# Sign Regulations in Mount Prospect, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Mount Prospect, Illinois regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Flags in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 ft flagpole for single-family; maximum for principal structures for other properties tall, 50 sq ft per flag, and 3 ft (single-family flag), none for others wide, with a 5 ft from any property line setback (Sec. 7.202.E). Most commercial signs in Mount Prospect require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 25 ft flagpole for single-family; maximum for principal structures for other properties | 50 sq ft per flag | — |
| Single-family residential properties | 3 | 25 ft (flagpole) | Total of all such signs: 16 sq ft | — |
| Other properties | 3 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft per flag | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 14 | 15 ft from base grade | 150 sq ft (can be up to 300 sq ft if 250'+ setback per director approval) | — |
| B-3 (community shopping) zoning district, B-4 (corridor commercial) zoning district, B-5 (central commercial) zoning district, B-5C (core central commercial) zoning district | 1 | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per face, 2 faces maximum | — |
| C-R district, R-X district, R-1 district, R-A district | 3 | 8 ft | 75 sq ft (may be increased for large developments per 7.302.L.1.b) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | 25 ft flagpole for single-family; maximum for principal structures for other properties | 50 sq ft per flag | 3 ft (single-family flag), none for others | 5 ft from any property line | Single-family: one flagpole/2 flags; Others: 3 flagpoles/2 flags per pole | Flagpoles must be 5 ft minimum from any property line and not within a required interior side yard. Flags may not be on roofs, project over property lines, or contact structures when fully extended. | — | 7.202.E |
| Noncommercial Notice Board | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to building; intended for pedestrians | — | 7.202.F |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 50% of total window surface area | — | — | — | On/in window | — | 7.202.G |
| Door Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to door glass | — | 7.202.H |
| Municipal Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Village owned property or in public right-of-way for Village events | — | 7.202.J |

### Single-family residential properties

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Commercial Sign | 6 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property | — | 7.202.C.1 |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign | — | Total of all such signs: 16 sq ft | — | — | Total area of all signs: 16 sq ft | On property | — | 7.202.D.1 |
| Flag | 25 ft (flagpole) | 3 ft x 5 ft (per flag), max 50 sq ft per flag | 3 ft | 5 ft from property line | 1 flagpole/2 flags per lot | One flagpole per zoning lot | — | 7.202.E.1 |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per face, 2 faces maximum | — | — | 1 per business | See district-specific rules (B-3, B-4, B-5, B-5C: sidewalk sign allowed on private property) | — | 7.202.I |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft from base grade | 75 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft min from property line; 50 ft min from another freestanding sign | 1 per street frontage (with exception for multi-tenant with separate entrances) | Perpendicular to street right of way (on mult. frontage properties) | — | 7.302.G |
| Projecting Sign | 14 ft from base grade or below roofline (whichever less) | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage per establishment | Perpendicular to building wall | — | 7.302.E |
| Directory Sign | 8 ft from base grade | 20 sq ft | — | 50 ft from property line | 1 per lot | No closer than 50 ft to property line | — | 7.302.F |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding) | 6 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per driveway entrance | Interior of lot (approved by director) | — | 7.302.I.1-2 |
| Directional Sign (Wall) | 15 ft from base grade | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per driveway entrance | Interior of lot (approved by director), on wall | — | 7.302.I.2 |
| Menu Board (Primary) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 2 per drive-through lane | Drive-through lane | — | 7.302.J |
| Development Identification Sign (Business use) | 12 ft | 75 sq ft (up to 150 sq ft if >75 acres: +1 sq ft/acre over 75 up to 150) | — | 12 ft from property line; increases 1 ft for each 6.25 sq ft above 75 sq ft | — | Min 12 ft from property line, plus 1 ft per each 6.25 sq ft of area over 75 sq ft | — | 7.302.L.1.b, L.2.b, L.3.b |

## Prohibited signs in Mount Prospect

- Any sign which constitutes a traffic hazard by reason of size, location, design, or type of illumination.
- Any sign located in or extending over the public right of way except as otherwise permitted or authorized by the village board.
- Any permanent sign located over or upon a village utility or easement without prior consent from the director of community development.
- Any sign which moves or assumes a nonstationary position by mechanical means except as otherwise permitted or authorized by the village board, or under normal wind currents except as regulated.
- Portable signs, except as otherwise permitted or authorized by the village board.
- Any sign painted directly on exterior building surfaces.
- Signs on light poles.
- Signs attached or affixed to a roof and projecting above the ridgeline or parapet of a building.
- Pennants, streamers, tethered balloons, or stringed fringe.
- Inflatable signs or devices inflated by cold air, hot air, or other inflatable gas.
- Nonpermanent signs placed on or affixed to vehicles/trailers parked so as to be visible from a public right of way and used to attract attention to a business/activity.
- Display of unauthorized signs, signals, markings, or advertising signs upon/in view of any street which imitates or resembles an official traffic-control device, or attempts to direct, hide, or interfere with movement or effectiveness of any traffic-control device.
- Placement of any traffic sign or signal on a street bearing any commercial advertising.
- Signs on flagpoles, sign poles, trees, or similar structures or objects (except as allowed for public rights of way for flags).
- Wall mounted flags that have poles extending above the roofline.
- Flags mounted on roofs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mount Prospect

- Traffic control signs or those for regulatory purposes, including private property parking control and official messages erected by a public officer in performance of duty.
- Public information, noncommercial, permanent signs required or authorized by law or necessitated by public health or safety, in all zoning districts, not exceeding two square feet in area or as approved by director.
- Temporary commercial activity signs on property, meeting size, height, number, and duration limits (e.g., for sale/lease, help wanted, garage sales, contractor signs, special sales).
- Temporary noncommercial signs on property, meeting area, duration, and location requirements.
- Flags meeting limitations on number, size, pole height, setbacks and mounting, and not mounted on roofs or certain structures.
- Noncommercial notice boards affixed to a building for pedestrians, with non-changeable information and no flashing/lights/movable means.
- Signs on/in windows, provided total area of all window signs does not exceed 50% of total window surface area (plus other requirements for certain message types).
- Signs on door glass identifying name, address, contact, or hours of establishment.
- Commercial sidewalk signs in nonresidential districts, compliant with conditions regarding purpose, location, size, number, use, illumination, materials, and maintenance.
- Municipal signs on Village owned property or in the public right of way for Village sponsored/related events.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Shopping/business centers must submit a written sign criteria identifying sign type, color, and design to unify wall signage. Upon approval by the director, this criteria will be used in addition to the guidelines to evaluate new signs in the center.
- Where written sign criteria has not been established for a shopping/business center, and there is a mixture of existing sign types/colors/design, future wall sign criteria for the center will be established based on the maximum percentage of signs currently installed on the site.
- A sign permit is required unless otherwise exempted under the chapter. Application process includes staff review and submission requirements as per the Sign Permit Application form.
- Variation from sign ordinance standards (height, area, minimum distance) may be requested via meeting/hearing with planning and zoning commission, with public notice required.
- No permit shall be issued during the pendency of an appeal or variation request before the planning and zoning commission.

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

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