# Sign Regulations in South Beloit, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Beloit, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/south-beloit
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/South_Beloit/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH86STSIOTPUPL_ARTIVSIAWCA)

## At a glance

South Beloit, Illinois regulates 24 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Residential District (CR) zoning district are capped at 15 ft or not exceeding height of the front wall of the principal building and not exceeding the actual sign setback from any adjacent lot zoned residential tall and 60 sq ft, with a 10 ft from property line. setback (Sec. Sec. 118-321(1); Table 118-321(A)). Most commercial signs in South Beloit require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Urban Transitional / Rural Residential (UT/RR), Residential District R1 (R1), Residential District R2 (R2), Residential Multifamily District (RM) | 3 | Freestanding: 8 ft; building sign: per Table 118-321(B) | As permitted by special use only; building: per Table 118-321(B)/freestanding: max 36 sq ft for electronic display portion, total height max 8 ft | — |
| Commercial Residential District (CR) | 8 | 15 ft or not exceeding height of the front wall of the principal building and not exceeding the actual sign setback from any adjacent lot zoned residential | 150 sq ft | — |
| Commercial General District (CG), Commercial Traffic District (CT) | 12 | No higher than 36 in above marquee; must have 7.5 ft vertical clearance above adjacent sidewalk | 150 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Light District (IL), Industrial Heavy District (IH) | 7 | 15 ft or not exceeding height of the front wall of the principal building and not exceeding the actual sign setback from any adjacent lot zoned residential | 500 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 42 in | 60 sq ft | — |

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

### Commercial Residential District (CR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft or not exceeding height of the front wall of the principal building and not exceeding the actual sign setback from any adjacent lot zoned residential | 60 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line. | 1 per street frontage | Within property lines, setback 10 ft from property line. No portion to project into right-of-way. | — | Sec. 118-321(1); Table 118-321(A) |
| Wall Sign | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment per building side | On principal building; parallel to the wall within 6 inches; may not cover windows, doors, or architectural details. | — | Sec. 118-321(2); Table 118-321(B) |
| Banner (Permanent) | — | Counts toward wall sign area and number | — | — | — | Affixed on at least two sides to frame/bracket and attached to a building. | — | Sec. 118-317 (Banner Permanent), Table 118-321(C) |
| Banner (Temporary) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 2 per business at one time (permitted duration only) | Attached to principal structure only. | — | Sec. 118-325(c) |
| Canopy Sign | — | Counts toward building sign area; Canopy signs of 5 inches or less in height do not count against area | — | — | — | Affixed flat to the canopy surface. | — | Sec. 118-321(3)a.2; Table 118-321(C) |
| Projecting Sign | — | Counts towards building sign area | Up to 48 inches projecting from wall | — | 1 per building | Affixed to building/wall; 7.5 ft clearance over sidewalk; 9 ft over vehicular ROW. | — | Sec. 118-321(3)a.4; Table 118-321(C) |
| Suspended Sign | — | Counts toward building sign area; single sign of 2 sq ft or less with just name/address does not count unless identification sign exists elsewhere on same facade. | — | — | 1 per entrance | Suspended from horizontal surface such as canopy; minimum 7.5 ft clearance from sidewalk. | — | Sec. 118-321(3)a.7; Table 118-321(C) |
| Wall Sign | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment per wall (side of principal building) | Attached parallel to wall; max 6 in. from wall; cannot cover windows, doors, or details. | — | Sec. 118-321(2) |

### Commercial General District (CG), Commercial Traffic District (CT)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (CG) | 20 ft or not exceeding height of the front wall of the principal building and not exceeding the actual sign setback from any adjacent lot zoned residential | 150 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage | Within property lines; 10 ft setback from property line. | — | Sec. 118-321(1); Table 118-321(A) |
| Freestanding Sign (CT) | 20 ft or not exceeding height of the front wall of the principal building and not exceeding the actual sign setback from any adjacent lot zoned residential | 150 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage | Within property lines; 10 ft setback. | — | Sec. 118-321(1); Table 118-321(A) |
| Wall Sign (CG) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment per wall | Attached parallel to wall; max 6 in. from wall; cannot cover windows, doors, or details. | — | Sec. 118-321(2); Table 118-321(B) |
| Wall Sign (CT) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | 2 per establishment per wall (CT only) | Attached parallel to wall; max 6 in. from wall; cannot cover windows, doors, or details. | — | Sec. 118-321(2); Table 118-321(B) |
| Banner (Temporary) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 2 per business at one time (permitted duration only) | Attached to principal structure only. | — | Sec. 118-325(c) |
| Projecting Sign | — | Counts toward building sign area | Up to 48 inches projecting from wall | — | 1 per building | Affixed to building/wall; 7.5 ft clearance over sidewalk; 9 ft over vehicular ROW. | — | Sec. 118-321(3)a.4; Table 118-321(C) |
| Temporary Off-Site Advertising Sign (CT only) | up to 20 ft | up to 150 sq ft | — | Per freestanding sign and extra restrictions (Sec 118-326) | 1 per zone lot | Only on CT-zoned property, along primary highways or arterial streets | — | Sec. 118-324, 118-326 |
| Suspended Sign | — | Counts toward building sign area; single sign of 2 sq ft or less with just name/address does not count unless identification sign exists elsewhere on same facade. | — | — | 1 per entrance | Suspended from horizontal surface such as canopy; minimum 7.5 ft clearance from sidewalk. | — | Sec. 118-321(3)a.7; Table 118-321(C) |

