# Sign Regulations in Brookfield, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brookfield, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/brookfield
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Brookfield/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH42SI)

## At a glance

Brookfield, Illinois regulates 26 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Non-Residential Use)s in the Residential Districts (A, A-1, A-2, A-3, B, B-1) zoning district are capped at 8 feet above grade tall and 40 sq ft, with a Not within 5 feet of right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)D). Most commercial signs in Brookfield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (A, A-1, A-2, A-3, B, B-1) | 8 | 72 inches (6 feet) above ground | 100 sq ft | — |
| Station Area Districts (SA 1, SA 2, SA 3, SA 4, SA 5, SA 6) | 10 | 72 inches | 100 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5) | 10 | 42 inches | 100 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2) | 6 | Mounted not higher than 16 ft from ground; cannot extend higher than roof except single-story (+2 ft) | 100 sq ft | — |
| Open Space Districts (S-1, S-2) | 6 | Mounted not higher than 16 ft; may extend up to 2 ft over roof on one-story bldg | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential Districts (A, A-1, A-2, A-3, B, B-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning/Canopy Sign (Non-Residential Use) | Top not higher than height of building or 15 feet above grade, whichever is lower | — | May not project more than 5 feet from building | — | Max two permanent sign types per lot | Building wall with at least 7 feet clearance from ground to lowest element | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)A |
| Changeable Copy Manual Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 72 inches (6 feet) above ground | 30 sq ft | — | — | Max one per lot | 15 feet minimum from any other lot, parcel, or tract | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)B |
| Monument Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 8 feet above grade | 40 sq ft | — | Not within 5 feet of right-of-way | Max one monument or freestanding sign per lot | Front yards only; not within 5 feet of public right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)D |
| Nameplate Sign for Multi-Family Building | 7 feet above ground | 2 sq ft | — | 15 feet from property line | Max one per dwelling unit | Affixed to building or in front yard; no closer than 15 feet to property line | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)E |
| Projecting Sign (Non-Residential Use) | Mounted not higher than 16 ft from ground; cannot extend higher than roof except on single-story bldgs (+2 ft) | 20 sq ft | — | — | Max one per frontage | No lower than 13 feet above ground; 1 per street frontage; only on buildings with street frontage | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)F |
| Wall Sign (Non-Residential Use) | No higher than height of building or 15 ft above grade (whichever lower); no lower than 7ft 6in above grade | 100 sq ft | — | — | Max two permanent sign types per lot | Attached to wall, face parallel to wall | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)G |
| Banner Sign (Non-Residential Use) | No higher than building or 15 ft above grade; no lower than 7ft 6in above grade | 80 sq ft | — | — | Max one per non-residential use at a time | On building | — | Sec. 42-87, Table; Sec. 42-88(1)B |
| Temporary Residential Sign | 42 inches above ground | 6 sq ft | — | 3 feet from property line; 15 feet from other lot/parcel/tract | Up to 2 per property | Min. 3 ft from property line; min. 15 ft from other lot/parcel/tract | — | Sec. 42-87, Table; Sec. 42-88(1)C |

