# Sign Regulations in Bourbonnais, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bourbonnais, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/bourbonnais
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Bourbonnais/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH36ZO_ARTIXSI)

## At a glance

Bourbonnais, Illinois regulates 29 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Residential)s in the Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7) zoning district are capped at 5 ft. tall and 32 s.f., with a 10 ft. from property lines (waived if lower by 3 ft, see details) setback (Sec. Table 36-9-5(b)(1)). Most commercial signs in Bourbonnais 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 | 4 | 14 in. (for exclusion from sign area calculation) | — | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7) | 8 | 6 ft. | 32 s.f. | — |
| Business District (B-1, B-2) | 14 | Max 12 ft. | Max 200 s.f. | — |
| I-57 District | 10 | 32 ft. | Max 200 s.f. | — |
| Manufacturing District (M-1, M-2) | 9 | 10 ft. | Max 200 s.f. | — |
| U-1 District | 7 | Large: 25 ft.; Medium: 18 ft.; Small: 12 ft. | Max 200 s.f. | — |

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

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | R-1: 25 s.f.; R-2: 35 s.f.; R-3: 35 s.f.; R-4: 30 s.f.; R-5: 30 s.f.; R-6, R-7: 30 s.f. | — | — | R-1: 1 per building; R-2: 1 per building; R-3: 1 per facade; R-4/5/6/7: 1 per building | One per building (R-2: per facade). | — | Table 36-9-5(a)(1) |
| Fascia Sign or Parapet Sign | — | R-2: 35 s.f.; R-3: 20 s.f.; R-4: 35 s.f.; R-5: 35 s.f.; R-6, R-7: 35 s.f. | — | — | R-2: 1 per building; R-3: 1 per facade; R-4/5/6/7: 1 per building | One per building (R-2: per facade). | — | Table 36-9-5(a)(1) |
| Monument Sign (Residential) | 5 ft. | 32 s.f. | — | 10 ft. from property lines (waived if lower by 3 ft, see details) | 2 per subdivision/development access | 2 signs per subdivision or development access, commonly owned open space | — | Table 36-9-5(b)(1) |
| Monument Sign (Nonresidential) | R-1: 4 ft.; R-3: 6 ft.; R-4: 4 ft. | R-1: 12 s.f.; R-3: 32 s.f.; R-4: 12 s.f. | — | 10 ft. from property lines (or less under certain criteria) | 1 per parcel | 1 per nonresidential parcel | — | Table 36-9-5(b)(1) |
| Bus Stop and Transit Shelter Bench Signs | — | Integrated into shelter/bench; size per function not for display | — | — | As incorporated into permitted shelter(s) | Incorporated into transit shelter designs | — | Table 36-9-5(b)(1) |
| Yard Sign (Temporary) | R-1, R-4: 4 ft.; R-3: 5 ft. | R-1: 6 s.f. per sign/24 s.f. total; R-3: 6 s.f./36 s.f.; R-4: 6 s.f./24 s.f. | — | 5 ft. from property lines | No maximum (within area restrictions) | No maximum, provided size/height restrictions are met | — | Table 36-9-7(a)(1) |
| Swing Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft. | 5 s.f. (incl. up to 2 riders) | — | 5 ft. from property lines | 1 per lot (R-3: 1 per frontage) | 1 per lot (R-3: 1 per frontage) | — | Table 36-9-7(a)(1) |
| Site Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft. | 12 s.f. | — | 5 ft. from property lines | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Table 36-9-7(a)(1) |

