90-257(2)e |

## Prohibited signs in Rockdale

- Signs not in conformity with the ordinance shall be regarded as nonconforming.
- A sign type not specifically listed as permitted is expressly prohibited.
- Moving, rotating or animated signs are prohibited, except traditional barber poles subject to specific limitations.
- Use of searchlights is prohibited except for grand openings.
- Sign illumination that is not steady and constant is prohibited.
- Windows painted or posted in excess of 50 percent of the viewing area are prohibited.
- Freestanding panels, flags or banners used to advertise products, prices, services or attract attention are prohibited.
- Signs not listed in sections 90-255 through 90-258 are prohibited, even if not specifically listed in the prohibited section.
- Exposed light bulbs, flashing, blinking or traveling and similar illumination on signs are not permitted.
- All signs and parts thereof must comply with building, electrical and fire protection codes and be kept in good repair.
- No sign (except wall-mounted projecting less than 12 inches) shall be placed closer than five feet to any lot line.
- No sign over 30 inches high above the street crown may be placed within the vision triangle (25 feet from intersection) on a corner lot.
- All signs must be arranged so no direct rays reflect into a public way or any lot on the perimeter of the premises.
- No sign in the industrial zone may project higher than 35 feet above grade.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rockdale

- Name and address plates (up to one square foot) indicating only resident name and address.
- Memorial signs or tablets; signs denoting building date (up to five square feet).
- No trespassing and property regulation signs (up to two square feet in residential; up to six sq ft in commercial/industrial).
- Real estate signs not exceeding six square feet per side in all districts, with requirement for removal after sale or lease.
- Signs regulating on-premises traffic and parking, and building facility signs (e.g., lavatories, public telephone), if less than six square feet and bearing no commercial advertising.
- Signs erected by or under direction of a governmental body, bearing no commercial advertising (e.g., traffic, safety, railroad crossing signs, public school and playground signs).
- Flags, pennants, or insignias of any government or any religious, charitable, or fraternal organization.
- One logo flag of a company if flown with and not larger than the American flag.
- Garage sale signs (up to six square feet), at the curb in residential areas, up to 10 days.
- Temporary signs (up to 32 square feet) for edible farm products, auctions, political candidates, or charitable/public service events, for up to 30 days, on private property, and removed after the event.
- Commercial district window signs of paper or similar material, for special sales or current prices, not exceeding 50 percent of total window area.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a sign permit requires submission of a scaled plan showing the design, materials, method of construction, and means of attachment to the building or ground.
- Permanent residential development signs and permanent industrial development signs require approval by the plan commission and board of trustees.
- Location and construction of temporary residential marketing signs at off-site locations must be approved by the board of trustees upon recommendation of the plan commission.
- All applications for sign permits must include any other information as the building and zoning officer requires to ensure full compliance with ordinances.

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

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