Commission recommends shrinking residential yard signs, adds rule against assembling multiple signs

The Lockport Planning Commission on Sept. 10 voted unanimously to recommend a text amendment to the city sign code that would reduce the maximum size of yard signs in residential districts from 8 square feet to 6 square feet and add language to prevent assembling multiple yard signs into larger displays.

Planning staff presented Case No. 2024-005 TA and explained that the change aims to allow commonly used 18-by-24-inch signs while preventing candidates or other sign users from combining multiple signs to create larger displays in residential areas. "The current allowable size of a yard sign is 8 square feet; staff is requesting to reduce the current size from 8 square feet down to 6 square feet to allow the use of popular yard signs, which are typically 18 by 24," the planner said.

Staff also told commissioners that, in accordance with Illinois state statute, political signs shall be exempt from time and quantity restrictions; the exemption pertains to time and duration rather than size, staff said.

A resident who spoke during discussion described enforcement issues during the last primary, saying candidates had placed 4-by-4 signs that were later cut in half to comply with the code. "The last election season we had ... a number of candidates who put 4 by 4 signs out and when we enforced the sign code at 2 by 4, they cut it in half and left it as is," the resident said. Staff said the amendment targets assemblies of yard signs in residential districts while leaving existing commercial allowances in place.

A motion to recommend approval of the Chapter 155 amendment as drafted passed on a unanimous roll call of the commission, and the item will move to City Council for final action.