# Sign Regulations in Oak Brook, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Oak Brook, Illinois regulates 54 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Sign (<10 acres)s in the B1, B3 zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 100 sq ft per face, up to 200 sq ft total, with a 5 ft from right of way, 6 ft from other lot lines setback (Sec. 13-11-8B3, 13-11-8D2c, 13-11-8E3, 13-11-8F2). Most commercial signs in Oak Brook 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 | 19 | 20 ft; minimum clearance of 8 ft above grade | 50 sq ft per sign face | — |
| B1, B3 | 12 | 30 ft; first floor only | 240 sq ft or 5% of wall, whichever is less; B3 north of 22nd & Midwest Rd.: 100 sq ft or 5% of wall | — |
| B2 | 8 | Not within 200 ft of 16th St | 1,000 sq ft per face | — |
| B4, O3, O4, ORA1, ORA2 | 10 | 30 ft and only on first floor | 140 sq ft per face; for 1211, 1301, 1415, 1515 22nd St: up to 250 sq ft for up to 10 letters, plus 17.5 sq ft per extra letter, max 385 sq ft | — |
| ORA3 | 5 | — | Not to exceed 240 sq ft in aggregate for up to 2 signs | — |
| R1, R2, R3, R4, CR | 10 | 15 ft | 240 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning, Canopy Or Marquee Sign | 20 ft; minimum clearance of 8 ft above grade | 50 sq ft per sign face | — | — | — | Mounted, painted, or attached to an awning/canopy/marquee; may not project beyond physical dimensions of the structure | — | 13-11-4E, 13-11-5B1 |
| Nameplate Sign (Single-family) | — | 1 sq ft (not to exceed 3 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per occupancy | Wall sign; one per occupancy | — | 13-11-6C |
| Official Flag Or Emblem (Pole) | 20 ft pole height limit | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | Displayed on flagpole | — | 13-11-6D |
| Official Flag Or Emblem (Wall) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall as a wall sign | — | 13-11-6D |
| On Site Informational Sign | 4 ft (if freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Wall or freestanding | — | 13-11-6E |
| Private Sale Sign (Residential Only) | 4 ft (freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | 6 ft min from lot line | — | On premises where sale is to be conducted | — | 13-11-6F |
| Real Estate Sign; Standard Size | — | 6 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from property line | 1 per zoning lot | — | — | 13-11-6H |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 30% of window area (aggregate for all signs in window) | — | — | — | Interior or exterior of window | — | 13-11-6I |

### B1, B3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | 20 ft; minimum 8 ft clearance above grade | 50 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One awning/canopy sign per entrance | Affixed to building | — | 13-11-8B1, 13-11-8D2a, 13-11-8E2 |
| Construction Sign | — | 16 sq ft per sign face; max 2 faces | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | 13-11-8B2, 13-11-8D2b |
| Monument Sign (<10 acres) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft per face, up to 200 sq ft total | — | 5 ft from right of way, 6 ft from other lot lines | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage on development <10 acres | — | 13-11-8B3, 13-11-8D2c, 13-11-8E3, 13-11-8F2 |
| Monument Sign (>=10 acres) | 12 ft | 120 sq ft per face, 240 sq ft total | — | 5 ft from right of way, 6 ft from all other lot lines | Up to 2 per street frontage if >700 ft frontage, otherwise 1 | Property >10 acres | — | 13-11-8B3, 13-11-8D2c, 13-11-8E3, 13-11-8F2 |
| Monument Sign (B3 north of 22nd on Midwest Road) | 8 ft | 50 sq ft per face, 100 sq ft total | — | 5 ft from right of way | — | — | — | 13-11-8D2c, 13-11-8E3, 13-11-8F2 |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft; first floor only | 240 sq ft or 5% of wall, whichever is less; B3 north of 22nd & Midwest Rd.: 100 sq ft or 5% of wall | — | — | 1 per lot frontage (single tenant) or 1 per ground floor business tenant | One per zoning lot frontage (single tenant), one per ground floor business tenant (multi-tenant) | — | 13-11-8B5, 13-11-8D2d, 13-11-8E4 |
| Joint Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage | One per zoning lot frontage | — | 13-11-8A6, 13-11-8C3 |
| Real Estate Sign, Large Size | — | 24 sq ft per face | — | 25 ft from property line | 1 per zoning lot | Set back at least 25 ft from property line | — | 13-11-8A8 |

