17-12-0400 Transitional provisions.

   17-12-0401 All signs legally erected or installed before the effective dates specified in Sec. 17-1-0200 may remain in place and in use, subject to Sec. 17-15-0500.

   17-12-0402 All holders of permits for signs issued legally before the effective dates specified in Sec. 17-1-0200 may erect the signs that are the subject of such permits within the times allowed by such permits, and such signs will then be treated as though they had been erected before the effective dates specified in Sec. 17-1-0200 subject to Sec. 17-15-0500. However, such permits may not be extended or amended unless the sign that is the subject of such permit will conform to all of the requirements of this chapter.

   17-12-0403 All violations of the sign regulations repealed by this Zoning Ordinance will remain violations and all penalties and enforcement remedies will be available to the city as though the violation were a violation of this Zoning Ordinance. However, if the effect of this Zoning Ordinance is to make a sign that was formerly illegal or nonconforming become conforming, then enforcement action will cease except to the extent of collecting penalties (other than removal of the sign) for violations that occurred before the effective dates specified in Sec. 17-1-0200.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-05, p. 44391)

17-12-0500 Signs exempt from zoning regulation.

   The following are exempt from regulation under this Zoning Ordinance.

   17-12-0501 Any official sign, public notice sign or warning sign required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction;

   17-12-0502 Any sign that is inside a building and is legible only from the lot on which it is located and is not legible from the public way or adjoining lot;

   17-12-0503 Any sign inside an athletic field or other enclosed outdoor space, where the sign is not legible beyond the property line of the lot on which it is located;

   17-12-0504 Works of art with no commercial message;

   17-12-0505 Holiday decorations with no commercial message; and

   17-12-0506 Any city digital sign; provided, however, that notwithstanding such exemption, city digital signs shall be subject to the regulations set forth in this Title 17, Title 10 and Title 13 that expressly refer to and regulate city digital signs.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 1-23-19, p. 94952, Art. I, § 29)

17-12-0600 Measurements.

   17-12-0601 Sign Area.

      17-12-0601-A Signs Enclosed in Frames or Cabinets. The area of a sign enclosed in frames or cabinets is determined based on the outer dimensions of the frame or cabinet surrounding the sign face.

Figure 17-12-0601-A

      17-12-0601-B Back-to-back Signs. When the sign faces of a back-to-back sign are parallel or within 30 degrees of parallel, only one side is counted. If the sign faces are not parallel or within 30 degrees of parallel, each is considered one sign face and both faces are counted.

Figure 17-12-0601-B

      17-12-0601-C Individual Letters or Elements. The area of a sign comprised of individual letters or elements attached to a building wall is determined by calculating the area of the smallest square or rectangle that can be drawn around the letters and/or elements. Signs consisting of individual letters and/or elements will be measured as one sign when the distance between the letters and/or elements is less than 2 times the dimension of each letter and/or element.

Figure 17-12-0601-C

         1.   Exemption. For high-rise building signs, portions of individual letters and/or elements, which collectively form one individual letter sign, may extend beyond the dimensions of the smallest box that encapsulates all other high-rise building sign letters and/or elements; provided, (i) the total area of such extensions may not exceed 25% of the square footage contained within such box that encapsulates all other high-rise building sign letters and/or elements and (ii) the total square footage of such individual letter sign and any such extensions under (i) may not exceed the maximum high-rise building sign area square footage allowed at the corresponding building height at which the high-rise building sign is proposed.

Figure 17-12-0601-C.1

      17-12-0601-D Painted Wall Signs. The area of a painted wall sign is determined by calculating the area of the smallest square or rectangle that can be drawn around all of the sign elements. Sign elements will be measured as one unit when the distance between the elements is less than two times the length of each element.

      17-12-0601-E Awnings and Marquees. The area of a sign that is incorporated into an awning or marquee is determined by calculating the area of the smallest square or rectangle that can be drawn around all of the sign elements.

      17-12-0601-F Dynamic Image Display Signs. The area of a dynamic image display sign feature is determined by calculating the area of the smallest square or rectangle that can be drawn around the edge of each of the dynamic image display elements.

   17-12-0602 Sign Height. The height of a sign or sign structure is measured from the lowest point of the ground directly below the sign to the highest point on the sign or sign structure.

Figure 17-12-0602

   17-12-0603 Sign Clearance. Clearance is measured from the highest point of the ground directly below the sign to the lowest point on the sign structure enclosing the sign face.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 10-31-18, p. 87780, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-24-21, p. 29061, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-19-23, p. 1992, § 2)

17-12-0700 Prohibited signs.

