# Sign Regulations in Savoy, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Savoy, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/savoy
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Savoy/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT15BUCO_CH15.24SI)

## At a glance

Savoy, Illinois regulates 22 sign types across 10 zoning districts. On-premise Freestanding Signs in the C-1 General Commercial District, C-2 Neighborhood Commercial District, I-1, I-2 zoning district are capped at 20 ft. tall and 150 sq. ft., with a 50 ft in all directions from other projecting, freestanding, on- and off-premise signs, and O.A.S.S. setback (Sec. Table III). Most commercial signs in Savoy require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 12 ft. | 60 sq. ft. per entrance | — |
| Thoroughfare Corridor Overlay District | 3 | 25 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| Zone 1 (Thoroughfare Corridor Overlay District) | 1 | 25 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| Zone 2 (Thoroughfare Corridor Overlay District) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Zone 3 (Thoroughfare Corridor Overlay District) | 1 | 25 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| Zone 4 (Thoroughfare Corridor Overlay District) | 1 | 25 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-2A | 1 | — | — | — |
| AG-1, R-3, R-4, R-5, P-1 | 2 | 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| C-1 General Commercial District, C-2 Neighborhood Commercial District, I-1, I-2 | 6 | 20 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| C-3 Community Commercial - Shopping Center District | 6 | 35 ft. (Urban Principal Arterial); 20 ft. (Urban Minor Arterial); 15 ft. (Urban Collector); 6 ft. (Local/Alley) | 200 sq. ft. (Urban Principal Arterial); 150 sq. ft. (Urban Minor Arterial); 75 sq. ft. (Urban Collector); 35 sq. ft. (Local/Alley) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | 6 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | One per dwelling unit | Per dwelling unit | — | Table I |
| Subdivision Sign | 12 ft. | 60 sq. ft. per entrance | — | — | Two per entrance | At subdivision entrances | — | Table I |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | One per frontage | Per frontage | — | Table I; 15.24.070 |
| Wall Sign (Non-illuminated, under 10 sq. ft.) | Shall not project beyond roof line of building | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building | On wall of building | — | Table I |
| Projecting Sign (under 2.5 sq. ft.) | Shall not project beyond roof line of building | 2.5 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building | Projecting from wall of building | — | Table I |
| Construction Sign | 6 ft. | 12 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | One per frontage | Per frontage, on construction/development sites | — | Table I; 15.24.070 |
| Auction or Garage Sale Sign | 6 ft. | 5 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | No limit | Not on public property | — | Table I; 15.24.070 |
| Instructional or Directional Sign | 3 ft. or as approved | 2 sq. ft. per sign or as approved | — | — | No limit as approved | — | — | Table I; 15.24.070 |

### C-1 General Commercial District, C-2 Neighborhood Commercial District, I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-premise Freestanding Sign | 20 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | 50 ft in all directions from other projecting, freestanding, on- and off-premise signs, and O.A.S.S. | One per business (plus options as described) | Per business (additional signs possible, see requirements) | — | Table III |
| Projecting Sign | Not above roof line; not above/on public ROW. | 60 sq. ft. | — | 50 ft in all directions from other projecting, freestanding, on- and off-premise signs, and O.A.S.S. | One per business | Projecting from building | — | Table III |
| On-premise Wall Sign | Not to project above the roof line | — | — | — | One per frontage | Wall of building; one per frontage (up to two signs if lot fronts two non-intersecting streets) | — | Table III |
| Commercial Real Estate Sign | 10 ft. | 80 sq. ft. | — | 50 ft in all directions from other projecting, freestanding, on- and off-premise signs, and O.A.S.S. | One per frontage | Per frontage | — | Table III |
| Instructional or Directional Sign | 3 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | Min. 10 ft from back of all curbs | One per driveway from public street/alley (max 2 per frontage) | Per driveway (max 2 per frontage) | — | Table III |
| Off-premise Freestanding Sign | 10 ft. | 35 sq. ft. | — | 50 ft in all directions from other projecting, freestanding, on- and off-premise signs, and O.A.S.S. | No limit | — | — | Table III |

