Every outdoor sign in Swansea 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 Swansea 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 Swansea.
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 Swansea, 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 Swansea, 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 above curb line
Banner Signs
Commercial Banner Max Area
Commercial banners, which are erected on a wall or roof edge of any building to advertise a store opening, sales event or similar activity, shall not exceed 32 square feet. Commercial banners shall be displayed no more than 14 days before and three days after the specified event.
Building Signs
Building Sign Illumination
Illumination permitted with restrictions: red, yellow, or green lights prohibited if they confuse or interfere with vehicular traffic; blinking, flashing, or changing light intensity/brightness/color prohibited
Building Sign Formula
1 square foot of sign area per linear foot of primary street frontage for flush-mounted signs; maximum 375 square feet total per establishment
Construction Signs
Max Area
Such signs shall not exceed five square feet in any conservation or residential district, or 32 square feet in other districts, shall be confined to the site of the construction, and shall be removed within 14 days after the issuance of the final occupancy permit for the project;
Dynamic Display Signs
Max Area
The dynamic display portion of any sign constructed after May 1, 2018 shall be a maximum of 25 square feet and must be placed on the lower half of the sign structure.
Min Dwell Time
Each displayed message must remain visible for at least ten seconds before being replaced with another message.
Freestanding signs shall be limited to one per lot in those districts where they are allowed; provided, however, that, any establishment on a lot with frontage on two streets shall be allowed to erect one freestanding sign on each of the two street frontages
Max Height
The maximum height of any freestanding sign shall not exceed 30 feet above the curb line.
General Standards
Prohibited Unless Permitted
Any sign not expressly permitted in this subchapter shall be deemed prohibited.
Movement Prohibited
Any sign that revolves, rotates or mechanically moves in any manner is strictly prohibited.
Ground Signs
Ground Sign Type
Freestanding signs permitted; monument and pylon/pole types not specifically distinguished
Ground Sign Formula
1.5 square feet per linear foot of street frontage for first 100 feet; plus 1 square foot per linear foot for frontage exceeding 100 feet; maximum 250 square feet per street front
No sign shall employ red, yellow or green lights in such a manner as to confuse or interfere with vehicular traffic.
Flashing Prohibited
No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or any other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color.
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Off Premise Signs
Special Use Permit Required
Off-premise signs shall be permitted only by a special use permit and following section 154.213 of this code.
Max Area And Height
There shall be no more than one sign per lot/parcel for each business, the gross allowable sign area shall not exceed 200 square feet per lot. The height shall be restricted to 15 feet above any above mentioned street grade.
Prohibited Signs
Roof Signs Prohibited
Roof-mounted signs. Any sign erected or maintained on the roof of any building;
Projecting Signs
Dimensional Limits
No projecting sign shall: (a) Extend above the roof line of the building to which it is attached; (b) Extend below a point eight feet above the center of the frontage pavements; ... (d) Project more than four feet from the building to which it is attached; or (e) Exceed four square feet in area.
Real Estate Signs
Max Area
Such signs in residential districts shall not exceed five square feet. In other districts, such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet; except that, when a parcel of property exceeds ten acres, a sign as large as 32 square feet shall be allowed.
Sign Area
Freestanding Area Formula
One and one-half square feet of sign area per every one foot of street frontage for the first 100 feet of such frontage; plus one square foot of sign area per each additional one foot of such frontage in excess of 100 feet; provided, however, that, no establishment in any district shall display more than 250 square feet of sign area on any street front
Flush Mounted Area Formula
One square foot of sign area per every one linear foot of primary street frontage; provided, however, that, no establishment in any district shall display more than 375 square feet of sign area;
Subdivision Signs
Max Area
Such signs shall be located on private property, contain no commercial advertising and shall not exceed 40 square feet;
Temporary Signs
Max Area And Number
temporary signs shall not exceed four square feet, shall be limited to not
more than three such signs on any lot or premises. Temporary signs shall be permitted only for 14 days before and three days after the specified event;
Temp Sign Rules
Maximum 4 square feet per sign, maximum 3 signs per lot, duration 14 days before and 3 days after event
No flush-mounted, wall or window sign shall: (a) Project more than 18 inches from the wall or surface to which it is attached; or (b) Extend above the roof line of the building to which it is attached.
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