### R1, R2, R3, R4, CR

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| For Sale Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street or side lot line | 1 | Front/side yard adjoining a street, set back min 10 ft from street/side lot line | — | 13-11-12B |
| Identification Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 10 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Affixed flat to building wall or one ground sign per street frontage | — | 13-11-12C1-2 |
| Directional Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 9 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street line | — | — | — | 13-11-12C2a |
| Identification Sign (Church, R2, >=10 acres, Freestanding) | 10 ft | 45 sq ft per side (2 sides) | — | 8 ft from nearest lot line | 1 | — | — | 13-11-12C3a |
| Identification Wall Sign (Church, R2, >=10 acres) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Flat against building wall, projects up to 12 in | — | 13-11-12C3b |
| Entrance Monument Sign (Church, R2, >=10 acres) | 6 ft above grade | 25 sq ft per side (2 sides) | — | — | — | — | — | 13-11-12C3c |
| Temporary Ground Sign (Subdivision) | 15 ft | 240 sq ft | — | 30 ft from lot line | — | Erected along each thoroughfare/highway frontage, min 1000 ft apart | — | 13-11-12D |
| Additional Ground Sign (Model Homes) | — | 12 sq ft (house ID); 2 sq ft (directional); 6 sq ft (corner lot) | — | — | 1 per lot or 2 per corner lot | Model homes offered for sale/rent | — | 13-11-12E |

## Prohibited signs in Oak Brook

- Any sign not expressly permitted by these regulations shall be prohibited.
- No sign or sign structure shall obstruct free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required accessway.
- No sign shall project over, occupy or obstruct any window surface required for light or ventilation by any applicable provision of this code.
- No sign shall be maintained at any location where by reason of its position, size, shape, content, color, or illumination it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any traffic control sign, sign or device, or where it may interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- No sign, nor any part of a sign other than a supporting pole or brace no greater than eighteen inches (18") in width or diameter shall be located lower than eight feet (8') from grade within the area of any sight triangle as defined in this chapter.
- Except as provided in this section, no sign except governmental signs authorized in this chapter shall be placed in or extend into or over any public property or right of way.
- 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.
- No flashing, blinking or intermittent lights shall be permitted (except for public service signs when expressly permitted).
- No unscreened light sources are permitted.
- No sign shall be erected, maintained, or permitted to continue in any zoning district that is not expressly permitted by this chapter.
- Advertising signs, including billboards, are prohibited.
- Attention getting devices are prohibited.
- Banner signs (as approved by village sign permit) are prohibited.
- Box signs are prohibited.
- Electronic reader board/changeable copy/video signs are prohibited.
- Home occupation identification signs are prohibited.
- Moving or animated signs are prohibited.
- Off premises identification signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Temporary signs are prohibited except as expressly authorized in this chapter and when approved in connection with temporary uses and when approved by permit.
- Vehicle/trailer signs are prohibited.
- 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, is prohibited.
- Any sign on public property, except governmental signs authorized in this chapter, is prohibited.
- Any sign painted directly on a wall, roof or fence is prohibited.
- In a residential district, any sign located in a homeowners' association common area, except for a homeowners' association sign, is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Oak Brook

- Governmental signs erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation including wayfinding/directional signage.
- Holiday decorations: signs in the nature of decorations, clearly incidental to and customarily and commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday, provided they are displayed for no more than sixty (60) consecutive days nor more than twenty (20) days following the associated holiday.
- Nameplate signs: limited to one wall sign per occupancy, no more than one square foot in area per occupancy and in no event more than three (3) square feet in area; nonilluminated.
- Official flags or emblems: may be displayed on flagpoles (max 24 sf, pole height max 20') or as a wall sign (max 3 sf).
- On site informational signs: limited to wall or freestanding signs not more than six (6) square feet in area; freestanding signs max four feet (4') in height; illuminated only as necessary.
- Private sale signs (residential only): max 6 sf, on premises only, displayed not more than 24 hours in advance and removed within 24 hours after the sale; not higher than 4', not closer than 6' to any lot line.
- Private warning signs: max 2 sf each, limited to number necessary, illuminated only as required.
- Real estate signs; standard size: one single or double faced, nonilluminated sign per zoning lot, max 6 sf per sign face, minimum 10' setback from property line; not permitted for indicating 'sold' or 'under contract'.
- Temporary window signs: aggregate area does not exceed 30% of window area, not blocking code-required windows, unilluminated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Every application for a sign permit must be accompanied by plans and specifications showing the location on the lot or building face and the method of construction, illumination and support of such sign.
- A scale drawing showing sign faces, exposed surfaces and the proposed message and design, accurately represented as to size, area, proportion and color is required as part of a sign permit application.
- A landscape plan showing plantings proposed for area at the base of a monument sign is required for certain types of signs.
- Photographs of the street sides of the property in question, showing all existing signs on the property, must be included in the sign permit application.
- A calculation of the total amount of sign area presently existing on the property is required as part of the permit process.
- Applicant's attestation that the total area of all requested and existing signs does not exceed the maximum allowed is required with the application.
- Evidence of a valid village business license is required when applicable for any business to which the sign is accessory.
- Except as expressly provided in section 13-11-6, no sign shall be erected, enlarged, expanded, altered, relocated or maintained unless a sign permit has first been issued.
- Routine sign maintenance, changing of parts designed to be changed or changing the content of a sign in any manner that does not change the functional classification of the sign is not considered alteration requiring a permit.

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

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