# Sign Regulations in Lisle, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Lisle, Illinois regulates 30 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Neighborhood or Subdivision Identification Signs in the Residential Property zoning district are capped at 6 ft. (9 ft. along specified roads) tall and 32 sq. ft., with a Minimum 5 ft. from any property line setback (Sec. 5-11-4(B)(1)). Most commercial signs in Lisle require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 6 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Property | 9 | 10 ft. | 48 sq. ft. | — |
| Nonresidential Property | 20 | 25 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| B-3A; Central Business District, B-3B; Central Perimeter Business District | 8 | 10 ft. (ground mounted) | 32 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Residential Property

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Numbers | — | — | — | — | — | On property to which sign is apparent | — | 5-11-4(A)(1) |
| Historical Marker | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | 5-11-4(A)(4) |
| Yard Sign (Property for Sale or Lease) | 5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One per frontage | Shall not extend outside property line; 1 per frontage | — | 5-11-4(A)(5) |
| Yard Sign (Construction Sign) | 5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One | Confined to construction site | — | 5-11-4(A)(6) |
| Development Project Sign | 10 ft. | 48 sq. ft. | — | — | One per frontage | One per frontage for residential developments 5+ contiguous lots under single entity | — | 5-11-4(A)(7) |
| Temporary Wall or Ground Mounted Sign (Non-commercial) | 5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | 5-11-4(A)(8) |
| Neighborhood or Subdivision Identification Sign | 6 ft. (9 ft. along specified roads) | 32 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft. from any property line | Two per entrance | Ground signs at entrances | — | 5-11-4(B)(1) |
| Home Occupation Wall Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | One | Affixed to residence | — | 5-11-4(B)(2)(a), (b) |

### Nonresidential Property

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On private property | — | 5-11-5(A)(2) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One per business | Within 5 ft. of building entrance; not permitted in public right-of-way (unless otherwise noted) | — | 5-11-5(A)(6) |
| For Sale or Lease (Ground or Wall) | 10 ft. (for ground signs) | 48 sq. ft. | — | — | One per frontage | One per frontage (lot or building) | — | 5-11-5(A)(9) |
| Construction Sign | 10 ft. | 48 sq. ft. | — | — | One | On property with active building permit | — | 5-11-5(A)(10) |
| Temporary Non-Commercial Site Signage | 5 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | Min 10 ft. from paved street or back of curb | — | No closer than 10 ft. from paved portion of street/back of curb (if no sidewalk) | — | 5-11-5(A)(12) |
| Monument Sign (Ground Sign) | 10 ft. (may be increased 2 ft. for architectural features) | 50 sq. ft. per side (or 100 sq. ft. per side if on specified thoroughfares) | — | 5 ft. from front/side street lot line; 25 ft. from side lot line (unless otherwise approved/reduced) | One, or two with sufficient frontage | Monument sign, oriented perpendicular to eligible lot frontage, fronting roadways | — | 5-11-5(B)(2)(a)-(f) |
| Monument Sign (Tollway Property - I-88) | 25 ft. | 120 sq. ft. | — | — | One per tollway frontage | Frontage along I-88 tollway corridor (minimum 500 ft. frontage) | — | 5-11-5(B)(2)(g) |
| Blade Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. per side | — | — | One per establishment per applicable facade | One per establishment per facade with street frontage or adjacent parking area where customer access is available; extends max 3 ft. from building; minimum clearance 8 ft. from sidewalk to bottom of sign | — | 5-11-5(B)(3)(a)-(c), 5-11-7(I) |

### B-3A; Central Business District, B-3B; Central Perimeter Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall, Awning, Canopy Signs (First Floor and Qualifying Facades) | — | — | — | — | — | On qualifying facade (public/private streets, sidewalks, alleys, courtyards, parking lots) | — | 5-11-6(A)(1)(a), (d) |
| Wall, Awning, Canopy Signs (Multi-Story Multi-Tenant, Above/Below First Floor) | — | — | — | — | — | On qualifying facades facing public right-of-way | — | 5-11-6(A)(1)(a)(1), (b) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per business | — | — | One per business | Placed on sidewalk within building footprint limits; provide at least 6 ft. clear sidewalk for pedestrians | — | 5-11-6(A)(3) |
| Blade Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. per side | — | — | One per tenant per applicable facade | One per tenant per frontage along qualifying facade or alternative with customer access; extends max 3 ft. from vertical facade, minimum 6 inches from facade, minimum 8 ft. from sidewalk to sign bottom | — | 5-11-6(A)(4) |
| Development Identification Sign (B-3A) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per qualifying development | Wall sign placed to complement architectural character | — | 5-11-6(A)(5)(a) |
| Development Identification Sign (B-3B) | 3 ft. (if attached to decorative feature wall) | 32 sq. ft. | — | No setback required | One per qualifying development | Attached to wall or mounted on decorative feature/seating wall | — | 5-11-6(A)(5)(b) |
| Pedestrian Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5-11-6(A)(6) |
| Temporary Commercial Signs (Wall or Ground Mounted) | 10 ft. (ground mounted) | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Wall mounted (not above roofline); ground mounted on private property | — | 5-11-6(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Lisle

