Sign Regulations in Darien, Illinois
Darien, Illinois has specific sign regulations covering 19 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Wall Sign, Temporary Sign, Freestanding Sign (Ground/Monument). Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 19, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Darien, Illinois
Sample Sign Requirements in Darien
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freestanding Sign (Ground/Monument) | — | — | No closer than 4' from any lot line/ROW, 30' from interior side lot line, and no closer than 20' from driveway unless further from front setback (for each 1' past 4' reduce driveway setback by 1'). |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft | 8' height maximum for temporary signs; other sizes per zone. | — |
| Nameplate (Exempt) | — | 1 sq ft per plate | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for DarienFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
19
- Wall Sign
- Temporary Sign
- Freestanding Sign (Ground/Monument)
- Flagpole
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
6
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Other Cities in Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Darien vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Darien, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Darien, regulated sign types include Wall Sign, Temporary Sign, Freestanding Sign (Ground/Monument), Flagpole, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
In Darien, monument signs typically require a No closer than 4' from any lot line/ROW, 30' from interior side lot line, and no closer than 20' from driveway unless further from front setback (for each 1' past 4' reduce driveway setback by 1'). setback from property lines. Setbacks may increase near residential zones or intersections. Wall signs attached to buildings generally don't have setback requirements. Use PermitPal for location-specific setback data.
Digital and LED signs in Darien are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Darien has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Darien, Illinois Sign Rules at a Glance
Darien, Illinois regulates 19 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Gasoline Price Sign (Point of Sale)s in the Business Districts, B-1 Business District, B-2 Business District, B-3 Business District, B-4 Business District zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, No more than 4' in any direction, and 4 ft wide, with a 4' from front/corner side property line; 30' from interior/rear lot line setback (Sec. 4-3-10(B)(4)). Most commercial signs in Darien require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Darien, Illinois
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Darien (6 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 8 ft | 8' height maximum for temporary signs; other sizes per zone. | — |
| Residential Districts | 6 | 6 ft above grade | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts, B-1 Business District, B-2 Business District, B-3 Business District, B-4 Business District | 4 | 12 ft above grade | Main frontage: up to 500 sq ft; secondary frontage: additional per formula. | — |
| Office Districts (O), Office, Research and Industrial Districts (OR&I) | 3 | 6 ft above grade | 60 sq ft per side | — |
| Industrial District (I-1) | 2 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| Route 83 Corridor | 3 | No higher than building or 20 ft, whichever is lower; no lower than 5 ft above adjacent grade | 120 sq ft per business site | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Darien(sample of 3 of 6 zones)
Residential Districts
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nameplate (Exempt) | — | 1 sq ft per plate | — | — | — | On building or mailbox | — | Unlock | 4-3-8(A), 4-3-10(A) |
| No Trespassing Sign | — | 2 sq ft total sign area | — | — | — | — | — | Unlock | 4-3-8(B) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft above grade | 4 sq ft in area | — | Not in public ROW. | 1 per street, 1 extra if corner lot | On property for sale/rent/lease. 1 per street, 1 additional for corner lots. | — | Unlock | 4-3-8(C) |
| Bulletin Board for Public/Religious Institution | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | Unlock | 4-3-8(D) |
| Residential Development Sign (Permanent) | — | 32 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Major entrances to subdivision/planned unit development. | — | Unlock | 4-3-10(A)(3) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 4 sq ft for residential signs; others per exempt list | — | — | 1 per lot | See temporary sign rules; not in ROW. | — | Unlock | 4-3-8(J), (S), (U) |
Business Districts, B-1 Business District, B-2 Business District, B-3 Business District, B-4 Business District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | — | Main frontage: up to 500 sq ft; secondary frontage: additional per formula. | — | — | — | On same side of building as business frontage | — | Unlock | 4-3-10(B)(2) |
| Ground Sign (Freestanding Sign) | 12 ft above grade | 60 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Not more than one per street frontage | — | Unlock | 4-3-10(B)(3), 4-3-7(G) (landscaping required) |
| Gasoline Price Sign (Point of Sale) | 4 ft | No more than 4' in any direction | 4 ft | 4' from front/corner side property line; 30' from interior/rear lot line | 1 per street abutting filling station | 1 per street abutting filling station | — | Unlock | 4-3-10(B)(4) |
| Window Sign (Temporary) | — | 25% of window surface (temporary) inside show windows | — | — | — | Inside show windows | — | Unlock | 4-3-7(A)(12) |
Route 83 Corridor
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign ('Building Sign') | No higher than building or 20 ft, whichever is lower; no lower than 5 ft above adjacent grade | 120 sq ft per business site | — | — | 1 per business (plus options below) | On building face; projecting min 7'6" above grade if projecting | — | Unlock | 4-3-12(A), (B), 4-3-15(A), 4-3-16 |
| Freestanding/Ground Sign | 12 ft above grade | Counted as part of total allowed sign area for business (see Wall Sign above); maximum sign area reduced by 7.5 sq ft per foot above 8 ft in height. | — | — | 1 per qualifying lot/parcel | One per lot or parcel with width at least 100'. Minimum 20' from any other freestanding/ground sign. | — | Unlock | 4-3-12(C) |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign | 12 ft above grade | 90 sq ft (in addition to total allowed per user) | — | — | 1 per qualifying shopping center | Permitted only on lots/centers of 2 acres or more | — | Unlock | 4-3-12(D) |
PermitPal covers all 6 zoning districts in Darien — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 6 zones for Darien — start freeProhibited Signs in Darien
- No sign shall be painted, postered or plastered directly on the exterior walls or roof of any building.
- No sign or sign structure shall be attached to a tree, fence, telephone pole or other utility pole or structure.
