# Sign Regulations in East Dundee, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Dundee, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/east-dundee
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

East Dundee, Illinois regulates 28 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Development Identification Sign - Planned Development/Subdivisions in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 9 ft tall, 35 sq ft per side (2 sides max, 70 total); 63 sq ft per side (2 sides max, 126 total) for retail commercial or multi-use planned development of 3+ acres, and 7 ft wide, with a 15 ft minimum setback (Sec. §156.04(A)(3)). Most commercial signs in East Dundee 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 | 4 | 20 ft (residential); 40 ft (non-residential) | 100 sq ft (fronting on Routes 25, 72 or 68); 50 sq ft (any other street) | — |
| Residential or agricultural districts (E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, AG-1) | 5 | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Business districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4) | 13 | 30 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Office districts (O-D) | 2 | 9 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| East Side Commercial Overlay District (B-2, B-3, B-4) | 3 | 20 ft | 140 sq ft per side (2 sides; 280 sq ft total) | — |
| Hilltop Commercial Overlay District (B-2, B-3, B-4) | 2 | 15 ft | 50 sq ft per side (2 sides; 100 sq ft total) | — |
| Manufacturing districts (M-1, M-2) | 1 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 9 ft | 100 sq ft (fronting on Routes 25, 72 or 68); 50 sq ft (any other street) | — | 15 ft minimum | 1 per street frontage per project | Confined to construction site; Minimum setback of 15 ft | — | §156.04(A)(1) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | No maximum | — | — | §156.04(A)(2) |
| Development Identification Sign - Planned Development/Subdivision | 9 ft | 35 sq ft per side (2 sides max, 70 total); 63 sq ft per side (2 sides max, 126 total) for retail commercial or multi-use planned development of 3+ acres | 7 ft | 15 ft minimum | 1 per planned development; more if multiple frontages | Setback minimum 15 ft from frontage property line | — | §156.04(A)(3) |
| Flag | 20 ft (residential); 40 ft (non-residential) | Vertical length not to exceed 1/3 the length of pole | — | Residential: pole setback at least as much as its height; Non-residential: 20 ft from property line | 1 American flag + 1 other flag per lot | Setback in residential is height of pole; in non-residential, 20 ft from property line | — | §156.03(M) |

### Residential or agricultural districts (E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, AG-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | 5 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | 5 ft minimum | 1 per lot (2 if corner lot) | Minimum setback of 5 ft from property line | — | §156.04(B)(1) |
| Home Occupation/Nameplate Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | On front of building, next to or over door | — | §156.04(B)(2) |
| Church Bulletin Sign | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft minimum | 1 per zoning lot (2 if corner lot) | Minimum setback of 5 ft | — | §156.04(B)(3) |
| Building Identification Sign (Multi-family) | 5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | 5 ft minimum | 1 per lot (2 if corner lot) | Minimum setback of 5 ft | — | §156.04(B)(4) |
| Garage/Rummage Sale Sign | 5 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 on-site (2 if corner); up to 3 additional off-site | On site where sale takes place; 3 additional signs off-site (not public ROW), with property owner permission | — | §156.04(B)(5) |

### Business districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Business Identification) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business, 2 if corner lot | On exterior wall of business establishment | — | §156.04(C)(1) |
| Free Standing Sign (Business Identification) | 15 ft | 35 sq ft per side, 2 sides max (70 total), or 50 sq ft per side (100 total) for 3+ acre planned development | 7 ft | 15 ft minimum | 1 per qualifying use | Minimum setback 15 ft from property line | — | §156.04(C)(2) |
| Real Estate Sign | 9 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 15 ft minimum | 1 per lot | Minimum setback 15 ft from property line | — | §156.04(C)(3) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | ≤50% of total display glass area (aggregate) | — | — | — | On window | — | §156.04(C)(4) |
| Pricing Sign (Auto Service Station) | 15 ft | 10 sq ft per side | — | 15 ft minimum | 1 per station | Minimum setback 15 ft from property line | — | §156.04(C)(5) |
| Free Standing Sign (B-4 New Car Dealership) | 30 ft | One at 75 sq ft per side; one at 50 sq ft per side; both no taller than 30 ft | — | 20 ft | Two per dealership | Minimum setback 20 ft from property line | — | §156.04(C)(8) |
| Ground Sign (B-4 New Car Dealership) | 5 ft | 25 sq ft per side | — | 20 ft | One per dealership | Minimum setback 20 ft from property line | — | §156.04(C)(8) |
| Projecting Sign (B-1 Only) | 5 ft | 10 sq ft | 2 ft | — | 1 per activity per street frontage | Per street frontage; on the building | — | §156.04(C)(9) |

