# Sign Regulations in Orland Hills, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Orland Hills, Illinois regulates 26 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground Graphics in the Business districts zoning district are capped at Not to exceed the highest elevation of the roof or wall of the building for which it advertises. tall and Total area as allowed for the site; see Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements., with a Must conform to setback requirements of district. Height measured from grade at right-of-way. setback (Sec. §155.35(A)(B), §155.20, Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements, Business Surrounded by Business or Manufacturing). Most commercial signs in Orland Hills require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business districts | 7 | If between windows, no more than 2/3 of the distance between the top of a window and the sill of the window above. For single-story building, no higher than the ground graphic permitted at same location; for multiple-story, may extend to top of wall. | No more than 40% of signable wall area. Signable area is calculated per Appendix and §155.21. | — |
| Residential districts | 8 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft; alternative: 24 sq ft in front of building setback line | — |
| Manufacturing | 6 | No higher than ground graphic at same location (single-story); may extend to top of wall (multi-story). | 30% of signable wall area. | — |
| Office | 5 | — | 20% of signable wall area. | — |
| Areas of special control | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 3 ft (<1 acre), 12 ft (≥1 acre). | 32 sq ft per lot. | — |

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

### Business districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Graphic | If between windows, no more than 2/3 of the distance between the top of a window and the sill of the window above. For single-story building, no higher than the ground graphic permitted at same location; for multiple-story, may extend to top of wall. | No more than 40% of signable wall area. Signable area is calculated per Appendix and §155.21. | — | — | One wall graphic per establishment. More allowed per frontage and identification needs. | On building wall/facade | — | §155.35(A), §155.21, Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements, Business Surrounded by Business or Manufacturing |
| Ground Graphic | Not to exceed the highest elevation of the roof or wall of the building for which it advertises. | Total area as allowed for the site; see Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements. | — | Must conform to setback requirements of district. Height measured from grade at right-of-way. | More than one allowed if area reduced per above. | On ground, in front of building, per setbacks. | — | §155.35(A)(B), §155.20, Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements, Business Surrounded by Business or Manufacturing |
| Awning/Canopy Graphic | — | — | — | — | — | On awning or canopy attached to building. | — | §155.05(A), Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements |
| Marquee Graphic | — | — | — | — | — | Vertical face of marquee/canopy. | — | §155.05(A), §155.08(H), Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements |
| Window Graphic | — | 15% of window area. | — | — | — | On window. | — | §155.22, Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements |
| Temporary Graphic | Varies, e.g., real estate <1acre = 3 ft, >1acre = 12 ft; others see specific sign type. | Depends on type: Real estate for <1acre = 3 sq ft; >1acre up to 12 sq ft per acre (max 64 sq ft); Construction = 8 sq ft per firm, max 32 sq ft per site; Commercial project = permanent sign allowance; Political = 32 sq ft per lot; Public/charity/religion = 12 sq ft. | — | E.g., political: ≥15 ft from pavement, ≥50 ft from nearest curb intersection. | Varies by sign type, e.g., one per lot, see §155.23. | Varies—on site, within specified distance from property line. | — | §155.23, §155.35(E), Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements |
| Time and Temperature Graphic | — | — | — | — | — | Wall or ground mounted. | — | §155.05(A)(2), Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Name Sign | 10 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — | ≥6 ft from nearest property line unless on mailbox or over doorway. | Two per single-family dwelling. | On mailbox or ≥6 ft from nearest property line. | — | §155.36(A)(1) |
| Street Number Sign | 10 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — | ≥6 ft from property line unless on mailbox/over doorway. | Two per residential dwelling. | On mailbox, over doorway, or ≥6 ft from property line. | — | §155.36(A)(1) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance. | At subdivision entrance. | — | §155.36(A)(2) |
| Multi-family Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | ≥15 ft from nearest right-of-way/property line. | One per vehicular entrance. | At entrance from public right-of-way. | — | §155.36(B)(2) |
| Multi-family Rental Office Sign | 6 ft | 10 sq ft per sign | — | ≥6 ft from property line, top not above 6 ft. | At each entrance. | At each vehicular or major public entrance. | — | §155.36(B)(1) |
| Civic/Religious/Quasi-Public Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft; alternative: 24 sq ft in front of building setback line | — | In accordance with district setbacks or ≥15 ft from right-of-way/property line. | — | On private property, per setbacks. | — | §155.36(C)(1) |
| Temporary Informational Sign (Institutional Events) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | ≥15 ft from property line. | One per event. | ≥15 ft from property line. | — | §155.36(C)(2) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 3 sq ft per lot | — | ≥15 ft from pavement, ≥50 ft from curb intersection. | One per zoning lot. | ≥15 ft from street pavement, ≥50 ft from curb intersection. | — | §155.36(C)(6), §155.23 |

