# Sign Regulations in Chicago Heights, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chicago Heights, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/chicago-heights
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Chicago_Heights/codes/Zoning?nodeId=CH11SIRE)

## At a glance

Chicago Heights, Illinois regulates 16 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Mixed-Use District (MX) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 32 sq ft per sign, with a 2 ft minimum setback (Sec. Table 11.10). Most commercial signs in Chicago Heights require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | — | — |
| Residential District (R districts) | 4 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Mixed-Use Residential District (MXR) | 5 | 24 ft (mounted height) | 32 sq ft per banner; max 3 banners | — |
| Mixed-Use District (MX) | 6 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| Business District (B districts) | 6 | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Manufacturing District (M-2, M-3) | 6 | 75 ft | 672 sq ft per face; 1,344 sq ft max per sign | — |
| Non-residential districts | 2 | 6 ft | 48 sq ft per project | — |
| Multi-Unit Dwelling Uses | 1 | 24 ft (mounted) | 32 sq ft per banner; max 3 banners | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Mixed-Use District (MX)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 10 ft | 24 sq ft per tenant | — | — | 1 per tenant per frontage | Parallel, building face. | — | Table 11.3 |
| Projecting Sign | 10 ft | 16 sq ft per tenant | — | — | 1 per tenant per frontage | Perpendicular or angled from building face. | — | Table 11.4 |
| Awning Sign | 10 ft | 12 sq ft per awning | — | — | 1 per awning | On attached awning. | — | Table 11.6 |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — | 2 ft minimum | 1 per street frontage | Front/side yard; minimum 2 ft from lot line. | — | Table 11.10 |
| Ped-Scale Pole-Mounted Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 4 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | Freestanding, pole-mounted or hanging. | — | Table 11.11 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per building lot | Within 15 ft of business entrance, not more than 1 ft from building line, not within 10 ft of intersection/crosswalk. May be in right-of-way if minimum 5 ft walkway. | — | Section 11-3.2.e |

### Business District (B districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 1.0 sq ft per linear foot of tenant frontage, max 60 sq ft/tenant | — | — | 1 per tenant per frontage | Parallel to building face, not above parapet. | — | Table 11.3 |
| Projecting Sign | 15 ft | 16 sq ft each | — | — | 1 per tenant per frontage | Perpendicular or at angle; mounted to building. | — | Table 11.4 |
| Awning Sign | 15 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per awning | On awning attached to building. | — | Table 11.6 |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 2 ft | 1 per frontage | Freestanding in front/side yard, minimum 2 ft from lot line. | — | Table 11.10 |
| Ped-Scale Pole-Mounted Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 4 ft from lot line | 1 per frontage | Freestanding, pole-mounted. | — | Table 11.11 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per building lot | Within 15 ft of entrance, not more than 1 ft from building line, pedestrian walkway at least 5 ft, not within 10 ft of crosswalk. | — | Section 11-3.2.e |

### Manufacturing District (M-2, M-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of tenant frontage, max 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant per frontage | Parallel to building face. | — | Table 11.3 |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft | 20 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant per frontage | Perpendicular or angled to building face. | — | Table 11.4 |
| Awning Sign | 20 ft | 20 sq ft per awning | — | — | 1 per awning | On awning attached to building. | — | Table 11.6 |
| Monument Sign | 12 ft | 48 sq ft per sign | — | 2 ft | 1 per frontage | Freestanding, front/side yard, min 2 ft from lot line. | — | Table 11.10 |
| Ped-Scale Pole-Mounted Sign | 10 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 4 ft | 1 per frontage | Freestanding, pole-mounted. | — | Table 11.11 |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign | 75 ft | 672 sq ft per face; 1,344 sq ft max per sign | — | 500 ft from protected uses | 1 per lot | Oriented toward and within 600 ft of state highway; only in M-2, M-3. | — | Section 11-17 |