### Business District (B-1, B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Primary | — | Max 200 s.f. | — | — | 1 per facade | 1 per facade | — | Table 36-9-5(a)(2) |
| Wall Sign - Secondary | — | B-1, B-2: 35 s.f. | — | — | 1 per entrance | 1 per primary building entrance (additional to primary wall signage) | — | Table 36-9-5(a)(2) |
| Awning Sign | — | 5 s.f. | — | — | 1 per awning | 1 per awning | — | Table 36-9-5(a)(2) |
| Blade Sign or Shingle | Max 12 ft. | B-2: 8 s.f. | — | — | 1 per entrance | 1 per entrance; under awnings/arcades on front facade only | — | Table 36-9-5(a)(2) |
| Sidewalk Sign (Detached, Permanent) | One per frontage up to 10 ft.; all others up to 5 ft. | One per street frontage up to 48 s.f.; all others up to 10 s.f. | — | 10 ft. from property lines | See location | 1 per street frontage and 1 per ingress/egress; must leave 4 ft. of sidewalk width, outside pedestrian path. | — | Table 36-9-5(b)(2) |
| Kiosk Sign | 10 ft. | 12 s.f. | — | 10 ft. from vehicular area | — | Set back 10 ft. from vehicular area; within 2 ft. of sidewalk; spaced 150 ft. apart unless sight obstruction. | — | Table 36-9-5(b)(2) |
| Directional Sign (Nonresidential) | 5 ft. | 10 s.f. | — | — | 1 per ingress/egress | 1 per ingress/egress, outside main pedestrian travel path, must leave 4 ft. of sidewalk width | — | Table 36-9-5(b)(2) |
| Site Sign (Temporary) | 8 ft. | 32 s.f. | — | 5 ft. from property lines | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage, 5 ft. setback | — | Table 36-9-7(a)(2) |

### I-57 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Primary | — | Max 200 s.f. | — | — | 1 per facade | 1 per facade | — | Table 36-9-5(a)(2) |
| Wall Sign - Secondary | — | 40 s.f. | — | — | 1 per entrance | 1 per primary entrance | — | Table 36-9-5(a)(2) |
| Awning Sign | — | 5 s.f. | — | — | 1 per awning | 1 per awning | — | Table 36-9-5(a)(2) |
| Monument Sign or Pole Sign (Freeway Oriented Commercial or Mixed-Use) | 32 ft. | 150 s.f. | — | 10 ft. from all property lines | 1 per qualifying development (see eligibility) | Yard abutting I-57 | — | Sec. 36-9-5(b)(3) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 10 ft. | 48 s.f. | — | — | 2 per ingress/egress | 2 per ingress/egress to district | — | Table 36-9-5(b)(2) |
| Multi-Tenant Electronic Message Center | Large: 25 ft.; Medium: 18 ft.; Small: 12 ft. | See Table 36-9-8(c): Large max. sign height 25 ft.; EMC component max 8'x12'; eligibility min. 200,000 s.f. floor area; Medium: 18 ft. high, 6'x9' EMC, 75,000 s.f. min.; Small: 12 ft. high, 4'x6' EMC, 15,000 s.f. min. | — | Large: 500 ft. from residential, 10 ft. other lines; Medium: 250 ft. from residential, 10 ft. others; Small: 100 ft. from residential, 10 ft. others. | See eligibility | Along specified ROW, per development eligibility | — | Sec. 36-9-8(c) |
| Directional Sign (Nonresidential) | 5 ft. | 10 s.f. | — | — | 1 per ingress/egress | 1 per ingress/egress, see placement requirements. | — | Table 36-9-5(b)(2) |
| Site Sign (Temporary) | 8 ft. | 32 s.f. | — | 5 ft. from property lines | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage, 5 ft. setback | — | Table 36-9-7(a)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Bourbonnais