- No sign shall be erected or located in a public right of way except as established by the authorized public entity.
- No sign, or portion thereof, shall rotate, flash, flutter, or appear to move except as otherwise specifically permitted.
- No sign shall be constructed or maintained on any portion of a roof, nor shall any sign attached to an improvement project be placed above any portion of the roof or parapet wall.
- No sign not expressly permitted by the sign code is allowed.
- Projecting and pole signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Pennants, streamers, portable signs, festoon lights or attention getting devices not specifically authorized by temporary sign regulations are prohibited.
- Commercial signs not advertising a business conducted or a product sold on the same property as the sign is located are prohibited, except as permitted.
- Signs containing obscene, indecent, or immoral content are prohibited.
- Miscellaneous advertising devices not conforming to the sign code or city code are not allowed.
- Signs in conflict with traffic signals, vehicular or pedestrian travel, access to fire hydrants and fire lanes and exits, and other signs which impede or impair public health, safety and welfare are prohibited.
- Signs painted on the walls or windows of buildings are prohibited.
- Signs on vehicles, boats, or trailers in place, other than one sign not larger than 2' x 2' advertising said vehicle, boat, or trailer for sale or rent, are prohibited.
- Signs hung across any street or alley are prohibited.
- Obsolete signs are prohibited.
- Unlawful signs are prohibited.
- All illuminated signs within 100' of any residential zoning district must be turned off between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM unless the business operates during such hours.
- No illuminated sign may have red, green or amber illumination in the direct line of vision of motorists approaching any traffic signal.
- No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or any illuminating device with a changing light intensity, brightness or color.
- Beacon lights are prohibited.
- No exposed reflective bulb or incandescent lamp exceeding 15 watts shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign as to expose the face of the bulb to any public street or adjacent property.
- All sources of light for signs must be shielded to prevent visibility from a residential zoning district.
- No luminous source of light for a sign may have an intensity exceeding 150 foot-lamberts.
- No sign lighting may cause illumination in excess of 1/2 foot-candle in a residential zoning district.
- No sign lighting may be objectionable to surrounding properties.
- No more than one pole or ground mounted sign is permitted on a property.
- No wall sign on a building wall shall face an area zoned residential.
- In all zoning districts, no sign shall be placed closer than 4' to any lot line or street right of way, and no ground sign closer than 20' from any driveway (with certain reductions possible for setbacks).
- Garage sale signs: No signs on public right of way, utility poles, street signs, vehicles, or in locations obstructing clear view of traffic.
- It is unlawful to post any sign or banner, regardless of purpose, upon any public right of way within the city, except as erected by city personnel for public events.
- Attention getting devices such as banners, streamers, and loudspeakers at garage sales are prohibited.
Exempt Signs in Darien
- Name and address plates giving only the name and address of the resident of the building with no more than one square foot in sign area.
- No trespassing or regulatory property use signs (up to two sq. ft. in residential, six sq. ft. in business, office, and industrial zones).
- Real estate signs (up to four sq. ft. in residential, 32 sq. ft. in business/office/industrial), with removal required within 10 days after sale/rental, and prohibited in public right of way.
- Bulletin boards for public, charitable, or religious institutions (≤32 sq. ft., no commercial advertising).
- General information signs (on-premises traffic and parking regulation, sections of building) under 4 sq. ft., no commercial advertising.
- Signs erected by a governmental body, including railroad crossing signs, safety signs, public and private school identification, and public playground signs.
- Memorial signs or tablets and placards denoting building erection date ≤5 sq. ft.
- Not more than three flags, pennants, or insignia of any government, or religious, charitable or fraternal organization.
- One business/company logo flag (in business/industrial zones), ≤3'x5', and if flown with American flag, cannot be larger.
- Temporary signs (≤4 sq. ft.) advertising edible farm products from the premises, auctions, or charitable/public group special events (≤30 days, required removal after event, not to be reerected again for 30 more days).
- Signs identifying places of worship (on premises, ≤32 sq. ft. per side).
- Paper or similar window signs inside windows in business zones for special sales/pricing, up to 50% of window area.
- Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot/parcel or from public thoroughfares or right of way.
- Official government agency signs.
- Official court/public office signs, notices thereof, and any governmental flag/emblem/insignia not used for commercial advertising.
- Any sign located completely within an enclosed building and not visible from the outside.
- Grave markers, headstones, statuary/memorial plaques/plaques/plaques or remembrances of persons or events that are noncommercial.
- Private traffic direction signs directing movement onto/within a premises, ≤4 sq. ft., ≤4' high.
- Political campaign signs (≤16 sq. ft. per lot), confined to private property, erected ≤60 days prior to election, removed within 24 hours after the election.
- Garage sale signs as regulated (see separate code).
- Residential window or yard sign (≤4 sq. ft.), with only one permitted, for ≤30 days/year, not on poles/right-of-way/locations causing traffic obstruction.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Darien
- All new ground signs must be surrounded by a landscaped area; a landscape plan must be submitted with the permit application.
- The landscape plan for ground signs must comply with specified requirements regarding area and plantings.
- In the case of insufficient property for required landscaping, the Director may allow installation at an alternate location on site.
- Application for a sign permit must include plans/specifications and a site map showing location, size, materials, electrical, and attachment methods.
- A master sign plan or specific sign plan is not explicitly required by name, but permit applications must include plans and diagrams of all proposed signage.
- Applications for temporary sign permits must include a diagram showing the number, location, and size of all temporary signs.
- A variance from sign code regulations requires a meeting and recommendation by the Plan Commission to the City Council (or in some cases, direct application to City Council or Mayor/Administrator).