(A) Applicability. No SIGN as defined in § 22.011 shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered except in conformance with the provisions of this section and after issuance of a sign permit by the village, except as provided under exempt signs and exempt changes to signs in this section.
(B) Exempt signs. Non-illuminated, temporary signs that comply with all conditions and limitations of this section are allowed without a sign permit unless otherwise expressly stated. All illuminated signs that are allowed by this chapter require a sign permit.
(1) Governmental/institutional signs, emblems and plaques.
(a) Signs established by, or by order of, any governmental body.
(b) Emblems or insignia of any nation or political subdivision or non-profit organization.
(c) Religious symbols, commemorative plaques or recognized historic agencies, or identification emblems of religious orders or historic agencies.
(2) Election campaign signs.
(a) Shall not illuminated.
(b) Temporary political signs may be erected on any lot in the village subject to the conditions below and as may be permitted by the owner of such property. Signs in the public right-of- way shall not interfere with or obstruct access, activity or vision along any such public right-of-way.
(c) On residential property, temporary political signs shall not exceed 32 square feet, and a height, as measured from average grade of six feet. In the public right-of-way, each temporary political sign shall not exceed a signable area of six square feet or project higher than six feet, as measured from grade.
(d) There shall only be one sign per candidate, party or referenda question allowed per frontage of any lot.
(e) Each political campaign sign may include information regarding political candidates seeking public office, political parties and/or political/public issues set forth on a ballot
(3) Flags.
(a) One flag with the name or logo of a business or corporation located on-site and mounted either on a flagpole or building shall not exceed a display height of 25 feet and shall not exceed a size of three feet by five feet.
(b) A maximum of three flags/flagpoles per lot with a maximum height of 25 feet.
(c) Flagpoles must be maintained in good condition.
(d) Shall not exceed a maximum area of 300 square feet and a maximum height of 25 feet.
(e) Illumination shall be internal or indirect.
(4) Not-for-profit community event signs.
(a) Not-for-profit community event signs are permitted temporary signs. Signs allowed for not-for-profit community events cannot be used as temporary off-premises signs that direct attention to a for-profit commercial activity.
(b) When located on private property, permission from the property owner is required. When located on public property, permission from the village or other applicable authority shall be required.
(c) Signs for not-for- profit community events shall be limited to 32 square feet in area and shall not exceed a height of eight feet.
(5) Other exempt signs.
(a) Garage sale signs. Garage or rummage sale signs not exceeding two square feet in area and displayed no more than four consecutive days, and no more than four days in any 90-day period.
(b) For Sale, Rent, Lease signs. Only one sign shall be allowed per street frontage in all zoning districts. Sign shall not exceed five square feet in area, must be setback at least five feet from property lines, and must be removed within one week after the consummation of the sale or rental of all property to which the sign pertains.
(c) Name plates. Shall be allowed in all zoning districts and shall not exceed a total area of two square feet.
(d) Help Wanted signs. Only one shall be allowed in any non-residential district offering employment on the premise and shall not exceed an area of five square feet.
(e) No Trespassing or Dumping signs. Shall be allowed in all zoning districts and shall not exceed a total area of two square feet.
(f) Window signs. Shall only be allowed in commercial districts and shall not have an aggregate area greater than 50% of the total display window area.
(g) Directional signs. Non-illuminated directional signs not exceeding an area of three square feet and three feet in height. Directional signs exceeding either dimension and/or illuminated directional signs of any size are not exempt.
(h) Light pole banners. Mounted to project perpendicular from light poles, may not exceed 15 square feet in area, and may not be used as an off-premise sign.
(i) Portable signs.
(C) Exempt changes to signs. No sign permit shall be required for the following changes to exempt or non-exempt signs, but such changes must conform to all applicable sign regulations of this chapter:
(1) A change in the copy on a sign designed for replaceable copy, including painted and printed signs; and
(2) Painting, cleaning, repair, maintenance or face replacement of a sign not involving structural change and made necessary by breakage or deterioration but not by a change in advertiser.
(D) Prohibited signs.
(1) Signs that include: animation, flashing , lights, projected or moving images, moving parts or that emit noise, except as authorized by conditional use approval;
(2) Temporary and portable signs, except as otherwise permitted by or exempted from these regulations, but not to include public notice signs required under this chapter;
(3) Roof signs;
(4) Off-premises advertising signs and/or signs on otherwise vacant land other than real estate signs, construction signs or outdoor advertising signs, as defined and regulated in this chapter;
(5) Signs on or within parked motor vehicles and designed to be conspicuously visible for advertising or informational purposes from outside the vehicle, other than trailer signs, lettering on trucks or other commercial vehicles, transit advertising on buses and election campaign signs;
(6) Signs painted directly on the wall or roof of a building or directly on a fence or other accessory structure or directly on any paved surfaces other than required traffic control information;
(7) Neon tubing, or LED tubing, and other lighting outside of the sign area and independent of any information conveyed by an allowed sign used as an architectural element or feature of a building or other structure, except as authorized by conditional use approval;
(8) Signs affixed directly to a tree, utility pole, light pole, traffic control device, barn, shed, or other similar structure;
(9) Signs attached or painted to an inoperable or unlicensed vehicle (motorized or non-motorized) located in view of the right-of- way;
(10) Balloons and other inflatable objects with a diameter of two feet or greater;
(11) Moving signs, including any sign that rotates, revolves or has any visible moving parts. Any sign that gives the appearance of movement, including signs designed to be moved by wind or other natural elements;
(12) Search lights; and
(13) Permanent signs made of plywood, pressed board, or other similar type of non-exterior grade wood products. This prohibition does not apply to temporary signs.
