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Champaign County, IL Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Max area per sign
10 square feet
Permit required
No, listed as a no-permit sign
Placement restriction
Private property only
Removal deadline
Within 14 days after the election
Governing section
Zoning Ordinance Section 7.3.3.H

Summary

Political campaign signs on private property in unincorporated Champaign County need no permit but are capped at 10 square feet and must come down within 14 days after the election, under Zoning Ordinance Section 7.3.3.H.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Champaign County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

H. Political Campaign SIGNS SIGNS or posters announcing the candidates seeking public political office and/or political issues, and data pertinent thereto, up to an area of 10 square feet. These SIGNS shall be confined to private PROPERTY, and shall be removed within 14 days after the election for which they are erected.

View official code

Full Breakdown

3 lists sign types allowed in every zoning district without a permit, and subsection H covers political campaign signs directly: "SIGNS or posters announcing the candidates seeking public political office and/or political issues, and data pertinent thereto, up to an area of 10 square feet. 1, using the smallest enclosing geometric shape for a flat sign or the projected volume for a three-dimensional one. 7. The rule limits placement to private property only: political signs cannot go in the public right-of-way, on county property, or on another owner's land without permission.

4 still applies on top of this exemption, so a political sign cannot flash, rotate faster than eight revolutions per minute, or obstruct a driver's view of a traffic control device.

Violations & Fines

A political sign larger than 10 square feet, placed in the public right-of-way, or left up more than 14 days after the election is a zoning violation under Section 10.2.3, a petty offense punishable by a fine up to $500, with each day of continued violation after notice counted as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a political yard sign in unincorporated Champaign County?
No. Section 7.3.3.H lists political campaign signs among the signs allowed in every zoning district without a permit, capped at 10 square feet in area. The sign must be on private property, and it has to come down within 14 days after the election it relates to.
How big can a political sign be and when must it be removed?
Up to 10 square feet under Section 7.3.3.H, measured using the standard sign-area rules in Section 7.3.1. It must sit on private property, not in the right-of-way, and must be removed within 14 days after the election for which it was erected, regardless of the outcome.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Champaign County

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsFreeway-Facing SignsSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Champaign County rules

Compare Champaign County to another location·View the Illinois sign regulations overview

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