§ 159.123 PROHIBITED SIGNS.

(A) The regulations of this section shall govern and control the erection, enlargement, expansion, alteration, operation, maintenance, relocation and removal of all signs within the village and any sign not expressly permitted by these regulations shall be prohibited.

(B) The regulations of this section related to the location of signs, by function and type, within zoning districts and shall be in addition to provisions of the Romeoville Building Code.

(C) For the purposes of this section, a sign shall mean any object, device, display, or structure or part thereof situated outdoors or, when situated indoors, intended to be seen from the outdoors which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means including words, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, motion, illumination, or projected images.

(Ord. 15-1190, passed 9-16-15; Am. Ord. 22-1794, passed 9-21-22)

The following signs shall not be permitted in any zoning district:

(A) Flashing signs, except electronic message boards/dynamic display signs, as defined and permitted in this chapter, which show temperature, time, business or public service messages for not less than ten seconds with no animation effects;

(B) Signs which constitute a hazard to public health or safety;

(D) Signs mounted on trailers or motor vehicles, provided that signs containing the name, address or business identification of the owner or user and displayed on a motor vehicle in use and portable signs defined herein are exempt from this section;

(E) Signs which are mounted on the roof and project above the highest point of the building or roof to which they are attached;

(F) Attention-getting devices including, but not limited to, moving, rotating or undulating signs, or light beams, strobe lights, flashing lights, or animated light displays;

(G) Inflatable devices, except as otherwise permitted with a special events permit;

(H) Signs which, by reason of size, location, content, color, or manner of illumination, obstruct the vision of motorists or interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device on public streets;

(I) Signs which make use of words such as "Stop," "Look," "One-Way," "Danger," "Yield," or any similar word, phrase, symbol or light so as to interfere with or confuse pedestrian or vehicular traffic;

(J) Signs displayed within or extended over public right-of-way, except those erected or authorized by a government authority having jurisdiction of the public right-of-way;

(K) Signs which obstruct ingress or egress from any fire escape, door, window, or other exit or entrance;

(L) Wall mounted box signs or cabinet signs;

(M) Advertising, business, or identification signs on light poles of establishments, unless such signs are owned by the Village of Romeoville, The Chamber of Commerce, or another government agency as part of a community-wide event or marketing campaign;

(N) Signs painted directly on trees, rocks and fences and other structures or objects, except walls;

(O) Festoon lighting.

(Ord. 15-1190, passed 9-16-15; Am. Ord. 22-1794, passed 9-21-22)

§ 159.124 GENERAL PROVISIONS.

(A) Sign area. The following principles shall control the computation of sign area and sign height within the village:

(1) Individual signs. The area of a sign shall be the smallest rectangle which encloses the extreme limits of the writing, representat ion, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentia te the sign from the back drop or structure against which it is placed, but excluding the supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meeting zoning code regulations and is clearly incidental to the sign display itself.

(2) Multiple-faced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one surface shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign surfaces visible from any one point. When two identical sign surfaces are placed back to back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign surfaces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than 12 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the sign surfaces.

(3) Number of signs. For the purpose of determining number of signs, a sign shall be considered to be a single display surface or display containing elements organized, related, and composed to form a unit. Where matter is displayed in a random manner without organized relationship to elements, or where there is reasonable doubt as to the relationship of elements, each element shall be considered to be a single sign.

(B) Sign height. The height of sign shall be the distance measured between the top of the nearest public street curb and the highest point of the sign for freestanding signs. For all other signs, the distance measured between finished grade adjoining the wall on which a wall, projecting, awning, or window sign is attached and the highest point of said sign.

(C) Illumination . An illuminated sign is any sign from which artificial light emanates either by means of exposed lighting on the surface of the sign or through transparent or translucent material from a source within the sign, or a sign which reflects artificial light from a source intentionally directed upon it.

(1) Illuminated signs permitted in residential districts or located in any other zoning district adjacent a residential zoned lot shall not be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless the use to which the sign pertains is open;

(2) No illuminated sign shall be positioned or maintained so as to permit the beams and illumination there from to be directed or beamed upon any adjacent property nor to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a nuisance or traffic hazard;

(3) A photometric plan may be required by the village in order to confirm that light emitted by the sign does not exceed zero foot candles at the property line of the parcel or lot on which the sign is located.

(4) See § 159.129(L) for additional illuminance standards set forth for dynamic display/electronic message board signs.

(D) Set bac k. Exc ept as oth erw ise pro vid ed her ein , fre est and ing sig ns sha ll be located at least ten feet from any driveway and lot line. The setback of a sign shall be measured as the distance between the point of reference specified and the closest point on the sign.