(E) Conditional use signs. The following are allowed only as conditional uses:
(1) Outdoor advertising signs shall only be allowed as a conditional use in C-3 and I Districts, provided that at no time shall there be more than eight conditional use permits issued at any given time for outdoor advertising signs;
(2) Murals or signs painted on exterior walls;
(3) Scoreboards for athletic fields; and
(4) Marquee signs.
(F) Non-conforming signs.
(1) All other non-exempt signs lawfully existing, or holding sign permits issued, prior to the date of adoption of this chapter, but which are not in conformance with these regulations, may be continued as nonconformities.
(2) Poster panels, painted boards and copy on nonconforming changeable copy signs may be changed, provided that there has been no change in occupancy or use of the premises and that the change does not create any further nonconformity. No nonconforming sign may otherwise be replace with another nonconforming sign.
(3) Nonconforming signs shall be subject to all requirements governing the continuation of nonconforming structures as provided in the regulations governing nonconformities in this chapter.
(G) Non-exempt signs. This section describes the types of signs allowed with a sign permit. Specific regulations on each sign type may include further restrictions on which districts and/or uses within a district may utilize these sign types.
(1) Attention-getting signs (AGS).
(a) Are permitted for non-residential uses in non-residential districts.
(b) Each establishment may have one freestanding or wall mounted AGS.
(c) Freestanding AGS shall be setback at least five feet from a lot line, shall not exceed a height of 15 feet, and shall not exceed an area of 32 square feet.
(d) Attention getting signs for multi-tenant sites are subject to the following standards:
1. The display period and separation period noted in prior divisions of this section shall apply to each establishment individually rather than the site as a whole.
2. One freestanding AGS is allowed for every 75 feet of street frontage. There must be a 15 foot separation between freestanding attention getting signs.
(e) Shall be limited to the following display periods:
1. When the attention getting sign advertises an event that has a specific start and end time; a total display period of 30 days prior to the start of the event, the time period of the event and three days following the end of the event.
2. All other attention getting signs shall not be posted more than 30 days.
3. A maximum of four display periods per year is permitted with a minimum of 30 days between displays.
(2) Awning signs.
(a) Are permitted for non-residential uses in non-residential districts.
(b) Must maintain a vertical clearance of seven feet six inches.
(c) Is a permitted obstruction in the front and corner side yard and may not encroach into the public right-of-way.
(d) Must be made of durable, weather resistant material such as canvas, canvas like material, nylon, vinyl-coated fabric, or permanent building material such as metal.
(e) Sign copy on any awning surface shall be limited to 25% of each surface area. A valance is considered a separate surface area.
(f) Awning signs may be externally illuminated and lighting must be focused on the printed area.
(3) Billboards/off-premise signs.
(a) Shall only be allowed as a conditional use in the C-3, Regional Commercial District and I-1, Industrial District.
(b) Shall conform to the bulk standards as set forth in the underlying zoning district.
(c) Shall be located a minimum of 500 feet from any other billboard/off- premises advertising sign and from any residential district.
(d) Shall not exceed a maximum area of 300 square feet and a maximum height of 25 feet.
(e) Illumination shall be internal or indirect.
(4) Blade (projecting) signs.
(a) Permitted for non-residential uses in non-residential districts.
(b) One blade sign per establishment per street frontage.
(c) Is a permitted obstruction into the front and corner side yards, but may not encroach into the public right-of-way.
(d) Must maintain a vertical clearance of seven feet six inches. No blade sign affixed to a building may project higher than the building height, including the sign support structure.
(e) Must be constructed of wood or simulated wood, metal, durable, weather resistant materials like canvas, canvas like material, nylon, or vinyl coated fabric, plastic or high-density urethane (HDU) foam board or similar durable foam construction. Blade signs constructed of canvas or similar material must be mounted so that they are held taut between support posts that are architecturally compatible with the building.
(f) May be internally or externally illuminated. If externally illuminated, all lighting must be directed onto the sign face from above.
(g) Blade signs shall not exceed the following area standards:
C- 1 | C- 2 | C-3 | O-I | I | |
Square Feet | 16 | 24 | 32 | 16 | 32 |
(5) Canopy sign.
(a) Are permitted for non-residential uses.
