# Sign Regulations in Spring Valley, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Spring Valley, Illinois regulates 29 sign types across 12 zoning districts. For Sale/Rent Sign (Temporary)s in the Single-Family and Two-Family Districts (RE, R1A, R1, R2) zoning district are capped at 4 ft. tall and 6 sq. ft., with a 8 ft. from property line setback (Sec. 14-7-4(A)1, (C)3).

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 20 ft in residential, 30 ft in nonresidential | 5 ft x 8 ft | — |
| Single-Family and Two-Family Districts (RE, R1A, R1, R2) | 9 | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Multi-Family District (R3) | 10 | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Districts | 1 | 20 ft. | 5 ft x 8 ft | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 12 | 30 ft.; 4 ft above roof/parapet, whichever higher | 400 sq. ft. | — |
| Business Districts | 4 | 25 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| B1 Downtown Commercial District | 5 | 18 inches above roof/parapet | No more than 50% of awning surface | — |
| B2 District | 6 | 30 ft.; 4 ft above roof/parapet, whichever higher | 375 sq. ft. | — |
| B3 District | 2 | 6 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| B4 District | 2 | 25 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Downtown Sign Zone (B1 Downtown Commercial District) | 5 | 18 inches above roof/parapet | No more than 50% of surface | — |
| Interstate 80 Sign Zone | 3 | 40 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Single-Family and Two-Family Districts (RE, R1A, R1, R2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign - Freestanding | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Inside property line | — | 14-7-4(A)1 |
| Address Sign - Wall | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On wall | — | 14-7-4(A)1 |
| Residential Identification - Freestanding | 4 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Inside property line | — | 14-7-4(A)1 |
| Residential Identification - Wall | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On wall | — | 14-7-4(A)1 |
| Incidental Sign | 4 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Inside property line | — | 14-7-4(A)1, (C)2 |
| For Sale/Rent Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft. from property line | 3 total (all temporary signs per dwelling) | 8 ft. from property line | — | 14-7-4(A)1, (C)3 |
| Institutional Sign - Freestanding | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | 14-7-4(C)5 |
| Institutional Sign - Wall | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per public entrance | For each public entrance to the institution | — | 14-7-4(C)5 |

### Multi-Family District (R3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign - Freestanding | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Inside property line | — | 14-7-4(B)1 |
| Address Sign - Wall | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On wall | — | 14-7-4(B)1 |
| Residential Identification - Freestanding | 4 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Inside property line | — | 14-7-4(B)1 |
| Residential Identification - Wall | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per public entrance | On wall (per public entrance) | — | 14-7-4(B)1 |
| Incidental Sign | 4 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Inside property line | — | 14-7-4(B)1, (C)2 |
| Traffic Control Sign | As set forth in Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices | As set forth in Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices | — | — | — | Per traffic control standards | — | 14-7-4(B)1 |
| For Sale/Rent Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft. from property line | 3 total per dwelling/unit or 3 per driveway (whichever is less) | 8 ft. from property line | — | 14-7-4(B)1, (C)3 |
| Institutional Sign - Freestanding | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per institution | — | — | 14-7-4(C)5 |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Signs | See residential district sign regulations | See residential district sign regulations | — | — | See residential district sign regulations | See residential district sign regulations | — | 14-7-5 Table |
| Advertising Sign | 30 ft.; 4 ft above roof/parapet, whichever higher | 375 sq. ft. | 15 ft. tall x 25 ft. wide | Not between front building line and street; 200 ft from next advertising sign, 50 ft from residential district if visible, 500 ft from 5+ acre park if visible | — | Inside property line; not between front building line and street | — | 14-7-5 Table, (A) |
| Freestanding Sign - B2, B4 | 25 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Inside property line | — | 14-7-5 Table, (B)1, 8, 9; 14-6-10 |
| Freestanding Sign - B3 | 6 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Inside property line | — | 14-7-5 Table, (B)1, 8, 9; 14-6-10 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Inside property line (allowed only in B1, B2 districts) | — | 14-7-5 Table, (B)5 |
| Shopping Center Sign | 25 ft. | 400 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Within property lines | — | 14-7-5(B)6 |
| Flag | 30 ft. | 5 ft x 8 ft | — | 5 ft from property line | Up to 6 (2 per pole x 3 poles) | 5 ft setback from property line; within 30 ft of principal entrance | — | 14-7-5(B)10 |
| Electronic Message Display Panel Advertising Sign | — | Part of an allowed sign type only; see other limits | — | 50 ft from residential district | 1 per lot | Must be at least 50 ft from residential district | — | 14-7-5(C) |

## Prohibited signs in Spring Valley

- Animated signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Windblown signs, including nonpermanent advertising signs affixed to buildings, fences or structures, are prohibited (with limited exceptions for temporary banners advertising special events for not-for-profit, religious, or municipal organizations, which must be removed within 48 hours after the event).
- Strings of lights are prohibited except for temporary holiday decorations.
- Portable signs are prohibited except sandwich board signs.
- Vehicles containing a commercial message and regularly parked on the street side of any business are considered portable signs and are prohibited unless the vehicle is regularly and customarily used in the business.
- Signs on benches are prohibited.
- Signs on trees are prohibited.
- Signs on utility poles, other than signs installed by the utility and related to the utility facility, are prohibited.
- Signs blocking required means of egress from any building are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs within the public right of way or on public property are prohibited, except as allowed in section 14-7-3 or for projecting signs in accordance with 14-7-5(B)2.
- Any sign not exempt, not established as a lawful nonconforming sign, or not expressly allowed under another section is a prohibited sign.
- No display sign or outdoor advertising device may be placed, erected, altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
- Flashing lights, intermittent type illumination, rotating beams, beacons or illumination resembling an emergency light are prohibited on business signs.
- Awning signs may not be internally illuminated or backlit.
- A flag may not bear commercial messages.
- No rooftop flagpoles are permitted in any district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Spring Valley

- Any public notice or warning required by valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance, or by a court order, is exempt from regulation.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, and not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the property line of the development site or parcel on which the sign is located, is exempt from regulation.
- Traffic control signs on private property, such as 'Stop', 'Yield' and similar signs, meeting the Illinois Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards and containing no commercial message, are exempt.
- Temporary signs required by valid law or posted by a public agency are allowed without a sign permit and not subject to other regulations, but must be removed when they no longer serve their purpose.
- Signs not requiring a building or electrical permit and not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the property line are allowed without a sign permit and not subject to other regulations.
- Memorial signs containing no commercial message and not larger than four square feet are allowed without a permit and not subject to other regulations.
- Certain temporary free speech signs, real estate signs, other small temporary signs, flags and flagpoles, incidental signs, and on-site traffic/parking control signs (meeting MUTCD, no commercial messages) are allowed without a permit but subject to other regulations in the chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no explicit reference to City-wide Master Sign Plans or a required sign plan; instead, the ordinance requires that a detailed drawing showing dimensions, design, structure, and location be submitted with each sign permit application (section 14-7-7(A)). One application and permit may include multiple signs on the same lot.
- Permit for any new sign or modification of an existing sign (unless the sign is expressly exempt) is required before erecting the sign. Application procedures are outlined for issuance, including submission of details and compliance review.
- Specific zones (e.g., shopping centers, integrated planned business developments) allow additional or special signage, but must still conform to the general permit process.
- Temporary sign permits are required for temporary signs, with specific duration and area limits defined in section 14-7-6 and 14-7-7(D).
- Chapter 4 (8-4-1) requires a permit for any sign over or upon any public way/public property, after city council approval; no permit issued for signs interfering with public safety or violating ordinances.

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

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