# Sign Regulations in Salem, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Salem, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/salem
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-25
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Salem/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH6BUBURE_ARTVSIRE)

## At a glance

Salem, Illinois regulates 11 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 32 feet tall and 150 square feet per side, up to 400 square feet per side with setback increase, with a 20 feet from street curbline or 8 feet of clearance setback (Sec. Sec. 6-142). Most commercial signs in Salem require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 32 feet | 150 square feet per side, up to 400 square feet per side with setback increase | — |
| NU, RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RM-1, RM-2 | 6 | 5 feet | 12 square feet | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-3, I | 4 | 32 feet | 150 square feet per side, up to 400 square feet per side with setback increase | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Architectural Sign | 32 feet | Determined by Architectural Sign Schedule | — | — | No limit except as restricted by sign area provisions | Any place on private property | — | Sec. 6-143 |
| Freestanding Sign | 32 feet | 150 square feet per side, up to 400 square feet per side with setback increase | — | 20 feet from street curbline or 8 feet of clearance | One per street frontage | On street frontage | — | Sec. 6-142 |
| Temporary Sign | — | Varies by event type | — | 20 feet from curb line unless flush wall | Varies by event type | On or off-premise for events | — | Sec. 6-167 |

### NU, RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RM-1, RM-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Driveway Entrance/Exit Sign | 5 feet | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Driveway entrances and exits | — | Sec. 6-122 |
| Identification Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | 15 feet from lot line | One per institution | Schools, churches, hospitals, similar institutions | — | Sec. 6-123 |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per property | On property for sale, lease, or rent | — | Sec. 6-124 |
| Ground Sign | 5 feet | — | — | 15 feet from lot line | One per property | On property | — | Sec. 6-125 |
| Garage/Yard/Estate/Auction Sale Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | Three per sale | On sale premises or public right-of-way with permission | — | Sec. 6-126 |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per home occupation | Facade of building | — | Sec. 6-127 |

### B-1, B-2, B-3, I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-Premises Sign - Non-Interstate Interchange | — | Varies | — | — | One per property | On property with permission | — | Sec. 6-141-1 |
| Off-Premises Sign - Interstate Interchange | — | 32 square feet | — | — | Up to 6 per property | Within 250 feet of interstate interchange | — | Sec. 6-141-1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 32 feet | 150 square feet per side, up to 400 square feet per side with setback increase | — | 20 feet from street curbline or 8 feet of clearance | One per street frontage | On street frontage | — | Sec. 6-142 |
| Architectural Sign | 32 feet | Determined by Architectural Sign Schedule | — | — | No limit except as restricted by sign area provisions | Any place on private property | — | Sec. 6-143 |

## Prohibited signs in Salem

- Billboards.
- Festoon lighting.
- Moving signs.
- Flashing signs.
- Portable signs.
- Off-premises signs, with the exception of signs referenced in sections 6-126 and 6-141-1.

## Signs exempt from permit in Salem

- Flags of nations, an organization of nations, states, cities, fraternal, religious, and civic organizations.
- Merchandise, pictures, models of products, or services incorporated in a window display.
- Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post office box numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations.
- Legal notices, informational, or directional signs erected, required or permitted by the city.
- National, state, religious, fraternal, professional, and civic symbols or crests.
- Official traffic, street, and informational signs.
- Temporary real estate signs and construction signs.
- Window promotional signs.
- Temporary yard sale signs.
- Official identification or directional signs associated with historic sites and buildings.
- Political signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The erection of or relocation of a freestanding sign, architectural sign or other signs as may be otherwise defined in this article, shall require the submission of a site plan to the zoning administrator as part of the application process.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Salem, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Salem+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-salem

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