# Sign Regulations in Broadview, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Broadview, Illinois regulates 27 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Flags in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Up to 25 ft. for single-family, 30 ft. for buildings up to 25 ft. tall, 35 ft. for buildings over 25 ft. tall and 50 sq. ft. (except U.S. Flag exempt from size restriction), with a 10 ft. setback (Sec. 10-9-15(E), (F), (G), (H), (B), (C), (D)). Most commercial signs in Broadview require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | Up to 25 ft. for single-family, 30 ft. for buildings up to 25 ft. tall, 35 ft. for buildings over 25 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (except U.S. Flag exempt from size restriction) | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts, Single-Family Zoning Districts, Multi-Family Zoning Districts | 7 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Nonresidential Zoning Districts, Business Zoning Districts, C-1, C-2, I, O/I, M, O/I - Office/Industrial | 20 | 30 ft. or 2 stories, whichever is less; must not extend above roofline | 150 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Public right-of-way or property as required by law | — | 10-9-4(A); 10-9-14(A) |
| Flag | Up to 25 ft. for single-family, 30 ft. for buildings up to 25 ft. tall, 35 ft. for buildings over 25 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (except U.S. Flag exempt from size restriction) | — | 10 ft. | Max 1 pole per 100 ft. frontage (nonresidential); 2 flags per pole | On permanent flagpoles; set back minimum 10 ft. from property line. | — | 10-9-15(E), (F), (G), (H), (B), (C), (D) |

### Residential Zoning Districts, Single-Family Zoning Districts, Multi-Family Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign - Temporary | — | 35% of window area per windowpane | — | — | — | Interior surface of glass, not above first floor | — | 10-9-8(B)(1); 10-9-12(B)(5) |
| Residential Real Estate Sign - Temporary | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building/dwelling unit/lot | On property offered for sale/lease/rent/sold | — | 10-9-8(B)(2); 10-9-12(B)(4) |
| Political Sign - Temporary | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | No limit unless traffic/pedestrian safety hazard is created | Placement allowed on private property, not in public right-of-way | — | 10-9-8(B)(3); 10-9-12(B)(7) |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign - Temporary | — | 6 sq. ft. (2 ft. x 3 ft.) | — | — | Max 2 per lot | Lot where sale is held | — | 10-9-8(B)(4); 4-12-6 |
| Construction Sign - Temporary (Multi-Family/Permitted Taxing District Use) | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from any public right-of-way | 1 per zoning lot | On premises of construction | — | 10-9-8(B)(5); 10-9-12(B)(9) |
| Construction Sign - Temporary (Single-Family Use) | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from any public right-of-way | 1 per zoning lot | On premises of construction | — | 10-9-12(B)(9) |
| Identification Sign (Institutional/School/Taxing District Facility) | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from any lot line | 1 or 2 if split equally | Entrances/facility grounds | — | 10-9-8(C) |

### Nonresidential Zoning Districts, Business Zoning Districts, C-1, C-2, I, O/I, M, O/I - Office/Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole | 25 ft. (20 ft. in 9-8A-9) | 100 sq. ft. | — | 1 ft. from property line | 1 per lot | Per lot, shopping center, shopping center outlot or unified business center | — | 10-9-9(A)(1-8) |
| Freestanding Sign - Ground (Monument) | 10 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | 1 ft. from property line | 1 per lot | — | — | 10-9-9(A)(2-3,8) |
| Menu Board Sign (Business Zoning Districts Only) | 8 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per restaurant | Restaurants in business zoning districts with drive-throughs | — | 10-9-9(A)(10) |
| Wall Sign (C-2, I, O/I, M Zones) | 30 ft. or 2 stories, whichever is less; must not extend above roofline | 150 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per establishment (2 if corner unit; see additional requirements) | Facade with principal street frontage; may also be on nonresidential-facing side if area does not exceed max for principal frontage | — | 10-9-9(B)(3-11) |
| Wall Sign (C-1 Zone) | 30 ft. or 2 stories, whichever is less; must not extend above roofline | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per establishment (2 if corner unit; see additional requirements) | Facade with principal street frontage; may also be on nonresidential-facing side if area does not exceed max for principal frontage | — | 10-9-9(B)(4) |
| Construction Sign - Temporary | 10 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from any public right-of-way | 1 per zoning lot | On premises of construction | — | 10-9-12(B)(9)(d) (Nonresidential) |
| Banner Sign - Temporary | 12 ft. from grade, or height of first floor, whichever greater | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot or business (more if with permanent frame—1 per 75' frontage) | Affixed to wall (without permanent frame) or pole (with permanent frame) | — | 10-9-12(B)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign - Temporary | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per face | — | 5 ft. from public right-of-way | 1 per lot/business | Set back at least 5' from public right-of-way | — | 10-9-12(B)(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Broadview

