# Sign Regulations in Wenona, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Wenona, Illinois regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Advertising Sign (Billboard, Outdoor)s in the Commercial District zoning district are capped at 30 ft or 4 ft above roof/parapet (whichever is higher) tall, 375 sq ft; individual sign surface not exceeding 200 sq ft if on standards/poles, and 25 ft wide, with a To building line or prevailing district setback; special corner lot visibility requirement setback (Sec. 3-6-5(B)(2)). Most commercial signs in Wenona require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 8 | 7 ft or one story, whichever is less | 48 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District | 9 | 30 ft or 4 ft above roof/parapet (whichever is higher) | 400 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District | 2 | As per Residential regulations | As per Residential regulations | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| House Number Sign | 7 ft or one story, whichever is less | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling unit | On the premises | — | 3-6-5(A)(1)(a) |
| Nameplate and Identification Sign (One- and Two-Family Dwellings) | 7 ft or one story, whichever is less | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling unit | On the premises | — | 3-6-5(A)(1)(b)(1), (A)(1)(b)(4-5) |
| Identification Sign (Multiple-Family and Nonresidential) | 7 ft or one story, whichever is less | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per building | On the premises | — | 3-6-5(A)(1)(b)(2), (A)(1)(b)(4-5) |
| Construction Sign | 7 ft or one story, whichever is less | 48 sq ft | — | — | One per lot, two on corner lots | On premises under construction/remodeling | — | 3-6-5(A)(1)(b)(3), (A)(1)(b)(4-5) |
| For Sale or To Rent Sign | 7 ft or one story, whichever is less | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per lot, two on corner lots | On the premises | — | 3-6-5(A)(1)(c)(1-4) |
| Parking Area Sign (Entrance/Exit) | 7 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | One for each entrance/exit | At parking area entrance/exit, on the property | — | 3-6-5(A)(1)(d)(1-3) |
| Parking Area Sign (Condition/Identity) | 7 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per parking area, two on corner lots | Within parking area, on property | — | 3-6-5(A)(1)(d)(1-3) |
| Illuminated Nonflashing Sign (Church bulletin/public bldg.) | 7 ft or one story | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per lot, two on corner lots | On the premises | — | 3-6-5(A)(2) |

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Residential Sign Types | As per Residential requirements | As per Residential requirements | — | — | As per Residential requirements | As per Residential requirements | — | 3-6-5(B)(1) |
| Advertising Sign (Billboard, Outdoor) | 30 ft or 4 ft above roof/parapet (whichever is higher) | 375 sq ft; individual sign surface not exceeding 200 sq ft if on standards/poles | 25 ft | To building line or prevailing district setback; special corner lot visibility requirement | Undefined, but spaced at least 200 ft apart | May not be on the front of any building. Must be at least 200 ft apart from other advertising signs facing same direction. Not in public way. | — | 3-6-5(B)(2) |
| Business Sign (Wall) | 25 ft or 4 ft above roofline (whichever is less); higher with commission approval | 20% of wall area (front/rear/side); freestanding sign: max 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Front, side or rear wall of main building | — | 3-6-5(B)(3)(a-d), (B)(3)(f)(4) |
| Business Sign (Freestanding Sign) | 25 ft or 4 ft above roofline; higher with commission approval | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Entirely within property lines | — | 3-6-5(B)(3)(f)(1) |
| Business Sign (Projecting on Marquee/Canopy) | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed flat to surface of marquee/canopy; cannot extend vertically/horizontally beyond marquee/canopy except individual freestanding letters may project up to 12 inches above | — | 3-6-5(B)(3)(f)(2) |
| Business Sign (Awning) | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed flat to awning surface; cannot extend vertically/horizontally beyond limits of awning | — | 3-6-5(B)(3)(f)(2) |
| Shopping Center Sign (Freestanding for Integrated Center) | 25 ft above grade of adjacent street/ground. Bottom edge at least 10 ft above street grade. | 400 sq ft | — | — | One per center | Entirely within property lines | — | 3-6-5(B)(3)(f)(3) |
| Automobile Service Station Sign (Tire/Oil Rack) | 7 ft (tire rack) | Tire rack: 7 ft high including sign, 6 ft long. 2 racks per island. | 6 ft (tire rack) | — | — | On/at ends of pump islands for oil racks, in service station area for tire racks. | — | 3-6-5(B)(3)(f)(6) |

### Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Residential Sign Types | As per Residential regulations | As per Residential regulations | — | — | As per Residential | As per Residential regulations | — | 3-6-5(C)(1) |
| All Advertising, Business, Special Signs (as permitted in Commercial District) | As per Commercial District | As per Commercial District | — | — | — | As per Commercial District | — | 3-6-5(C)(2)-(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Wenona

- No person shall erect, alter, or relocate within the city any sign or other advertising structure without first obtaining a sign permit from the zoning administrator and making payment of the required fee, except for temporary signs and signs smaller than six (6) square feet.
- No sign shall block any required accessway or window.
- No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole.
- No display sign or outdoor advertising device shall be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
- All signs must be adequately maintained to keep them in a state of good appearance and repair.
- Any obsolete sign which does not advertise a bona fide business conducted, or a product sold, shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the structure upon which such sign may be found within ten (10) days after written notification from the zoning administrator.
- At the termination of a business of commercial or industrial enterprise, all signs pertaining thereto shall forthwith be removed from public view.
- Any sign that is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, is prohibited and may be ordered removed or altered by the zoning administrator.
- Any sign, other advertising structure, marquee, canopy or awning shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than thirty pounds per square foot of net surface area and dead loads as required by code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wenona

- Temporary signs and signs smaller than six (6) square feet are exempt from the requirement of obtaining a sign permit.
- Memorial signs and tablets displayed on private property are exempt from regulations of this chapter.
- Address numerals and signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing the names of occupants of the premises are exempt.
- Flags and government insignia are exempt.
- Legal notices are exempt.
- Traffic and parking signs bearing no advertising are exempt.
- Governmental signs located on public rights of way are exempt from the sign provisions of this chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be permitted on a zoning lot unless it is erected, constructed, and displayed in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
- Special signs, not covered herein, shall be considered on an individual basis by the planning commission, with recommendations to the city council.
- Special signs, such as temporary signs and public service signs, require authorization as conditional uses.
- Higher signs than specified may be permitted subject to the approval of the planning commission.
- Public service and governmental signs on private property shall be allowed if authorized by the planning commission.

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

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