# Sign Regulations in Kenilworth, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kenilworth, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/kenilworth
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Kenilworth, Illinois regulates 19 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the B Business District zoning district are capped at 6.25 ft tall and 39 sq ft, with a Building must be set back at least 10 ft from lot line abutting street. setback (Sec. § 153.052(B)(8)). Most commercial signs in Kenilworth require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B Business District | 18 | Top not to exceed second floor window sill OR 14 ft from ground/sidewalk. Additional wall sign for secondary entrance: must be only to indicate entry. | 39 sq ft | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 9 | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — |
| S District, P District, M-1 District, M-2 District, R District | 9 | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### B Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top not to exceed second floor window sill OR 14 ft from ground/sidewalk. Additional wall sign for secondary entrance: must be only to indicate entry. | Lesser of 7.5% of front façade area or 25 sq ft. Additional wall sign for secondary entrance (if any) may not exceed 9 sq ft. | — | — | 1 per façade per occupant; 1 additional for secondary entrance; 1 additional for corner buildings by ARC approval. | First floor front façade. Additional wall sign allowed for secondary entrance (rear/side only). On corner buildings, additional sign may be allowed by ARC review. | — | § 153.052(B)(4) |
| Window Sign (First Floor) | — | Combined with other permanent signs, lesser of 7.5% of façade or 25 sq ft; total permanent + temporary window signage not to exceed 30% of total first floor window area. | — | — | No explicit number, but limited by % area and building limits as above. | First floor façade; on corner buildings, additional window sign allowed by ARC with conditions. | — | § 153.052(B)(5) |
| Window Sign (Second Floor) | — | 10% of window area per window; not counted in combined sign area. | — | — | — | Second floor windows of non-residential space. | — | § 153.052(B)(5)(d) |
| Projecting Sign | Not above second floor window sill or 14 ft from ground; lowest point ≥ 7 ft 6 in above sidewalk. | 1 story: 4 sq ft per face; Multi-story: 6 sq ft per face. | 3 ft max sign width; projection: max 5 ft from wall, must be separated from wall by ≤ 1 ft. | — | 1 per occupant. | Front façade, at or near public entrance; may project over public way/sidewalk. | — | § 153.052(B)(6) |
| Monument Sign | 6.25 ft | 39 sq ft | — | Building must be set back at least 10 ft from lot line abutting street. | 1 per building | Setback ≥ 10 ft from lot line abutting public street. | — | § 153.052(B)(8) |
| Directory Sign | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | — | — | § 153.049(A)(2), § 153.052(D) |
| Hazard or No Trespassing Sign | 5 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | Number necessary for purpose | On lot, as necessary. | — | § 153.049(A)(4), § 153.052(D) |
| Informational Sign | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | Number necessary for purpose | Placed as needed for purpose. | — | § 153.049(A)(6), § 153.052(D) |

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Institutional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.053(A)(1),(3) |
| Address Sign | 3 ft (if freestanding) | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per assigned address | — | — | § 153.049(A)(1), § 153.053(C) |
| Governmental Sign | — | Per law | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.049(A)(3), § 153.053(C) |
| Hazard or No Trespassing Sign | 5 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | As necessary | Placed as necessary. | — | § 153.049(A)(4), § 153.053(C) |
| Incidental Sign | 5 ft | 2 sq ft total | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.049(A)(5), § 153.053(C) |
| Informational Sign | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | As necessary | As necessary for intended purpose. | — | § 153.049(A)(6), § 153.053(C) |
| Memorial Plaque Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Flat against building/monument/other permanent surface. | — | § 153.049(A)(7), § 153.053(C) |
| Security Sign | 5 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.049(A)(9), § 153.053(C) |

### S District, P District, M-1 District, M-2 District, R District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Institutional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.053(A)(2),(3) |
| Address Sign | 3 ft (freestanding) | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per address | — | — | § 153.049(A)(1), § 153.053(C) |
| Governmental Sign | — | Per law | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.049(A)(3), § 153.053(C) |
| Hazard or No Trespassing Sign | 5 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | As needed | As needed. | — | § 153.049(A)(4), § 153.053(C) |
| Incidental Sign | 5 ft | 2 sq ft (combined) | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.049(A)(5), § 153.053(C) |
| Informational Sign | 5 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | As necessary | As necessary for intended purpose. | — | § 153.049(A)(6), § 153.053(C) |
| Memorial Plaque Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Flat against building/monument/other surface. | — | § 153.049(A)(7), § 153.053(C) |
| Security Sign | 5 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.049(A)(9), § 153.053(C) |

