# Sign Regulations in Lake Bluff, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Lake Bluff, Illinois regulates 38 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Flagpoles and Flags - Dealerships in the Automotive Park Zoning District (AP-1) zoning district are capped at 34 ft tall and 50 sq ft per flag, with a 10 ft from all property lines setback (Sec. 10-10-14.C.2.d). Most commercial signs in Lake Bluff require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence Zoning Districts (C-E, E-1, E-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6) | 3 | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Central Business Zoning District (CBD) | 9 | 30 ft | 30 sq ft or 5% of facade, whichever is less | — |
| Automotive Park Zoning District (AP-1) | 14 | 34 ft | 50 sq ft per flag | — |
| Office and Research and Service Zoning Districts (O&R and S) | 6 | 30 ft | 64 sq ft per face, 128 sq ft total faces | — |
| Recreational, Institutional, and Open Space District (RIO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Light Industry and Limited Light Industry Zoning Districts (L-1 and L-2) | 10 | 30 ft | 64 sq ft per face, 128 sq ft total faces | — |
| Railroad District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 7 ft | 30 sq ft | — |

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

### Automotive Park Zoning District (AP-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign - Vehicle Dealership | — | — | — | — | See restrictions | Over entry | — | 10-10-14.C.2.a |
| Awning Sign - Non-Dealership | — | — | — | — | See restrictions | Over entry | — | 10-10-14.C.2.a |
| Door Sign | 5 in (lettering) | — | — | — | One per business | On door | — | 10-10-14.C.2.c |
| Flagpoles and Flags - Dealership | 34 ft | 50 sq ft per flag | — | 10 ft from all property lines | 3 flagpoles, 4 flags | Not in right-of-way, min 10 ft setback | — | 10-10-14.C.2.d |
| Flagpoles and Flags - Non-Dealership | 34 ft | 50 sq ft per flag | — | 10 ft from all property lines | 1 flagpole, 2 flags | Not in right-of-way, min 10 ft setback | — | 10-10-14.C.2.d |
| On Site Directory Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On site | — | 10-10-14.C.2.g |
| On Site Informational Sign - Dealership | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 4 per dealership | On site | — | 10-10-14.C.2.h |
| On Site Informational Sign - Non-Dealership | — | 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | No more than 2 per lot | On site | — | 10-10-14.B.6 and 10-10-14.C.2.i |

### Light Industry and Limited Light Industry Zoning Districts (L-1 and L-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flagpoles and Flags | 30 ft | — | — | 10 ft from all property lines | Max 3 flagpoles and 4 flags per lot | Min 10 ft setback from property lines | — | 10-10-14.F.2.b |
| Ground Sign | 20 ft | 64 sq ft per face, 128 sq ft total faces | — | — | One per lot; two if corner/through lot | On lot | — | 10-10-14.F.2.c |
| Menuboard Sign | 7 ft | One sign: 50 sq ft; More than one: each max 32 sq ft; temp attach max 10 sq ft | — | — | One per drive-through lane | Drive-through | — | 10-10-14.F.2.d |
| On-Site Informational Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 3 per lot | On site | — | 10-10-14.F.2.e |
| Wall or Fascia Sign - Single Tenant | 20 ft above grade | Varies per formula | — | — | Per building/tenant | Front or secondary public street facade as per formula | — | 10-10-14.F.2.f, table |
| Wall or Fascia Sign - Multi-tenant Retail and Service Center | 20 ft above grade | Varies per formula | — | — | Per tenant per street frontage | Facade(s) facing public street | — | 10-10-14.F.2.f, table |
| Wall or Fascia Sign - Multi-tenant Non-retail Shared Entry | 20 ft above grade | Varies per formula | — | — | Per tenant/entry | Facade(s) facing public street | — | 10-10-14.F.2.f, table |
| Wall or Fascia Sign - Multi-tenant Non-retail Individual Entry | 20 ft above grade | Varies per formula | — | — | Per tenant/entry | Facade(s) facing public street per entry | — | 10-10-14.F.2.f, table |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft per address (most districts); 4 sq ft (<100 linear ft frontage L-1/L-2); 8 sq ft (>=100 linear ft frontage L-1/L-2) | — | — | 1 per address, 1 per tenant entrance in L-1/L-2 | By entrance or above/adjacent to tenant entry | — | 10-10-19.A.1 |
| Auxiliary Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On door or window | — | 10-10-19.A.4.a, 10-10-19.A.5.a, 10-10-19.A.7.b |
| Bulletin Board Sign | 7 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | One per institution | On premises of institution | — | 10-10-19.A.2 |
| Business Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per proprietor | — | — | 10-10-19.A.3 |
| Project Identification Sign | 6 ft (nonresidential); 4 ft (residential) | Varies by district: 12 sq ft (CBD, AP-1, L-1, L-2, O&R, S, RIO); 4 sq ft (residential) | — | — | One per construction project | On property undergoing construction | — | 10-10-19.A.4.b, 10-10-19.A.5.b, 10-10-19.A.7.c, 10-10-19.A.6.d |
| Real Estate Sign | Residential/CBD: 4 ft; AP-1/L-1/L-2/O&R/S: 10 ft; Off-site: 6 ft | Residential/CBD: 4 sq ft; AP-1/L-1/L-2/O&R/S: 32 sq ft; Corner/through lot: 2 signs of size above; Off-site: 12 sq ft (nonresident), 6 sq ft (political) | Residential/CBD: n/a; AP-1/L-1/L-2/O&R/S: 10 ft | — | See above (corner/through lot: up to 2 signs) | On private property being sold/leased | — | 10-10-19.A.4.c, 10-10-19.A.5.c, 10-10-19.A.6.e |
| Political Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | See above | On private property; location between building and setback line; campaign signs in election period may be between setback and lot line | — | 10-10-19.A.8 |
| Flags and Flagpoles (General) | — | Residential/RIO: 1 flagpole, 2 flags; Others: See district regulations | — | 10 ft from all property lines | — | Minimum 10 ft setback from property lines, not in public ROW | — | 10-10-19.A.6.a, 10-10-19.A.7.a |

