Understanding sign regulations in West Frankfort, IL
Every outdoor sign in West Frankfort 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 West Frankfort 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 West Frankfort.
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 West Frankfort, 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 West Frankfort, 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
Freestanding/monument: max 35 ft; sign face also may not exceed 12 ft in height or width.
Authority
Sign Chapter Scope
Source-backed sign ordinance/chapter scope: \n5.17.185 \nChapter 5.17 \nPurpose. \nSigns. \nBillboards. \nSIGNS* \nResidential district signs. \nBusiness district signs. \nHighway business district signs. \nIndustrial zoning district signs. \nAgriculture zoning district signs. \nNonconforming signs and billboards. \nProhibited signs. \nOff-premises sign. \nInspection, removal, safety. \nAbandoned signs. \nNonconforming uses. \nNonconforming signs. \nAdministra
Sign Chapter Scope 2
Source-backed sign ordinance/chapter scope: rstate \nhighways, see IDOT Administrative Code 522, Title 92: \nTransportation, Chapter 1: \nDepartment of Transporta-\ntion, subchapter f: \nHighways; part 522. \n5.17.010 \nPurpose. \nThe article codified in this \nchapter shall be known and cited as the \"sign code.\" \nThe \nsign regulations set forth in this chapter are adopted in \naccord with an overall plan and program for the public \nsafety, area developme
Source-backed freestanding/ground/monument sign rules: xcept by special use permit. \nE. \nIlluminated signs shall not be permitted \nnearer than one hundred feet of any residential zoning dis-\ntrict, except by special use. \nF. \nThe maximum total surface are of all busi-\nness signs shall be one square foot of sign area for each \nlinear foot of front width of business building, provided \nthat the total surface area of all signs shall not exceed \ntwo hundred twenty-
Freestanding Ground Monument 2
Source-backed freestanding/ground/monument sign rules: \nG. \nFreestanding signs shall not exceed thirty-\nfive feet in height from ground level or thirty-five feet \nin height above a grade level of the traveled way to which \nthe sign is oriented. A freestanding sign shall not exceed \none hundred square feet of sign area or exceed twelve feet \nin height or width.
Source-backed maintenance rules: \n(Prior code §302). \n5.16.130 \nBillboards--Maintenance. \nNo billboard shall \nbe permitted to become unsightly by reason of the accumulation \nof old bills thereon, or be allowed to remain in a dilapidated \ncondition or out of repair, under a penalty as provided in \nChapter 1.16 of this code.
Maintenance 2
Source-backed maintenance rules: \n5.16.130 \nBillboards--Maintenance. \nNo billboard shall \nbe permitted to become unsightly by reason of the accumulation \nof old bills thereon, or be allowed to remain in a dilapidated \ncondition or out of repair, under a penalty as provided in \nChapter 1.16 of this code. \n(Prior code §303).
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Permits
Permit Required 2
Source-backed sign permit requirement: LW-54 (part), 2007). \n5.17.020 \nSigns. \nNo sign shall be installed, al-\ntered, enlarged, or replaced within the city of West \nFrankfort until a sign permit has been issued by the codes \nofficer.
Permit Required 3
Source-backed sign permit requirement: \n5.17.020 \nSigns. \nNo sign shall be installed, al-\ntered, enlarged, or replaced within the city of West \nFrankfort until a sign permit has been issued by the codes \nofficer. \nA drawing of the sign, which shows its proposed \nlocation and size, shall be submitted to the codes offi-\ncer, along with a fee of seventy-five dollars.
Source-backed prohibited signs: code. \n(Prior code §301). \n5.16.120 \nBillboards--Location and construction. \nAll \nbillboards hereafter constructed in the city shall be placed \nat least fifteen feet from the street or alley line along \nwhich the same are built, and no part of any such billboard, \nexcept the supports thereof, shall be less than three feet \nabove the ground. \nWhoever violates any of the provisions of \nthis section shall be
Prohibited Signs 2
Source-backed prohibited signs: the supports thereof, shall be less than three feet \nabove the ground. \nWhoever violates any of the provisions of \nthis section shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1.16 \nof this code. \n(Prior code §302). \n5.16.130 \nBillboards--Maintenance. \nNo billboard shall \nbe permitted to become unsightly by reason of the accumulation \nof old bills thereon, or be allowed to remain in a dilapidated \ncondition or
Source-backed temporary sign rules: \nIn any business district, a freestanding \nsign of not more than one hundred square feet shall be per-\nmitted subject to Section 5.17.030(H). \nM. \nOne temporary sign, per business site, may \nbe permitted for a period not to exceed fourteen days and \nshall not exceed thirty-two feet of sign area.
Temporary Signs 2
Source-backed temporary sign rules: \nM. \nOne temporary sign, per business site, may \nbe permitted for a period not to exceed fourteen days and \nshall not exceed thirty-two feet of sign area. Time exten-\nsions may be granted by the board of appeals.
1 temporary sign per business site; max 32 sq ft; max 14 days; time extensions may be granted by the board of appeals; permit required.
Wall Signs
Wall Signs
Source-backed wall sign rules: Further, where the wall \ntreatment of a building establishes a sloping wall, a wall \nsign may be located on such a sloping surface or \nroof.\n\nThe face of a sign located on a sloping roof may be verti-\ncal and need not parallel the sloping surface of a wall. \nThe sign shall not exceed one hundred forty-four square \nfeet in size. A wall sign shall not project more than one \nfoot from the wall to which it is at
Wall Signs 2
Source-backed wall sign rules: \nThe sign shall not exceed one hundred forty-four square \nfeet in size. A wall sign shall not project more than one \nfoot from the wall to which it is attached and shall not \ncover partially or wholly any wall opening. A wall sign \nshall not project beyond the ends of a wall to which it is \nattached;