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft or not exceeding height of the front wall of the principal building and not exceeding the actual sign setback from any adjacent lot zoned residential | 150 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line. | 1 per street frontage | Within property lines, setback 10 ft from property line. No portion to project into right-of-way. | — | Sec. 118-321(1); Table 118-321(A) |
| Wall Sign | — | 500 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment per building side | On principal building; parallel to the wall within 6 inches; may not cover windows, doors, or architectural details. | — | Sec. 118-321(2); Table 118-321(B) |
| Banner (Permanent) | — | Counts toward wall sign area and number | — | — | — | Affixed on at least two sides to frame/bracket and attached to a building. | — | Sec. 118-317 (Banner Permanent), Table 118-321(C) |
| Banner (Temporary) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 2 per business at one time (permitted duration only) | Attached to principal structure only. | — | Sec. 118-325(c) |
| Canopy Sign | — | Counts toward building sign area (signs 5 inches or less high do not count) | — | — | — | Affixed flat to the canopy surface. | — | Sec. 118-321(3)a.2; Table 118-321(C) |
| Projecting Sign | — | Counts toward building sign area | Up to 48 inches projecting from wall | — | 1 per building | Affixed to building/wall; 7.5 ft clearance over sidewalk; 9 ft over vehicular ROW. | — | Sec. 118-321(3)a.4; Table 118-321(C) |
| Suspended Sign | — | Counts toward building sign area; single sign of 2 sq ft or less with just name/address does not count unless identification sign exists elsewhere on same facade. | — | — | 1 per entrance | Suspended from horizontal surface such as canopy; minimum 7.5 ft clearance from sidewalk. | — | Sec. 118-321(3)a.7; Table 118-321(C) |

## Prohibited signs in South Beloit

- Signs which obstruct the vision of drivers or pedestrians or detract from the visibility of any traffic control device.
- Beacons.
- Pennants.
- Signs attached to or painted on vehicles visible from the public right-of-way unless vehicle is used for normal day-to-day transportation operations of the business.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons, except when used as temporary sign as regulated in section 118-325.
- Portable signs, except when used as a temporary sign as regulated in section 118-325.
- Signs attached to trees, poles, or fences within the public right-of-way.
- Signs painted, pasted or similarly posted directly on the surface of any wall.
- Signs placed on any wall, fence or standard facing the side of any adjoining lot located in any residential district.
- No sign shall be allowed to be kept or maintained: in a structurally unsound or unsafe condition; in a state of disrepair or dilapidation; in a worn, tattered, or faded condition; and/or with substantial amounts of chipped/peeling paint or rust.
- All permanent signs must be constructed with appropriate long-lasting, durable materials; lightweight fabric, vinyl, or similar pliable materials are excluded for permanent signs.
- Signs which are in conflict with public traffic signals are not permitted.
- No person shall place, maintain or display any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device, emergency light or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to disrupt the movement of traffic.
- No person shall place, maintain or display any sign which hides from view or interferes with the movement of traffic or the effectiveness of any traffic control device or railroad sign or signal.
- Off-site and temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- The use of flashing lights or lights used in messages that change more than eight times per day shall be treated as animated signs and are prohibited (except time/temperature signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in South Beloit

- Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including any traffic, fire, and police signs, signals, devices, legal notices, and railroad crossings of the state, county, or city.
- Public signs including historic, civic, political or memorial signs authorized by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation or ordinance.
- Building marker signs indicating the name of a building, date and incidental information about its construction, cut into masonry or made of bronze or permanent material (not exceeding six square feet and attached to building).
- Interior building signs not attached to a window or door and not intended to be viewed from the exterior.
- Manufacturer's labels on farm structures and buildings standard to the assembly of the product.
- Directional signs (on site) of three square feet or less intended to facilitate the movement of vehicles and pedestrians on private property, limited as specified.
- Traffic control signs on private property which meet department of transportation standards and contain no commercial message.
- Religious symbols attached to religious buildings or located on private church property.
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, allowed 30 days prior to and 30 days after a traditionally accepted civic, patriotic, or religious holiday in commercial and industrial districts.
- Descriptive signs on merchandise/inventory for sale in commercial and industrial districts.
- Flags, emblems, or insignia of governmental, or other noncommercial organizations less than 60 square feet in area, mounted on poles not exceeding 40 feet in height (with limits on number of poles and flags per lot depending on zone).
- Identification signs containing only a name and/or address, limited to two square feet in area.
- Incidental signs, generally informational, secondary to the use of the zone lot, provided no commercial message or logo is legible from property line.
- Signs on private property not subject to view from other properties or from public property.
- Works of art approved by the city council.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for permanent sign permits and special use permits must include a site plan and sign plan, drawn to scale, showing the location, dimensions, and design of the sign(s) requested, as well as the site, building, landscaping, and all other signs requiring a permit.
- Permit applications for oversize off-premises commercial signs must include a site plan, elevation drawings, and area plan among other requirements.
- A sign plan is required whenever a permanent sign permit or special use permit is applied for, per Section 118-329.
- When there is a change in user, owner, or property owner, notification to the code enforcement officer is required, but a new sign permit (and thus a new sign plan) is only required if there is modification of the sign face or structure.

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

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