## Prohibited signs in East Dundee

- Any sign not specifically permitted under the terms of this chapter or the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971 is prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, repaired, altered, relocated, or maintained except in conformance with the regulations for the district in which it is located, unless specifically regulated by special use provisions or variance.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free access to, or egress from, any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign containing advertising of any kind shall be attached or affixed to any standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall obstruct the vision of drivers or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device.
- No sign shall make use of words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters in a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- Moving, rotating or animated signs, or signs creating the illusion of movement, are prohibited (except for those with permitted electronic message displays in overlay districts).
- Illuminated signs must not have flashing, animated, chasing, scintillating, or movement-conveying illumination (except for time and temperature or permitted electronic message displays).
- Signs shall be shaded as necessary to avoid casting bright light upon residential property or public streets/parks.
- Floodlights, gooseneck reflectors, or other external illumination sources must be contained within a protective casing.
- Changeable copy signs are prohibited unless specifically allowed.
- No sign (except official signs) shall be erected on any tree, utility pole, traffic standard, or other public sign standard.
- Any sign placed flat against a wall, mansard roof, canopy, or awning shall not extend beyond any vertical corner edge or other structural edge.
- Signs shall not cover any wall opening, project beyond the sides of the wall opening, or pose an obstruction to pedestrians or vehicles.
- No sign shall be erected, affixed, or painted without first obtaining a required sign permit, except as specifically exempted.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Flags are prohibited except as allowed by specified requirements.
- Flashing signs are prohibited except where permitted by overlay district.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Pennants, portable signs, projecting signs, roof signs, streamers, and wall signs (unless specifically permitted) are prohibited.
- Signs (other than neon signs) with bare, unshielded light or tubes are prohibited.
- Light strings, festoon lighting, neon tube lighting or LED lighting outlining/illuminating building features are prohibited (except holiday lights between Nov 15 and Jan 15).
- No sign shall be erected in a manner that would create a traffic hazard.
- Abandoned or obsolete signs must be removed by the owner.
- Non-conforming signs must be brought into compliance or removed within specified timeframes.
- No sign shall be allowed on any wall or window of any building within the office district; all outside advertising is prohibited in this district except as specified.
- The use of any portion of a tower for signs other than warning or equipment information signs is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Dundee

- No permits are required for interior signs completely within an enclosed building and not visible from outside.
- No permits required for monuments and markers (tablets, grave markers, headstones, statuary) of non-commercial nature.
- No permits required for non-commercial decorations/displays celebrating legal or religious holidays maintained less than 45 days (they may be illuminated).
- No permits required for signs on vehicles operated in the normal course of business which is not primarily for the display of signs.
- No permits required for free-standing real estate signs used to offer for sale, lease, or rent the property upon which they are placed.
- No permits required for no trespassing/no dumping signs not exceeding two square feet each and limited to four per acre.
- No permits required for temporary civic signs (max eight square feet) for civic, charitable, philanthropic, educational, or religious events, posted only during events or drives (max 15 days).
- No permits required for political signs or posters announcing candidates/issues up to nine square feet (double-faced: 18 sq ft), erected not more than 30 days before and removed within three days after the election.
- No permits required for garage/rummage sale signs for occasional/infrequent sales at private residences, not associated with permanent commercial establishment.
- No permits required for employment/help wanted signs placed in windows of establishments seeking staff, up to four square feet total and limited to two per establishment, in commercial/office/industrial districts.
- All community signs approved by a majority of the Village Board are exempt from all regulations in this chapter.
- Signs placed completely within an enclosed building or structure and not visible from outside are not considered 'signs' for the purposes of regulation.
- Official court or public notices, or emblems or insignia of a nation, political unit, school, or religious group are not classified as 'signs' per the definition.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications for freestanding signs require submission of site plans (in triplicate), drawn to scale and fully dimensioned. Elevation and section drawings, and structural/electrical plans also required.
- Each application for a sign permit shall be reviewed by the Building Official for compliance with this chapter and all applicable laws.
- Signs requested in conjunction with special uses become part of the special use application procedure.
- Variances from the sign code require a separate procedure, including hearings before the Village Board, and/or administrative variance hearing with findings sent to the Village Board.
- In planned developments, sign standards may be modified by the Plan Commission in accordance with the planned development provisions.
- Prior to granting a permit for erecting a sign within the Historic District (or on any pre-1900 building), the owner must submit an application to the Historic District Commission for review and recommendations.
- A separate sign permit must be obtained for each sign requiring a permit; permits are not transferable.
- Signs requested as part of special use permits or in planned developments are subject to their respective review and approval processes, and may be subject to altered standards.

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

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