# Sign Regulations in Troy, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Troy, Illinois regulates 41 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Option 1 (One per lot)s in the C-2 General Commercial, C-3 Highway Commercial, C-5 Town Center Mixed-use, I-1 Light Industry, I-2 General Industry zoning district are capped at 25 ft (C-2, C-5), 80 ft (C-3, I-1, I-2; with 25 ft max on parcels by US Hwy 40 per details) tall, 100 sq ft (C-2, C-5), 300 sq ft (C-3, I-1, I-2), and 12 ft any dimension wide, with a No projection over lot line; placement as per spacing rules setback (Sec. §155.04(D)(6)). Most commercial signs in Troy require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | — | 75 sq ft (including monument) | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 1 | — | 8 sq ft | — |
| C-2 General Commercial, C-3 Highway Commercial, C-5 Town Center Mixed-use, I-1 Light Industry, I-2 General Industry | 13 | 25 ft (C-2, C-5), 80 ft (C-3, I-1, I-2; with 25 ft max on parcels by US Hwy 40 per details) | 300 sq ft per street frontage | — |
| C-4 Downtown Mixed-use | 6 | Min clear 10 ft above sidewalk | Max 42 in width or height | — |
| Planned Development (PD) and Planned Development Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Commercial | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial zoning districts | 6 | 25 ft (C-2, C-5), 80 ft (C-3, I-1, I-2; except parcels by US Hwy 40: max 25 ft) | 300 sq ft per frontage | — |
| Industrial zoning districts | 6 | 80 ft (except parcels contiguous with US Hwy 40: 25 ft) | 300 sq ft per frontage | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary For Sale/For Lease Sign (Residential Subdivision) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision | Subdivision property for new residential development | — | §155.04(B)(1) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Confined to the site of construction | — | §155.04(B)(1) |
| On-Premises Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises | — | §155.04(B)(2) |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | 3 | On-premises | — | §155.04(B)(3) |
| House Number/Resident Name Sign | — | 3 sq ft (single family), 6 sq ft (multi-family) | — | — | — | On the lot to which it pertains | — | §155.04(B)(5) |
| Property Regulation Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | §155.04(B)(8) |
| Temporary Event Sign | — | See zone-specific; 8 sq ft (residential), 8-32 sq ft (commercial/industrial by zone) | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Not on public property or ROW or blocking sightlines; see also zone | — | §155.04(B)(9) |
| Residential Development Identification Structure | — | 75 sq ft (including monument) | — | — | — | Major entrance to subdivision/apartment complex/PD | — | §155.04(B)(10) |

### C-2 General Commercial, C-3 Highway Commercial, C-5 Town Center Mixed-use, I-1 Light Industry, I-2 General Industry

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Event Sign (C-2) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | — | — | §155.04(B)(9)(2) |
| Temporary Event Sign (C-3) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | — | — | §155.04(B)(9)(2) |
| Flush-Mounted Wall Sign | 3 ft above roofline | 300 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | — | On wall of building | — | §155.03(C), §155.04(D)(1) |
| Projecting Sign | 3 ft above roofline (not on roof), minimum 8 ft above ground | 12 sq ft | 3 ft projection from building | — | 1 per street frontage | Attached to exterior wall, or suspended under awning/canopy/marquee; not to project over public ROW/closer than 2 ft to curb | — | §155.04(D)(2) |
| Shopping/Office Center Monument Sign (Center Only) | Not to extend more than max height for freestanding graphic in district | 100 sq ft (center identification), 200 sq ft (center and tenants) | — | Not to intrude into public ROW or private lot line; not higher than 2 ft in sight triangle | 1 per street entrance | On-premises | — | §155.04(D)(5) |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 1 (One per lot) | 25 ft (C-2, C-5), 80 ft (C-3, I-1, I-2; with 25 ft max on parcels by US Hwy 40 per details) | 100 sq ft (C-2, C-5), 300 sq ft (C-3, I-1, I-2) | 12 ft any dimension | No projection over lot line; placement as per spacing rules | 1 per lot (C-2, C-5); max 2 per lot (C-3, I-1, I-2) | On-premises | — | §155.04(D)(6) |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 2 (Second sign C-3, I-1, I-2 only) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft; may be up to 25 ft high if second sign | — | Not over lot line; see spacing | 2 per lot allowed in districts listed | On-premises, C-3, I-1, I-2 only | — | §155.04(D)(6) |
| Off-Premises Sign (By Special Permit) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 5 per mile per side | Edwardsville Rd/Hwy 162 and Hwy 40, with restrictions | — | §155.04(D)(7) |

