# Sign Regulations in Savanna, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Savanna, Illinois regulates 15 sign types across 4 zoning districts. For Sale/For Rent Signs in the Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) zoning district are capped at 5 ft above ground (ground sign); 10 ft above finished grade (building mounted) tall and 12 sq. ft., with a 8 ft from side/rear, not closer to front lot line than half front yard depth setback (Sec. 4-3-2(B)). Most commercial signs in Savanna require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 6 | 30 ft above grade | 16 sq. ft. | — |
| Business Zoning Districts and Commercial-Recreation Zoning Districts | 3 | 15 ft above building height | — | — |
| Manufacturing Zoning Districts | 4 | 4 ft above building height | Max 15 ft x 25 ft display surface for each face; 1 sign per 100 ft of street frontage | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (R-1/R-2 Single or Two-Family) | 10 ft above ground grade at building wall | 1 sq. ft. | — | Not nearer to street than half the depth of yard | — | Affixed flat against building or located in yard adjoining street, but not nearer to street than half the depth of the yard; must not exceed 4 ft above ground if in yard. | — | 4-3-2(A) |
| Nameplate (R-3 Multiple Family) | 10 ft above ground grade at building wall (or 3 ft above entrance doors if on wall) | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | One main entrance, one per secondary entrance on corner/through lot | Affixed flat against main/secondary building walls containing entrance doors and facing street | — | 4-3-2(A)(1), (C)(2) |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | 5 ft above ground (ground sign); 10 ft above finished grade (building mounted) | 12 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft from side/rear, not closer to front lot line than half front yard depth | One per lot, two on corner lot | Yard: Not closer to front lot line than half the depth of front yard; Not closer than 8 ft to any side or rear yard | — | 4-3-2(B) |
| Church Bulletin Sign | 8 ft above grade (ground); 10 ft (building wall) | 16 sq. ft. | — | Not nearer to lot line abutting street than half required yard | One per lot, one per street-facing side on corner/through lot | One sign per lot, on or in front of principal building facing street | — | 4-3-2(C)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Unified Housing Development) | 30 ft above grade | — | — | 15 ft from property line abutting street; 50 ft from lot corner at intersection; 20 ft from adjacent lot line | One per street frontage | At perimeter boundary along each street frontage; ground or attached to building | — | 4-3-2(D) |
| Home Occupation Sign | 8 ft above finished grade (ground sign); 10 ft above finished grade (building mounted) | 6.25 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft from side/rear yard, not closer to front lot line than half the depth of front yard | One per lot | Affixed to building wall or in yard | — | 4-3-2(E) |

### Business Zoning Districts and Commercial-Recreation Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 15 ft above building height | — | — | Not nearer than 2 ft to curb line | — | Affixed against building wall; may project up to 6 ft but not nearer than 2 ft to curb line | — | 4-3-3(A)(1)-(4), (6) |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft above grade (standard); shopping center: up to 450 sq.ft. (no height specified) | — | — | Not nearer than 2 ft to curb; if extends over public property: lowest at least 8 ft above grade | One per street (single business); one per street (shopping center) | Facing each street; all supports on private property; may extend over public property up to 6 ft but not nearer than 2 ft to curb; lowest level min 8 ft above grade if over public property | — | 4-3-3(A)(4)-(5) |
| Awning/Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On awning or marquee (affixed to building) | — | 4-3-3(A)(1),(7) |

### Manufacturing Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Flat to the surface of the awning only; must not extend beyond awning | — | 4-3-4(A)(1) |
| Advertising Device (Ground Sign) | — | Max 15 ft x 25 ft display surface for each face; 1 sign per 100 ft of street frontage | — | Min 30 ft from lot line adjoining a street, unless lowest elevation at least 12 ft and supported as specified, then may be within 10 ft. Min 20 ft from rear lot line, 5 ft from side lot line, 100 ft from residential boundary. | 1 per 100 ft frontage; max 2 adjoined, 100 ft apart from next | Not within 300 ft of right of way of any limited access highway if visible from highway; further back signs must comply with area formula | — | 4-3-4(A)(2), (8) |
| Business Sign (Wall) | 4 ft above building height | — | — | — | — | Affixed to building; may project outward up to 2 ft from wall | — | 4-3-4(A)(3), (5), (7) |
| Advertising Sign (Wall) | No higher than building height | Max 15 ft x 25 ft per face | — | — | — | Attached to building wall; may project up to 2 ft from wall | — | 4-3-4(A)(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Savanna

- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be located near street intersections so as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with authorized traffic signs, signals or devices.
- No sign shall make use of the words "stop", "look", "go", or "danger", or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- No person shall display upon any sign or advertising device any obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
- Attaching, hanging, placing, or painting any sign on a fence, tree, public utility pole, radio, television or similar tower is prohibited (except call letters or emblems on commercial radio or TV towers).
- No sign may be placed across a public right of way, except official highway signs or as approved by the city council.
- Paper posters applied directly to the wall, building, pole or other support, and letters or pictures for advertising printed or applied directly on the wall of a building, are prohibited.
- No sign painted on the exterior surface of a building or structure in a district other than business or industrial is permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Savanna

- Official court, public, or official notices, and flags/emblems/insignias of a nation, political unit, school, religious or charitable institution or organization are not defined as 'signs' and are exempt.
- A permit is not required for mere changing, painting, or reposting of advertising copy or display matter on signs or theater marquees designed for use of replaceable copy, provided such change does not violate this chapter.
- A permit is not required for one nonilluminated real estate sign not exceeding 10 square feet pertaining to sale, rental, or lease of premises, to be removed within 7 days after completion of advertised transaction.
- A permit is not required for one nonilluminated construction sign not exceeding 10 square feet identifying parties in construction/remodeling, to be removed within 7 days after completion.
- A permit is not required for event signs announcing a campaign, drive or event of a political, civic, patriotic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organization, displayed no more than 90 days prior and no later than 7 days after the event.
- A permit is not required for decorations connected with civic, patriotic, or religious holidays, displayed no more than 40 days prior and no more than 7 working days after the holiday.
- A permit is not required for display window signs in business or industrially zoned districts only, not covering more than 10% of display window surface area.
- A permit is not required for signs painted on exterior surfaces of buildings in business or industrially zoned districts only, without raised elements or lighting.
- A permit is not required for bulletin boards not exceeding 10 square feet for public, charitable, or religious institutions, located on their premises.
- A permit is not required for traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs, or temporary emergency/nonadvertising signs approved by city council.
- A permit is not required for nameplates as defined, when placed flat against the wall of a building.
- Signs of special significance, such as the Main Street clock, are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no mention of a required master sign plan or unified sign plan in the ordinance text provided.
- Permit application is required for all signs not specifically exempted under Section 4-3-6(E).
- Variations and appeals related to signs may be made to the City Council on a prescribed form.

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

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