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.
(c) Such real estate signs must be removed within two days of closing or lease transaction.
(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.
(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.
(c) Such real estate signs must be removed within two days of closing or lease transaction.
(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)