Winnebago County, IL Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Max size
- 12 sq ft each
- Max per lot
- 2 signs
- Posted before sale
- No more than 24 hours
- Removal after sale
- Within 24 hours
- Right-of-way signs
- Prohibited
Summary
Winnebago County exempts garage and yard sale signs from a sign permit, but caps size, count, and how long they can stay up.
22.8.8 Garage or Yard Sale Signs. Temporary residential garage or yard sale signs shall be exempt from sign permit requirements, subject to the following: A. Temporary residential garage or yard sale signs shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet each. Only two (2) residential garage or yard sale signs are permitted per zoning lot. B. Signs must be posted no more than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the event and all signs must be removed within twenty-four (24) hours after the event. No signs shall be posted in the public right-of-way.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64).
Full Breakdown
Under the county's Unified Development Ordinance, temporary residential garage or yard sale signs don't need a sign permit, but they're capped at 12 square feet each and limited to two per zoning lot. Signs can go up no more than 24 hours before the sale starts and must come down within 24 hours after it ends. Posting a sign in the public right-of-way isn't allowed regardless of size or timing.
Violations & Fines
Signs left up past the 24-hour removal window, more than two per lot, oversized signs, or any sign placed in the public right-of-way can be ordered removed as a zoning code violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a garage sale sign in Winnebago County?
Can I put my garage sale sign on the road shoulder or median?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Illinois sign regulations overview
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