### Station Area Districts (SA 1, SA 2, SA 3, SA 4, SA 5, SA 6)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Top not higher than height of building or 15 feet above grade (whichever is lower) | — | May not project more than 5 feet from building | — | Max two permanent sign types per lot | Building wall; min. 7 ft clearance from ground to lowest element | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)A |
| Changeable Copy Manual Sign (Non-Residential Use, SA 5 & SA 6 only) | 72 inches | 30 sq ft | — | — | Max one per lot | 15 ft min from any other lot/parcel/tract | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)B |
| Monument Sign (Non-Residential Use, SA 3, SA 5, SA 6 only) | 8 feet above grade | 40 sq ft | — | Not within 5 feet of right-of-way | Max one monument or freestanding sign per lot | Front yards only; not within 5 feet of right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)D |
| Nameplate Sign for Multi-Family Building | 7 feet above ground | 2 sq ft | — | 15 feet from property line | Max one per dwelling unit | Affixed to building or in front yards; not less than 15 feet from property line | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)E |
| Projecting Sign | Mounted not higher than 16 ft from ground; cannot extend higher than roof except on one-story buildings (+2 ft) | 7 sq ft (SA 1-6, including nonresidential) | — | — | Max one per frontage | No lower than 13 feet above ground; max one per street frontage (corner lots, one per frontage) | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)F |
| Wall Sign | No higher than height of building or 15 ft above grade; no lower than 7ft 6in above grade | 100 sq ft | — | — | Max two permanent sign types per lot | Attached to wall; face parallel to wall | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)G |
| A-Frame Sign (SA 1-4; Non-Residential Use SA 5-6) | 4 feet | 8 sq ft | — | — | Max one per non-residential use | Sidewalk; must maintain at least 4 feet sidewalk clearance | — | Sec. 42-87, Table; Sec. 42-88(1)A |
| Temporary Residential Sign | 42 inches above ground | 6 sq ft | — | 3 ft from property line; 15 ft from other lot/parcel/tract | Max two per property | Min. 3 ft from property line; Min. 15 ft from other lot/parcel/tract | — | Sec. 42-87, Table; Sec. 42-88(1)C |

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Top no higher than building or 15 ft above grade | — | Project max 5 ft from wall | — | Max two permanent sign types per lot | Building wall; min 7 ft clearance to lowest part | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)A |
| Freestanding Sign (C-1 only) | 15 ft above curb level | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way | Max one monument or freestanding sign per lot | Front yards only; not on/over/within 5 ft of right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)C |
| Monument Sign (C-1, C-4, C-5) | 8 ft above grade | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way | Max one monument or freestanding sign per lot | Front yards only; not within 5 ft of right-of-way | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)D |
| Nameplate Sign for Multi-Family Building (C-3, C-4, C-5 only) | 7 feet | 2 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line | Max one per dwelling unit | Affixed to building or front yard; no closer than 15 ft to property line | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)E |
| Projecting Sign | Max 16 ft above ground; cannot extend higher than roof except on one-story, where allowed +2 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | Max one per frontage | No lower than 13 ft above ground; on buildings with street frontage; max 1 per frontage | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)F |
| Wall Sign | No higher than building or 15 ft above grade, no lower than 7ft 6in above grade | 100 sq ft | — | — | Max two permanent sign types per lot | On wall, face parallel to building wall | — | Sec. 42-85, Table; Sec. 42-86(2)G |
| A-Frame Sign (C-3, C-4, C-5) | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | Max one per non-residential use | Sidewalk (must maintain 4 ft of pedestrian space) | — | Sec. 42-87, Table; Sec. 42-88(1)A |
| Temporary Residential Sign | 42 inches | 6 sq ft | — | 3 ft from property line; 15 ft from other lot/parcel/tract | Max two per property | Min 3 ft from property line, 15 ft from other lot/parcel/tract | — | Sec. 42-87, Table; Sec. 42-88(1)C |

## Prohibited signs in Brookfield

- Each lot is permitted to have only two permanent sign types, provided they are both permitted.
- All permanent signs must have at least 50 percent of the sign face occupied by sign copy (not applicable to a blank side of a double-sided permanent sign).
- All permanent signs must use colors that are restrained or harmonious with each other and to the building they reflect.
- Only one temporary sign type is permitted per business at a time.
- Temporary residential signs may not be located closer than three feet from the property line and must be at least 15 feet from any other lot, parcel or tract.
- No more than two temporary residential signs are permitted per property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Brookfield

- Temporary residential signs are permitted without a permit if they conform to the standards listed in Section 42-88(C).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Landscaping around the base of monument signs must be indicated on the rendering of the sign or by a list of plantings included with the sign permit application (Section 42-86.D.3.a).

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

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