# Sign Regulations in Mundelein, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mundelein, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/mundelein
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Mundelein/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT21SIRE)

## At a glance

Mundelein, Illinois regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Attention-Getting Device (Freestanding)s in the C-1 zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 3 ft from lot line. setback (Sec. 21.24.030). Most commercial signs in Mundelein require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 | 5 | 9 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| C-1 | 11 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| C-2, C-3, C-4, M-1, M-MU, OS, I, L-MU, O-R | 14 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| C-5-VC, C-5-MU, C-5-C, C-5-R | 11 | 4 ft | 6 sq ft/side | — |
| C-5 Downtown Zoning Districts (C-5-VC, C-5-MU, C-5-C, C-5-R) | 1 | 0-19,999: 8 ft; 20,000+: 12 ft | 0-5999 sf bldg: 40 sq ft; 6,000-19,999: 50 sq ft; 20,000+: 75 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 25 ft | 200 sq ft | — |

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

### C-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft/side | — | — | 1 per establishment | Within 15 ft of primary entrance; may be in right-of-way if maintain 5-ft sidewalk clearance. | — | 21.24.020 |
| Attention-Getting Device (Freestanding) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 3 ft from lot line. | 1 per 100 ft street frontage | Nonresidential uses; min. 3 ft from lot line. | — | 21.24.030 |
| Attention-Getting Device (Wall-Mounted, <100 ft façade) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per façade | Nonresidential uses. | — | 21.24.030 |
| Attention-Getting Device (Wall-Mounted, ≥100 ft façade) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per façade | Nonresidential uses. | — | 21.24.030 |
| Pennant (Attention-Getting Device Option) | — | 1.5 sq ft per pennant triangle | — | — | In lieu of one attention-getting device | In place of one allowed attention-getting device per establishment. | — | 21.24.030 E |
| Under-Awning Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business establishment with frontage | Mounted to underside of awning. | — | 21.24.040 I |
| Ground Monument Sign - Single/Double Tenant | 9 ft | 36 sq ft | — | 5 ft from lot line | 1 per street frontage (min 50 ft frontage), more with access/size | Nonresidential/multifamily uses; 5 ft min from lot line. | — | 21.24.080 H |
| Ground Monument Sign - Multi-Tenant | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — | 5 ft from lot line | 1 per street frontage/access | Nonresidential uses. | — | 21.24.080 I |

### C-2, C-3, C-4, M-1, M-MU, OS, I, L-MU, O-R

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft/side | — | — | 1 per establishment | Within 15 ft of primary entrance. | — | 21.24.020 |
| Attention-Getting Device (Freestanding) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 3 ft from lot line. | 1 per 100 ft | Nonresidential uses; min. 3 ft from lot line. | — | 21.24.030 |
| Attention-Getting Device (Wall-Mounted, <100 ft façade) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per façade | Nonresidential uses. | — | 21.24.030 |
| Attention-Getting Device (Wall-Mounted, ≥100 ft façade) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per façade | Nonresidential uses. | — | 21.24.030 |
| Electronic Message Sign | — | 65% of the sign area of underlying sign type | — | 50 ft min from residential district lot line. | 1 per lot | Sites min. 2.5 acres and 250 ft street frontage, min 50 ft from res district lot line. | — | 21.24.070 |
| Ground Monument Sign - Single/Double Tenant | 15 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft from lot line | 1 per street frontage | Min 5 ft from lot line | — | 21.24.080 H |
| Ground Monument Sign - Multi-Tenant | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — | 5 ft from lot line | 1 per street frontage/access | Min 5 ft from lot line. | — | 21.24.080 I |
| Projecting Sign | — | See table: C-2: 24 sq ft, C-3/C-4/M-MU: 48 sq ft, OS/I/OR: prohibited, C-5-VC: 24 sq ft, etc. | — | 2 ft from curb line | 1 per establishment per frontage | Per establishment w/ street frontage; 1 per frontage. | — | 21.24.120 E |

