# Sign Regulations in Sterling, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sterling, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/sterling
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Sterling/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CICO_CH102ZO_ARTVIISI)

## At a glance

Sterling, Illinois regulates 28 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Permanent)s in the General business districts (GBD) (CB, BP, except DB district) zoning district are capped at 14 ft at ROW, 18 ft max tall and 100 sf, with a Setback equals sign height when sign exceeds 14 ft at ROW setback (Sec. Table 7.2). Most commercial signs in Sterling require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential, single-family detached districts (SFD) (RH, SR-4, SR-6, SR-8, TN-R) | 12 | 6 ft | 16 sf | — |
| Residential, duplex and multifamily districts (MFD) (TR-6, MR-6, MR-10) | 4 | 5 ft at ROW, 10 ft max | 20 sf | — |
| Institutional uses in residential zoning and PIO districts (INS) | 6 | 8 ft at ROW, 10 ft max | 100 sf | — |
| Neighborhood business districts (NBD) (NB, TBO, TN-CR, C-MU, R-MU) | 7 | 8 ft at ROW, 10 ft max | 80 sf | — |
| General business districts (GBD) (CB, BP, except DB district) | 8 | 14 ft at ROW, 18 ft max | 225 sf max (10% of wall area) | — |
| Downtown business district (DBD) | 7 | 10 ft at ROW, 15 ft max | 225 sf max (10% of wall area) | — |
| Highway business district (HBD) (RB) | 8 | 18 ft at ROW, 22 ft max | 225 sf max (10% of wall area) | — |
| Industrial district (IND) (LM, GM, HM) | 8 | 14 ft at ROW, 20 ft max | 225 sf max (10% of wall area) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 8 ft | 48 sf | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Residential, single-family detached districts (SFD) (RH, SR-4, SR-6, SR-8, TN-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Nonconforming Business Over Window/Door) | 2 ft | 2 ft height x 10 ft length (20 sf) | 10 ft | — | 1 | Over show windows or doors of a nonconforming business establishment | — | Sec. 102-707.A |
| Freestanding Sign (Real Estate) | — | 8 sf | — | — | 1 (2 for corner lots) | On-property only | — | Sec. 102-707.B |
| Freestanding Sign (Name/Occupation/Warning) | — | 2 sf | — | — | — | On-premises | — | Sec. 102-707.C |
| Freestanding Sign (Bulletin Board for Public/Charitable/Religious Institution) | — | 16 sf | — | — | — | On the premises | — | Sec. 102-707.D |
| Memorial Sign | — | 4 sf | — | — | — | Affixed flat against a structure or cut into masonry | — | Sec. 102-707.E, 102-705.B.4 |
| Historic Marker/Identification Sign | 6 ft | 8 sf | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 102-707.F, 102-705.B.5 |
| Temporary Rummage Sale Sign | — | 8 sf | — | — | — | Lot or parcel where sale is occurring, or with permission on other private property | — | Sec. 102-707.I |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sf | — | — | — | On-premises | — | Sec. 102-707.L |

### General business districts (GBD) (CB, BP, except DB district)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent) | 14 ft at ROW, 18 ft max | 100 sf | — | Setback equals sign height when sign exceeds 14 ft at ROW | 1 | On-premises | — | Table 7.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sf | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | Table 7.2, Sec. 102-712 |
| Wall Sign | — | 225 sf max (10% of wall area) | — | — | Per Table 7.2: 1 for <100ft; up to 2 for 100-200ft; up to 3 for 200-300ft; up to 4 for 300+ft | On-building facades abutting a public right-of-way | — | Table 7.2 (Façade/wall), Table 7.2 notes |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Awning/canopy | — | Table 7.2/102-705.C.5 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 75 sf | — | — | — | On-building | — | Table 7.2 |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window area | — | — | — | Window (not door windows needed for safety) | — | Table 7.2 |
| Changeable Copy/Electronic Message Sign | — | 20% of identification sign area; greater of 24 sf or 20% of identification sign area for changeable copy | — | — | 1 | Only on freestanding signs | — | Sec. 102-709, Table 7.3 |
| Banner Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 7.1, Sec. 102-712 |

### Highway business district (HBD) (RB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent) | 18 ft at ROW, 22 ft max | 150 sf | — | Setback equals sign height when exceeding 18 ft at ROW | 1; dealer lots per Table 7.2 note c | On-premises | — | Table 7.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary) | — | 64 sf | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | Table 7.2, Sec. 102-712 |
| Wall Sign | — | 225 sf max (10% of wall area) | — | — | Per Table 7.2: 1 for <100ft; up to 2 for 100-200ft; up to 3 for 200-300ft; up to 4 for 300+ft | On-building facades abutting a public right-of-way | — | Table 7.2 (Façade/wall), Table 7.2 notes |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Awning/canopy | — | Table 7.2/102-705.C.5 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 75 sf | — | — | — | On-building | — | Table 7.2 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Window (not door windows needed for safety) | — | Table 7.2 |
| Changeable Copy/Electronic Message Sign | — | 25% of identification sign area; greater of 24 sf or 50% of identification sign area for changeable copy | — | — | 1 | Only on freestanding signs | — | Sec. 102-709, Table 7.3 |
| Banner Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 7.1, Sec. 102-712 |