- Any sign not expressly permitted in this Chapter is prohibited.
- Signs which by color, location, or design resemble or conflict with traffic control signs or signals.
- Portable signs, excluding sidewalk signs as defined within this Chapter.
- Commercial signs on a vehicle where said vehicle is parked adjacent to or near the right-of-way for the purposes of identifying or calling attention to the business, and is not used for daily operations or during the regular course of business, or is not licensed, insured, or operational.
- Outdoor advertising sign (“Billboards”).
- Signs containing exposed gas tubing, exterior to the building, including argon and neon.
- Flashing signs.
- Any signs or attention getting devices that rotate, revolve, or have any visible moving parts or that gives the appearance of movement, including searchlights, spinners, streamers, balloons, and other similar devices or ornamentation designed for attracting attention, promotion or advertising, unless otherwise provided for in this Chapter.
- Off-premise signs displaying commercial speech.
- Any sign or structure which constitutes a hazard to public health or safety, including dangerous construction or sight obstructions.
- Any sign located in the public right-of-way, unless otherwise provided for in this Chapter.
- Roof signs as defined within this Chapter.
- “V” shaped signs, except as a temporary sign in accordance with this Chapter.
- Cabinet box signs as defined within this Chapter.
- Pole signs as defined within this Chapter.
- Changeable Copy signs, as defined in this Chapter, in the B-3A; Central Business District.
- Illuminated window signs.
- Signs advertising a business no longer conducted on the premises.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lisle

- Address numbers, non-illuminated or directly illuminated, located on the property to which the sign is apparent.
- Governmental signs incidental thereto for identification, information, directional, or public safety purposes erected or required by governmental bodies, or authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance, such as traffic control signs and legal notices, including those located in the right-of-way.
- Flags and handheld signs displaying only non-commercial speech, images or messages.
- Historical Marker signs (up to six square feet in area).
- Signs on property for sale or lease (one yard/ground or wall sign per frontage of certain size limits, to be removed upon sale or lease).
- Construction signs (one yard sign per construction site with specific size and height limits; to be removed after construction is complete or certificate of occupancy issued).
- Development Project Signs (one large sign per frontage for residential developments of at least five contiguous lots; must be removed upon completion of the development).
- Temporary non-commercial, non-illuminated wall and ground mounted signs, subject to size and height restrictions.
- Signs on private property designed or installed to not be viewed from a frontage as defined, with building permit required.
- Directional signs up to a maximum six square feet in sign area and four feet in height installed on private property.
- Nonilluminated window signs up to 25% of a single window pane and no more than 50% of total window surface area per storefront.
- Handheld signs or people in costume located on the sidewalk immediately adjacent to the building within which the tenant to which they are advertising is located.
- Like for like replacement of individual tenant panels on a multi-tenant sign, except where change is due to a new business tenant.
- Pedestrian wall signs, up to a maximum of six square feet in area.
- Sidewalk signs, one per business, within area and height limits, as provided.
- Signs not visible from frontage, located on private property (must obtain building permit).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permits for wall, canopy, and awning signage for facades on properties separated from the adjacent street frontage by another lot may be authorized by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with the limits provided.
- Exceptions to ground sign setbacks may be approved by the Zoning Administrator if reduced setbacks are needed to limit impact on required parking, reasonably accommodate locations with limited open space, and avoid obstructions to existing signage.
- Locations of wall, awning, and canopy signs for tenants in multi-tenant buildings in the B-3A and B-3B districts are subject to review and approval by the Zoning Administrator.
- Any sign not expressly permitted in this Chapter requires proper permit or approval.
- Like for like replacement of panels on multi-tenant signs is exempt from permit unless due to change of business tenant.
- Blade signs and pedestrian wall signs in the B-3A/B-3B districts are exempt from permit.

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

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