### C-5-VC, C-5-MU, C-5-C, C-5-R

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft/side | — | — | 1 per establishment | Within 15 ft of entrance; public ROW if 5-ft cleared. | — | 21.24.020 |
| Attention-Getting Device (C-5-VC Wall-Mounted Only) | — | See below | — | — | — | Non-residential/commercial uses. | — | 21.24.030, Table 21-3 |
| Attention-Getting Device (C-5-MU, C-5-C: Wall & Freestanding) | — | See below | — | Freestanding: 3 ft from lot line. | — | Non-residential/commercial uses. | — | 21.24.030, Table 21-3 |
| Under-Awning Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business with frontage | 1 per business establishment with frontage. | — | 21.24.040 I |
| Ground Monument Sign - Single/Double Tenant | C-5-VC/MU/R: 8 ft; C-5-C: 12 ft | C-5-VC/MU/R: 36 sq ft; C-5-C: 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft from lot line | 1 per street frontage or access | Min 5 ft from lot line. | — | 21.24.080 H (table) |
| Ground Monument Sign - Multi-Tenant | 0-19,999: 8 ft; 20,000+: 12 ft | 0-5999 sf bldg: 40 sq ft; 6,000-19,999: 50 sq ft; 20,000+: 75 sq ft | — | 5 ft from lot line | 1 per lot (+ access) | Min 5 ft from lot line. | — | 21.24.080 J |
| Projecting Sign | — | C-5-VC 24 sq ft; C-5-MU/C-5-C: 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment per street frontage | 1 per establishment per street frontage. | — | 21.24.120 E |
| Marquee | — | — | Width of entrance + 5 ft per side | 2 ft from curb | — | Supported by building at entrance; min 2 ft from curb. | — | 21.24.090 |

## Prohibited signs in Mundelein

- A-frame signs must not interfere with pedestrian traffic or violate standards of accessibility as required by the ADA or other accessibility codes.
- A-frame signs must not be used outdoors when high winds or heavy snow conditions exist.
- Illumination of A-frame signs is prohibited. No A-frame sign may have an electronic component.
- Illumination of any attention-getting devices is prohibited.
- No pennants may be installed in the right-of-way.
- Back-lit awnings are prohibited.
- No projecting sign affixed to a building may project higher than the building height, including the sign support structure.
- No wall sign affixed to a building, including sign support structure, may project beyond the ends or top of the wall or higher than the roofline of the structure to which it is attached.
- Flat panel wall signs are prohibited regardless of material.
- Electronic message signs cannot display any off-premises commercial advertising.
- Any scrolling, flashing, animation, or movement of the message or any component of the electronic message sign is prohibited. Video display screens are prohibited.
- Ground monument signs may not project into, over, or otherwise encroach on a public right-of-way.
- Parking lot directional signs: No other commercial message is permitted except the name or logo of a business located on-site.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mundelein

- Scoreboards that are part of an educational facility's outdoor recreational field or a recreational field for a park/playground operated by the Mundelein Park and Recreation District are not regulated by this Title, and considered part of the use and exempt from all provisions. This exemption also applies to scoreboards for indoor recreation fields for any use.
- Banners related to events or information for institutional or open space uses are exempt from a sign permit and regulated by Table 21-2.
- Construction signs for individual lot development of a single-family or two-family use are regulated separately by Table 21-2 and exempt from sign permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Changing the sign face of an existing sign requires a sign permit.
- A placement plan must be submitted with the A-frame sign permit application that shows the general location of the A-frame sign.
- Public information/event signs are approved as a comprehensive sign package. For public information/event signs located on private property, sign packages are approved by the village administrator. For those on public property or in the right-of-way, the sign package is approved by the village board.
- Public information/event sign permit application must contain information including the general location, number, and area of all signs, nature of event, proposed sign copy, installation/removal dates, and property owner permission (if not owner).

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

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