## Prohibited signs in Lake Bluff

- All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter or exempt from these regulations are prohibited in all districts.
- Changeable message signs, blinking, flashing, fluttering, rotating lights, or any illumination with a change in lighting intensity, brightness or color, except for temporary holiday decorations or except as expressly permitted under temporary sign exceptions.
- Undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs, pennants, banners, flags, balloons, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or similar devices in view of any street or highway, except for temporary announcement signs or as expressly permitted under temporary sign exceptions.
- Signs utilizing colored lights at any location or in any manner that may be confused or construed as traffic control devices.
- Signs utilizing or located on parked or stationary vehicles, including trucks, cars, trailers, taxicabs, and other vehicular equipment, except for incidental signs painted or affixed to vehicles for customary identification of the business owner.
- Signs of any nature affixed to any public or private tree, rock, fire hydrant, street pole, light pole, or similar structure, except for address and government signs.
- Any permanent sign placed in a nonresidential district that does not relate to the activity conducted on the lot on which it is located.
- Roof signs.
- Temporary illuminated signs, except as expressly permitted under temporary sign exceptions.
- Electronic business information displays, except for displays in the Central Business District (CBD) approved by the Village Board and meeting detailed restrictions.
- No sign shall be internally illuminated except portions containing lettering or a logo, and all surrounding surfaces must be opaque.
- No sign illumination may consist of flashing, animated, chasing, scintillating, or other illumination conveying the sense of movement.
- No sign shall be illuminated so as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic movement.
- No sign shall utilize exposed neon tubing.
- No sign illumination shall use unshielded lights, including bulbs strung on poles, wires, or other supports.
- All signs must be securely maintained and faded, peeling, and broken lettering is prohibited.
- Illegal signs are declared a public nuisance and are prohibited; it is unlawful to keep, maintain, or possess an illegal sign on any property.
- All signs constructed or erected or maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter are illegal and must be abated.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lake Bluff

- Address signs not exceeding prescribed size and conditions.
- Bulletin board signs meeting specified size and location limits for public, charitable, or religious institutions.
- Business nameplates not exceeding one square foot per proprietor.
- Auxiliary signs in CBD, industrial, automotive, office, and service districts (when meeting size/location requirements).
- Project identification signs of specified sizes and purposes.
- Real estate signs meeting size, location, and time limitations.
- Flags and flagpoles per lot subject to quantity, height, and setback limitations.
- Private sale signs and related off-site directional signs, within size, location, duration, and frequency requirements.
- Open house signs, both on-site and off-site, within stated limits.
- Governmental signs.
- Historic marker signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Holiday decorations.
- Incidental signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Signs for churches, schools, public, or quasi-public organizations per lot, within size and placement limitations.
- Warning signs such as 'no trespassing', 'beware of dog', 'no soliciting' not exceeding one square foot.
- Political signs within size and placement limitations.
- Temporary interior nonilluminated advertising signs for announcement of an event, sale or item (5% of total window area, max 30 days display).
- Temporary announcement signs for specific occasions (birth, birthday, anniversary, etc.) within duration/placement limits.
- Other exemptions as listed in Section 10-10-19, provided such signs comply with all other applicable provisions of the chapter including number and size limitations per premises.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An owner must submit and obtain approval of a master sign plan for multi-tenant non-retail and service centers and multi-tenant non-retail developments with individual entries, except for properties developed prior to a specified date.
- Approval of a master sign plan is required as part of the approval of a planned commercial development.
- A master sign plan must include number/description of all signs, locations, maximum/minimum dimensions, support structure types, illumination types, construction materials, design/message restrictions, color schemes, and placement relative to circulation points.
- Master sign plans must be approved by the Architectural Board of Review (ABR), unless submitted as part of a planned commercial development; in such cases, final decision rests with the Village Board after a recommendation from the ABR.
- Exceptions or exemptions to master sign plans may be requested for hardship or special circumstances, subject to recommendation/approval by ABR and Village Board.
- Any sign to be constructed or installed on a property located in the Light Industry or Limited Light Industry Zoning Districts (L-1 and L-2) must be consistent with an approved master sign plan.
- Sign permits in certain circumstances (residential districts, CBD, automotive park, office/research/service, RIO, light industry/limited light industry) require review by the Architectural Board of Review as detailed in Section 10-10-14.
- All other signs not otherwise exempt pursuant to Section 10-10-19 are subject to approval by the Architectural Board of Review pursuant to Sections 10-10-14 and 10-10-15.
- The Village Administrator may require additional information or impose conditions in the review of certain sign permit applications.
- An applicant for a master sign plan or for an exemption to requirements for master sign plan must follow special procedures, including possible Village Board review.

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

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