# Sign Regulations in Homewood, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Homewood, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/homewood
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Homewood/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH30SI)

## At a glance

Homewood, Illinois regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Blade Signs in the B-1 downtown core zoning district, B-2 downtown transition zoning district zoning district are capped at Two feet below the roof line of the building tall, 6 sq ft, and 3 ft length or 3 ft width wide (Sec. Sec. 30-4(a)(12), Sec. 30-8(3),(7), Sec. 30-20). Most commercial signs in Homewood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-1 downtown core zoning district, B-2 downtown transition zoning district | 8 | Height of building or 30 ft above grade (whichever is lower) | 400 sq ft per use | — |
| Business district, Manufacturing district, Commercial district, Industrial district | 12 | Height of the building or 30 ft above grade (whichever is lower) | 500 sq ft (1 frontage), 800 sq ft (2 frontages), 1,000 sq ft (3+ frontages) | — |
| Residential district | 5 | 6 ft | 144 sq in (1 sq ft) | — |
| Public land | 1 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### B-1 downtown core zoning district, B-2 downtown transition zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Height of building or 30 ft above grade (whichever is lower) | 400 sq ft per use | — | — | — | Attached to exterior front, rear, or side wall; no sign painted on wall facing or visible from public right-of-way | — | Sec. 30-4(a)(2), Sec. 30-8(2), Sec. 30-8(3), Sec. 30-20, Sec. 30-5, Sec. 30-4(b)(5) |
| Blade Sign | Two feet below the roof line of the building | 6 sq ft | 3 ft length or 3 ft width | — | — | Perpendicular to wall; must be at least 9 ft above grade | — | Sec. 30-4(a)(12), Sec. 30-8(3),(7), Sec. 30-20 |
| Ground/Monument Sign | 5 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | Sec. 30-8(1),(8), Sec. 30-4(a)(1), Sec. 30-20 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of facade window area | — | — | — | Inside or upon window, visible from exterior | — | Sec. 30-4(a)(8) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft for commercial properties; real estate; 20 sq ft for contractor/architect; 32 sq ft for political campaign | — | Contractor/architect min 8 ft from property line or half distance to building lines | One per lot/premises. On corner lots, one per street frontage. | On private property; contractor signs min 8 ft from property line or 1/2 distance to building lines | — | Sec. 30-9, Sec. 30-20 |
| Canopy and Awning (Fixed or Retractable) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 30-4(a)(6),(7), Sec. 30-20, Sec. 30-8(5) |
| Marquee | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 30-4(a)(5), Sec. 30-8(5), Sec. 30-12(2) |
| Historical Plaque | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Affixed flat against building or permanently mounted if vacant site | — | Sec. 30-4(a)(9), Sec. 30-5(c), Sec. 30-20 |

### Business district, Manufacturing district, Commercial district, Industrial district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Height of the building or 30 ft above grade (whichever is lower) | 500 sq ft (1 frontage), 800 sq ft (2 frontages), 1,000 sq ft (3+ frontages) | — | — | — | Attached to exterior wall | — | Sec. 30-8(2),(3), Sec. 30-4(a)(2), Sec. 30-20 |
| Blade Sign | Height of the building or 30 ft above grade, whichever is lower | 6 sq ft | 3 ft length or 3 ft width | — | — | Perpendicular to wall; at least 9 ft above grade | — | Sec. 30-8(3),(7), Sec. 30-4(a)(12), Sec. 30-20 |
| Pole Sign (35,001 to 100,000 sf building) | 18 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | One per shopping/integrated center | On private property | — | Sec. 30-5(d), Sec. 30-8(6), Sec. 30-20 |
| Pole Sign (100,001 to 250,000 sf building) | 23 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | One per shopping/integrated center | On private property | — | Sec. 30-5(d), Sec. 30-8(6), Sec. 30-20 |
| Pole Sign (250,001 sf and over building) | 28 ft | 250 sq ft | — | — | One per shopping/integrated center | On private property | — | Sec. 30-5(d), Sec. 30-8(6), Sec. 30-20 |
| Ground/Monument Sign | 8 ft | — | — | — | — | On private property | — | Sec. 30-8(1),(8), Sec. 30-4(a)(1), Sec. 30-5(b), Sec. 30-20 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft for commercial properties (real estate); 20 sq ft for contractor/architect; 32 sq ft for political campaign | — | Contractor/architect sign min 8 ft from property line or half distance to building lines | One per lot/premises, but on corner lots, one per street frontage | On private property; contractor signs min 8 ft from property line or 1/2 distance to building lines | — | Sec. 30-9, Sec. 30-20 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of facade window area | — | — | — | Inside or upon window, visible from exterior | — | Sec. 30-4(a)(8) |