### Commercial zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flush-Mounted Wall Sign | 3 ft above roofline | 300 sq ft per frontage | — | — | — | Building wall | — | §155.03(C),(D); §155.04(D)(1) |
| Projecting Sign | 3 ft above roofline; minimum 8 ft above ground | 12 sq ft | 3 ft projection | — | 1 per street frontage | Building exterior wall, or suspended under awning/canopy/marquee | — | §155.04(D)(2) |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | — | Included in flush/projecting sign calculations | — | — | — | Attached to or suspended from awning/canopy/marquee | — | §155.04(D)(4) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 20% of window or 20 sq ft (whichever is less) | — | — | — | Window (on or painted on) | — | §155.04(D)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft (C-2, C-5), 80 ft (C-3, I-1, I-2; except parcels by US Hwy 40: max 25 ft) | 100 sq ft (C-2, C-5), 300 sq ft (C-3, I-1, I-2) | 12 ft any dimension | Min 150 ft apart if two allowed; see special distance rules | 1 per lot (except 2 in C-3, see industrial for rules) | On-premises | — | §155.04(D)(6) |
| Shopping/Office Center Monument Sign | Subject to freestanding graphic rules in district | 100 sq ft (center ID only), 200 sq ft (center/tenants) | — | Not to project over/intrude into ROW or private lot line; not over 2 ft high in intersection sight triangle | 1 per street entrance | On-premises, at street entrance | — | §155.04(D)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Troy

- Any graphic or sign not expressly permitted by this chapter is prohibited in the city.
- No signs or advertisements shall be installed or erected upon any public property.
- It is unlawful to attach any sign, advertisement or notice to any tree or shrub in any street, parkway or other public place in the city.
- It is unlawful to place any sign or advertisement on any property without the written consent of the owner thereof.
- No sign structure shall be erected at any street intersection in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision of motorists in a moving traffic lane of intersecting traffic.
- No graphic which revolves, rotates, or mechanically moves in any manner shall be permitted in the city.
- No graphic shall have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights, which have a changing light intensity, brightness, or color. Beacon lights are prohibited.
- No red, yellow, orange, green, or other colored light shall be used within 200 feet of a traffic sign or device.
- No exposed reflective-type bulb and no strobe light or incandescent lamp that exceeds 15 watts or equivalent shall be used on the exterior surface of any graphic in such a manner as to expose the face of the bulb, light, or lamp to any public street or adjacent property.
- No graphic shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free access to any door, window, fire escape, or driveway.
- No graphic shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that it interferes with, obstructs the view of, or can be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign or graphic shall contain the words 'stop', 'go', 'caution', 'danger', 'warning' or similar words unless these words are part of a business name.
- Mobile/portable signs are prohibited everywhere in the city.
- Graphics consisting of banners, pennants, streamers, ribbons, strings of exposed light bulbs, spinners, or similar devices are prohibited.
- Graphics attached to trees, fences or public utility poles (except warning signs or those graphics issued by public utilities) are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited and must be removed as provided.
- Roof-mounted graphics that extend more than three feet above the highest point of the roof are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except as provided by special use permit or in accordance with the State Highway Advertising Control Act.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be displayed in a way that blocks or tends to block sight lines for vehicular traffic.
- Temporary signs may not be placed on public property; on any public right-of-way; on any utility pole or tree; on any street or road sign or sign pole; on any other person's property without express verbal permission; or in any location that blocks or tends to block sight lines for vehicular traffic.

## Signs exempt from permit in Troy

- Temporary for sale or for lease signs advertising new residential subdivision development (with area and time restrictions).
- Temporary construction signs in commercial and industrial zones identifying architects, engineers, contractors, etc., or announcing the building’s character or purpose but not advertising any product (with area and location restrictions).
- On-premises directional signs such as those identifying entrances, exits, parking, bathrooms, phones, and similar, not exceeding six square feet.
- Flags of any country, state, or unit of local government, with a maximum of three per establishment or house.
- Governmental or public signs such as traffic control, railroad crossings, legal notices, emergency signs authorized by the Building & Zoning Official.
- House numbers and/or resident-only name signs for the premises, not exceeding three square feet for single-family or six square feet for multifamily.
- Integral signs, memorial signs, or tablets carved or inlaid into buildings with information such as date of erection, building name, memorial tributes.
- Interior signs inside any building or within enclosed lobbies, courts, or interior enclosed/fenced sporting areas.
- Property regulation signs such as no trespassing, beware of dog, etc., not exceeding three square feet.
- Temporary event signs, subject to quantity, timing, and size limits, and with placement/location constraints as specified.
- Residential development identification structures at major entrances (no commercial advertising), not exceeding 75 square feet, and located on-premises.
- Utility company signs serving public safety or indicating public telephones, underground cables, etc.
- Historic building signs or plaques up to four square feet with no advertising.
- Public signs such as street identification, traffic signs, and other government interest signs.
- Home occupation interior or exterior business signs up to two square feet, unlighted, installed only on the dwelling.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan may be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the Planning Commission and City Council as part of a Planned Development (PD) or planned development district. Conditions and standards regarding signs may be included as part of approved PDs.
- A sign package is required for review by the Planning Commission for (1) electronic message center signs in the C-4 zoning district; or (2) in the opinion of the Building & Zoning Official, any sign may be brought to the Planning Commission for review and approval, including projects with multiple buildings/tenants, unique site circumstances, or creative/significantly different signage proposals.
- Signs within an approved sign package may deviate from standard criteria if a variance is approved.
- Sign permit applications for newly constructed buildings must include a site plan displaying all sign locations, a complete set of final drawings displaying all elevations, and the building permit number.
- Any request for a variance to sign regulations requires a written application, public hearing, and approval process before the Planning Commission and City Council.
- The approved sign package for a development is retained on file in the Building & Zoning Department, and a sign permit is required for each sign in the approved package.
- Applications to amend an approved sign package must be made to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation.

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

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