## Prohibited signs in Kenilworth

- It is unlawful to locate, erect, use, display, enlarge, expand, alter, operate, or maintain any of the following prohibited signs in any zoning district (except as otherwise specifically provided): abandoned signs; billboard signs; changeable message signs; digital signs or electronic variable changing signs; dilapidated signs; extensions, cut-outs, embellishments; flashing or blinking signs; illegal signs; interior illuminated signs; internally illuminated signs; mobile billboards; neon illuminated signs; noise or attention-getting signs; roof signs; rotating or moving signs; snipe signs; street furniture signs; under awning signs; under canopy signs; unprotected message signs; unsafe signs; vandalized signs; wall wrap or wall mural signs.
- A-frame signs, banner signs, and wind signs are prohibited only in the 'B' Business District.
- No sign may be placed on private property without the consent of the owner of the lot.
- No signs may be erected upon public property, with the exception of governmental signs, public utility signs, and such other signs specifically authorized by the village.
- Any sign placed on public property without authorization is an illegal sign and may be summarily removed by the village without notice.
- All illuminated signs are prohibited except for allowed exterior illuminated signs.
- All signs must comply with building and construction regulations and must not create a hazard or nuisance to traffic, pedestrians, or adjacent properties.
- No sign shall be located so as to obstruct free ingress or egress from any window, door, fire escape, or stairway of a building, or to obstruct required light or ventilation; no sign shall be attached to an external fire escape.
- No sign shall interfere with or be confused with authorized traffic signs, signals, or devices.
- It is unlawful to have an abandoned sign, dilapidated sign, unsafe sign, or vandalized sign on any property in the village.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kenilworth

- Address signs are allowed in all districts, subject to size and legibility requirements.
- Governmental signs are allowed in all zoning districts, with size and placement governed by applicable law; they may not be illuminated unless required by law.
- Hazard or no trespassing signs are allowed in all zoning districts, subject to number, size, placement, and illumination restrictions.
- Incidental signs are allowed in all zoning districts, subject to combined area and height, and cannot be illuminated.
- Informational signs are allowed in all zoning districts, subject to number, size, placement, and illumination restrictions, and require an administrative sign permit.
- Memorial plaque signs are allowed in all zoning districts, with area, material, mounting, and illumination restrictions, and require an administrative sign permit.
- Public utility signs are allowed in all zoning districts, as required by law, and may not be illuminated unless legally required.
- Security signs are allowed in all zoning districts, subject to area, height, and illumination restrictions.
- Booster signs, construction site signs, demolition site signs, election signs, flags, free expression signs, holiday decorations, light pole civic banner signs, real estate signs, civic event signs, personal event signs, short-term temporary commercial message window signs, short-term temporary commercial message window display signs, wind signs (not in 'B' Business District), open house signs, private sale signs, temporary parking and traffic control signs are each, with specific limitations, exempt from building permit and certificate of appropriateness requirements.
- Exempt signs are still subject to certain standards and may require administrative sign permits.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For a new building with multiple occupants or a new development with multiple buildings in the 'B' Business District, a master sign plan must be submitted for review and approval by the Architectural Review Commission.
- A master sign plan is required for existing buildings when: a change to any permanent sign requiring a building permit and certificate of appropriateness is proposed; a change in occupant’s use necessitates a change in any permanent sign; one or more new signs are proposed by one or more occupants; notice is received from the village that one or more permanent signs are not in compliance (due to being prohibited, abandoned, unsafe, illegal, or otherwise noncompliant); or, in the case of a legal nonconforming sign, upon expiration of the applicable amortization period.
- A master sign plan must include criteria and specifications for general appearance, location, lighting, and approved construction materials for signs, and must be approved by the Architectural Review Commission.
- Permanent commercial message signs in the 'B' Business District require a building permit and certificate of appropriateness.
- Permanent institutional signs in residential or non-residential districts require a building permit and certificate of appropriateness, and for residential districts, approval of a special use or amendment.
- An administrative sign permit is required for certain exempt signs (directory sign, informational sign, memorial plaque sign, construction site sign).
- No allowed sign for which a building permit and certificate of appropriateness is required shall be erected or altered without said approvals.

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

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