# Sign Regulations in Bloomingdale, Illinois

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Bloomingdale, Illinois, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Bloomingdale, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/bloomingdale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Bloomingdale, Illinois regulates 28 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Development Identification Sign (Residential Subdivision or PUD)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 9 ft tall, 35 sq ft per side, 2 sides (70 sq ft total), and 24 in thickness wide, with a 15 ft from all property lines and curb of access drive, but at least 20 ft from curb of public street setback (Sec. 11-14-9(C)). Most commercial signs in Bloomingdale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 9 ft | 100 sq ft per face (on Lake St, Army Trail Rd, Gary Ave); 50 sq ft per face (other streets) | — |
| Residence Districts (R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-2B, R-2C, R-3, R-4, R-5) | 7 | 9 ft | 35 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4), Planned Unit Development Districts (for Commercial Uses, 250 Acres Or More) | 13 | 9 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| O-D Office Districts | 2 | 9 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| R-R Hotel-Motel Resort And Recreational Districts | 2 | 9 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| M-1 Manufacturing Districts | 2 | 9 ft | 100 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 9 ft | 100 sq ft per face (on Lake St, Army Trail Rd, Gary Ave); 50 sq ft per face (other streets) | — | 15 ft from any property line or back of curb of adjacent access drive; 20 ft from back of curb of adjacent public street | One per street frontage per project | Confined to construction site | — | 11-14-9(A) |
| Directional/Instructional Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | No maximum | As necessary for safety, location approved by Building Commissioner | — | 11-14-9(B) |
| Development Identification Sign (Residential Subdivision or PUD) | 9 ft | 35 sq ft per side, 2 sides (70 sq ft total) | 24 in thickness | 15 ft from all property lines and curb of access drive, but at least 20 ft from curb of public street | One per development; additional for multiple entrances if approved | Entry monuments; each PUD, subdivision, or retail commercial development 3 acres+ | — | 11-14-9(C) |
| Development Identification Sign (Retail Commercial/Multiuse PUD 3 acres+) | 9 ft | 63 sq ft per side, 2 sides (126 sq ft total) | 24 in thickness | 15 ft from all property lines and curb of access drive, at least 20 ft from curb of public street | One per development | Entry or along street | — | 11-14-9(C) |
| Commercial Real Estate Sign (Development 3 acres+) | 9 ft | 32 sq ft per face; 58 sq ft if combined with freestanding business identification sign | — | 15 ft from all property lines and curb of access drive, at least 20 ft from curb of public street | One per street frontage, max two per development | On premises for sale/lease/rent | — | 11-14-9(D) |
| Commercial Real Estate Sign (Development < 3 acres) | 5 ft | 16 sq ft per face | — | 15 ft from all property lines and curb of access drive, at least 20 ft from curb of public street | One per street frontage, max two per development | On premises for sale/lease/rent | — | 11-14-9(D) |
| Banner Sign (Nonprofit/Governmental Org) | Banners on poles: 6 ft; not to project higher than 18 ft above grade | 5% of projected elevation of facade, max 150 sq ft | Banners on poles: 2.5 ft | — | 2 per pole | On building or on poles in parking lots or designated public rights-of-way | — | 11-14-9(E) |

### Residence Districts (R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-2B, R-2C, R-3, R-4, R-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Real Estate Sign | 5 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | 5 ft minimum | 1 per lot (2 for corner lots) | On premises for sale/lease/rent | — | 11-14-10(A) |
| Home Occupation/Nameplate Sign | 5 ft | 1 sq ft | — | 8 ft minimum | 1 per zoning lot | On premises | — | 11-14-10(B) |
| Church Sign (Gary/Lake/Army Trail/Schick/Bloomingdale/Glen Ellyn Rd) | 9 ft | 35 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property lines/access drive curb; 20 ft from public street curb | 1 per lot (2 for corner lot) | On property of church | — | 11-14-10(C) |
| Church Sign (Other public rights-of-way) | 9 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property lines/access drive curb; 20 ft from public street curb | 1 per lot (2 for corner lot) | On property of church | — | 11-14-10(C) |
| Building Identification Sign (Multi-family/Institutional) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building (2 for multiple entrances) | Wall mounted | — | 11-14-10(D) |
| Garage and Rummage Sale Signs (On-premises) | 5 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises (2 for corner lots), 3 additional locations off premises w/permission | On premises of sale | — | 11-14-10(E) |
| Banner Sign (Grand Opening PUD) | Banners on poles: 6 ft; not to project higher than 18 ft above grade | 5% of facade; max 150 sq ft | Banners on poles: 2.5 ft | — | Max 2 per pole | On building or on poles at entrance/along public ROW | — | 11-14-10(F) |

### Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4), Planned Unit Development Districts (for Commercial Uses, 250 Acres Or More)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Option 1 | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business, or 2 for multiple business frontages | Front, side, or rear wall (one per frontage, max 2 for multiple business frontages) | — | 11-14-11(A) |
| Wall Sign (Unified Shopping Center, Outlot, or Retail PUD) (Distance 75-200 ft from arterial ROW) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | See unified shopping center notes in code | Business frontage parallel to arterial street ROW; see code for detailed location. | — | 11-14-11(A)(6)(b) |
| Wall Sign (Unified Shopping Center, Outlot, or Retail PUD) (Distance 200-500 ft from arterial ROW) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | See unified shopping center notes in code | Business frontage parallel to arterial street ROW | — | 11-14-11(A)(6)(b) |
| Wall Sign (Unified Shopping Center, Outlot, or Retail PUD) (Distance 500+ ft from arterial ROW) | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | See unified shopping center notes in code | Business frontage parallel to arterial street ROW | — | 11-14-11(A)(6)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | 9 ft | 35 sq ft per side (2 sides, total 70 sq ft). For 3+ acre PUD: 63 sq ft per side (2 sides, 126 sq ft total) | 16 in thickness | 15 ft from property line or access drive, may be reduced to 5 ft in certain circumstances, but not placed closer than other signs in vicinity (within 300 ft either direction); always at least 20 ft from curb of public street | One per lot | One per lot of record | — | 11-14-11(B) |
| Freestanding Sign with Gasoline Pricing Panel | 5 ft (pricing sign); combined sign as per freestanding limit (9 ft) | Pricing panel: 10 sq ft per side; combined with business ID sign: max 45 sq ft per side | — | 15 ft from all property lines and access drive curb; 20 ft from public street curb | 1 | Gas station premises | — | 11-14-11(E)(4) |
| Seasonal Banner Display (Holiday) | 6 ft (on pole); max height above grade 18 ft | Banner on pole: 6 ft high x 2.5 ft wide | 2.5 ft | — | 2 per pole | Poles in customer parking lots | — | 11-14-11(F)(2) |
| Feather Sign | 8 ft | 2 ft width, 8 ft height from grade | 2 ft | — | 2 per business/tenant, 4 per shopping center | On private property (not right-of-way) | — | 11-14-11(I) |

## Prohibited signs in Bloomingdale

- Any sign not specifically permitted under the terms of this chapter or of the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971 is prohibited.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons are prohibited.
- Pennants are prohibited.
- Strings of lights are prohibited, except those exempt by the terms of this chapter (see 'decorative lighting').
- Beacons are prohibited, except as permitted for certain grand openings and as specified in business districts.
- Box signs are prohibited.
- Off-site signage is prohibited except for certain allowances provided for by specific sections.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to obstruct free access to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No sign containing advertising shall be attached or affixed to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner as to obstruct the vision of drivers or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any street/traffic sign or control device.
- No sign shall use words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters that interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- Moving, rotating, animated, LED-based, or electronically generated graphic display signs that create the illusion of movement are prohibited, except where specifically allowed.
- Decorative lighting is prohibited except for temporary holiday lighting for up to 45 days per year.
- Changeable copy signs are prohibited except as provided in specific exceptions.
- Except for official governmental signs, no signs may be erected on trees, utility poles, traffic standards or other public sign standards or in public rights-of-way.
- The placement and use of decorative lighting (as defined) is prohibited except temporary legal/religious holiday lighting for up to 45 days.
- Parking of vehicles bearing signs to serve as a freestanding sign or for advertising purposes is prohibited.
- Parking a vehicle bearing a sign in public view which is not in operating condition or lacks current registration is prohibited.
- Outdoor display of merchandise to attract attention to a business is prohibited except by special use permit.
- Billboards may only be allowed along certain highways in certain districts and must comply with all specified restrictions.
- Any sign which no longer identifies a bona fide business or use ('abandoned, obsolete signs') must be removed.
- All signs must be maintained in safe, presentable, and good structural condition at all times.
- No sign shall be erected, repaired, altered, changed, relocated or maintained except in conformance with the regulations for its zoning district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bloomingdale

- Interior signs completely within an enclosed building and not intended to be visible from outside the building.
- Monuments and markers: tablets, grave markers, headstones, statuary, or remembrances of persons or events which are noncommercial in nature.
- Noncommercial decorations or displays celebrating legal or religious holidays, erected for less than 45 days; such displays may be illuminated.
- Signs on vehicles while operated in the normal course of a business which is not primarily the display of such signs.
- Residential real estate signs offering for sale, lease or rent the property on which they are placed.
- No trespassing or no dumping signs not exceeding 2 sq ft per sign, max 4 per acre.
- Political signs/posters announcing or describing candidates/issues, limited to 24 sq ft; not permitted on public property or without property owner's written consent.
- Garage and rummage sale signs announcing occasional sale of personal property at a private residence.
- Employment or help wanted signs placed in the window of an establishment in commercial, office or industrial districts (aggregate not to exceed 6 sq ft, no more than 2 signs per establishment).
- Window signs advertising a retail sale promotion or special event, subject to specified regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Site plans are required for freestanding signs as part of the permit application process, showing exact location, setback, and other details.
- Unified shopping centers and retail planned developments require submission of plans and documentation for tenant wall signage, reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by the Village Board, covering sign area, design uniformity, copy, letter height, color styling, logos, and layout.
- Development identification signs for planned developments, subdivisions, or commercial developments of 3 acres or more must be reviewed at a public meeting by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by the Village Board.
- Development ordinances for individual projects may contain their own signage regulations, which override the general sign regulations unless the owner opts for the most restrictive.
- Exceptions or variances from the ordinance, including requests for nonconforming signs to be made conforming, are subject to review and recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission with Village Board approval at a public meeting.
- In unified shopping centers/planned developments, signage may be subject to additional 'uniform design framework' requirements (compatibility of structure, materials, color, illumination, etc.), often detailed in the development ordinance.
- Certain banner and temporary signage approvals (for nonprofits, grand openings, etc.) require submission of letters, mounting details, and site plans for review and approval prior to display.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 6 zoning districts in Bloomingdale — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bloomingdale+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bloomingdale

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