Madison County, IL Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Max sign size
- 6 square feet
- Setback, lots under 2 acres
- within 15 feet of home
- Setback, lots 2+ acres
- at least 30 feet from front line
- Fine range
- $10 to $500 per day
- Applies to
- unincorporated Madison County only
Summary
In unincorporated Madison County, a home occupation may post only one sign, capped at six square feet, under County Code § 93.083(A)(9). Where you can place it depends on lot size: on lots smaller than two acres the sign must sit within 15 feet of the house, while lots of two acres or more must set it back at least 30 feet from the front property line.
(9) Signage. A sign up to six square feet in size is permitted on the property where a home occupation is located. The sign may be located on or near the home. On properties two acres or greater in size, the sign shall be located at least 30 feet from the front property line. On properties smaller than two acres, the sign shall be located within 15 feet of the home. Signs must be consistent with neighborhood and general area aesthetic and signs, including surrounding landscaping, must be properly maintained.
Full Breakdown
083. The ordinance caps the sign at six square feet, whether the operation is a Type "A" home occupation (no customers, like an internet business or professional office run from a spare room) or a Type "B" home occupation approved by special use permit for uses that draw clients, such as a hair salon or tutoring service. The code ties placement to parcel size rather than business type: on properties under two acres the sign has to stay close to the dwelling, within 15 feet, keeping it modest and residential in scale; on properties of two acres or larger, the sign can be set further out, but no closer than 30 feet to the front property line, which lines it up with typical front-yard setback logic used elsewhere in the zoning code.
The ordinance also requires the sign and any landscaping around it to be 'consistent with neighborhood and general area aesthetic' and to be kept properly maintained, giving the Zoning Administrator a maintenance hook independent of the size and placement rules. This section governs unincorporated county land only; Edwardsville, Alton, Collinsville, Granite City, Wood River, Highland, Troy, Glen Carbon, Maryville and Bethalto each apply their own sign code inside city limits.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Administrator enforces home occupation standards, and a sign that exceeds six square feet or is placed outside the size-based setback is a zoning code violation under § 93.999(A), punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $500. Each day the oversized or misplaced sign remains after notice counts as a separate offense, so fines accumulate daily. The County Board may also pursue an injunction or abatement action in Circuit Court under § 93.999(B), and an uncorrected sign violation can factor into revocation of the home occupation's special use permit under § 93.182.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my home business sign be in unincorporated Madison County?
Where exactly can the sign be placed?
Does this sign rule apply inside Edwardsville or Alton?
What happens if my sign is too big?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madison County
Compare Madison County to another location·View the Illinois home business overview
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