# Sign Regulations in Trenton, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Trenton, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/trenton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-25
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Trenton/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_CH48ZOCO_ARTVISIRE)

## At a glance

Trenton, Illinois regulates 16 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Business District zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall, 100 square feet, and 12 feet wide, with a No part closer than 10 feet from the public right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 48-202, Sec. 48-212 (5)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | — | 32 square feet (agricultural/residential) | — |
| Agricultural District | 1 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| Residential District | 1 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| Business District | 4 | 20 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| Industrial District | 4 | 20 feet | 300 square feet | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | On the site of construction | — | Sec. 48-210 (1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet (residential), 16 square feet (other) | — | — | One per street front | On the premises being sold, rented, or leased | — | Sec. 48-210 (2) |
| Political Sign | — | 8 square feet (agricultural/residential), 32 square feet (other) | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 48-210 (3) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On private residential property | — | Sec. 48-210 (4) |
| Public Interest Sign | — | 32 square feet (agricultural/residential) | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 48-210 (5) |
| Institutional Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | On the premises of the institution | — | Sec. 48-210 (7) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | At the entrance of a residential subdivision or apartment complex | — | Sec. 48-210 (9) |
| Permanent House Number/Name Sign | — | 2 square feet (single-family), 6 square feet (multiple-family) | — | — | — | On the lot to which the sign applies | — | Sec. 48-210 (10) |

### Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flush-mounted (Wall) Sign | — | 300 square feet | — | — | — | Attached to the building | — | Sec. 48-202, Sec. 48-212 (1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 100 square feet | 12 feet | No part closer than 10 feet from the public right-of-way | One per street front | On the premises | — | Sec. 48-202, Sec. 48-212 (5) |
| Projecting Sign | 12 feet | — | — | — | One per street front | Attached to the building | — | Sec. 48-212 (3) |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | One per multi-tenant center | On the premises of the shopping center | — | Sec. 48-212 (9) |

### Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flush-mounted (Wall) Sign | — | 300 square feet | — | — | — | Attached to the building | — | Sec. 48-202, Sec. 48-212 (1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 100 square feet | 12 feet | No part closer than 10 feet from the public right-of-way | One per street front | On the premises | — | Sec. 48-202, Sec. 48-212 (5) |
| Projecting Sign | 12 feet | — | — | — | One per street front | Attached to the building | — | Sec. 48-212 (3) |
| Billboard | 20 feet | 300 square feet | — | 25 feet from any lot line or public right-of-way | — | On the premises | — | Sec. 48-212 (10) |

## Prohibited signs in Trenton

- No person shall place any sign, advertisement or banner over any or across any street, alley or sidewalk in the city, unless he has written approval of the mayor.
- No person shall nail, tack, paste, paint or fasten any sign or any other foreign substance or material onto any telephone, telegraph, electric light, police or fire alarm pole or post, or any street or traffic sign located on any sidewalk, street, alley or public grounds or injure or deface any such pole or post.
- Any sign not expressly permitted in this article shall be deemed prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free access or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or driveway.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that it interferes with, obstructs the view of, or is likely to be confused with any authorized traffic control device.
- It is unlawful to maintain anywhere in the city a sign, signal, marking or device that purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal in view of any street or highway.
- It is unlawful to maintain or operate any flashing or rotating beacon of light in view of any street or highway.
- Signs in the public right-of-way are strictly prohibited.
- Mobile/portable marquees are strictly prohibited, except as a temporary sign.
- Signs attached to trees, fences or public utility poles, other than warning signs posted by government officials or public utilities, are strictly prohibited.
- Defunct signs, including the posts or other supports therefor that advertise or identify an activity, business, product, or service no longer conducted on the premises where such sign is located, are strictly prohibited.
- Roof-mounted signs that project or protrude above the highest point of the roof are strictly prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Trenton

- Construction signs identifying the architects, engineers, contractors, and other individuals or firms involved with the construction, and/or announcing the character or purpose of the building, but not advertising any product.
- Real estate signs, indicating the sale, rental, or lease of the premises on which they are located.
- Political signs, announcing candidates seeking public/political office and/or political issues and other pertinent information.
- Garage sale signs, advertising a garage or yard sale to be held on private residential property.
- Public interest signs and street banners, publicizing a charitable or non-profit event of general public interest.
- Governmental, public, and directional signs such as traffic control signs, railroad crossing signs, legal notices, signs indicating the location of underground cables, no trespassing signs, no parking signs, signs indicating the entrances and exits of parking lots, signs indicating the location of public telephones, restrooms, and so forth.
- Institutional signs identifying a public, charitable, or religious institution.
- Integral signs carved into stone or inlaid so as to become part of the building, and containing such information as date of erection, name of building, and memorial tributes.
- Subdivision entrance signs, identifying a residential subdivision or apartment complex.
- Permanent house numbers and/or permanent name of occupant signs located on the lot to which the sign applies.
- Interior signs located in the interior of any building or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building or group of buildings, provided such signs are designed and located to be viewed exclusively by the patrons or residents of such buildings.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for all temporary signs. (See sections 48-57 and division 2 'Special Uses')

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

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