(E) Electrical elements. All wiring, fittings, and materials used in the construction, connection and operation of electrically illuminated signs shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Romeoville Building Code and shall be contained in rigid conduit or enclosed in poles or raceways. No wiring may be exposed on the surface of any element of the sign.

(F) Sign maintenance. The owner of a sign or the premises on which such sign is located shall be liable for maintenance of such sign, including its source(s) of illumination, it’s neat and orderly condition (free of any debris), maintenance to ensure good working order at all times (i.e. functional light bulbs), and for preventing deterioration of the physical appearance (i.e. sign fading) or safety of such sign. Message board signs must be designed in such a manner that the message area is resistant to damage by wind and vandalism.

(G) Structural elements. The construction and structural components of all signs shall be in accordance with the standards and regulations of the Romeoville Building Code.

(H) Sight triangle. To protect the visibility of automotive traffic, bicyclists, and pedestrians, signs, and any concealed support elements supporting a sign, shall not be located within any sight triangle described in § 159.014.

(I) Overhang. Except awning, canopy and projecting signs, no sign may overhang any part of a structure, sidewalk, parking or loading space, driveway or maneuvering aisle.

(J) Window surface area. For the purposes of calculating window signage, window surface area shall be defined as all the glass surfaces, including windows and doors of a single tenant building or of a space in a multiple tenant building occupied by a single user, that make up the street-facing façade.

(1) All window signs shall occupy no more than 50% of the total window surface area of a storefront facing the public street.

(2) The Zoning Administrator or Village Manager may revoke the use of window signs at a particular location at any time if the window signage is deemed to limit visibility into a location in a matter that compromises public safety.

(Ord. 15-1190, passed 9-16-15; Am. Ord. 15-1229, passed 11-18-15; Am. Ord. 22-1794, passed 9-21-22)

§ 159.125 SIGNS EXEMPTED FROM THIS SECTION.

Nothing in this section shall be construed as exempting the following signs from the provisions of § 159.123 and § 159.124 or from any provisions of the Building Code or those portions of the Village Code other than Chapter 159 which may be applicable to signs. The following signs are otherwise exempt from regulations of this section.

(A) Flags, symbols or crests of nations, states, cities or political, fraternal, religious or civic organizations, provided the number of such flags does not exceed four. One flag displaying the name or logo of a company or business shall be allowed provided that it is flown along with the American flag and shall not be larger than said flag. These flags shall be flown in accordance with protocol established by the Congress of the United States for the Stars and Stripes.

(B) Decorations customarily and commonly associated with a national, local or religious holiday, or recognized local special event, provided that such decorations shall not be displayed for more than 60 days.

(C) Signs in non-residential districts not exceeding two square feet in area bearing only the name or logo of the occupant, or address of the lot, or indicating building entrances or exits. Only one such sign per occupant entrance or exit shall be permitted. Such signs may be illuminated.

(D) Legal notices, identification, informational, directional, traffic or other sign erected or required by governmental authority under the law, statute or ordinance.

(E) Memorial signs or tablets containing the names of a building and the date of construction, when cut into any masonry surface so as to be part of the building or when constructed of bronze or some other non-combustible material and permanently attached to a building.

(F) Non-illuminated signs displayed on windows provided the area of all window signs occupy no more than 50% of the window surface area.

(G) For purposes of marketing lots or parcels for sale, lease, or development (real estate), for advertising activities related to construction taking place on a lot, and/or for purposes of announcing a business opening soon on a lot in non-residential districts, the following shall be exempt:

(1) For one property less than ten acres in size having one real estate, construction, and/or coming soon sign erected on site. Contiguous lots under the same ownership shall be considered one property for the purposes of this section. Such sign shall meet the following requirements:

(a) Sign shall be more than six square feet in area but not exceeding 32 square feet in area, and not more than eight feet in height. This sign shall be for marketing a lot or parcel for sale or lease or development, and for indicating the name of the owner, agent or broker having a role or interest with respect to the sale or lease or development of the lot or parcel. It may also be for a lot on which construction is taking place that indicates the name of the architects, engineers, landscape architects, contractors, and similar artisans, and the owners, financial supporters, sponsors and similar persons or firms having a role or interest with respect to the structure or project. Additionally, the sign may advertise a future business opening on the lot, i.e. Coming Soon.

(b) Sign shall be located on vacant or non-residential property in any zoning district, or on a lot under construction. Said sign shall be a wall or freestanding sign, shall not be illuminated, and shall be set back not less than ten feet from any lot line.

