# Sign Regulations in Sandwich, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sandwich, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/sandwich
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-25
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Sandwich/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH98ZO_ARTVIISIRE)

## At a glance

Sandwich, Illinois regulates 12 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercially zoned lot zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 32 square feet, with a Minimum bottom sign height above grade setback (Sec. Sec. 98-207 (b) Freestanding signs). Most commercial signs in Sandwich require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residentially zoned lot | 4 | — | 2 square feet | — |
| Commercially zoned lot | 4 | 20 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Manufacturing zoned lot | 2 | — | — | — |
| Residentially zoned businesses | 1 | — | 2 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | — | — |

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

### Residentially zoned lot

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On a lot with owner's permission | — | Sec. 98-208 (d) Political signs |
| Real Estate Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the subject property that is for sale | — | Sec. 98-208 (d) Real estate signs |
| Residential Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One | Residential dwellings | — | Sec. 98-207 (a) Wall signs |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Residentially zoned businesses | — | Sec. 98-204 (8) |

### Commercially zoned lot

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Highest point of the building wall | 40 square feet | — | — | Maximum of two | Businesses with nine or less off-street parking spaces | — | Sec. 98-207 (a) Wall signs |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum bottom sign height above grade | One | Businesses with four but not more than seven off-street parking spaces | — | Sec. 98-207 (b) Freestanding signs |
| Portable Message Board | — | — | — | — | Two permits per calendar year | Commercially zoned lot | — | Sec. 98-208 (b) Portable Message Boards |
| Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Commercially zoned lot | — | Sec. 98-208 (c) Event Signs |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Safety Control Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected by municipal officers | — | Sec. 98-201 Definitions |
| Traffic Control Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected by municipal officers | — | Sec. 98-201 Definitions |
| Traffic Flow Informational Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected by municipal officers | — | Sec. 98-201 Definitions |
| Time and Temperature Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 98-203 General sign requirements |

## Prohibited signs in Sandwich

- Erect or continue any sign or other advertising structure at any location which constitutes a hazard to traffic or the public by reason of its obstruction of view, or if it endangers the welfare or safety of persons traveling on any public street, sidewalk or alley.
- Erect or place any permanent or temporary sign on the public way of U.S. Route 34 or city public way without a permit from IDOT.
- Erect on or connect any sign, canopy, awning or marquee to any public property without obtaining prior approval from the zoning officer.
- Erect any projecting sign that exceeds a four-foot overhang on public property.
- Erect any sign upon or above a roof.
- Erect or connect any pennant or banner to or over any public property without obtaining prior approval from the zoning officer.
- Erect any sign attached to any tree, utility pole or painted upon or otherwise directly affixed to any rock, ledge, or other natural feature.
- Erect any sign on a residentially zoned lot except political signs, real estate signs, residential nameplates, and home occupation signs.
- No sign other than a projecting sign shall occupy any space not directly above the owner's property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sandwich

- Political signs may be placed without a permit on a lot with the owner's permission.
- Garage sale signs may be placed without a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, except as otherwise provided in sections 98-207 and 98-208, shall require a sign permit prior to being constructed or reconstructed.
- Licensed, authorized franchise dealers and services, as members of a corporate imaging program, shall be required to provide documentation from the franchise supporting the necessity to maintain signage in excess of the sign area, sign quantity, and sign height requirements as defined in this article before a permit will be issued.

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

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