# Sign Regulations in Roscoe, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Roscoe, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/roscoe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Roscoe/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TITXVLAUS_CH155ZORE_ARTXIISI)

## At a glance

Roscoe, Illinois regulates 17 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Single-Tenant Monument Signs in the Limited Commercial Office District (CO), Retail and Service Commercial District (CR), Highway Commercial District (CH), General Commercial District (CG) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a 5 ft min setback (Sec. § 155.12.4 Table 15-690; § 155.12.5(b); § 155.12.1(e)). Most commercial signs in Roscoe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Urban Transition District (UT), Single-Family Rural Estate Residential District (RE), One-Family Residential District (R1), Two-Family Residential District (R2), Multifamily Residential District (RM) | 8 | 6 ft | 25% of the square footage of the individual window | — |
| Limited Commercial Office District (CO), Retail and Service Commercial District (CR), Highway Commercial District (CH), General Commercial District (CG) | 14 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District (IL), General Industrial District (IG), Heavy Industrial District (IH) | 14 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Public/Conservancy District (PC), Health Care District (HC) | 9 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Development Overlay District (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | Per-lot: max(1 sq ft/linear foot of frontage, or 150 sq ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Limited Commercial Office District (CO), Retail and Service Commercial District (CR), Highway Commercial District (CH), General Commercial District (CG)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Tenant Monument Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | Min 5 ft from property lines, r.o.w., easements, not blocking ingress/egress, not in clear vision triangle | — | § 155.12.4 Table 15-690; § 155.12.5(b); § 155.12.1(e) |
| Multitenant Monument Sign | 14 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | Min 5 ft from all property lines, rights-of-way, utility easements; not blocking ingress/egress; not in clear vision triangle | — | § 155.12.4 Table 15-690; § 155.12.5(c) |
| Pole/Pylon Sign (Single-Tenant) | 20 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | Min 5 ft from all property lines, rights-of-way, or utility easements; cannot block points of ingress/egress; not in clear vision triangle; ground-based landscape area required | — | § 155.12.4 Table 15-690; § 155.12.5(d); § 155.12.5(b)(6) |
| Pole/Pylon Sign (Multitenant) | 30 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per frontage | see above | — | § 155.12.5(d) |
| On-Site Traffic Directional Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | As needed | Minimum 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/easements; not blocking ingress/egress; not in clear vision triangle | — | § 155.12.5(g) |
| Ground Mount Banner Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | Min 5 ft from all lot lines/ROW/easements; not blocking ingress/egress; not in clear vision triangle; 1 per lot frontage | — | § 155.12.6(c) |
| Feather Sign (Temporary) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 3 per lot frontage | Min 5 ft from property lines/etc., 3 per lot frontage | — | § 155.12.6(d) |
| Post Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | Min 5 ft from all lines/ROW; 1 per lot frontage | — | § 155.12.6(f) |

### Light Industrial District (IL), General Industrial District (IG), Heavy Industrial District (IH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Tenant Monument Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from lines/ROW/easements; not in clear vision triangle | — | § 155.12.5(b) |
| Multitenant Monument Sign | 14 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from lines/ROW/easements; not in clear vision triangle; 1 per lot frontage | — | § 155.12.5(c) |
| Pole/Pylon Sign (Single-Tenant) | 20 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from lines/ROW/easements; not in clear vision triangle | — | § 155.12.5(d) |
| Pole/Pylon Sign (Multitenant) | 30 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from lines/ROW/easements; not in clear vision triangle | — | § 155.12.5(d) |
| On-Site Traffic Directional Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | As needed | 5 ft min from lines/ROW/easements; not in clear vision triangle; as needed | — | § 155.12.5(g) |
| Ground Mount Banner Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from lines/ROW/easements; not blocking ingress/egress or in clear vision triangle; anchored/weighted required; 1 per lot frontage | — | § 155.12.6(c) |
| Feather Sign (Temporary) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 3 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from lines/ROW/easements; 3 per lot frontage | — | § 155.12.6(d) |
| Post Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from lines/ROW; 1 per lot frontage | — | § 155.12.6(f) |

### Public/Conservancy District (PC), Health Care District (HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not above roof/parapet | 10% of wall area | — | — | See general wall sign rules | Affixed to wall per code | — | § 155.12.4 Table 15-690; § 155.12.5(a) |
| Single-Tenant Monument Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from lines/ROW/easements; not in clear vision triangle | — | § 155.12.5(b) |
| Multitenant Monument Sign | 14 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from lines/ROW/easements; not in clear vision triangle | — | § 155.12.5(c) |
| Pole/Pylon Sign (Single-Tenant) | 20 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from property lines/ROW/easements; not in clear vision triangle | — | § 155.12.5(d) |
| Pole/Pylon Sign (Multitenant) | 30 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | 1 per lot frontage | 5 ft min from property lines/ROW/easements; not in clear vision triangle | — | § 155.12.5(d) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | 50% of awning/canopy face (counts toward wall sign max) | — | — | — | Awnings/canopies above ground floor entrances/windows | — | § 155.12.5(e) |
| On-Site Traffic Directional Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft min | As needed | 5 ft min from lines/ROW | — | § 155.12.5(g) |
| Wall Mount Banner Sign (Temporary) | No higher than roof/parapet | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Affixed to building; 1 per lot frontage/unit | — | § 155.12.6(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Roscoe

