# Sign Regulations in Northbrook, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Northbrook, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/northbrook
- **Data last verified:** 2025-07-01
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.northbrook.il.us/DocumentCenter/View/555/Part-1-C---Sign-Regulations-PDF?bidId=)

## At a glance

Northbrook, Illinois regulates 39 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Home Occupation Identification Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft (ground sign) tall and 1 sq ft, with a Not closer than 6 ft to any lot line (ground sign) setback (Sec. 9-106 F.3). Most commercial signs in Northbrook 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 | 14 | 4 ft (ground sign) | Aggregate not exceeding 50% of window area | — |
| Residential Districts, C-1 Commercial District (C-1), VGRC District (VGRC), MFRC District (residential portions), RLC District (residential portions), R-6, R-7, R-8, RS District | 10 | 20 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| C-2 Commercial District (C-2), C-3 Commercial District (C-3), C-4 Commercial District (C-4), C-5 Commercial District (C-5), MFRC District (commercial portions), RLC District (commercial portions) | 9 | 20 ft (height greater by special permit in C-2 or C-5) | 100 sq ft per face, or up to 5% of wall area | — |
| C-4 Regional Shopping District - Northbrook Court Mall Site | 14 | 35 ft (other stores), 47.5 ft (Marshall Fields/Southern), 90% of wall height on other walls, 75% on certain south wall areas, 15 ft at entrance wall signs | 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| Office Districts, O-1 District, O-2 District, O-3 District, O-4 Boulevard Office District (O-4), O-5 District | 6 | 20 ft (greater by special permit in O-1/O-3/O-4) | 100 sq ft per face or up to 5% of wall area | — |
| Open Space District (OS), Institutional Buildings District (IB), ICS District (ICS), Industrial Districts, I-1 District, I-2 District | 6 | 20 ft (higher by special permit) | 100 sq ft per face (max 5% of wall) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Holiday Decoration Sign | No limit | No limit | — | — | — | — | — | 9-106 F.2 |
| Home Occupation Identification Sign | 4 ft (ground sign) | 1 sq ft | — | Not closer than 6 ft to any lot line (ground sign) | 1 per zoning lot | 1 per zoning lot; not closer than 6 ft to any lot line | — | 9-106 F.3 |
| Memorial Sign | 4 ft (ground sign) | 3 sq ft | — | Not closer than 6 ft to any lot line (ground sign) | 1 per zoning lot | 1 per zoning lot; not closer than 6 ft to any lot line | — | 9-106 F.4 |
| Name Plate Sign | 4 ft (ground sign) | 1 sq ft per occupancy, not more than 3 sq ft | — | Not closer than 6 ft to any lot line (ground sign) | 1 per occupancy | — | — | 9-106 F.5 |
| Non-Commercial Message Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | 6 ft on nonresidential property | — | Not closer than 6 ft to any lot line on nonresidential property | — | 9-106 F.6 |
| Private Sale Sign | 4 ft (ground sign) | 6 sq ft | — | Not closer than 6 ft to any lot line (ground sign) | — | On premises of sale; not closer than 6 ft to any lot line. | — | 9-106 F.9 |
| Private Warning Sign | 4 ft (ground sign) | 2 sq ft | — | Not closer than 6 ft to any lot line (ground sign) | As necessary for intended purpose | — | — | 9-106 F.10 |
| Real Estate Sign (Std Size) | 4 ft (ground sign) | 6 sq ft per face | — | Not closer than 6 ft to any lot line (ground sign) | 1 per lot | 1 per lot; not closer than 6 ft to any lot line. | — | 9-106 F.11 |

### C-2 Commercial District (C-2), C-3 Commercial District (C-3), C-4 Commercial District (C-4), C-5 Commercial District (C-5), MFRC District (commercial portions), RLC District (commercial portions)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (Electronic Message Board) | — | — | — | — | 1 per lot | C-2 district only | — | 9-106 I.1(b) |
| Construction Sign | — | 16 sq ft per face, max 2 faces | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | 9-106 I.1(c) |
| Drive-Through Sign | — | — | — | — | — | C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5 only, drive-through special permit | — | 9-106 I.1(d) |
| Awning, Canopy, and Marquee Sign | 20 ft (height greater by special permit in C-2 or C-5) | 100 sq ft per face, or up to 5% of wall area | — | — | — | Building awning/canopy/marquee | — | 9-106 I.2, I.3(3), I.5(b) |
| Window Sign | No higher than level where principal use is located | Aggregate area not to exceed 50% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | 9-106 I.2, I.5(e) |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft (may be more by special permit in C-2/C-5) | 100 sq ft per face or max 5% of wall area | — | — | — | Building wall | — | 9-106 I.2, I.3(4), I.5(b) |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft (up to 20 ft by special permit in C-2/C-5) | 100 sq ft per face (see formula) | — | 15 ft front lot line, 6 ft other lot lines | 1 per 300 ft frontage (joint ID signs allowed closer) | — | — | 9-106 I.2, I.3(5), I.5(c) |
| Pylon Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — | 6 ft from all lot lines | 1 per 300 ft frontage (joint ID signs allowed closer) | — | — | 9-106 I.2, I.3(5), I.5(d) |