(2) For one property over ten acres in size having no more than one real estate, construction, and/or coming soon sign erected on each street frontage, but not to exceed two total on site. Contiguous lots under the same ownership shall be considered one property for the purposes of this section. Such signs shall meet the following requirements:

(a) Signs shall be more than six square feet in area but not exceeding 32 square feet in area, and not more than eight feet in height. These signs shall be for marketing a lot or parcel for sale or lease or development, and for indicating the name of the owner, agent or broker having a role or interest with respect to the sale or lease or development of the lot or parcel. They may also be for a lot on which construction is taking place that indicates the name of the architects, engineers, landscape architects, contractors, and similar artisans, and the owners, financial supporters, sponsors and similar persons or firms having a role or interest with respect to the structure or project. Additionally, the signs may advertise a future business opening on the lot, i.e. Coming Soon.

(H) Signs attached to the underside of a canopy provided such signs do not exceed six square feet in area and are mounted at right angles to the building facade and provided a minimum clearance of seven feet above the sidewalk is maintained and that no portion of such sign is within one foot of the edge of the canopy.

(I) Public telephone, gasoline pump and vending machine graphics, logos and instructions.

(J) Residential signs. All signs in residential zoning districts are subject to the following.

(1) The maximum size of an individual sign is 2’ x 3’. The maximum total allowed square footage of sign area per lot is 24 square feet.

(2) Signs which are mutilated, damaged, faded, destroyed or rendered unreadable must be removed or replaced by the person that erected them or caused their creation.

(3) Signs are not allowed to obstruct vision and not allowed to be located in the vision triangle.

(4) No sign shall be illuminated.

(K) Works of art that do not include a commercial message, graphic or logo.

(L) One menu board sign for a drive-thru window operation provided such sign does not exceed 32 square feet in area and eight feet in height.

(M) Religious symbols or identification emblems of religious orders, no greater than 32 square feet in area, in connection with a place of worship or religious assembly.

(N) When located on agricultural property used for agricultural purposes, signs no greater than two square feet in area pertaining to seed, fertilizer or hybrid products used, produced or cultivated on the property, and signs no greater than 32 square feet in area pertaining to the sale in season of agricultural products grown or produced on the property.

(O) In non-residential districts, signs no greater than four square feet in area, which may not be illuminated, with only one such sign per business entrance.

(P) One portable sign no larger than ten square feet in area when displayed on a sidewalk adjacent the façade of a tenant space or a building occupied by a commercial use, provided such sign is displayed only during the hours of operation of the commercial use, is not illuminated, the sign does not interfere with pedestrian movement, and that it does not require transport by a motor vehicle. Such signs are intended to benefit and to attract the attention of pedestrians.

(Q) Permanent public park and pathway signs no greater than 32 square feet in area.

(R) Directional signs within the public right-of-way in conjunction with a license agreement with the Village of Romeoville.

(S) Public agency or unit of government special event signage. Temporary signs for festivals, programs, or special events hosted by a public body. Such signage may be located on-site or off-premise with the permission of the property owner. Signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and eight feet in height. Portable signs are permitted provided they shall not be internally illuminated. Such signage must follow the applicable standards in this chapter for duration of display, sight triangle, and sign maintenance.

(T) Village of Romeoville signage including entryway signs, public building identification signs, and public information/address signage. Such signage may include electronic message boards.

(Ord. 15-1190. Passed 9-16-15; Am. Ord. 22-1794, passed 9-21-22)

§ 159.126 CLASSIFICATIONS OF SIGNS.

For purpose of this section, signs shall be classified according to their function and structural type, defined as follows:

(A) Sign Classification Table. For purposes of convenience, the following table is provided to clarify which sign structural types may be used for particular types of sign functions. An “X” shall indicate the only permitted use of various sign structural types for various types of sign functions:

FUNCTIONAL TYPE	STRUCTURAL TYPE
FUNCTIONAL TYPE	AWNING	CANOPY	FREESTANDING	PORTABLE	PROJECTING	WALL	WINDOW
ADVERTISING			X
BUSINESS	X	X	X		X	X	X
DEVELOPMENT			X
TENANT IDENTIFICATION			X
MESSAGE BOARD			X
GRAND OPENING	X	X	X	X		X	X
IDENTIFICATION	X	X	X		X	X	X
REAL ESTATE			X			X	X
TIME/TEMPERATURE			X
TEMPORARY			X			X	X
POLITICAL			X
DIRECTIONAL			X			X
TEMPORARY			X

(B) Functional type.

