# Sign Regulations in Burbank, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Burbank, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/burbank
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Burbank/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_CH4BUST_ARTXBUSIOR)

## At a glance

Burbank, Illinois regulates 29 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Multi-Family)s in the Limited Multi-Family Residence District (R-2), Multi-Family Residence District (R-3) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 20 sq ft, with a 6 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 4-370(3)). Most commercial signs in Burbank 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 | 16 | 3.5 ft | 96 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residence District (R), Single-Family Residence District (R-1) | 2 | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — |
| Limited Multi-Family Residence District (R-2), Multi-Family Residence District (R-3) | 3 | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residence District (R), Single-Family Residence District (R-1), Limited Multi-Family Residence District (R-2), Multi-Family Residence District (R-3) | 1 | — | 30 sq ft for any single sign; max combined area per parcel 60 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C) | 4 | 25 ft | 500 sq ft | — |
| Automobile Dealers and Automobile Service Stations (Commercial District) | 3 | — | No limit, but not to exceed 50% window glass area per side | — |

## 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 | — | 40 sq ft (projects ≤10 acres) or 64 sq ft (projects >10 acres) | — | — | One per site | Confined to the site of the construction, construction shed or trailer | — | Sec. 4-368(1) |
| Real Estate For Sale or Lease Sign (over 6 sq ft) | — | 6 sq ft on tracts <1 acre, up to 40 sq ft on tracts ≥1 acre or on major/minor arterial or major collector roads | — | — | One per lot/parcel | On the commercial real estate to be sold or leased | — | Sec. 4-368(2) |
| Directional Sign | 3.5 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 4-368(7) |
| Parking Area Identification/Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per lot, per exit, per entrance | At parking area entrance/exit (not for single-family dwellings) | — | Sec. 4-368(8) |
| Window Sign (Temporary and Regular) | — | Temporary: 6 sq ft; Regular: see district regulations | — | — | Temporary: Max 2, only 1 of each type | In window, interior of building | — | Sec. 4-369(3, 10a-g); see also district regs for regular window signs |
| Public Sign | — | 8 sq ft for public event sign by government unit | — | — | — | On private property | — | Sec. 4-369(5, 12) |
| No Trespassing/Warning/Emergency Sign | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 2 | On lot | — | Sec. 4-369(9) |
| Political Sign | — | 16 sq ft per lot | — | — | — | Only on private property | — | Sec. 4-369(11) |

### Limited Multi-Family Residence District (R-2), Multi-Family Residence District (R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (Multi-Family Dwelling Unit) | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On dwelling unit | — | Sec. 4-370(3) |
| Identification Sign (Multi-Family) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 6 ft from property line | 1 per entrance | At each vehicular entrance from public ROW and at each major public entrance | — | Sec. 4-370(3) |
| Nameplate (Rental Office) | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per office entrance | At each major public entrance for offices | — | Sec. 4-370(3) |

### Commercial District (C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Identification Sign | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | See general setback: min 1 ft from ROW, not in parkway or sight triangle | One per lot; more for lots >300 ft or multiple frontages | Per frontage on public ROW (see restrictions for lots >300 ft, corners, and large developments) | — | Sec. 4-371(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | 500 sq ft | — | — | Max 4 (one per building side), + rear/entrance IDs as specified | On wall; 1 per side of building, up to 4; additional 4 sq ft sign for rear entrance not visible from any other sign. | — | Sec. 4-371(2) |
| Window Sign (Commercial District) | — | No limit to number; total not to exceed 50% of window glass area per side | — | — | No limit (area restriction only) | In window | — | Sec. 4-371(3) |
| Banner (Parking Lot Light Pole) | — | — | — | — | See size restrictions | Affixed to parking lot light poles along street or interior poles | — | Sec. 4-371(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Burbank

