Tazewell County, IL Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Districts allowed
- C-2, I-1, I-2 only
- Approval required
- Special use permit
- Maximum sign face
- 300 square feet
- Maximum height
- 30 feet
- Minimum spacing
- 1/4 mile along same frontage
Summary
Off-premises billboards along state, U.S., and interstate highways in unincorporated Tazewell County are allowed only by special use permit in the C-2, I-1, and I-2 zoning districts. Zoning Code § 157.341 caps each billboard at 300 square feet per face, 30 feet in height, and requires quarter-mile spacing.
Off-premises signs such as, but not limited to, billboards, may be permitted as special uses in the C-2 Zoning District along state, U.S. designated highways, and interstate highways, and in the I-1 and I-2 Zoning Districts in accordance with the procedures and standards as set forth in §§ 157.435 through 157.447, provided the following requirements are also met:
(A) Signs shall be constructed of steel with mono-pole and shall not be stacked;
(B) Signs shall not exceed 300 square feet per sign face;
(C) No sign shall exceed 30 feet in height;
(D) Signs shall be separated by one-quarter mile along the same road frontage; and
(E) Wherever applicable, signs shall comply with the standards of the state's Outdoor Advertising Control Act of 1971, as amended (225 ILCS 440/1 et seq.).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-7: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. LU-21-12, passed 9-29-2021; and Res. LU-26-09, passed 7-29-2026).
Full Breakdown
341 supplies that narrow carve-out for highway-facing signs. 447. 341 layers five hard limits: the sign must be built of steel with a mono-pole and cannot be stacked; no sign face can exceed 300 square feet; no sign can exceed 30 feet in height; signs must be separated by at least one-quarter mile along the same road frontage; and, wherever applicable, the sign must also comply with the state's Outdoor Advertising Control Act of 1971, as amended, 225 ILCS 440/1 et seq. Because these are among the largest and tallest sign allowances anywhere in the county's sign subchapter, most other permitted signs top out at 32 to 100 square feet, the code routes every highway billboard through the discretionary special use hearing rather than a simple staff permit. 337(D).
Violations & Fines
Erecting an off-premises highway billboard without special use approval, or one that exceeds the 300-square-foot face, 30-foot height, or quarter-mile spacing limits, is a petty offense under § 157.999(B)(1), carrying a fine of up to $500 per offense, with each week of continued violation counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a billboard next to the interstate in Tazewell County?
How big can a highway billboard be in Tazewell County?
How far apart must highway billboards be spaced?
Does state law apply on top of the county's billboard rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tazewell County
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