## Prohibited signs in Chicago Heights

- Signs not erected by bona fide public traffic officials which move or give the appearance of movement, including fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, oscillating, or otherwise moving by natural or artificial means, are prohibited, excluding flags, signs displaying time and temperature, and permitted electronic message board signs.
- Flashing signs, flashing or moving lights on signs, and reflective pennants are prohibited, except for signs that exhibit time, temperature, date, or similar information and searchlights permitted as an attention-getting device by the zoning enforcement officer.
- Outlining buildings or premises by use of exposed neon tubing, strings of lights, or any similar method is prohibited.
- Signs that include words, phrases, symbols, or characters that imitate authorized traffic signs by shape, color, or words such as 'Stop', 'Danger', 'Warning', 'Caution', or 'Go Slow', unless such is part of the business name, or use colored lamps in a manner to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic are prohibited.
- Any sign attached to or placed on a vehicle or trailer prominently visible from public streets is prohibited unless the vehicle is not primarily used for display, is operational, registered, licensed, and actively used for the business function.
- Signs permanently mounted on wheels are prohibited.
- Inflatable or balloon-like temporary or permanent signs are not permitted.
- Off-site advertising signs (signs marketing or promoting activities, businesses, or entities not located or offered on the sign's site) are prohibited.
- Signs that emit or utilize sound detectable from any public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Rope lighting or similar linear lighting installed to outline signs, merchandise, windows, buildings, or elements for exterior visibility is prohibited.
- Signs not addressed in the ordinance prohibited signs section are not permitted.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility pole, tree, standpipe, gutter, or drain.
- No sign shall obstruct free ingress or egress for any door, window, roof, or exitway required by the building or fire code.
- Signs shall not interfere with, obstruct, or be confused with authorized traffic signs, signals, or devices, or obstruct sight lines for pedestrians or motorists.
- Signs shall only be located within the boundaries of the lot and not within the right-of-way or on public property, unless specifically permitted.
- Nonconforming signs may not be converted to use an electronic or multi-vision display.
- Substantially altered, enlarged, moved, relocated, or replaced nonconforming signs must be brought into full compliance.
- Electrical wiring, bulbs exceeding 15 watts, and other internal components of signs shall not be exposed to public view or access.
- Illuminated signs shall not exceed specified foot candle/brightness/intensity limits and cannot cause glare on adjacent properties.
- No temporary sign shall be permanently attached.
- No sign shall cover windows, building openings, or significant architectural features (for wall signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in Chicago Heights

- Identification signs indicating the name of residents/dwelling units (max 1 sq ft, 1 per streetface per dwelling unit).
- Identification signs with name/purpose of structure & management (max 3 sq ft, 1 per streetface per structure).
- Hours of operation signs (max 2 sq ft) and vacancy/no vacancy signs.
- Official signs, public notice, or warning signs as required by any valid federal, state, or local law or court order.
- Public service signs for safety during repair or maintenance of streets, sidewalks, or utilities in the right-of-way.
- Traffic control and other official signs by any public or governmental agency (traffic, RR crossings, trespass, danger, or service/safety aids).
- Flags (1 or 2 per lot, provided flagpoles comply with city code; all flags are counted towards max signage per lot).
- Signs located completely within an enclosed building and not readable from 10+ feet outside.
- Informational signs not exceeding 4 sq ft and not legible beyond property line or from right-of-way; signs intended inward and solely for information of employees, students, faculty, or visitors.
- Directional signs for vehicular ingress/egress to parking facilities, meeting specified size, height, quantity, and setback requirements (a permit required for these).
- Historical markers (memorial signs, tablets or cornerstones, max 4 sq ft, placed by a historical group or government).
- Temporary decorations or displays celebrating accepted patriotic, ethnic, religious, national, state or city holidays.
- Home occupation signs (1 per dwelling unit, flat against building, max 1 sq ft, not illuminated except for incidental residential lighting).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is generally required for all new or substantially altered signs, unless expressly exempt by the ordinance or specifically listed as not requiring a permit.
- No explicit mention of a master sign plan, sign plan, or variance process is found in the provided text for routine signage, although some sign types (e.g., outdoor advertising signs) require a special use permit in addition to a sign and building permit.
- For multi-tenant monument signs, criteria regarding quantity, lot size, frontage, and tenants are specified, but there is no explicit requirement for a master sign plan or coordinated sign plan; rather, the size/location criteria and one-sign-per-street-frontage limit serve as controls.

## 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 8 zoning districts in Chicago Heights — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Chicago+Heights+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-chicago-heights

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/chicago-heights