# Sign Regulations in Markham, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Markham, Illinois regulates 12 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Wall Sign or Freestanding Sign (Business Identification)s in the C District zoning district are capped at 24 ft above ground tall and 60 sq ft per establishment (optionally up to 200 sq ft max for large frontage per formula) (Sec. § 156.341(B)(1)-(2)). Most commercial signs in Markham require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R District | 3 | — | 18 sq ft | — |
| C District | 3 | 24 ft above ground | 60 sq ft per establishment (optionally up to 200 sq ft max for large frontage per formula) | — |
| L District | 2 | — | — | — |
| C and L Districts | 2 | — | 60 sq ft | — |
| L-1 District | 1 | 120 ft | 1,200 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 12 sq ft total | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### R District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Dwelling Unit) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | On dwelling unit | — | § 156.341(A)(1), (4) |
| Wall Sign (Other Than Dwelling Unit) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | On non-dwelling structure | — | § 156.341(A)(2), (4) |
| Church Bulletin Board | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 156.341(A)(3), (4) |

### C District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign or Freestanding Sign (Business Identification) | 24 ft above ground | 60 sq ft per establishment (optionally up to 200 sq ft max for large frontage per formula) | — | — | 1 per business establishment, but subject to aggregate signage formula for large lots | Main building on the lot | — | § 156.341(B)(1)-(2) |
| Sign (For Sale or Rental) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property or subdivision as permitted | — | — | § 156.341(B)(3); § 156.344 |
| Sign (For Sale or Rental - Subdivision/Area over 5 lots or 5 acres) | — | 60 sq ft | 10 ft | — | 1 per subdivision or area | In connection with subdivision marketing | — | § 156.341(B)(3); § 156.344 |

### C and L Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign (For Sale or Rental) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | § 156.341(D); § 156.344 |
| Sign (For Sale or Rental - Subdivision/Area over 5 lots or 5 acres) | — | 60 sq ft | 10 ft | — | 1 per subdivision/area | — | — | § 156.341(D); § 156.344 |

## Prohibited signs in Markham

- No sign or billboard may protrude or extend beyond the property lines of the lot on which it is erected.
- No artificial light or reflecting device connected or used with a sign or billboard may be located or displayed where such light or device competes for attention with, or may be mistaken for, a traffic signal.
- No sign or billboard may contain any commercial message except one which advertises a product, service, event, person, institution, activity or business located on the lot where the sign is located, or the sale or rental of such lot (with limited exceptions for C or L Districts within 660 feet of an interstate and for-sale/lease signs).
- No sign may be animated or audible.
- No structure formerly used as a sign or billboard and not in use for any other purpose may be maintained for more than 120 days after its use for a sign or billboard has ceased.
- No person shall erect an awning or maintain it over any sidewalk in the city at a height less than six and one-half feet above the surface of the sidewalk.
- No person shall allow a sign to project from any building into and over any sidewalk or street unless elevated at least eight feet above the sidewalk or street.
- No street name signs may be erected without authorization, approval, and consent by the Mayor and City Council.
- No person shall injure or obstruct street name signs posted by the city.
- It is unlawful to erect, alter or relocate any sign, billboard or other advertising structure without obtaining a permit from the Building Department.
- It is unlawful to maintain any sign, billboard or other advertising structure without obtaining an annual license from the office of the City Clerk.
- All signs must be maintained in a state of good repair; dangerous, unsafe, abandoned, or nonconforming signs are subject to removal by the city.

## Signs exempt from permit in Markham

- Any sign or billboard not visible to motorists or pedestrians on any public highway, street or alley.
- Any sign, traffic sign or billboard installed or maintained by the state, the county, or the city.
- Property in the L-1 District and adjacent to an interstate expressway (special provisions apply).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Plans for construction of outdoor advertising signs along expressways must be submitted to and approved by the Building Department, particularly concerning structural integrity.
- Permit required from the Building Department for the erection, alteration, or relocation of any sign, billboard, or advertising structure.
- Certificate of insurance, surety bond, and maintenance provisions required with permit applications for certain signs and billboards.
- No explicit master sign plan or sign variance meeting process is named within the provided sections; permit process and department approval appear to be the mechanism for sign regulation.

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

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