(b) The maximum sign area shall not exceed 25% of each surface area. Sign type shall not exceed or be located above the top of the canopy structure.
(c) Canopy signs may be internally or externally illuminated. If externally illuminated, the lighting must be focused on the site. Freestanding canopies for gas stations are permitted an illuminated band along each façade of the canopy. The illuminated band is limited to 20% of the overall height of the façade of the canopy.
(6) Construction and real estate signs.
(a) Shall be permitted in all zoning districts.
(b) Shall not exceed a maximum sign area of 32 square feet and a height of ten feet.
(7) Electronic message/display/changing signs.
(a) Are permitted for non-residential uses that have frontage along Illinois Route 120 and US Highway 12.
(b) The required design standards shall be required:
1. Integrated into a freestanding ground or monument type sign that displays the business name or use/development name;
2. Is limited to the lower portion of the sign; and
3. Does not exceed 50% of the total maximum area allowed for said ground or monument sign as set forth in this chapter.
(c) Only one electronic message/display/changing sign shall be allowed per property or per development.
(d) Shall conform to the setbacks required for a ground sign. Electronic message signs must be at least 25 feet from the lot line of a residential district. This is measured from the sign face to the lot line.
(e) Shall have a static display or in the case of an electronic message board shall have static messages that display for a minimum of ten seconds. Scrolling, fading, flashing, animation or video shall not be permitted, nor is any sound permitted.
(f) Off-premises advertising or messaging shall not be allowed, except for those signs owned and operated by governmental agencies.
(8) Ground sign.
(a) Are permitted for non-residential uses in all zoning districts, except the C-2, Main Street District.
(b) Shall be setback at least seven feet from the front or corner side property line and at least 50 feet from any property zoned residential. No ground/monument sign may project into the public right-of-way.
(c) May be internally or externally illuminated. If externally illuminated, all light must be directed onto the sign face.
(d) Ground signs must be designed with either decorative posts or a monument base that are part of the overall sign structure and sign design. The base of a ground/monument sign shall not be less than 50%, nor 110% of the width of the sign face.
(e) Ground signs must be constructed of brick, wood or simulated wood, stone, concrete, metal, plastic, or high-density urethane (HDU) foam board or similar durable foam construction. The base on which a ground is principally supported should typically be constructed of masonry material.
(f) Types of ground signs may include:
1. Residential subdivisions.
a. One ground sign is permitted for each access point to the development. A minimum separation of 50 feet is required between grounds signs.
b. Sign face shall not exceed an area of 50 square feet and a sign height of eight feet.
2. Multi-family, institutional, and non-residential.
a. One ground sign shall be permitted and shall not exceed an area of 32 square feet and a height of 12 feet.
3. Commercial ground sign.
a. One ground sign is permitted per street frontage. For property or developments located on a corner lot, an additional ground sign may be provided, so long as said signs are a minimum of 200 feet apart.
b. Maximum sign height shall not exceed 15 feet and the maximum sign area shall not exceed one-half square foot per foot, per street of lot frontage up to 200 square feet.
c. Outparcels that are part of a larger development shall be allowed a maximum of one freestanding ground sign that shall not exceed a sign area of 50 square feet, and a maximum sign height of ten feet.
(9) Menu board.
(a) Are permitted for all drive-through facilities.
(b) Shall be limited to two per drive-through lane.
(c) Shall be limited to 50 square feet in area and eight feet in height. The menu board may be designed as separate freestanding signs grouped together and may include the use of preview boards designed as separate freestanding signs and installed a distance earlier in the drive through lane, however the total area of all signs must not exceed the maximum area of 50 square feet.
(d) Shall be located in the rear or interior side yard and must be at least 15 feet from any residential district lot line. This is measured from the sign face to the lot line.
(e) Menu boards may be internally illuminated. Menu boards may also contain electronic screen for interaction with each customer.
(10) Wall sign.
(a) Shall be permitted for all non-residential uses in all districts.
(b) Are permitted on any building façade that faces a public street or off-street parking areas.
(c) Maximum area allowed shall not exceed one and one-half square feet per linear foot of building wall or a maximum of 60 square feet, whichever is greater. Wall signs may be designed as multiple signs grouped together so long as the total area of all signs do not exceed the maximum area allowed.
(d) May be internally or externally illuminated. If externally illuminated, all light must be directed onto the sign face.
(e) Walls signs shall not project more than 18 inches from the building wall. Wall signs may project no more than 18 inches into the front and/or corner side yard but may not encroach into the public right-of-way.
(f) Wall signs are not permitted on architectural appurtenances such as chimneys, penthouses, parapets, or mechanical screen walls.
(Ord. 480B, passed 8-21-1953; Ord. 90-O-036, passed 11-8-1990; Ord. 14-O-36, passed 11-14-2014; Ord. 17-O-32, passed 10-3-2017; Ord. 19-O-20, passed 9-17-2019; Ord. 19-O-35, passed 12-17-2019)