# Sign Regulations in Northlake, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Northlake, Illinois regulates 24 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Nameplate/Directory Sign (Rear of Building)s in the B-1 Retail business district, B-2 Retail and service business district, B-3 Office business district, B-4 High rise hotels and motels zoning district are capped at 1.33 sq ft (8" x 24") and 24 in wide (Sec. 8-6A-5-3(A)(2)(b)). Most commercial signs in Northlake require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Single-family residence district, R-2 Two-family residence district | 7 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| R-3 General residence district | 2 | — | 8 sq ft (2' x 4') | — |
| B-1 Retail business district, B-2 Retail and service business district, B-3 Office business district, B-4 High rise hotels and motels | 5 | Max 125% of max building height for that zone; If for raised roadway: 40 ft above roadway | 2400 sq ft | — |
| I-1 Limited industrial district, I-2 General industrial district | 3 | — | 1600 sq ft (20' x 80') | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 5 ft (from bottom to top of sign), 8 ft max height above ground | 20 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### R-1 Single-family residence district, R-2 Two-family residence district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Traffic Control Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8-6A-5-1(A) |
| Required Signs by Law or Order | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8-6A-5-1(B) |
| Memorial Plaque/Historical Tablet | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8-6A-5-1(C) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property, facilitating movement within the site | — | 8-6A-5-1(D) |
| Trespassing Prevention Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | 8-6A-5-1(E) |
| Campaign/Drive/Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Private property; over public property with council permission | — | 8-6A-5-1(F) |
| Flag/Emblem of Civic, Philanthropic, Educational, or Religious Organization | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8-6A-5-1(G) |

### B-1 Retail business district, B-2 Retail and service business district, B-3 Office business district, B-4 High rise hotels and motels

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (On Premises) | — | See formula | — | — | — | On premises, on wall; not on rear except for restricted nameplate/directory; must not extend >12" from wall | — | 8-6A-5-3(A)(3), (C) |
| Freestanding Sign | Max 125% of max building height for that zone; If for raised roadway: 40 ft above roadway | — | — | — | — | On private property; if over motorized traffic area, bottom of sign must be at least 14 ft above grade | — | 8-6A-5-3(B) |
| Off Premises Sign (Billboard) | — | 2400 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 8-6A-5-3(A)(3)(d) |
| Nameplate/Directory Sign (Rear of Building) | — | 1.33 sq ft (8" x 24") | 24 in | — | — | Rear of building | — | 8-6A-5-3(A)(2)(b) |
| Vehicle Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On vehicle | — | 8-6A-5-3(E) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portable Sign | 5 ft (from bottom to top of sign), 8 ft max height above ground | — | 10 ft (from one side to the other) | — | — | On private property for business/activity being advertised | — | 8-6A-7 |
| Construction Sign | — | 4 sq ft per firm | — | — | — | On site of construction | — | 8-6A-4(A) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises advertised | — | 8-6A-4(B) |
| Political Campaign Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property | — | 8-6A-4(C) |
| Public Entertainment/Event Street Banner or Spotlight | — | — | — | — | — | As designated by Council | — | 8-6A-4(D) |
| Promotional Pennants, Streamers, Signs or Flags | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | As designated by Council upon written request | — | 8-6A-4(E) |
| Remodeling Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises where work being performed | — | 8-6A-4(F) |

## Prohibited signs in Northlake

- Inflatable signs except that inflatable signs are allowed once per calendar quarter for no more than three consecutive days.
- Portable roof signs.
- Street banners and festoon lights not authorized by the city council.
- Commercial signs which promote an enterprise not in existence, or product or service no longer sold.
- Moving signs.
- Signs which contain statements, words or pictures of obscene, indecent or immoral character and which offend public morals or decency.
- Miscellaneous signs, graphics or street banners other than those which conform to the provisions of this code.
- Signs in conflict with traffic signals.
- Signs, graphics or street banners within the public right of way or easements for public utilities, except as specifically provided.
- Vehicle signs, except as specifically provided.
- Signs that are of a size, shape, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal.
- Signs that move in any manner or have a major moving part.
- Flashing signs.
- No sign shall obstruct a fire escape, exit, door or window intended as a means of ingress and egress.
- No sign shall obstruct an opening required for ventilation.
- Signs shall maintain clearance from all surface, aboveground and underground utilities and facilities and shall not interfere with drainage.
- No sign shall interfere with or obstruct the view to or from traffic control devices, intersections, driveways, roadways, sidewalks, alleys or crosswalks.
- No sign shall interfere with or obstruct the circulation and flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
- No roof sign shall be placed so as to interfere with movement on or access to a roof.
- No sign shall project over a public right of way without the prior approval of the city.
- No signs shall be suspended by chains or other means that could allow lateral movement.
- Electrical equipment or apparatus causing interference with radio and television reception are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Northlake

- Construction signs identifying architects, engineers, contractors (not including advertisement of any product), announcing the intended character of the building, up to four square feet per firm, confined to the site and removed within 14 days after occupancy permit.
- Real estate signs not exceeding four square feet advertising sale or rental of premises on which displayed, removed within 7 days after sale or lease.
- Political campaign signs, announcing candidates or issues, confined exclusively within private property.
- Street banners and spotlights advertising a public entertainment or event, if specially approved by corporate authorities, only for locations and times designated by council.
- Pennants, streamers, signs, or flags specifically approved by corporate authorities (for product or event promotion), upon written request, within designated location and time period not to exceed 15 days (one such approval per year per business/person/location, max 20 sq ft, no flashing or sequential lights).
- Signs advertising remodeling on the premises being performed, to be removed within seven days following completion.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger, and such temporary emergency or nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the city council (exemption specific for billboards in Article B).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit mention of master sign plan, sign plan, or required variance process is found in the provided text. Signs must comply with specific standards by zoning district, and some approvals (such as for street banners, spotlights, pennants/streamers, flags, etc.) require written request and approval by city council or corporate authorities. Permits are required for most signs except those specifically exempted under permitted signs.

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

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