- All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter or exempt from regulation are prohibited.
- Signs containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene or pornographic nature.
- Any sign or advertising device painted or displayed on any vehicle or trailer parked on the public right of way, public property, or private property so as to be prominently visible from a public right of way and parked for the flagrant purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business or activity.
- Signs nailed, tacked or otherwise affixed to trees or other vegetation in such a way as to puncture bark.
- Handbills, posters, notices, or similar attention-gathering devices posted or affixed on traffic control boxes, signs, lamp poles, utility poles, or traffic control support.
- Projecting signs.
- Animated signs.
- Any sign attached to a chimney, on a fence or fence-type wall, retaining wall, bench, fence post, refuse enclosure, utility box, storage shed, bus shelter, satellite dish, antenna, or other accessory structure.
- Any exterior string of lights or exposed light bulbs, except those temporarily displayed in conjunction with traditionally accepted civic, patriotic, or religious holidays for a duration not to exceed sixty (60) days.
- Any additional or subsequent sign painted on, attached, or otherwise affixed to poles or permitted signs.
- Portable signs.
- Off-site signs except as a special use in certain areas.
- Inflatable signs.
- Roof signs.
- Electronic changeable copy signs except as a special use per the referenced section.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained to prevent or inhibit free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape, or inhibit use of fire protection systems.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall interfere with any opening required for ventilation.
- No sign or its parts shall be permitted to be movable or rotating, nor shall any sign have illuminated effects which convey the illusion of movement.
- No fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, blinking, or flashing sign or attention gathering device.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be erected, installed or maintained in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or distract vehicle drivers by position, shape, color or lighting.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be erected or maintained in a manner likely to interfere with, obstruct the view of, or imitate/ resemble/ be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device; no use of the words 'stop', 'go', 'slow', 'look', 'caution', 'warning', 'danger' or similar, nor use of red, yellow, orange, green, or traffic-signal colored lights or lamps.

## Signs exempt from permit in Broadview

- Government signs: Any public notice, warning, directional, and other instructional or regulatory signs required by valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Interior signs: Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, which cannot be read from vehicles passing on adjoining streets.
- Nonsign decorations: Temporary displays, including holiday lights, decorations, painted window areas, works of art, flags (not exceeding 50 square feet), memorial signs, religious or historic symbols, and other displays with no commercial message.
- Traffic control signs: On private property, such as stop, yield, and similar signs which meet Illinois Dept. of Transportation standards, and which contain no commercial message.
- Memorial signs: Memorial signs or tablets listing names or buildings and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of the building or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
- Directional and warning signs: Signs, not exceeding five square feet in area, which provide instruction, direction or warning and are located entirely on the property to which they pertain to identify restrooms, public telephones, walkways, parking lot entrances and exits, and features of a similar nature or with respect to warnings (e.g., 'no trespassing', 'no dumping'). Parking lot entrance and exit signs shall not exceed five feet in height.
- Business nameplates: Nonelectrical nameplates denoting the business name of an occupation legally conducted on the premises, area not exceeding two square feet, no more than one sign per principal use.
- Vending machine signs: Permanent, nonflashing signs on vending machines, gasoline pumps, ice containers, ATMs, or similar machines that relate only to what is dispensed; illumination only on the front.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No permit shall be issued for a sign to be located in a unified business center until a comprehensive sign plan has been approved for the center and the sign complies with the provisions thereof.
- Permit applications for any new sign must include a master sign plan documenting all existing signs on the zoning lot, including their type and area, location, and the occupant of the site to which each sign pertains.
- Application for a unified business center sign plan must include a format for all signs to be used in the center, including size, color, location, illumination details, lettering type, and mounting details.
- Unified business center sign plans require approval by the village board, after review and recommendation of the plan commission.
- Any person seeking a variance must follow the procedure described in the ordinance, including public hearing and board approval.
- Applications for variations must include a site plan and detailed sign drawings/specifications.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Broadview, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Broadview+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-broadview

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