# Sign Regulations in Tolono, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Tolono, Illinois regulates 41 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Business)s in the CN Commercial Neighborhood District (CN) zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 35 sq ft (Sec. § 154.204(B)(3)(a), (b)). Most commercial signs in Tolono require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 18 | 3.5 ft | 35 sq ft | — |
| RS, R-I, R-2, R-3, R-4 | 6 | 6 ft | 48 sq in (0.33 sq ft) | — |
| CN Commercial Neighborhood District (CN) | 11 | 25 ft | 135 sq ft | — |
| CB Central Business District (CB) | 10 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft max display space, back-to-back allowed | — |
| I-1 Industrial District (I-1) | 12 | 50 ft | 600 sq ft max display space | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Instructional or Directional Sign (RS, R-I, R-2) | 3.5 ft | 6 sq ft total area per premise | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 154.202(A) |
| Instructional or Directional Sign (R-3, R-4) | 3.5 ft | 12 sq ft total area per premise | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 154.202(A) |
| Instructional or Directional Sign (Lots ≤ 5 acres in CN, CB) | 3.5 ft | 16 sq ft total area per premise | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 154.202(A) |
| Instructional or Directional Sign (Lots > 5 acres in CN, CB & all I-1) | 3.5 ft | 16 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 154.202(A) |
| Real Estate Sign (RS, R-I, R-2) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | On lot | — | § 154.202(C) |
| Real Estate Sign (R-3, R-4) | — | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | On lot | — | § 154.202(C) |
| Real Estate Sign (Lots ≤ 5 acres in CN, CB) | — | 16 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | On lot | — | § 154.202(C) |
| Real Estate Sign (Lots >5 acres in CN, CB & all I-1) | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | On lot | — | § 154.202(C) |

### CN Commercial Neighborhood District (CN)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Business) | — | 100 sq ft total per business | — | — | One per business | On building | — | § 154.204(B)(1) |
| Wall Sign (No Freestanding On Lot) - Option 2 | — | 135 sq ft | — | — | One per business | On building | — | § 154.204(B)(1) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Fascia-mounted on canopy/awning | — | § 154.204(B)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Business) | 12 ft | 35 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage per lot | One per street frontage per lot | — | § 154.204(B)(3)(a), (b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-business) | 12 ft | 70 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage per lot | One per street frontage per lot | — | § 154.204(B)(3)(a), (c) |
| Temporary or Portable Sign | — | Conforms to size and height provisions of CN District | — | — | One per business | — | — | § 154.204(B)(5) |
| Grand Opening Oversized Banner | — | 25% of the wall upon which placed | — | — | — | On building wall | — | § 154.204(B)(6)(a) |
| Grand Opening Inflatable Sign/Balloon | 25 ft | — | — | Setback from property line at least height of balloon plus 5ft; 10ft from wires | One per premises | — | — | § 154.204(B)(6)(c) |

### I-1 Industrial District (I-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign Structure | — | 600 sq ft max display space | — | If relocated: not within 500 ft of another OASS, also apply separation, height, and setback restrictions | — | — | — | § 154.204(D)(2); § 154.203(B)(2)(b) |
| Freestanding Highway Sign (State Highway Frontage) | 50 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | Frontage of road parallel to highway | — | § 154.204(D)(3) |
| Temporary or Portable Sign | — | Conforms to CN District size/height | — | — | One per business | — | — | § 154.204(D)(4) |
| Grand Opening Oversized Banner | — | 25% of wall area | — | — | — | On building wall | — | § 154.204(D)(5)(b)1 |
| Grand Opening Inflatable Sign/Balloon | 25 ft | — | — | Setback at least height of balloon + 5 ft; 10 ft from wires | One per premises | — | — | § 154.204(D)(5)(b)3 |
| Major Retail Store Freestanding Sign | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per store | — | — | § 154.204(D)(6) |
| Major Retail Store Wall Signs (Principal Elevation) | — | One up to 250 sq ft; others up to 150 sq ft; total all signs on principal elevation ≤ 7% of wall area | — | — | Up to four on principal elevation | Principal elevation of store | — | § 154.204(D)(6) |
| Bulletin Board Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | One per 100 ft of lot frontage | — | — | § 154.204(D)(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Tolono

- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure that is not specifically allowed or regulated in this subchapter is prohibited.
- No sign or outdoor advertising sign structure may be erected, constructed, established, maintained, enlarged, relocated, or changed except in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
- No sign or outdoor advertising sign structure may be installed, erected, constructed, or placed without a permit from the Zoning Administrator, except as specifically provided for by this subchapter.
- Any sign which is structurally unsafe is prohibited.
- Any sign which constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment is prohibited.
- Any sign which is not kept in good repair is prohibited.
- Any sign capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it is prohibited.
- Any sign supported by hanging or swinging from eye bolts, cables, or similar means is prohibited.
- Any sign which, by reason of its size, location, content, coloring, or intensity of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing or detracting from the visibility of any governmentally erected traffic sign or control device, or any sign which resembles a traffic sign or control device, is prohibited.
- Signs which make use of words such as 'stop', 'look', 'danger', or any other words, phrases, symbols, or characters, in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic, are prohibited.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exits, is prohibited.
- Any sign, whether temporary or permanent, or outdoor advertising sign structure, not erected by the village or its agents, which extends over or touches upon any village property or public right-of-way unless specifically permitted by this subchapter, is prohibited.
- Any nonconforming sign or outdoor advertising sign structure which refers to a business no longer in existence or in operation at the location advertised is prohibited.
- Business signs advertising nonconforming uses which do not conform to the sign regulations of the most restrictive district where the nonconforming uses are permitted are prohibited.
- Any sign or outdoor advertising sign structure unlawfully constructed, installed, erected, or maintained is prohibited.
- Flags, banners, pennants, spinners, portable signs, and streamers are prohibited unless and only to the extent expressly allowed in this subchapter.
- Any sign which has any visible moving part, visible revolving parts or visible mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic, or mechanical means, including intermittent electrical pulsations, or by action of normal wind currents are prohibited even if indoors if they are visible from the right-of-way or residential areas (with exception of permitted searchlights).
- Signs with electronic changing images, except as permitted, are restricted (no changing more than once per 30 seconds, only instantaneous full-face changes, no wipes, fades, flashing, or similar effects).
- Any sign that obstructs visibility triangle setbacks as defined, or is affixed to public structures in the right-of-way such as utility poles, streetlights, trees or traffic control devices, is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tolono

- Instructional or directional signs meeting size and height limitations, and business name/logo area limitations, are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Signs for on-site customer traffic that are not readable from the right-of-way (placed a minimum of 20 feet from the street right-of-way, letters less than 1.5 inches in height, pictures/logos less than 1.5 square feet) are permitted without a permit.
- Real estate signs within stated size and quantity limitations per property are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Construction site signs not exceeding 35 square feet and only present during visible work are permitted in all districts without a permit.
- Garage sale and auction signs not exceeding five square feet, not posted for more than six days in total, are permitted in all districts without a permit, provided not located on public property.
- Nonbusiness signs: signs erected by the village or its agents in the public right-of-way are permitted without a permit.
- Signs used to identify the street address of a building not exceeding five square feet in area are permitted without a permit.
- Parking signs not exceeding six square feet in area are permitted without a permit.
- Signs required by federal, state, or local laws for the operation of certain businesses not exceeding seven square feet are permitted without a permit.
- Public flags and one additional flag other than a public flag (not exceeding four feet by six feet and mounted on a flag pole) are permitted without a permit.
- Political election signs on private property with owner permission, and within size and other lawful constraints, are permitted without a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications for outdoor advertising sign structures (OASSs) must include a site plan prepared by a licensed surveyor, drawn to scale, showing location of proposed and nearby buildings and commercial freestanding signs; certain types of signs need not be included in the survey.
- Applications for OASSs must include color photographs of the site, as specified.
- No sign or outdoor advertising sign structure may be installed, erected, constructed, or placed without a permit from the Zoning Administrator, except as specifically provided for by this subchapter.
- Special event signs and searchlights on or over village property require a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator.
- Some sign types (such as bulletin board signs in various districts) require annual permits issued by the Zoning Administrator.
- Grand opening and temporary signs require permits specifying number, type, and display dates.
- No signs or other structures shall be placed, erected, or used on premises without prior approval of the Zoning Officer (per § 150.07 for certain premises).
- No sign may be erected, constructed, established, maintained, enlarged, relocated, or changed except in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.

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

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