- Signs with more than two sign faces.
- Signs that are a traffic hazard because they simulate or imitate (in size, color, lettering, or design) any traffic sign or signal.
- Animated or moving signs that are visible from public rights-of-way, including any moving, swinging, rotating, flashing, blinking, scintillating, fluctuating, or otherwise animated light (except as allowed for message centers).
- Vehicle signs.
- Portable signs, except as specifically permitted for temporary signs.
- Billboards, except as provided in the billboard section.
- Inflatable signs and signs otherwise animated or supported by manufactured air pressure.
- Sound, smoke, or odor emitters as an element of signs or sign structures.
- Awnings that are back lit and/or made of plastic.
- Stacked products (e.g., tires, soft drink cases, bagged soil or mulch) as sign elements.
- Unfinished wood support structures, except stake signs may use unfinished stakes.
- Flags, banners, or comparable elements designed to move in the wind that are not affixed to permanent flagpoles or flagpoles mounted to buildings, if visible from public rights-of-way.
- Spinning or moving parts visible from public rights-of-way.
- Exposed reflective type bulb or strobe lights visible from public rights-of-way.
- Flashing lights visible from public rights-of-way.
- Motor vehicles used as signs unless: (i) vehicles are functional, have current registration and tags; (ii) display of signage is incidental to vehicle use; (iii) properly parked.
- Semi-trailers, shipping containers, or portable storage units used as signs unless: (i) used for primary storage purpose and, if applicable, have current registration; (ii) display of signage is incidental to storage use; (iii) parked in designated area or construction site.
- Text or graphics of an indecent or immoral nature and harmful to minors.
- Text or graphics that advertise unlawful activity.
- Text or graphics that are obscene, fighting words, defamation, incitement to imminent lawless action, or true threats.
- Text or graphics that present a clear and present danger due to potential confusion with traffic control or public safety signs.
- Signs obstructing building ingress or egress, including doors, windows, fire escapes, or required exitways.
- Signs obstructing openings required for ventilation, except over transoms if building code allows.
- Signs obstructing features necessary for public safety, including standpipes and fire hydrants.
- Signs within any sight triangle or sight distance required by the subdivision ordinance.
- Signs mounted on trees.
- Signs mounted on utility poles, light poles, or utility cabinets (except signs by the Village or utility for public safety or identification).
- Signs located in or over public rights-of-way (exceptions for certain government/event signs, banners posted by village, or signs in an approved sign design program).
- Signs in locations with less clearance from power lines than permitted by state law or regulation.
- Signs within easements for overhead utilities (unless approved by utility and other requirements are met).
- No sign face shall contain more than 20 items of information.
- Signs that do not display a message for more than 30 days are considered abandoned.
- Signs that are not maintained according to standards (e.g., peeling paint, corrosion, not level, unresolved mineral deposits or stains) are declared a nuisance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bourbonnais

- Official and legal notice signs issued by any court, public body, person, or officer in performance of a public duty, or for giving legal notice.
- Signs affixed to a building or structure not exceeding one square foot in area (one per elevation visible from public rights-of-way or neighboring property); and signs less than three-fourths of a square foot affixed to machines, equipment, fences, gates, walls, gasoline pumps, public telephones, or utility cabinets.
- Flags not larger than 30 square feet in area affixed to permanent flagpoles or flagpoles mounted to buildings.
- Signs being carried by people (but not if set down or propped).
- Bumper stickers on vehicles.
- Interior signs not visible from residential lots, abutting property, or public rights-of-way.
- Traffic control signs and other public safety signs installed by or required to be installed by the Village or another jurisdiction.
- Displays of bare light bulbs for not more than 60 consecutive days nor more than 60 total days in any one year, provided they do not create a nuisance to adjacent property or traffic.
- Street address signs as required by the ordinance; these required address signs and their numbers/letters (not more than 14 inches in height) are excluded from sign area calculations.
- Signs installed with valid permits before the effective date of the ordinance (if constructed on time and in accordance with approved plans), subject to nonconforming sign rules.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Generally, all construction, relocation, enlargement, alteration, and modification of signs require conformance with the ordinance and are subject to sign permit approval, unless specifically exempted.
- A sign permit is required for all permitted signs exceeding six square feet in area, unless otherwise exempted.
- Signs that are illuminated must have an electrical permit, and the village may require photometric plans demonstrating compliance with illumination requirements as a condition of permit issuance.
- The village may require applicants to submit photometric plans for illuminated or electronic message centers as a condition to issuance of a sign permit.
- For some exceptions (e.g., signs in an approved intergovernmental agreement, or as part of a government-approved 'sign design program'), alternate approval or plans may be required, but these are not explicitly called 'master sign plan' in the provided text.
- Eligibility for a multi-tenant electronic message center must be established through the sign permit application, including identification of tenants eligible for signage. Otherwise, sign plans or site plans are not explicitly required for all signs.

## 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 Bourbonnais — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bourbonnais+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bourbonnais

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