# Sign Regulations in Highwood, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Highwood, Illinois regulates 20 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Monument Sign)s in the Business District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall, 36 sq ft per sign face (max 60 sq ft for allowed larger sign; for integrated shopping center, one 30 sq ft sign in addition, see below), and 8 ft wide, with a Must be in front yard, cannot obstruct intersection sight lines. setback (Sec. 10-3-6-7(C)). Most commercial signs in Highwood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 5 | 4 ft to highest part | 10 sq ft (except church bulletin board: 12 sq ft) | — |
| Business District | 14 | 12 ft (bottom at least 7 ft above ground) | 100 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per construction site | — | — | 11-7-3, 11-7-5 |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling unit | On dwelling unit | — | 11-7-6(A)(1) |
| Special Use Identification Sign | — | 10 sq ft (except church bulletin board: 12 sq ft) | — | — | One per special use | On structure authorized as special use, other than dwelling unit | — | 11-7-6(A)(2) |
| Directional Sign (City Established) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | For orientation, as established by city | — | 11-7-6(A)(3) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential District) | 4 ft to highest part | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per property | On property (not on public right of way) | — | 10-3-6-6(B) |
| For Lease/Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from lot line of adjoining premises and any lot line abutting a street/highway | — | At least 10 ft from lot lines abutting street/highway or adjoining premises | — | 11-7-6(B) |

### Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per business front facade; for additional facade requires variation | Only on the front facade or a facade adjacent to and mainly facing a customer parking lot or street, as specified; not on alley-facing facades. | — | 11-7-7(A), 10-3-6-7(B) |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument Sign) | 6 ft | 36 sq ft per sign face (max 60 sq ft for allowed larger sign; for integrated shopping center, one 30 sq ft sign in addition, see below) | 8 ft | Must be in front yard, cannot obstruct intersection sight lines. | One per lot/development; max two for centers with separate distinct drives | Strictly front yard only (not any other yard) | — | 10-3-6-7(C) |
| Freestanding Sign (Integrated Shopping Center Directory) | 12 ft (bottom at least 7 ft above ground) | 30 sq ft | — | — | One per shopping center | Within property lines of integrated shopping center | — | 11-7-7(G) |
| Window Sign | — | Included in overall 15% or 100 sq ft sign area limit; no explicit separate window max | — | — | Not specified; total sign area controls | Front window or glass door; only on front unless variation granted. Telephone/internet text max 48" above ground (first floor), 12' above (upper floors). | — | 10-3-6-7(D) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft (2' wide x 3' tall max) | 2 ft | — | One per business | On sidewalk (public way), only during business hours; must leave at least 60" unobstructed walkway | — | 10-3-6-7(H) |
| Temporary Event Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per event | On premises of religious, civic, or philanthropic organizations | — | 10-3-6-7(F)(1) |
| Project Identification Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per right of way | On premises, facing each right of way during construction | — | 10-3-6-7(F)(2) |
| Real Estate Sign (Business District) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per property | On property, not on public right of way | — | 10-3-6-6(C) |

## Prohibited signs in Highwood

- No advertising sign structure or billboard shall be permitted to be erected in any district.
- All nonconforming signs shall be subject to termination provisions.
- No adult entertainment sign or advertising may be placed on billboards, signboards, vacant property, or buildings within 1,000 feet of schools, daycare centers, cemeteries, public parks, or places of religious worship.
- No banners, flags, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or helium filled balloons used as signs shall be located, erected, altered or maintained in the city.
- Pole signs, clocks, or other advertising devices erected upon poles, pylons, standards or separate supports are prohibited.
- Portable signs are not permitted.
- Any open spark or flame shall not be used for display purposes unless specifically approved by the building department and fire department.
- Except as otherwise expressly provided, hand lettered signs are not permitted. All signs shall be professionally done.
- Neon signs not specifically permitted are prohibited.
- No LCD/plasma displays, blinking, flashing, fluttering, or other illuminating device, nor any illumination which has a change in light intensity, brightness, or color shall be permitted (except for approved time/temperature signs or seasonal holiday lighting).
- No sign with changing messages or content, revolving mechanisms, including alternating slats, shall be permitted.
- No light or string of lights shall be illuminated except during holiday seasons and only during such season.
- No sign may be placed or erected upon any public way or place except as provided in the code.
- No person shall post, stick, stamp, tack, paint or otherwise fix any sign, notice, placard, bill, card, poster, advertisement or other device to or upon any sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, curbstone, flagstone or any other portion or part of any public way, except as permitted.
- Illuminated building faces are prohibited unless approved, and, if approved, shall not front a residential district.
- Illuminated box signs are prohibited both as wall signs and monument/freestanding signs.
- Signs, lettering or announcements on trucks and delivery vehicles shall not be used to circumvent signage regulations; trucks whose primary purpose is the display of a billboard or display are specifically prohibited.
- Other signs not permitted by the chapter are prohibited.
- No sign shall be located, erected, altered or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, window, door, or opening used as means of egress or firefighting, or prevent free roof passage, or be attached to/interfere with fire escape or required ventilation.
- No sign shall be placed or maintained such that sight of oncoming vehicular or pedestrian traffic is impaired.
- No blinking lights shall be used for the illumination of signs.
- Signs not professionally done are not permitted (except as expressly provided).
- No electrical signs shall be erected in a residential district.
- No sign appertaining to lease, hire or sale of a building or premises shall exceed four square feet in a residential district and must be properly located from lot lines.

## Signs exempt from permit in Highwood

- Signs erected by the city for the control of or to provide information regarding traffic and other governmental regulatory purposes (e.g., street signs, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public service companies indicating danger and aids to service or safety which are erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of his or her public duty) are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for the installation of any external sign; permit will be issued by the building/code official, and a certificate of compliance issued by the zoning administrator after city council authorization where required.
- All signs shall fully comply with the city appearance code and the provisions of the relevant code sections; the most restrictive provision applies unless waived by the city council.
- Wall signs, window signs, monument/freestanding signs, and other signage types have design and location standards and require approval and/or permits per city code; permits are required for illuminated signs and maintenance involving changes to wiring.
- An overall signage plan is required for monument signs; monument signs may be permitted as part of such a plan.
- For integrated shopping centers under single ownership or unified control, an additional sign may be permitted and must comply with applicable requirements; such signage is permitted as part of a coordinated plan.
- ARC (Appearance Review Committee) review and city council approval is required for signage extensions, nonconforming signs, certain design elements, and time extensions for removal of obsolete signs.
- Variance may be obtained for additional wall sign facades, window sign locations, or other deviations from standard requirements.
- Sandwich board signs require a separate permit, fee, and license agreement; ARC/council approval is not required unless a variation is sought.
- Temporary signs on the right of way require a special permit and compliance with detailed application procedures and limitations.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Highwood, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Highwood+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-highwood

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