- No sign can be located or maintained in any required parking area or parking aisle.
- No sign may extend over the public right-of-way including the sidewalk.
- No sign shall be erected so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door or window, or any other point of access into a building nor shall any sign be erected so as to impair access to the roof of a building.
- The maximum height for the top of any sign shall be twenty-five (25) feet above the ground level.
- Portable signs except for new businesses for a maximum of thirty (30) days.
- Signs which are painted directly onto any exterior wall of any building or other structure.
- Signs in public rights-of-way which are not public signs or located on permitted bus shelters.
- Streamers, posters, ribbons, light strings, light bulbs, light bands, spinners, attention-getting devices that move, blinking, and festoon lighting, signs (other than neon signs) which contain bare, unshielded light or tubes which are visible from a public street or a private residence (with limited exceptions for holiday/special day lighting).
- Signs attached to trees, fences, public utility poles, standpipes, gutter drains or fire escapes, other than warning signs issued by government officials or public utilities.
- Abandoned or defunct signs, including the posts or other supports therefor, that advertise or identify an activity, business, product or service that is no longer conducted or available on the premises where such sign is located.
- Signs which move, rotate, change position, have moving parts, or create the illusion of movement, whether the movement is caused by the wind or mechanically, except for the rotation of barber poles and permissible changeable copy signs.
- No signs shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or access from any door, window, fire escape, driveway or utility lines.
- "A" frame, sandwich board, sidewalk or curb signs on the public right-of-way.
- Signs which project an image upon any wall, awning or canopy.
- Roof signs or any sign erected upon, against or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet of a building, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette.
- Hologram signs which project offsite.
- Signs which contain advertising matter which is untruthful.
- Signs which emit an audible sound, odor or visible matter.
- Signs which by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed to be a traffic-control sign, signal or device, or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle, except where such sign is accessory to a parking area and gives directions or instructions to drivers or pedestrians.
- Signs which hide or interfere with traffic flow or any street sign, signal or device.
- Signs or any advertising device attached to or located on a parked vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way, public property or private property for the basic purpose of providing advertising of products or services or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property or any other premises, except for temporary truckload sale signs.
- Off-premises (off-site) signs, such as billboards, but excluding public directional signs.
- Signs which do not meet the standards of, or which otherwise violate, the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971 (225 ILCS 440/1 et seq.)
- Signs, other than canopy, awning, or marquee signs which project more than eighteen (18) inches over any street, walkway, public way or public easement or beyond alley lot lines, and which are less than eight (8) feet above grade.
- Signs which contain radio or microwave transmitters, or slots or boxes for the distribution of pamphlets or similar materials.

## Signs exempt from permit in Burbank

- Changing of the advertising copy or message on an existing approved painted or printed sign, changeable copy sign or similar approved sign, whether electrical, illuminated or nonilluminated or painted message, which is specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign (but not involving any structural component or electrical work) for which a permit has been previously issued, so long as the sign is not otherwise modified in any way. Replacement of the plastic face is permitted without a new permit, provided that it is due to breakage or deterioration of the face.
- Changes in the content of a window display; window signs and window promotional signs.
- Changes in the content of permitted temporary signs.
- Public signs.
- Signs painted on or attached to a truck, bus, trailer, or other vehicle which is used in the normal course of a business which is not primarily the display of the sign on the vehicle, and which is not parked overnight visible to a public right-of-way.
- Tablets, grave markers, headstones, memorial statuary and plaques, or other remembrances of persons or events which are noncommercial in nature.
- Any flag, emblem, or insignia of a government or non-commercial enterprise, provided that it is not larger than ninety-six (96) square feet and does not amount to an attention-getting device for commercial purposes.
- No trespassing signs, warning signs (such as "Beware of Dog"), notification signs for emergency personnel, and other such signs, provided that the sign does not exceed two (2) square feet in sign surface area and there are no more than two (2) such signs on the lot.
- Temporary window real estate, personal celebration, special events and garage sale signs, subject to size, placement, illumination, and duration restrictions.
- Signs for candidates seeking public political office and for referendum appearing on the ballot at any election, up to a total area of sixteen (16) square feet for each zoning lot and displayed within the allowed period before/after the election.
- Signs for a public event at a location in the city conducted by a unit of government not exceeding eight (8) square feet located on private property (not on the public right-of-way and not on utility poles) for a period not earlier than ten (10) days before the event nor two (2) days after the event.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit mention of a master sign plan, sign plan, or required variance meeting is present in the ordinance text.
- Any deviation or waiver from the ordinance provisions requires approval by the building commissioner (for minor deviations/waivers), or by the city council by formal action at a public meeting.
- Every sign permit application must be accompanied by two sets of plans and specifications showing the method of construction and attachment of the sign, signed and sealed by a licensed structural engineer or architect.
- Sign designs and lettering must be approved by the building commissioner to meet appearance standards.
- Site plans and plats of survey showing the location of the sign are required as part of the sign permit application process.

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

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