# Sign Regulations in Buffalo Grove, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Buffalo Grove, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/buffalo-grove
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-25
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Buffalo_Grove/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT14SICO)

## At a glance

Buffalo Grove, Illinois regulates 6 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Identification Signs in the Residential Zoning Districts (R-E to R-7) zoning district are capped at 5 feet tall and 16 square feet, with a Must not project into any required building setback area setback (Sec. 14.16.010 - Residential districts, 3.). Most commercial signs in Buffalo Grove require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-E to R-7) | 2 | 5 feet | 16 square feet | — |
| Multiple-Family Dwelling Districts (R-8 and R-9) | 1 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Office and Research Zoning District | 1 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Business Districts (B-1 to B-5) | 2 | 15 feet | 120 square feet | — |
| Industrial District | 2 | 15 feet | 120 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 4 feet | 12 square feet | — |

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

### Residential Zoning Districts (R-E to R-7)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per occupancy | Flat against a building or part of an architectural feature | — | 14.16.010 - Residential districts, 1. |
| Identification Sign | 5 feet | 16 square feet | — | Must not project into any required building setback area | One per developed parcel | Flat against a building or part of an architectural feature | — | 14.16.010 - Residential districts, 3. |

### Business Districts (B-1 to B-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not greater than one-half of the portion of the building above the lintel | Varies based on store frontage | Not greater than one-third of the occupants store frontage | — | One per business | Over primary entrance | — | 14.16.070 - Wall signs |
| Ground Sign | 15 feet | 120 square feet | — | Setback from public right-of-way as required | One per developed parcel | Minimum 150 feet from any permanent ground sign on the same side of the street | — | 14.16.060 - Ground signs |

### Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 15 feet | 120 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from property line | One per occupant | Minimum 10 feet from property line | — | 14.16.040 - Industrial district |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies based on building occupancy | — | — | One per occupancy | Flat against a building | — | 14.16.040 - Industrial district |

## Prohibited signs in Buffalo Grove

- No sign shall be permitted which is animated by means of flashing, scintillating, blinking or traveling lights or any other means not providing constant illumination.
- The tacking, posting or otherwise affixing of signs visible from a public way, located on the walls of buildings, barns, sheds, on trees, poles, posts, fences or other structures is prohibited unless otherwise permitted by this Title.
- No sign or any portion thereof shall be permitted which moves or assumes any motion consisting of a nonstationary or fixed condition except for the rotation of barber poles or permissible changing signs.
- No person shall park any vehicle or trailer, which has a sign placed thereon or affixed thereto, on a public right-of-way, public property, or on private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be permitted which is placed on any crosswalk, curb, curbstone, sidewalk, post, pole, stake, electrolier, hydrant, bridge, tree or other surface located on public property or over or across any street or public thoroughfare except as authorized.
- Rope lighting, flexible lighting, series lighting and other similar applications window trimming are prohibited if visible from a public way.
- Swinging signs are prohibited.
- Visible angle iron frames or structures to support projecting signs are prohibited.
- Flashing lights or flashing signs located inside a premises are expressly prohibited if visible from a public way.
- Signs that bear or contain statements, words or pictures of an obscene, pornographic, immoral character, or which contain advertising matter which is untruthful are prohibited.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor or visible matter, including but not limited to fog are prohibited.
- Signs for advertising which purport to be, or are an imitation of, or resemble an official traffic sign or signal, or which bear the words 'Stop,' 'Go Slow,' 'Caution,' 'Danger,' 'Warning,' or similar words are prohibited.
- Signs which by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed as a traffic control sign, signal or device, or a warning sign, or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle, or which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal or device are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Buffalo Grove

- Directional or Incidental Signs that provide direction or instruction, are located entirely on the property to which they pertain, do not exceed 4 square feet in area, are not illuminated and do not have any electrical components.
- Flags, with a maximum of 3 flags permitted for each building on a Developed Parcel, each flag pole a maximum of 50 feet in height, and each flag a maximum of 100 square feet.
- Governmental signs for control of traffic, regulatory purposes and to provide government public service announcements.
- House numbers, name plates and plaques not exceeding 2 square feet in area for each residential building.
- Signs located within the interior of any building or stadium, or within any enclosed lobby or court of any building, and signs located within the inner or outer lobby that are not visible from the public right-of-way or not intended to be visible from the exterior of the building.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of 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.
- No-trespassing or no-dumping signs not to exceed 1 ½ square feet in area per sign, and not exceeding 4 in number per lot.
- Notice bulletin boards not over 24 square feet in area for medical, public, charitable or religious institutions where the same are located on the premises of said institution.
- One sign for each dwelling unit not to exceed 2 square feet in area indicating the name and/or address of the occupant.
- Political signs announcing political candidates seeking public office, political parties, and/or political and public issues contained on election ballots may be placed on private property.
- Official notices posted by public officers or employees in the performance of their duties.
- Signs required or specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance.
- One real estate sign on any lot or parcel, provided such sign is located entirely within the property to which the sign applies, is not directly illuminated and does not exceed 8 square feet in area.
- Real estate open house signs on any lot or parcel, provided each sign is not directly illuminated and does not exceed 6 square feet in area.
- Religious symbols, commemorative plaques or identification emblems of religious orders or recognized service organizations, provided that no such symbol, plaque or identification emblems shall exceed four square feet in area.
- Temporary signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area pertaining to drives or events of civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations.
- Signs warning the public of the existence of danger, but containing no advertising material.
- Signs on properties zoned within a Residential District which display noncommercial information that contains constitutionally protected content.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Uniform Sign Package must be approved by the Village before any permits for individual signs conforming to such sign program shall be issued.
- Proposals for Uniform Sign Packages shall be reviewed in accordance with the Village Appearance Plan. A report and recommendation pertaining to the review shall be forwarded to the Planning & Zoning Commission by staff and subsequently the Village Board for final approval.
- Any deviations to the Uniform Sign Package shall be reviewed in accordance with the Village Appearance Plan. A variation or appeal may be pursued in adherence to Chapter 14.40.

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

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