The following signs shall not be subject to section 4-3-6 of this chapter. No exempt signs shall encroach upon the public right-of-way, except for Regional Transportation Authority information signs that comply with the conditions described in paragraph (S) below:
(A) Home occupation signs giving the name and profession or business, not more than two (2) square feet in area and affixed to, and parallel with, the wall of the main residence building.
(B) A reader board not exceeding twenty (20) square feet in area operated by a public or private institution organized as a not-for-profit entity under the IRS tax code, and located within the proper lot line and on the premises to which the sign pertains. Electronic reader board signs are not exempt and are subject to the regulations set forth in Section 4-3-15 of this chapter. Metra and Pace’s digital displays, which are categorized as electronic reader board signs and maintain standard design across Metra and Pace systems, are exempt in accordance with the standards set forth in Section 4-3-15 of this chapter.
(C) A single-family residence sign not exceeding two (2) square feet in area containing the name of the occupant and the street number of the residence and located at least one foot (1') back from the front property line of the residential property. Such signs are also authorized to be hung from an ornamental lighting standard or lamppost in a street yard, at a height not to exceed six feet (6'). Property lines within the Village in most cases do not extend all the way to the public sidewalk, and residents should consult their property survey or the Community Development Department to determine acceptable locations for occupant name and street number signs.
(D) A real estate sign not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area pertaining to the lease or sale of the lot or parcel of ground upon which located, and maintained thereon no longer than the day following the rental or sale thereof.
(E) A construction identification sign of a building contractor, architect, painter or engineer or similar building or construction trade sign not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area located on the lot or parcel of land where such services are being used, and maintained thereon no longer than the day following the termination of such services.
(F) An identification sign erected in connection with a non-residential use of any property in the R-4 Mixed Office Residence District and attached to the building, not exceeding four (4) square feet in area or located on said property, not exceeding twenty four (24) square feet in area. No other sign shall be placed on said premises to designate any of the uses thereof.
(G) Signs and public notices belonging to, erected and maintained by, or required by, governmental bodies, railroads or utilities, or authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance. Such public signs may be of any type, number, area, height, location or illumination as authorized by law, statute or ordinance. This includes Metra and Pace’s digital displays, per Section 4-3-15 of this chapter, and Metra’s platform number signs, both of which serve as a courtesy and conveyance of important travel information for transit riders.
(H) Parking control signs (maximum of 1 per entry or exit drive) and fire lane signs, not exceeding six (6) square feet in area, for the purpose of controlling vehicular traffic movement, and/or parking. Parking lots shall be permitted one additional sign within the lot that stipulates only the towing of unauthorized vehicles, and the name and contact information for the towing company (no logo). Parking control signs and fire lane signs shall not contain a business name or logo.
(I) Federal, State or local flags.
(K) Matter appearing on display windows or doors to retail or service establishments denoting hours of operation, credit cards accepted and similar information, not to exceed a cumulative total of two (2) square feet in area per establishment.
(L) On-premises signs regulating the use of the premises such as “No Trespassing” and “No Solicitation” signs that do not exceed one (1) sign that is a maximum of two (2) square feet in area in residential, and one (1) sign with a maximum size of five (5) square feet in nonresidential areas.
(M) Memorial plaques and cornerstones not to exceed two (2) square feet in area designed, intended or used to preserve the memory of a person, place or event, including landmark plaques and historical plaques, which must be constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials and be permanently affixed to the building or premises thereto.
(N) Matter appearing on newspaper vending boxes and automatic teller machines, and other vending machines as purchased or installed.
(O) Village-sanctioned roadway, gateway and/or way finding signs.
(P) Matter appearing on or adjacent to entry doors including “Push”, “Pull”, “Open” or “Closed” signs, not exceeding one (1) square foot in area per establishment.
(Q) Auxiliary entry sign, installed as a wall sign, no wider than the width of the customer entrance, and not to exceed two feet (2') in width. Every business establishment shall be permitted a maximum of one (1).
(R) Informational matter appearing on gasoline pumps, and fuel pricing signs, including the names of grades of fuel and prices and conditions relating to prices such as full or self-service or other signs required by State or Federal government. Manual, digital, or LED displays of fuel pricing incorporated as part of a monument sign will not count towards the sign area of the monument sign provided the fuel prices do not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area in the aggregate as calculated in compliance with section 4-3-7 of this chapter.
(S) Schedule and service status information related to modes of transportation operated by a governmental entity, including electronic messaging, on property owned or operated by transit agencies overseen by the Regional Transportation Authority, in accordance with the following standards. If these standards are in conflict with the requirements and standards of the Illinois Accessibility Code, the requirements of the Illinois Accessibility Code shall apply:
1. Exempt signs shall not include any sign attached to the exterior façade of the historic train station structure. All such signs shall be submit to permitting requirements and review by the Village of Riverside.
2. Only one sign is allowed per bus stop, per side of the roadway. For train stations and special bus rapid transit (BRT) stations (i.e., potential Pace Pulse corridor along Harlem Avenue), one electronic reader board sign is allowed on each side of the railroad tracks and at each BRT bus stop, respectively. Signage along the potential Harlem Avenue Pace Pulse corridor would likely be located within the public right-of-way, requiring coordination with IDOT. Such signs will require review and approval from the Village.
3. Signs shall not contain flashing, blinking, or chasing lights, or moving video.
4. Changeable copy shall be limited to updating arrival times and approaching route and line names and numbers. Commercial advertising messages are prohibited.
5. The color of the sign casing shall be consistent among all sign types and with the supporting structure to which the sign is mounted.
6. Electrical conduit shall be incorporated into the supporting structure or screened from view. (Ord. 2874, 4-16-2015; amd. Ord. 2885-A, 11-19-2015; Ord. 2967, 9-21-2017; Ord. 4048, 2-16-2023; Ord. 4088, 2-15-2024)