## Prohibited signs in Sterling

- No sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained except in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions, and other requirements of this article.
- All signs not expressly permitted by this article are prohibited.
- No sign shall use any word, phrase, symbol, shape, form, or character in such manner as to interfere with moving traffic, including signs that incorporate typical street-type and/or traffic control-type signage designs and colors.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs imitating or resembling official signs are prohibited.
- Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except those exempt under section 102-705.B, are prohibited.
- No undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs or other decorations shall be permitted.
- No illuminated flashing signs shall be permitted. Chasing lights shall not be allowed.
- No illuminated sign shall be permitted unless the lighting element is not visible from any property within a residential zoning district, and must comply with exterior lighting and electrical codes.
- Translucent sign panels, other than font and graphics, if illuminated, shall not emit light or shall emit a darker color than that used for illuminated font and graphics, except for channel letters or changeable copy signs.
- No mobile signs are permitted.
- Off-premises directional signs are permitted only for governmental and institutional uses.
- No inflatable signs are permitted, except as temporary signs within specified limits.
- No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
- No off-premises advertising signs are permitted except for designated small blue highway information signs within the right-of-way per applicable State of Illinois Statutes.
- Window obstruction by interior signs must comply with Table B.
- Floodlighted signs with light source visible from a public right-of-way or adjoining property are prohibited.
- Signs bearing or containing obscene, pornographic, or immoral words, statements, or pictures are prohibited.
- Signs which are a hazard or dangerous distraction to vehicular traffic or a nuisance to adjoining residential property are prohibited.
- Signs imitating official traffic sign or signal are prohibited.
- Painted wall signs painted directly on the surface of the building are prohibited.
- Signs attached or affixed to rocks, trees, or other living vegetation are prohibited.
- Strobes and lasers are not allowed.
- Flags that advertise any product are not allowed.
- Beacons are not allowed.
- Balloons exceeding a diameter of two feet may not be used on a permanent basis.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained where its position, wording, illumination, size, shape, or color could obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal, or device.
- No sign shall be located within a required bufferyard or within a permanently protected green space area.
- No sign shall be mounted or displayed on the roof of a structure.
- Private signs are not allowed within road right-of-way lines, except as specifically outlined for public right-of-way signage.
- No person shall erect, construct, or maintain any sign on any property or building without the express consent of the owner or authorized representative.
- No advertising vehicle signs for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business are allowed in public right-of-way or on private property, except licensed business vehicles actively used for business purposes.
- Signs painted directly on a wall or other portion of a building are not permitted.
- No sign shall impair traffic visibility or create other safety hazards.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sterling

- Public signs required by federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line.
- Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
- Memorial signs and tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection, cut into masonry or inlaid to be part of the building, or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material not more than four square feet in area.
- Historic markers or identification signs (externally illuminated, not exceeding eight square feet in area and six feet in height).
- Professional and business name plate signs (located on premises, limited to one per business, not to exceed two square feet).
- Governmental entity flags that are the official flags of the United States, State of Illinois, or City of Sterling and which are properly displayed.
- Flags not exceeding 15 square feet displaying the logo or name of a non-governmental entity.
- Red, white, and blue patriotic buntings, tastefully displayed without time limitation.
- Artwork or pictorial display on a building or structure judged by the mural commission and building and zoning superintendent not to be signage.
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, but only between November 1 and January 15.
- Traffic control signs on private property conforming to state standards and containing no commercial message.
- Safety signage as required by OSHA.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No permit shall be issued for an individual sign requiring a permit unless and until a signage plan for the zoning lot has been submitted and approved by the building and zoning superintendent as conforming with this article.
- A signage plan must contain a plot plan, locations, sign computations, and indicate present and future sign locations (whether requiring permit or not), and must be signed by all owners or authorized agents.
- A signage plan shall be included in any development plan, site plan, planned unit development plan, or other official plan required by the city for the proposed development, and processed simultaneously.
- A signage plan may be amended by filing a new signage plan that conforms with current requirements.
- After approval of a signage plan, no sign shall be erected, placed, painted or maintained except in conformance with such plan.
- No sign permit of any kind shall be issued for a proposed sign unless such sign is consistent with the signage plan in effect for the property.
- Applications for sign permits and for signage plan approval must be submitted on forms and with fees as established by the city.
- In summary: For any zoning lot where a sign requiring a permit is proposed, a signage plan is required for city approval prior to permit issuance.

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

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