### Manufacturing

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Graphic (Surrounded by Business or Manufacturing) | No higher than ground graphic at same location (single-story); may extend to top of wall (multi-story). | 30% of signable wall area. | — | — | — | On building wall/facade. | — | Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements, §155.21 |
| Ground Graphic (Surrounded by Business or Manufacturing) | Not to exceed the highest elevation of roof/wall of bldg. | — | — | Must meet required setback for district. | — | Frontage, see district requirements. | — | §155.20, Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements |
| Wall Graphic (Surrounded by Office, Residential, or Rural) | Same as above. | 20% of signable wall area. | — | — | — | On wall/facade. | — | Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements |
| Window Graphic | — | 15% of window area. | — | — | — | On window. | — | Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements, §155.22 |
| Marquee | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements |
| Awning/Canopy | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements |

## Prohibited signs in Orland Hills

- Signs that imitate an official traffic sign or signal or contain the words 'stop', 'go slow', 'caution', 'danger', 'warning', or similar words.
- Signs which may be confused with or construed as traffic-control devices, or which hide from view any traffic street sign or signal, or which obstruct the view in any direction at a street or road intersection.
- Pennants or banners.
- Windblown devices such as spinners and streamers.
- Signs painted directly onto a wall or roof.
- Signs advertising off-premise businesses, products, or services, unless pursuant to a written off-premise sign location agreement with the village.
- Beacon or search lights.
- Flashing graphics.
- Projecting signs (except those on the vertical faces of a marquee or canopy, provided no part projects above or below the vertical face of the marquee or canopy).
- Roof graphics.
- Signs encroaching into the public right-of-way. Any such sign is subject to confiscation, removal, or destruction by village employees.
- Signs attached to utility poles, trees, and fences, located in the public right-of-way.
- It is unlawful to advertise any unlawful business or articles.
- It is unlawful to injure or deface any lawful advertisement or notice.
- It is unlawful to distribute handbills, circulars, or any advertising matter by placing them in or upon any motor vehicles standing or parked in public streets.
- It is unlawful to post any bills or advertisement on any public property without authority of the Village Board of Trustees, or on any private property without written consent of the owner.
- No person shall affix or post any sign, placard, advertisement, or inscription, or erect any sign in any park, except as authorized by the Board of Trustees.

## Signs exempt from permit in Orland Hills

- Traffic signs.
- Municipal signs, including street identification signs.
- Directional signs without advertising, less than two square feet.
- Professional wall signs one square foot or less.
- Signs required by ordinance or law, such as handicapped parking, self-service gasoline instructions, and similar.
- Window and pedestrian door signs.
- Real estate signs.
- Political campaign signs.
- Public information signs.
- Homeowner identification signs, not exceeding two square feet.
- Garage sale signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No street graphic, other than those identified in § 155.09 (exemptions), may be displayed unless application to display the street graphic is made to the Building Commissioner and a permit is issued.
- The Building Commissioner may require that the application be accompanied by a site plan, drawings, or other suitable illustrations sufficient to indicate the character of the graphic and of the surroundings in which it is to be displayed.
- The Building Commissioner may attach to his approval certain conditions, considering the character of the street graphic and the impact the graphic will make on the surroundings.
- A permit is required for special outdoor sales of goods, wares, items, merchandise, or services and special advertising signs and promotional devices (except for residential garage and yard sales).
- A permit is required for all special promotional signs, inflatable devices, beacon search lights and other promotional items or devices installed for B-2 automobile special promotional programs.
- Variations/variances from sign requirements may be granted by Village Board. Application must be made for a variance, and fees apply.
- No sign may be erected, displayed, or substantially altered except in conformance with the Appendix: Table of Basic and Auxiliary Design Elements and other requirements of this chapter.
- All nonconforming street graphics must be removed, changed, or altered to conform, according to a stated amortization schedule.

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

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