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Sign Code Summary

Vandalia, IL

Local sign ordinance requirements — free, cited to the source section.

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Understanding sign regulations in Vandalia, IL

Every outdoor sign in Vandalia is governed by the municipality’s sign ordinance, which sets how large a sign may be, how tall it may stand, how far it must sit from the property line, whether it may be illuminated, and which sign types are permitted in each zoning district. This page summarizes those requirements in plain language and links each value back to the section of the Vandalia code it came from.

Sign rules here are layered. The base zoning district — commercial, industrial, or residential — sets the default limits, and overlay districts such as historic or downtown districts can tighten them further. Because the most specific jurisdiction controls, a freestanding monument sign on a commercial parcel and a wall sign in a historic overlay can face very different limits even on the same street in Vandalia.

Use the figures below as a fast first check, then run a full address lookup to confirm the exact limits for a specific parcel in Vandalia, Illinois. The full report also covers permit requirements, prohibited sign types, and illumination rules — each cited to the source ordinance so your permit application can reference it directly.

Before you order or install a sign in Vandalia, confirm three things: the maximum sign area and height allowed in the parcel’s zoning district, the minimum setback from the right-of-way, and whether the sign type you want — freestanding, monument, wall, projecting, or awning — is permitted there at all. Many permit denials come from missing a setback or an overlay-district restriction rather than from the size of the sign itself, so checking the governing section before applying saves a costly resubmittal.

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Max ground sign height
30 feet (for low monument/pole sign)
Ground sign setback
10 feet (for low monument/pole sign)

Awning Signs

Marquee Sign Requirement
Marquee signs: Marquee signs for theaters, cinemas, exhibition centers and similar public assembly uses shall be permitted only upon the specific authorization of the Planning Commission, subject to such restrictions and conditions as the commission may deem necessary after a site plan is reviewed under the provisions of Section 17.
Awning Sign Sf Calc
Letters, numbers, characters, or graphics placed on the awning count toward sign area

Building Signs

Building Sign Formula
1 sq ft per linear foot of sign frontage, up to a maximum of 25 sq ft (for shopping center/ground floor)
Building Sign Illumination
Allowed for illuminated signs if shaded/shielded and not a nuisance
Projecting Sign Max Extension
in full report
Projecting Sign Min Clearance From Curb
in full report
Projecting Sign Min Distance To Curb
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Max Wall Sign Area Per Frontage
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Max Wall Sign Area Per Frontage Increase
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Rear Entrance Sign Area
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Projecting Sign Maximum Area
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7 more building signs rules in the full report →

Definitions

Sign Face Definition
The area or display surface used for the message
Directory Sign Definition
A sign listing the name and/or use, and/or location of the various businesses or activities conducted within a building or group of buildings
Directional Sign Definition
in full report
Low Monument Sign Definition
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Marquee Definition
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Nonconforming Sign Definition
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Off Premise Sign Definition
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On Premise Permanent Sign Definition
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Paper Sign Definition
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Pennant Definition
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Bulletin Board Sign Definition
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Canopy Sign Definition
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Changeable Copy Sign Definition
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Construction Sign Definition
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Election Sign Definition
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Flashing Sign Definition
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Freestanding Sign Definition
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Incidental Sign Definition
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Portable Sign Definition
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Projecting Sign Definition
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Public Service Message Sign Definition
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Real Estate Sign Definition
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Residential Sign Definition
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Roof Sign Definition
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Sign Code Violations And Enforcement Definition
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Sign Height Definition
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Sign Permit Definition
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Snipe Sign Definition
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Temporary Sign Definition
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Unsightly Or Unkempt Sign Definition
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Wall Sign Definition
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Window Sign Definition
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Awning Definition
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Banner Definition
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Billboard Definition
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Canopy Sign Definition
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Cluster Sign Definition
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Covered Walkway Sign Definition
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Exempted Sign Definition
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Flag Definition
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Light Pole Artwork Sign Definition
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Office Building Sign Definition
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Shopping Center Or Office Park Sign Definition
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Special Purpose Sign Definition
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Temporary Promotional Display Definition
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43 more definitions rules in the full report →

General Standards

Immediate Removal Of Unlawful Or Unsafe Sign Removal Requirement
Signs which the Building Official finds upon public streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way or other public property, or which wheresoever located present an immediate and serious danger to the public because of their unsafe condition may be immediately removed by the Building Official without prior notice.
On Site Construction Sign Maximum Area
Only one (1) such sign per entire development denoting the owner, architect, engineer, consultant, developer, lender and/or contractor, not to exceed twelve (12) square feet in gross sign area, and not to exceed ten (10) feet in height from top of sign to top of grade or two (2) feet in height from bottom of sign on top of grade, shall be permitted.
Removal Of Unlawful Sign Removal Requirement
in full report
Residential Development On Premise Permanent Sign Review Requirement
in full report
Sign Faces Requirement
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Such Sign Maximum Area
in full report

4 more general standards rules in the full report →

Ground Signs

Ground Sign Max Height
30 feet (for low monument/pole sign)
Ground Sign Setback
10 feet (for low monument/pole sign)
Ground Sign Formula
in full report
Ground Sign Type
in full report

2 more ground signs rules in the full report →

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Illumination

Certified Scale Sign Maximum Area
Certified Scale Signs: Premises designed for fueling and servicing of tractors and trailers and having on-site a certified scale may display, in addition to any other sign or signs authorized by this chapter, an illuminated sign not to exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height with a maximum surface area of one hundred twenty-five (125) square feet.

Permit Process

Sign Permit Required
Unlawful to erect, perform major repair, alter, move, replace or otherwise change a sign requiring a permit without first obtaining a permit
Sign Permit Exemption
No permit to allow a billboard to be newly erected shall be issued by the City without a permit issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Temporary Signs

Temp Sign Rules
Display limited to 56 days
Temporary Sign Display Period
Display limited to 56 days
Temporary Election Sign Display Duration
in full report
Temporary Election Signs In Residential Districts Display Duration
in full report
Temporary Open House Sign Requirement
in full report
Temporary Promotional Displays And Sign Requirement
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Temporary Real Estate Sign Display Duration
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Temp Signs Allowed
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6 more temporary signs rules in the full report →

Window Signs

Window Sign Maximum Area
Window signs: The total gross sign area of all permanent window signage, striping, incidental signs and paper/temporary window signs shall not exceed fifty (50) percent of the total clear glass area along the portion of the storefront on which the signs are located.
Window Sign Allowable Area
50% of total clear glass area

Zoning

Institutional Uses In Residential Districts Requirement
Institutional Uses in Residential Districts: Institutional uses in residential districts, such as schools and places of worship, shall be allowed two (2) permanent signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in size per sign face.

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