### C-3 Community Commercial - Shopping Center District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-premise Freestanding Sign | 12 ft. (Urban Principal Arterial); 10 ft. (Urban Minor Arterial); 8 ft. (Urban Collector); 6 ft. (Urban Local/Alley) | 75 sq. ft. (Urban Principal Arterial); 60 sq. ft. (Urban Minor Arterial); 40 sq. ft. (Urban Collector); 32 sq. ft. (Urban Local Street/Alley) | — | 50 ft in all directions from other signs and O.A.S.S. | One per lot (special use); see additional for directory | Lot frontage; allowed by special use only | — | Table IV; 15.24.170 |
| Projecting Sign | Not above roof line; not above/on public ROW. | 60 sq. ft. | — | 50 ft in all directions from other signs and O.A.S.S. | One per business | Projecting from building | — | Table IV |
| On-premise Wall Sign | Not to project above roof line | 120 sq. ft. | — | — | Two per business | Wall of building; two per business | — | Table IV |
| Commercial Real Estate Sign | 10 ft. | 80 sq. ft. | — | 50 ft in all directions from other signs and O.A.S.S. | One per frontage | Per frontage | — | Table IV |
| Instructional or Directional Sign | As approved | As approved | — | Min. 10 ft from back of all curbs | As approved by admin | — | — | Table IV |
| Directory Sign | 35 ft. (Urban Principal Arterial); 20 ft. (Urban Minor Arterial); 15 ft. (Urban Collector); 6 ft. (Local/Alley) | 200 sq. ft. (Urban Principal Arterial); 150 sq. ft. (Urban Minor Arterial); 75 sq. ft. (Urban Collector); 35 sq. ft. (Local/Alley) | — | 50 ft in all directions from other signs and O.A.S.S. | 1 per primary entrance or public street | 1 per shopping center entrance/public street leading to center | — | Table IV |

## Prohibited signs in Savoy

- No sign or outdoor advertising sign structure may be erected, constructed, established, maintained, enlarged, relocated or changed by any person unless in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
- Signs employing rotating, blinking, or flashing lights, or with moving parts, or that move or imply movement, except electronic message boards and public information signs (such as time/temperature displays), are prohibited.
- Signs that interfere with or obstruct the vision of traffic on public streets or highways are prohibited.
- Signs that project beyond the property line are prohibited.
- Signs erected or painted upon the roof of any building are prohibited.
- Signs making use of words such as "Stop," "Look," "Danger," or similar that may mislead or confuse traffic are prohibited.
- Structurally unsafe signs, or those hazardous to safety/health due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, abandonment, not kept in good repair, or capable of causing electrical shocks to those nearby are prohibited.
- Signs referring to a business no longer in existence or operation at the advertised location are prohibited.
- Signs interfering with the visibility triangle of an intersection, as defined by the village's visibility triangle ordinance, are prohibited.
- Imitation of official traffic signs or signals is prohibited, except for private traffic direction signs specifically permitted.
- Signs with pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of lights bulbs, spinners, or similar devices are prohibited.
- Signs attached to a tree, utility pole, public bench, street light, or placed on or projected beyond any public property or public right-of-way without a special use permit are prohibited.
- Signs placed on vehicles parked or located primarily to display those signs (excluding temporary portable signs and standard business vehicle signs) are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Savoy

- Signs announcing auctions and garage sales (not exceeding five sq. ft., for specified timeframes, and not on public property or private property without permission).
- Non-illuminated wall signs less than ten sq. ft.
- Projecting signs less than 2.5 sq. ft.
- Construction signs on construction or development sites, subject to time and size restrictions.
- Flags bearing the official design of a nation, state, municipality, or noncommercial organization/institution, within height and zoning requirements.
- Holiday signs or special event decorations.
- Signs identifying home occupations, as allowed by zoning ordinance.
- Instructional or directional signs for public convenience/safety (with approval by zoning administrator).
- Nameplates of two sq. ft. or less.
- Official signs (public, noncommercial, erected by public authority).
- Political signs.
- Real estate or development signs (advertising sale/rental of the property, wall or freestanding only, not illuminated, subject to time limits and standards).
- Special event signs advertising community-wide events sponsored/endorsed by government, educational, charitable, or non-profit organizations (twice yearly max, size and display limits).
- Subdivision identification signs (max 2 per entrance, subject to standards).
- Temporary signs not greater than 35 sq. ft.
- Window signs: Only one per business or lot for temporary display (up to thirty days, max two times per twelve months).
- Window signs covering up to 50% of available window space on any frontage (if more, the sign is regulated as a wall sign).
- Changing advertising copy or message on approved painted/printed signs, marquees, or bulletin boards specifically designed for replaceable copy does not require a permit.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, and normal maintenance/repair of a sign does not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign or outdoor advertising sign structure may be installed, erected, constructed, or placed without a permit from the zoning administrator, except for those specifically exempted by this chapter.
- Applications for off-premises freestanding signs must be submitted to the planning commission for architectural/aesthetic control approval before final approval (reference: Section 15.24.140).
- Applicants may apply to the zoning administrator for a variance from chapter requirements; the zoning board of appeals may grant variances after planning commission review.
- Submission of a permit application requires sign plans/specifications (except for smaller signs or certain standard designs already on file with the village).

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

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