Sign Regulations in McHenry County, IL (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated McHenry County, Illinois.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of McHenry County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Political Signs

Yard signs are an exempted sign type under the McHenry County UDO and need no permit. Any exempted or temporary sign may display a noncommercial (political) message on the same terms as a commercial one, subject to the Illinois Election Code.

Political Sign Rules in Unincorporated McHenry County

Some Restrictions

McHenry County UDO § 16.72.090B

Exempted signs and devices may be used to display noncommercial messages under the same standards as the display of a commercial message, unless otherwise allowed or restricted by State laws including, but not limited to, the Illinois Election Code and/or 10 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Garage Sale Signs

Small garage-sale yard signs are exempt from permitting under the McHenry County UDO. A larger temporary structural sign is capped at one per street frontage, must sit at least 5 feet from side and front lot lines, and can be displayed for no more than 120 days.

Garage Sale Sign Rules in Unincorporated McHenry County

Some Restrictions

McHenry County UDO § 16.72.100E

Temporary structural signs shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from any side lot line and five (5) feet from any front lot line. No part of a temporary structural sign may encroach onto a public right-of-way.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Digital Billboards

Digital signs in unincorporated McHenry County must hold each message static for at least ten seconds, skip blinking or animation entirely, and cap brightness at 0.3 footcandles above ambient light under UDO Section 16.72.060(C). Off-premises digital advertising also needs a conditional use permit.

McHenry County Digital Sign Illumination Limits

Some Restrictions

McHenry County UDO § 16.72.060(C)

C. Digital Sign Message Controls. 1. Each message or image displayed on a digital sign must be static and depicted for a minimum of ten (10) seconds before changing. 2. Blinking, flashing, scrolling, or strobe-light effects are prohibited. 3. Animation and/or streaming video of any type is prohibited. ... 5. A digital sign must not exceed a maximum illumination of three-tenths (0.3) f...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All McHenry County ordinances

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