# Sign Regulations in Lombard, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lombard, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/lombard
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Lombard/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITXVLAUS_CH153SI)

## At a glance

Lombard, Illinois regulates 146 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Shopping Center Identification Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 35 ft. (primary); 20 ft. (second) tall and 150 sq. ft. (primary); 75 sq. ft. (second on same frontage), with a 5' min. from property line setback (Sec. 153.235). Most commercial signs in Lombard require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 29 | 35 ft. (primary); 20 ft. (second) | 150 sq. ft. (primary); 75 sq. ft. (second on same frontage) | — |
| Conservation/Recreation District (C/R) | 12 | 10 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per frontage | — |
| Residential Districts (R-0, R-1, R-2, R-4, R-5, R-6) | 14 | 6 ft. (freestanding); wall sign not above roof/eave | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Office District (O) | 11 | 6 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| B1 Neighborhood Shopping District (B-1), B2 Neighborhood Shopping District (B-2) | 14 | 15 ft. | 100 sq. ft. (per single awning/canopy sign) | — |
| B3 Community Shopping District (B-3), B4 Corridor Shopping District (B-4), B4A Corridor Shopping District (B-4A) | 23 | 35 ft. (primary), 20 ft. (second/extra) | 400 sq. ft. | — |
| B5 Central Business District (B-5) | 15 | 6 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| B5A Downtown Perimeter District (B-5A) | 16 | 15 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Limited Industrial District (I) | 11 | 25 ft. | 125 sq. ft. | — |
| State or Federal Rights-of-Way (Off-premises sign areas) | 1 | 25 ft. | 125 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Directory Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per entrance | Exterior wall adjacent to street-level entrance of non-street level establishments. | — | 153.212 |
| Development Sign | — | 9 sq. ft. (dwellings <1 acre); 32 sq. ft. (all others) | — | — | 1 per street exposure | Private property with owner consent; not in right-of-way/clear line of sight area. | — | 153.215 |
| Informational Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Ingress/egress (major), not on residential lots <1 acre. No conflict with driver vision. | — | 153.218 |
| Institutional Sign | 6 ft. (freestanding); wall sign not above roof/eave | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 freestanding and 1 wall per street frontage | On premises of tax exempt or permitted institution/by conditional use. | — | 153.219 |
| Residential Subdivision Sign | 4 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per entrance | 1 per major entrance | — | 153.232 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft. (6 ft. including balloon) | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per establishment/right-of-way | Within 10' of establishment or outdoor area; not in clear line of sight area; min 1' from curb; min 4' clear sidewalk. | — | 153.234 |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign | 35 ft. (primary); 20 ft. (second) | 150 sq. ft. (primary); 75 sq. ft. (second on same frontage) | — | 5' min. from property line | max 2 per street frontage if >10 acres and >1,500' frontage | 1 per street abutting property; 250' apart min. 2 per street if >1,500' frontage. | — | 153.235 |
| Valet Parking Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | Not more than 4' from curb (public ROW); not on pavement. | Up to 2 per loading area. | Within loading zone; up to two at loading area, others at ingress/egress if not hazard. | — | 153.241 |

### B3 Community Shopping District (B-3), B4 Corridor Shopping District (B-4), B4A Corridor Shopping District (B-4A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Automatic Changeable Copy Sign (B3/B4/B4A) | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Non-residential on arterial frontages. | — | 153.505(B)(3), 153.210 |
| Freestanding Sign (Standard, State ROW <200') | 20 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | 5' min from ROW | 1 per parcel | Site w/ min 4 parking spaces; 1 per parcel; 100' apart; 5' setback min from ROW. | — | 153.505(B)(6), Table: 153.505(B)(6)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (State ROW ≥200') | 25 ft. | 125 sq. ft. | — | 5' from ROW | 1 per parcel | Site w/ min 4 parking spaces; 1 per parcel. | — | 153.505(B)(6), Table: 153.505(B)(6)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (150'+ Frontage, State ROW <200') | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | 5' from ROW | 1 per parcel | Parcels w/ >150' frontage. | — | 153.505(B)(6), Table: 153.505(B)(6)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (All other ROW) | 20 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | 5' from ROW | 1 per parcel | Site w/ min 4 parking spaces. | — | 153.505(B)(6), Table: 153.505(B)(6)(b) |
| Off-premises Sign (B3/B4/B4A) | 25 ft. | 125 sq. ft. | — | Meets min. district yards; 100' from residential. | 1 per zoning lot | Adjacent to state/federal rights-of-way in B3/B4/B4A. | — | 153.505(B)(10), 153.226 |
| Sandwich Board Sign (B3/B4/B4A) | 4 ft. | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business, or per abutting ROW | Within 10' of business/outdoor area. | — | 153.505(B)(13), 153.234 |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign (B3/B4/B4A) | 35 ft. (primary), 20 ft. (second/extra) | 150 sq. ft. (primary), 75 sq. ft. (second/extra) | — | 5' min. from property line | Max 2 per street frontage (see above) | ≥250' apart; max 2 per street frontage if >10 acres and >1,500' frontage. | — | 153.505(B)(14), 153.235 |