### C-4 Regional Shopping District - Northbrook Court Mall Site

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | 9-106 J.3.b |
| Identification Sign | — | See project sign plan | — | — | — | — | — | 9-106 J.3.c, J.7.b.1 |
| Joint Identification Sign | — | See project sign plan | — | — | — | — | — | 9-106 J.3.d, J.7.b.1 |
| On-Site Directory Sign | — | See project sign plan | — | — | — | — | — | 9-106 J.3.e, J.7.b.1 |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | — | — | 15 ft from curb (identification signs Lake Cook Rd) | — | — | — | 9-106 J.5.b, 9-106 J.8.1 |
| Wall Sign (Department Store) | 35 ft (other stores), 47.5 ft (Marshall Fields/Southern), 90% of wall height on other walls, 75% on certain south wall areas, 15 ft at entrance wall signs | 300 sq ft per sign | — | — | 3 per store (1 per face) | One per side, three sides per store | — | 9-106 J.6.d, J.7.b.2, J.8.4-6, J.9, J.11.a |
| Wall Sign (Tenant spaces with exterior entrance) | — | 100 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per entrance | Per exterior entrance | — | 9-106 J.6.g, J.7.b.3, J.9, J.11.a |
| Awning/Canopy/Entrance Wall Sign (Tenant spaces with exterior entrance) | 15 ft at entrance (see wall signs) | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | Per exterior entrance | — | 9-106 J.6.h, J.8.2-3, J.13.a |

## Prohibited signs in Northbrook

- Any sign not expressly permitted by these regulations shall be prohibited.
- No flashing, blinking or intermittent lights shall be permitted, except for permanent public service signs, institutional bulletin boards with electronic message board displays, and business signs with electronic message board displays expressly permitted.
- No sign or sign structure shall obstruct free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required access way.
- No sign shall project over, occupy or obstruct any window surface required for light or ventilation by any applicable provisions of the Municipal Code.
- No sign shall be maintained at any location where it may obstruct, impair, obscure, or be confused with any traffic control device, or mislead or confuse traffic.
- No sign, except governmental signs authorized in this Section, shall be placed in or extend into or over any public property or right-of-way.
- Any sign that advertises, identifies or pertains to a business no longer conducted, or a product no longer sold, on the premises where such sign is located. Such signs shall be removed within thirty (30) days following cessation of the relevant activity.
- Any sign on a tree or utility pole, whether on public or private property.
- Any sign on public property, except governmental signs authorized in this Section.
- Any sign painted directly on a wall, roof or fence.
- Advertising signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Attention-getting devices are prohibited in all districts.
- Off-premises identification signs are prohibited except as expressly permitted by relevant subsections.
- Real estate signs indicating that property has been sold or is under any contractual obligation are prohibited.
- Moving or animated signs are prohibited, except public service signs as expressly authorized.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except when approved in connection with temporary uses.
- Projecting signs are prohibited, except as expressly permitted.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Temporary signs are prohibited, except as expressly authorized.
- No sign shall be located in any area or in any manner so as to create a nuisance or a threat to the public safety and welfare.

## Signs exempt from permit in Northbrook

- Governmental signs erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation are permitted without certificate or fee.
- Holiday decorations displayed for a period of not more than 45 consecutive days nor more than 20 days following the holiday are permitted without certificate or fee, as long as they create no safety hazard, nuisance or adverse impact.
- Home occupation identification signs are permitted without certificate or fee, subject to certain limitations.
- Memorial signs are permitted without certificate or fee, subject to certain limitations.
- Name plate signs are permitted without certificate or fee, subject to certain limitations.
- Non-commercial message signs are permitted without certificate or fee, subject to certain size, height, illumination, and placement restrictions.
- Official flags and emblems are permitted without certificate or fee, within specified size limits.
- On-site informational signs are permitted without certificate or fee, within size and illumination limits.
- Private sale signs are permitted without certificate or fee, subject to size, illumination, location, marking, and duration restrictions.
- Private warning signs are permitted without certificate or fee, subject to size, number, location, and illumination restrictions.
- Real estate signs (standard size, max six square feet) are permitted without certificate or fee, with restrictions on number, illumination, location, and duration.
- Temporary use signs in compliance with specified Code sections are permitted without certificate or fee.
- Temporary window signs are permitted without certificate or fee (subject to area and illumination restrictions).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Every application for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance for a sign must be accompanied by plans and specifications, a scale drawing, photographs of street sides showing all existing signs, calculation of existing sign area, applicant's area attestation, and evidence of a Village business license when required.
- Where more than one user occupies a zoning lot, the owner of the lot shall be responsible for allocating permitted signage among such users.
- Routine sign maintenance, changing of parts designed to be changed, or changing sign content (not changing functional classification) does not require a Certificate of Zoning Compliance.
- Signs not expressly exempted require a Certificate of Zoning Compliance prior to erection, enlargement, alteration, relocation, or maintenance.
- Districts, developments, or planned developments may require submission and approval of master sign plans or signage plans, especially for multiple users (as in shopping centers/mall sites).
- For the Northbrook Court Mall Site, signage number and location are to be depicted on the Northbrook Court Mall Site Identification Signage Plan (Appendix D).
- Special permits (via public hearing or other procedures) are required for certain sign types or deviations (such as electronic message boards, off-premises signs, or signs exceeding district maximums); details are provided in respective district subsections.
- Approval of landscaping around sign bases (especially for ground and pylon signs) is required in certain cases, subject to Village Manager approval.

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

---

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