### Residential district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 144 sq in (1 sq ft) | — | — | One per premises | On building or combined with street/house sign | — | Sec. 30-6(1) |
| Noncommercial / Nonilluminated Window/Door Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Behind or affixed to windows or doors | — | Sec. 30-6(2) |
| Identification Wall Sign (Apartment >2 units) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | One per apartment house (>2 units) | On building | — | Sec. 30-6(3) |
| Identification Ground Sign (Multifamily >8 units) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per multifamily complex (>8 units) | — | — | Sec. 30-6(4) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 10 sq ft for real estate or architect/contractor signs; 32 sq ft for political campaign | — | Contractor/architect min 8 ft from property line or half distance to building lines | One per lot/premises, or one per street frontage for corner lots | On private property; contractor signs min 8 ft from property line or 1/2 distance to building lines | — | Sec. 30-6(5), Sec. 30-9 |

## Prohibited signs in Homewood

- It is unlawful to display any sign in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
- Signs on fences or on walls which are not a part of a building or structure are prohibited.
- Flashing signs, which are illuminated signs (whether stationary, revolving, or rotating) which contain any flashing lights or lights creating an illusion of movement (except those displaying time and temperature only), are prohibited.
- Moving signs, which flutter, undulate, swing, rotate, oscillate, or otherwise move by natural or artificial means, including pennants, banners and inflatable signs (with exceptions in section 30-11), are prohibited.
- Advertising signs are prohibited, except for temporary subdivision advertising signs (as provided in section 30-10) and bus shelter advertising signs (as authorized).
- Signs painted on building walls which face or are visible from a public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs which project more than 24 inches into a public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Illuminated tubing, rope lights, and string lights, including neon, LED, and incandescent, used to outline, stripe, highlight, or decorate commercial buildings or building elements (with exceptions for temporary holidays and architectural lighting), are prohibited.
- Any sign not included as a permitted sign is prohibited.
- No sign, retractable canopy or awning shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, nor attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign, retractable canopy or awning in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or as to distract the attention of drivers, or to interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign, retractable canopy or awning shall make use of the words 'stop,' 'go,' 'look,' 'slow,' 'danger,' or similar words, or use colored lamps or lights in a manner likely to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- All signs must meet the applicable requirements of the village's building and construction codes.

## Signs exempt from permit in Homewood

- Any sign of the United States, state, or municipal corporation.
- The flag, emblem, or insignia of a nation, governmental unit, school, or religious group.
- Signs located completely within an enclosed building with no display surface visible from the building exterior; provisions regarding flashing and moving signs still apply if visible from the building exterior.
- Paper signs affixed to the interior of the window of a building for less than 30 days, not covering more than 25 percent of the total window area of the facade.
- Identification and addresses of establishments on awnings, marquees, or buildings.
- Street or house number signs not exceeding 1½ square feet in area.
- Directional or instructional signs conveying directions for safety or convenience or necessary for operation and not exceeding three square feet in area.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application must be accompanied by plans and specifications showing size, character, material, location, bracing, anchorage, support, means of attachment, and other structural characteristics of the sign and its mounting.
- The building inspector must approve the application, plans, and specifications prior to permit issuance.
- For variations from code requirements, an application may be made to the appearance commission and, upon a hardship finding, a variance may be granted by the village board.
- A permit is required for any sign over three square feet in area, except for temporary nonstructural signs.

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

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