   The following are prohibited in all zoning districts:

   17-12-0701 strobe lights;

   17-12-0702 roof signs, except those allowed as high-rise building signs pursuant to the definition of high-rise building signs and the standards of Sec. 17-12-1005-D;

   17-12-0703 abandoned sign structure;

   17-12-0704 dangerous signs;

   17-12-0705 portable electric signs;

Figure 17-12-0705

   17-12-0706 signs attached to or painted on a parked motor vehicle or parked trailer if visible from the public right-of-way, unless the vehicle or trailer is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business;

   17-12-0707 signs that imitate or resemble official traffic lights, signs or signals or signs that interfere with the effectiveness of any official traffic light, sign or signal;

   17-12-0708 signs (including city digital signs) that focus or flash a beam of light into the eyes of a driver of a motor vehicle upon a right-of-way within 200 feet from such sign; and

   17-12-0709 signs erected, constructed or structurally altered that are required to have a permit that were erected, constructed or altered without a permit.

   17-12-0710 signs attached, erected, maintained or installed on a fence located on or near the perimeter of any surface parking lot.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 2)

   17-12-0711 video display signs; provided that this prohibition does not apply to any video display sign located within a planned development in which the principal use is: (1) a sports stadium; or (2) an exhibition or convention center.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 5)

17-12-0800 General standards.

   17-12-0801 Applicability. The regulations in this section apply to all signs regulated by this chapter.

   17-12-0802 Sign Placement. All signs and sign structures must be located on private property, within the boundaries of the zoning lot, except when expressly allowed to extend into the right-of-way and provided further, however, that city digital signs and city digital sign structures may be located on public property and may be within, partially within, or outside the boundaries of the zoning lot.

   17-12-0803 Incidental Signs.

      17-12-0803-A Incidental signs that meet the standards of this subsection are allowed in all districts and are not counted in determining the total area of all signs on the lot.

      17-12-0803-B Freestanding incidental signs may be up to 6 square feet in area and 42 inches in height. Wall-mounted incidental signs may be up to 6 square feet in area and 12 feet in height.

      17-12-0803-C Direct or indirect lighting is allowed. Dynamic image display sign features and projections into the right-of-way are prohibited.

      17-12-0803-D Incidental signs that do not meet the standards of this subsection must meet the district-specific standards for permanent signs and the area of such signs will be counted against a lot's total maximum sign area limit.

   17-12-0804 Temporary Signs.

      17-12-0804-A Sign Features and Characteristics. Temporary signs may not be illuminated. Dynamic image display sign features and electronic elements are prohibited.

      17-12-0804-B Temporary Wall Signs.

         1.   Residential Districts. In addition to any other signs allowed, one temporary wall sign is allowed per street frontage in R and DR districts. Such a temporary wall sign:

            (a)   may not exceed 18 inches ×18 inches in area in RS1, RS2, or RS3 districts;

            (b)   may not exceed 1 square feet × linear street frontage in area in RT 3.5, RT4, RM4.5, RM5, RM5.5 RM6, RM6.5 or DR districts; and

            (c)   may not be mounted at a height above one story or 20 feet, whichever is less, in any R or DR district.

         2.   Business, Commercial, Downtown and Manufacturing Districts. In addition to any other signs allowed, one temporary wall sign is allowed per street frontage in B, C, M, DC, DX and DS districts. Such a temporary wall sign:

            (a)   may not exceed 2 square feet × linear street frontage in area;

            (b)   may not be mounted at a height above 2 stories or 30 feet, whichever is less; and

            (c)   may not remain in place for more than one year.

      17-12-0804-C Temporary Freestanding Signs.

         1.   Residential Districts. In addition to any other signs allowed, one temporary freestanding sign is allowed per street frontage in R and DR districts. Such a temporary freestanding sign:

            (a)   may not exceed 18 inches ×18 inches in area or 4 feet in height in RS1, RS2, or RS3 districts;

            (b)   may not exceed 2 square feet × linear street frontage in area or 10 feet in height in RT3.5, RT4, RM4.5, RM5, RM5.5 RM6, RM6.5 or DR districts; and

            (c)   may not project into the public way.

         2.   Business, Commercial, Downtown and Manufacturing Districts. In addition to any other signs allowed, one temporary freestanding sign is allowed per street frontage in B, C, M, DC, DX and DS districts. Such a temporary freestanding sign:

            (a)   may not exceed 2 square feet × linear street frontage in area;

            (b)   may not exceed 24 feet in height;

            (c)   may not project into the public way; and

            (d)   may not remain in place for more than one year.

      17-12-0804-D Temporary Banners. Temporary banners are subject to the regulations of this paragraph.

         1.   Residential Districts. Temporary banners in R and DR districts are exempt from the standards for permanent signs and are not counted in determining the total area of all signs on the lot. The following standards apply to temporary banners in R and DR districts:

            (a)   Temporary banners are not allowed on lots with detached houses, two-flats or townhouses.