### B5A Downtown Perimeter District (B-5A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Directory Sign (B5A) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per non-street level entrance | Exterior wall near entrance | — | 153.507(B)(4), 153.212 |
| Freestanding Sign (B5A, Standard) | 6 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per parcel | Site with min 4 parking spaces and car access | — | 153.507(B)(6)(b), 153.216 |
| Freestanding Sign (B5A, Building Setback 30'+) | 15 ft. | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per parcel | Principal structure set back at least 30' from property line. | — | 153.507(B)(6)(b-ii) |
| Informational Sign (B5A) | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | 153.507(B)(7), 153.218 |
| Institutional Sign (B5A) | 6 ft. (freestanding); wall sign not above roof/eave | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On premises of qualifying institution/conditional use. | — | 153.507(B)(8), 153.219 |
| Motor Fuel Rate Sign (B5A) | — | 9 sq. ft. | — | — | — | As part of wall/freestanding sign. | — | 153.507(B)(10), 153.223 |
| Rear Service Door Sign (B5A) | — | 12" x 24" | — | — | — | Centered on/adjacent to rear door | — | 153.507(B)(13), 153.230 |
| Sandwich Board Sign (B5A) | 4 ft. (6 ft. with balloon) | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per establishment/right-of-way | Within 10' of business/outdoor area. | — | 153.507(B)(14), 153.234 |

## Prohibited signs in Lombard

- It is unlawful for any person to erect, construct, alter or relocate any sign within the village without first obtaining a permit from the Director and paying the fee required, unless said sign is specifically exempt from such requirements by provisions of this ordinance.
- The following named signs are prohibited: Abandoned signs, Flashing signs, Moving signs, Portable signs, Roof signs (except inflatables), Vehicle signs (including trailer mounted signs), Signs painted directly on walls, Balloon signs in which the string or rope length is greater than two feet, Any sign or sign structure which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination, obstructs the vision of drivers, or obstructs or detracts from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic control device, Any sign or sign structure which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination, obstructs free access to or egress from, or obscures the visibility of a fire escape, door, window, or other required exit, Any sign or sign structure which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination, constitutes a hazard to public health or safety.
- No signs shall be located in the clear line of sight area, as defined and regulated within the Lombard Zoning Ordinance.
- No awning or canopy sign may be displayed in conjunction with a wall sign.
- No projecting sign may be displayed in conjunction with a wall, awning, or canopy sign.
- No wall sign may be displayed in conjunction with an awning, canopy, or projecting sign.
- For any sign projecting over a public right-of-way, liability insurance or an indemnity bond must be maintained or the permit shall be revoked.
- No temporary signs shall be located in or on the public right of way, sidewalk or other public thoroughfare. No temporary signs shall be located in the clear line of sight area.
- No other temporary sign shall be displayed concurrently or attached to an inflatable sign or feather sign, and their supports.
- Signs must not be installed or placed prior to receipt of a permit where a permit is required; penalties apply for noncompliance.
- Signs having special, historical, aesthetic or architectural significance are exempt only if a formal declaration and process is followed; such signs cannot otherwise violate general restrictions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lombard

- Signs not intended to be viewed from public right-of-way, window displays, window signs, product dispensers and point of purchase displays, scoreboards on athletic fields, flags, gravestones, barber poles, religious symbols, commemorative plaques, the display of street numbers, or any display or construction not defined herein as a sign are outside the scope of this Chapter.
- The following types of signs are not subject to a fee when obtaining a permit unless the sign is illuminated: Institutional signs, Memorial signs, Rear service door signs, Noncommercial signs.
- The following signs do not require a permit unless the sign is illuminated (but must still meet any requirements of the Chapter): Residential directional signs, Noncommercial signs 16 square feet or less in area, Window displays, Rummage or garage sale signs, Nameplates, Real estate signs for single family residences, Flags, Holiday decorations, Motor fuel promotional signs, Traffic control signs, Sponsor signage, Balloon signs, Window signs.
- Maintenance or changing of parts designed for changes shall not be considered an alteration, provided such change does not alter the surface area, height or otherwise make the sign nonconforming.
- Maintenance and incidental repair or changing of parts designed for changes that do not require a permit are permitted for nonconforming signs.
- Signs having special, historical, aesthetic or architectural significance, whose preservation is declared by resolution after a public hearing and Historic Preservation Commission determination, are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no explicit mention of a 'master sign plan' or similar requirement in the ordinance text provided.
- Permit application and plans must be reviewed and approved by the Director of Community Development prior to permit issuance for any sign where a permit is required.
- Requests for variations (i.e., deviation from the sign code) must be reviewed in a public hearing by the Zoning Board of Appeals or Plan Commission, as applicable.
- Sign code compliance reviews and permit application reviews are part of administrative functions outlined in the ordinance.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/lombard