Sign Regulations in Springfield, IL

If you live in Springfield or are thinking about moving there, sign regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Springfield has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of sign regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Political Signs

Springfield's sign chapter carves outdoor political campaign signs out of its permit and design rules entirely wherever the property is zoned residential or in legal residential use. City Code Sec. 152.03 waives Chapter 152's requirements for those signs, and the zoning code's own exempt-sign list at Sec. 155.301(b)(15) repeats the same carve-out, citing the state's sign authority, 65 ILCS 5/11-13-1(12).

Key details: Exemption: Political campaign signs on residential property. Governing section: City Code Sec. 152.03 (Applicability). Zoning echo: Sec. 155.301(b)(15) exempt-sign list. State authority cited: 65 ILCS 5/11-13-1(12). Non-exempt permit: Sec. 152.05, Chapter 170 fee schedule.

A political sign on residential property carries no permit exposure under Chapter 152. Put the same sign in a commercial or industrial district, though, and it needs a Sec. 152.05 permit like any other sign; skip it and the owner faces the Sec. 152.999 penalty of not less than $50 nor more than $500 per day, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Springfield gives residents more flexibility on political signs.

Digital Billboards

Springfield has no separate digital-billboard ordinance: electronic message signs fall under the same billboard definition and the same citywide flashing-sign cap that governs every illuminated sign. Zoning Code Sec. 155.300(c)(7) caps flashing displays at 14 watts per bulb, and only a small time-temperature-weather sign of 16 square feet or less escapes that cap.

Key details: Flashing sign cap: 14 watts per bulb, citywide. Exception: Time/temp/weather sign, 16 sq ft max. Billboard districts: B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2 only. Billboard spacing: 500 ft apart, 500 ft from residential. New permits: Capped; 4 surrendered for 1 new.

Installing or operating a flashing or scrolling billboard display over the 14-watt-per-bulb limit violates Sec. 155.300(c)(7) and is enforced as a sign code violation under Sec. 155.999. Erecting a new off-premises sign beyond the capped permit count, or outside the B-1, B-2, I-1 and I-2 districts and required setbacks in Sec. 155.340, is likewise a zoning violation subject to the standard chapter penalty and a removal order from the building and zoning department.

This is one of the stricter rules in Springfield's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Garage Sale Signs

A garage sale sign in Springfield is a temporary sign under Zoning Code Sec. 155.300, and it has to fit inside the same citywide cap as every other yard sign: 16 square feet total in the R-1 and R-2 districts, posted only with the property owner's consent, and taken down within 14 days after the sale ends.

Key details: Sign type: Temporary sign, Sec. 155.300(a)(7). R-1/R-2 size cap: 16 square feet total per lot. Removal deadline: Within 14 days of sale's end. Consent required: Property owner or occupant. Right-of-way signs: Prohibited, removable immediately.

A garage sale sign left up past the 14-day removal window in Sec. 155.302(d), posted without the property owner's consent, or planted in the public right-of-way in violation of Sec. 155.300(c)(11) can be removed by the director of public works and exposes the poster to the general zoning penalty under Sec. 155.999. Blocking a sidewalk, driveway or fire hydrant with a sale sign also violates Sec. 155.302(b)(3).

The Bottom Line

Springfield's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Springfield is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Springfield's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.