            (b)   Temporary banners are allowed on lots with multi-unit residential buildings, provided that no more than one temporary banner is allowed for each 50 dwelling units in the building, up to a maximum of 3 banners. Temporary banners may not exceed 32 square feet in area and no more than one may be attached to each building wall. The mounted height of the temporary banner may not exceed 24 feet. Temporary banners on multi-unit buildings may be in place for no more than 180 days in any calendar year.

            (c)   One temporary banner is allowed on lots with allowed nonresidential uses. Such banners may not exceed 32 square feet in area and may remain in place for no more than 180 days per calendar year.

         2.   Business, Commercial, Downtown and Manufacturing Districts. Temporary banners in B, C, M, DC, DX and DS are subject to the standards applicable to permanent signs and are counted in the total square footage of signage allowed on the site.

      17-12-0804-E Special Events Signs. The Zoning Administrator is authorized to issue temporary sign permits for special event signs and to impose time limits and other restrictions on the use, location, dimensions and characteristics of such signs to ensure that they are consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 11-8-12, p. 38872, § 255; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 5)

17-12-0900 Signs in residential districts.

   17-12-0901 Applicability. The standards of this section apply in all R and DR districts.

   17-12-0902 Permanent, On-premise Signs. The following standards apply to permanent, on-premise signs in R and DR districts.

For a printer-friendly PDF version of Table 17-12-0902, please click here.

USE GROUP		Maximum Number	Maximum Sign Face Area (sq. ft.)	Allowed Sign Types	Maximum Height of Freestanding Sign (feet)
Use Category Use Type
RESIDENTIAL
Household Living
	Detached House, Two-flat, Townhouse	1 per street frontage	1	Wall	NA
	Multi-Unit (3+ units) Residential, Single-Room Occupancy	1 per street frontage	9	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6
Group Living
	Convents and Monasteries, Family Community Home, Temporary Overnight Shelters, Transitional Residences, Transitional Shelters	1 per street frontage	1	Wall, Awning	NA
	Assist. Living (Elderly Custodial Care), Group Community Homes, Nursing Homes, Group Living Not Otherwise Classified	1 per street frontage	9	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6
PUBLIC AND CIVIC
Colleges and Universities		1 per building + 1 per street frontage	Freestanding: 64 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6/20 (1)
Cultural Exhibits and Libraries		1 per street frontage	Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning	NA
Day Care		1 per street frontage	16	Wall	NA
Hospital		1 per building + 1 per street frontage	Freestanding: 64 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6/20 (1)
Lodge or Private Club		1 per street frontage	16	Wall, Awning	NA
Parks and Recreation (except as more specifically regulated)		1 per building + 1 per street frontage	Freestanding: 32 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6
Public Safety Services		1 per street frontage	Freestanding: 32 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6
Religious Assembly		1 per street frontage	Freestanding: 64 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6/20 (1)
School		1 per building + 1 freestanding	Freestanding: 64 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6/20 (1)
Utilities and Services		1 per street frontage	Freestanding: 32 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6
COMMERCIAL
Funeral and Interment Service		1 per street frontage	Freestanding: 32 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6
Lodging
	Bed and Breakfast	1 per street frontage	Freestanding: 32 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6
Medical Service
	Government-operated Health Center	1 per street frontage	Freestanding: 32 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6
Office
	Foreign Consulates, Philanthropic and Eleemosynary Institutions	1 per street frontage	Freestanding: 32 Wall: 10% of wall	Wall, Awning, Freestanding	6
Residential Support Service		1 per ground- floor business establishment	16	Wall, Awning	NA
(1) Maximum freestanding sign height of 20 feet when such sign is located along a through street, as classified by the Chicago Department of Transportation, otherwise a maximum height of 6 feet.

 

   17-12-0903 Sign Features.

      17-12-0903-A Lighting. Signs in R and DR zoning districts may use only indirect lighting. Direct lighting and internal lighting of signs is prohibited, except in the case of allowed dynamic image display signs.

      17-12-0903-B Dynamic Image Display Signs. Dynamic image display signs are permitted in R and DR districts when such signs are freestanding, on-premise signs for public and civic uses that are located along a through street as classified by the Chicago Department of Transportation. Flashing signs are prohibited.

   17-12-0904 Off-premise Signs. Off-premise signs are prohibited in R and DR districts. A city digital sign may be located in an R district, or portion thereof, which consists of land or public way owned by the city or a federal, state, local or other unit of government, in whole or in part, and which is not improved with any residential buildings, subject to the separation requirements in Section 17-12-1201-A.4.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 4-14-10, p. 89020, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 5)