- No sign shall be erected, enlarged, expanded, altered, or relocated unless a sign permit evidencing compliance with provisions of the sign code has been issued (Sec. 15-687(e)).
- No roof signs, outline lighting, billboards, attention getting devices, or signs which encroach on the public right-of-way are permitted in any zoning district (Sec. 15-693(a)).
- Text or graphics of an indecent or immoral nature and harmful to minors are prohibited on signs (Sec. 15-693(b)(1)a).
- Text or graphics that advertise unlawful activity are prohibited on signs (Sec. 15-693(b)(1)b).
- Text or graphics that are obscene, fighting words, defamation, incitement to imminent lawless action, or true threats are prohibited on signs (Sec. 15-693(b)(1)c).
- Text or graphics that present a clear and present danger due to potential confusion with traffic control signs or public safety information are prohibited (Sec. 15-693(b)(1)d).
- Signs may not be placed in clear vision areas as described in Sec. 15-520 (Sec. 15-691, 15-692, location requirements).
- Signs for advertising are not permitted on wireless telecommunication facilities (Sec. 15-558(i)).
- No wall sign shall cover any architectural features of a building (Sec. 15-691(a)(6)a).
- No wall sign shall be affixed to HVAC screening, elevator overrun, or other features protruding from the roof (Sec. 15-691(a)(6)b).
- Box signs are prohibited (Sec. 15-691(a)(5)).
- Signs, including electronic message boards, are prohibited from exceeding the allowed area and cannot display movement, or have transitions other than static or scrolling at specified intervals (Sec. 15-695(b)).
- Illuminated signs must not cast glare or direct light on adjacent properties or streets (Sec. 15-695(a)(2)).
- Any sign that is not maintained in good mechanical and visual repair is a violation (Sec. 15-695(c)(2)).
- Sign copy must be removed, and building facade repaired, within 30 days after the associated use ceases operation (Sec. 15-695(c)(7)).
- No person may engage in sign work without required permits and approvals (Sec. 15-782(a)).
- Billboards (off-premises signs) are explicitly prohibited (Sec. 15-693(a)(3)).
- Violating any terms, permit conditions, or maintenance standards as listed in the sign ordinance is prohibited (Sec. 15-784(c); applies throughout the sign code).

## Signs exempt from permit in Roscoe

- Routine sign maintenance, changing of parts designed to be changed or changing the content of a sign in any manner that does not change the functional classification of the sign is not considered an alteration and does not require a sign permit (Sec. 15-687(e)).
- Permit exceptions (exemptions) are referenced in Sec. 15-691(a) (but specific exempt sign types are not detailed in the provided text; typically some minor, non-advertising or governmental signs are exempt but the text defers to Sec. 15-691(a)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require a sign permit prior to construction, erection, or alteration, except as listed in Sec. 15-691(a) (see above exemption note) (Sec. 15-687(e), 15-782(a)).
- A comprehensive sign plan may be approved by the zoning administrator for lots adjacent to federal or state highways (Sec. 15-694).
- Comprehensive sign plan applications are subject to placement, quantity, size, and design criteria detailed in Sec. 15-694(c).
- Sign plan submittal: Any sign requiring design review (nonresidential buildings, commercial or industrial districts, or multi-family buildings 4+ units) must submit sign plans for approval by the zoning board of appeals (Sec. 15-776(f), (g), (h)).
- Zoning board of appeals review of sign plans is required prior to issuance of building permits for new structures or major exterior alterations in C or I districts (Sec. 15-776(f)).
- For planned unit developments, a sign plan may be required as part of the PUD approval process (implied in Sec. 15-724(8), 15-724(5)).
- A landscape plan, which must show sign locations, is required with site plan submissions that require landscape review; changes to sign locations may require amended landscape plans (Sec. 15-654(a)(16)).
- Applications for sign permits must include plans/specs showing location, construction, illumination method, design, proposed message, colors, total existing sign area, landscape plan, and required attestations (Sec. 15-687(e)(1)).
- If a sign is part of broader site construction or alteration subject to design review, scale drawings and sign plans must be reviewed and approved as part of that process before a permit is issued (Sec. 15-776(g)(5), (h), and 15-782(a)).
- If a sign requires a variance from regulations, a variance application and possible public hearing before the zoning board of appeals is required (Sec. 15-781).
- Sign permits may be denied for any sign not in compliance with the applicable provisions or standards (Sec. 15-782(e)).

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/roscoe