# Sign Regulations in Mettawa, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Mettawa, Illinois regulates 24 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Freestanding/Monument)s in the O-R Planned Office/Research District, H, Office/Hotel District zoning district are capped at 3.5 ft (general); 8 ft (if lot adjacent to Interstate 94) tall, 28 sq ft (general); 128 sq ft (if lot adjacent to Interstate 94), and 8 ft (general); 16 ft (if lot adjacent to Interstate 94) wide, with a At least 15 ft from any road and at least 5 ft from any property line. setback (Sec. 10.304.A.1.b). Most commercial signs in Mettawa require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 8 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1 Single Family Residence District, R-2 Single Family Residential District) | 6 | 8 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| O-R Planned Office/Research District, H, Office/Hotel District | 9 | Structure: min 70 ft above grade, max 85 ft above grade; sign structure max 10 ft height | 50 sq ft | — |
| R-1 Single Family Residence District | 6 | 8 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| R-2 Single Family Residence District | 6 | 8 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| O-R Planned Office/Research District | 3 | 4 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| H, Office/Hotel District | 7 | Located at least 70 ft above grade, not more than 85 ft; overall sign height max 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Name Sign | — | 2.5 sq ft | — | — | — | Location must be approved; on public right-of-way requires approval from President and Board of Trustees; on private property requires majority of owners using driveway/street. | — | 10.301.A |
| General Contractor/Architect Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from closest lot line | Maximum 2 (one per general contractor and/or architect) | Not in parkway, public right of way, or public property. Must be on lot, not less than 5 ft from closest lot line. | — | 10.301.B |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On lot or building or portion that is for sale or rent. | — | 10.301.C.1 |
| Open House Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | Not closer than 2 ft to adjacent street pavement | Maximum 5 per property | May be placed in parkway at intersections within 2 miles of the subject residential real estate (conditions apply); not closer than 2 ft to adjacent street pavement. | — | 10.301.C.2 |
| Home Location Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | Not closer than 2 ft to adjacent street pavement | Maximum 5 per event | May be placed in parkway at intersections within 2 miles of property (conditions apply); not closer than 2 ft to adjacent street pavement. | — | 10.301.C.3 |
| Solicitor Warning Sign (Permanent) | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | One per property | At main driveway entrance, if principal entrance door is at least 75 ft from front lot line. | — | 10.301.C.4 |

### O-R Planned Office/Research District, H, Office/Hotel District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft | 5 ft (length) | Signs must be placed at least 15 ft from any road and at least 5 ft from any property line. | One per lot (two for corner lots) | On building wall; one per lot; on corner lots, two (one on each street-facing wall). | — | 10.303.A.2 |
| Subdivision Sign | 4 ft | — | 30 ft | At least 15 ft from any road and at least 5 ft from any property line. | One per planned unit development | One per planned unit development | — | 10.303.C, 10.304.A.3 |
| Identification Sign (Freestanding/Monument) | 3.5 ft (general); 8 ft (if lot adjacent to Interstate 94) | 28 sq ft (general); 128 sq ft (if lot adjacent to Interstate 94) | 8 ft (general); 16 ft (if lot adjacent to Interstate 94) | At least 15 ft from any road and at least 5 ft from any property line. | One per lot; one additional if adjacent to I-94 | One per lot; additional if adjacent to Interstate 94. | — | 10.304.A.1.b |
| Wall Sign (Building > 45 ft, Facing I-94 or IL Route 60) | Structure: min 70 ft above grade, max 85 ft above grade; sign structure max 10 ft height | — | Letter: 7 ft height, 14.5 ft width; structure max 45 ft width | At least 15 ft from any road and at least 5 ft from any property line. | One per qualifying wall | On wall facing Interstate 94, IL Route 60 or Riverwoods Blvd (with restrictions). | — | 10.304.A.1.a |
| Building Leasing Sign (General) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | 4 ft | At least 15 ft from any road and at least 5 ft from any property line. | One per lot | Freestanding, one per lot. | — | 10.304.A.1.c |
| Building Leasing Sign (Near Interstate 94) | 8 ft | — | 16 ft | At least 15 ft from any road and at least 5 ft from any property line. | One additional | Within 50 ft of and facing Interstate 94 | — | 10.304.A.1.c |
| Wall Sign (Retail Sales Building ≤45 ft, Gasoline/Diesel Station Accessory, Adjacent to I-94) | Each sign: min 15 ft above grade, max 31 ft above grade; max 10.5 ft sign height | — | Max sign width: 37.5 ft; letter height: 7 ft | At least 15 ft from any road and at least 5 ft from any property line. | One per exterior wall (except north) | Each exterior wall except north wall of principal retail sales building, adjacent to I-94 | — | 10.304.A.2.a |
| Canopy Sign (Gasoline/Diesel Station Accessory, Adjacent to I-94) | 3 ft | — | 16 ft | At least 15 ft from any road and at least 5 ft from any property line. | One per exterior canopy side | Each exterior side of canopy over station. | — | 10.304.A.2.b |