(1) Advertising sign. A sign, commonly known as a billboard, which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered at a location other than the lot on which the sign is located; or, a sign which directs attention to a business that is no longer conducted or to a product that is no longer sold on the lot on which the sign is located. An advertising sign shall be a freestanding sign.

(2) Business sign. A sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted, or to a commodity or service sold, offered or manufactured, or to an entertainment offered on the premises where the sign is located or to which it is affixed. A business sign shall be an awning, canopy, wall or window sign.

(3) Development sign. A sign designating the name and/or address of the development. A development for the purpose of this section shall mean a building or buildings located on a lot not less than 100 feet in width at the front property line and under unified ownership or control. A development sign may be used for the identification of residential or non-residential subdivisions or developments. A development sign shall be a freestanding sign and may include tenant identification signs, time and temperature signs, and message board signs.

(4) Tenant identification sign. A sign giving the name of a tenant on a lot on which two or more tenants or businesses are located. Said sign shall only indicate the name of the tenant or business establishment or a logo or symbolic representation of the type of business. Tenant identification signs shall be uniform in size and shape and be designed for maximum legibility.

(5) Message board/dynamic display/ digital sign. A sign designed so that characters, letters, or illustrations can be changed or rearranged electronically, electrically, or manually without altering the face or surface of the sign. A message board sign shall only be accessory and incidental to a development, identification, or business sign, and shall only utilize LCD or LED technology that cannot be read past the property line on which the sign is placed.

(6) Grand opening sign. Any sign used for the purpose of advertising a grand-opening or grand re-opening of a new business. A grand opening sign may be an awning, canopy, freestanding, portable, temporary, wall or window sign. Grand opening signs shall not be used for promotions, special sales, seasonal sales, or going out-of-business sales.

(7) Identification sign. A sign giving the name and address of a residential building, business, development, industry, or other building or establishment. Such signs may be wholly or partly devoted to a readily recognized logo or symbol. An identification sign shall be an awning, canopy, freestanding, projecting, wall, or window sign.

(8) Real estate sign. A sign indicating the sale, rental, lease, or development of a building or lot, or a portion thereof, on which the sign is located. A real estate sign may be a freestanding, wall or window sign.

(9) Time and temperature sign. A sign that provides current time and/or temperature information to the public. Such signs may be wholly or partially devoted to a readily recognized logo or symbol. A time and temperature sign shall only be accessory and incidental to a freestanding development, identification, or business sign.

(10) Temporary sign. Any sign, banner, pennant, streamer, or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, card board, wall board, or other light-weight material without a frame. A temporary sign shall be a wall, window, awning or canopy sign.

(1) Awning sign. A sign that is mounted on or attached to an awning that is otherwise permitted by this section. An awning may be fixed or retractable and shall be securely attached to and supported by the building. No posts or columns shall be permitted to support the awning. Awnings shall be designed to provide unobstructed flow of pedestrian traffic along any sidewalk. The construction materials and the manner of construction of all awnings shall be in accordance with the Romeoville Building Code.

(2) Canopy sign. A sign that is mounted on or attached to a canopy that is otherwise permitted by this section. A canopy shall not encroach upon the required building line on a lot. The construction materials and the manner of construction of all canopies shall be in accordance with the Romeoville Building Code.

(3) Freestanding sign. A sign supported independently of any structure. Such sign may be referred to as a ground, monument, or pole sign.

(4) Portable sign. A freestanding sign, no face of which shall exceed 32 square feet, attached to or mounted upon a frame intended to be moved from place to place. Such sign may be used as a grand opening sign and may or may not include moveable lettering and/or electrical equipment for use as illuminated signs. All illuminated portable signs shall be wired with a UL approved ground fault interrupter, and all service connections shall be approved by a Romeoville electrical inspector. No flashing lights or other moving displays shall be permitted on such sign, and all illumination shall be of an indirect or diffused nature.

(5) Projecting sign. A sign attached perpendicular to a wall of a building, supported solely by the building, and having not more than two faces which may be no more than 12 inches apart.

(6) Roof sign. A sign attached to or mounted on a roof of a building is prohibited. No sign shall be attached, anchored or located above the deck of a flat roof.

(7) Wall sign. A sign painted on or fastened to the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for, or forms the background surface of, the sign and which does not project more than 12 inches from such building or structure. No sign shall extend beyond the width of the facade of the building to which it is attached.

(8) Window sign. A sign which is painted, applied, or attached to, or located within three feet of the interior of a window, which sign may be seen through the window from the exterior of the structure.

(Ord. 15-1190, passed 9-16-15; Am. Ord. 22-1794, passed 9-21-22)

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