### H, Office/Hotel District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Building >45 ft, Facing I-94/IL Route 60) | Located at least 70 ft above grade, not more than 85 ft; overall sign height max 10 ft | — | Letter: 7 ft height, 14.5 ft width; overall sign: 45 ft width | 15 ft from any road; 5 ft from any property line | One per qualifying wall | On wall facing Interstate 94, IL Route 60 or Riverwoods Blvd (with restrictions) | — | 10.304.A.1.a |
| Identification Sign (Freestanding/Monument) | 3.5 ft (general); 8 ft (adjacent to I-94); not to exceed 4.5 ft (where applicable) | 28 sq ft (general); 128 sq ft (if lot adjacent to I-94) | 8 ft (general); 16 ft (adjacent to I-94) | 15 ft from any road; 5 ft from any property line | One per lot; one additional if adjacent to I-94 | One per lot; additional if adjacent to I-94. | — | 10.304.A.1.b |
| Building Leasing Sign (General) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | 4 ft | 15 ft from any road; 5 ft from any property line | One per lot | Freestanding; one per lot. | — | 10.304.A.1.c |
| Building Leasing Sign (Near Interstate 94) | 8 ft | — | 16 ft | 15 ft from any road; 5 ft from any property line | One additional | Within 50 ft and facing I-94. | — | 10.304.A.1.c |
| Wall Sign (Retail ≤45 ft, Gasoline/Diesel Accessory, Adjacent to I-94) | Each at least 15 ft above grade, not more than 31 ft; max 10.5 ft sign height | — | Max sign width 37.5 ft; letter height 7 ft | 15 ft from any road; 5 ft from any property line | One per wall (except north) | Each exterior wall except north; retail sales with accessory gas/diesel, adjacent to I-94 | — | 10.304.A.2.a |
| Canopy Sign (Gas/Diesel Station Accessory, Adjacent to I-94) | 3 ft | — | 16 ft | 15 ft from any road; 5 ft from any property line | One per exterior canopy side | Each exterior side of canopy over accessory fuel station | — | 10.304.A.2.b |
| Subdivision Sign | 4 ft | — | 30 ft | 15 ft from any road; 5 ft from any property line | One per planned unit development | One per planned unit development | — | 10.304.A.3 |

## Prohibited signs in Mettawa

- All signs not specifically permitted or specifically exempted from the regulations of this Chapter are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs, action signs, ad-benches, advertising signs, animated signs, awning signs, banners or flags, billboards, bulletin boards, illuminated signs (except as allowed in the H, Office/Hotel District), flashing signs, guide signs, marquee signs, mobile signs, portable signs, projecting signs, reader board signs, and window signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, located or maintained upon any real estate within the corporate limits of the Village except as provided in the Chapter.
- No sign shall advertise or identify any business and/or use located off the premises whereon such sign is located; such signs are illegal.
- No temporary sign shall extend over or into any street, alley, sidewalk or other public dedicated right of way unless a license has been granted by the President and Board of Trustees.
- No temporary sign shall be erected so as to obstruct any door or fire escape, nor shall such sign be attached to any standpipe or fire escape.
- No signs are allowed upon or in view of any street that imitates, resembles, or interferes with an official traffic control device, or which would attempt to direct traffic or interfere with the movement or effectiveness of any traffic control device.
- No traffic sign or signal upon any street may bear any commercial advertising.
- It is unlawful for any person to possess official traffic control signs, signals, or markers identified as belonging to the Department of Transportation or the Village except as specified (employees, contractors, police officers, etc).

## Signs exempt from permit in Mettawa

- The removal of legal nonconforming signs, except with respect to regulations governing their removal, is exempt from permit and regulations (except Section 10.501).
- Political signs are exempt provided they adhere to the bulk regulations set forth in the Zoning Ordinance.
- Temporary decorations or displays clearly incidental to and customarily and commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday or celebration are exempt.
- Temporary or permanent signs erected by public utility companies or construction companies to warn of danger or hazardous conditions (e.g., underground cables, gas lines, traffic or other Village signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger and emergency temporary signs) or any other non-advertising signs approved by the President and Board of Trustees are exempt.
- All official traffic signs and warning signs, when erected or required by a governmental agency and temporary signs indicating danger, are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs not exempted require a building permit from the Director of Building and Zoning unless otherwise specified.
- Applications for variances from the requirements (such as signage not in conformance) must be filed with the Village Clerk and processed through the Zoning Board of Appeals after a public hearing, with recommendations to the President and Board of Trustees.
- No specific 'master sign plan' is required by name, but approval of sign design and location is referenced for certain signs (e.g., street name signs), and variances may be petitioned through a public process.

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

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