# Sign Regulations in Palos Heights, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Palos Heights, Illinois regulates 26 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Subdivision Directional Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft above grade tall, 32 sq ft (8x4), and 8 ft wide, with a 15 ft from nearest edge of pavement setback (Sec. § 93.40(A)(4)). Most commercial signs in Palos Heights 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 | 11 | 10 ft above grade | 100 sq ft per side (60 sq ft in Harlem Ave Overlay) | — |
| Residential Districts, Single Family Residential Districts | 1 | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — |
| Multiple Family Residential Districts | 1 | 5 ft above ground | 10 sq ft per sign | — |
| Business Districts (B, B-1), Commercial Districts, Manufacturing Districts, Industrial Districts | 7 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft per sign (not to exceed 40% of wall surface in B/B-1 districts) | — |
| Planned Unit Development | 3 | — | Per B/B-1 sign ordinance, unless in Harlem Ave Overlay (then see Harlem overlay regs) | — |
| Harlem Avenue Overlay District | 5 | Within vertical space 9 ft above grade to 2nd story finished floor line | 150 sq ft, not >5% of wall area | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 sq ft per acre or 40 sq ft, whichever is less; minimum 36 sq ft for business, commercial, manufacturing; max 64 sq ft for projects >10 acres | — | — | 1 per construction site | Confined to site of construction, shed, or trailer | — | § 93.40(A)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 12 sq ft/acre or 40 sq ft max (>1 acre); 9 sq ft (<1 acre) | — | — | Max 2 per lot/parcel/tract (one per frontage) | On property to be sold or leased; one additional sign for multiple frontage permitted | — | § 93.40(A)(2)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per lot/parcel/tract | On property to be sold or leased; one additional sign for multiple frontage permitted | — | § 93.40(A)(2)(b) |
| Subdivision Directional Sign | 8 ft above grade | 32 sq ft (8x4) | 8 ft | 15 ft from nearest edge of pavement | Max 4 (no ID sign), max 2 (with ID sign) | Near each major intersection leading to subdivision; at least 15 ft from pavement edge | — | § 93.40(A)(4) |
| Permanent Identification Sign (Church/Community Center/Other) | 6 ft above grade | Max 60 sq ft | — | Per zoning | 1 per facility; on corner lot, both faces allowed w/ area limits | Setback per zoning | — | § 93.40(A)(5) |
| Civic/Religious/Quasi-public Sign | 10 ft above grade | Max 40 sq ft | — | Per zoning | Number not specified; one per organization/facility implied | On private property per zoning setbacks | — | § 93.40(A)(6) |
| Informational Sign (Public, Charitable, Religious Events) | 10 ft (if building mounted) | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | — | On premises of institution, no less than 10 ft from property line | — | § 93.40(A)(8), (12)(k) |
| Political Campaign Sign | — | 9 sq ft per zoning lot | — | At least 15 ft from edge of street pavement | Total area up to 9 sq ft per lot | Confined within private property; not less than 15 ft from edge of pavement | — | § 93.40(A)(10) |

### Business Districts (B, B-1), Commercial Districts, Manufacturing Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 sq ft per sign (not to exceed 40% of wall surface in B/B-1 districts) | — | — | 1 or 2 per building (with exceptions); multi-tenant: 1 per tenant; entrance ID: 1 per entrance | Anywhere on wall; cannot cover any window or extend above roof line; not <10 ft above sidewalk/ground | — | § 93.40(C)(1), § 93.82, § 93.83, § 93.84, § 93.90 |
| Wall Sign (Entrance Identification) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying entrance; option | On wall within 10 ft of primary public entrance leading directly into lobby or waiting area | — | § 93.40(C)(1)(b) |
| Monument Sign (Improved Real Estate) | 10 ft | 120 sq ft (general), but subject to further limitations for Harlem overlay and shopping centers | — | Min 5 ft from property line | 1 per building; one additional for >200 ft second frontage | Front of business; minimum 5 ft from property line | — | § 93.40(C)(2)(a), § 93.61–§ 93.72 |
| Monument Sign (Unimproved Real Estate) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft, or based on frontage | — | — | — | On unimproved lots | — | § 93.40(C)(2)(b) |
| Monument Sign (Shopping Center) | 10 ft | Subject to § 93.62 (120 sq ft max), listing tenants with uniform copy | — | 5 ft from property line, plus landscaped | 1 per shopping center; possible extra for >100 ft street frontage | Min 5 ft from property line; center's front yard area | — | § 93.40(C)(2)(c) |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window glass per side | — | — | Unlimited within area restriction | Inside window | — | § 93.40(C)(4) |
| Electronic Message Center Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted in commercial/business (B, B-1) districts | — | § 93.40(C)(5) |

### Harlem Avenue Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Within vertical space 9 ft above grade to 2nd story finished floor line | 150 sq ft, not >5% of wall area | — | — | 1 per facade | Wall facade (not including rear entrance); must not obstruct distinct architectural features or window openings | — | § 153.57(C), Table 153.57.3.A |
| Projecting Sign | Must provide 8' min vertical clearance from grade; top not higher than 12' above grade | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per commercial tenant | Per commercial tenant; must not obstruct architectural features or window openings | — | § 153.57(C), Table 153.57.3.A |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft (from adjacent grade) | 80 sq ft | — | 5 ft from all property lines | 1, or 1 per street for multiple frontages >100 ft | Within yard between primary building and public street; min 5 ft from all property lines; landscaped 5 ft from base with evergreen landscaping | — | § 153.57(C), Table 153.57.3.A |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area per facade | — | — | 1 per commercial tenant per facade | Only on ground floor windows | — | § 153.57(C), Table 153.57.3.A |
| Identification Sign | 4 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant (max 1 per building) | Grassy landscaped area surrounded at base by landscaping; only on B-1 and B Districts with <20-car parking | — | § 153.57(C), Table 153.57.3.A |

## Prohibited signs in Palos Heights

- No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Projecting signs are prohibited in all districts unless otherwise noted.
- Signs on or over public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs advertising activity, business, product, or service no longer produced or conducted on the premises are prohibited if the sign has been in existence on a site for one year and the activity has not yet commenced.
- Signs which imitate an official traffic sign or signal or contain words or designs that may be confused with traffic control devices are prohibited.
- Signs which move in any manner or give the illusion of motion are prohibited (except certain pennants for grand openings).
- Signs containing or consisting of pennants (except as permitted for grand openings), streamers, spinners, strings of lights (unless used to display merchandise or for security), or festoons are prohibited.
- Signs posted or attached to utility poles, trees, fences, or water tanks are prohibited.
- Signs advertising or promoting gaming, video poker, or gambling activity are prohibited.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be erected at intersections to obstruct clear vision, or at locations where by reason of shape, position, or coloring it may interfere with traffic signs or signals.
- Pole signs are not permitted in any zoning district except for specific ingress/egress drive signs.
- No revolving beacons or revolving signs are permitted.
- No off-premises signs advertising business, enterprise, product, or service that is not located on the property are permitted.
- Gooseneck reflectors are not permitted on ground signs and wall signs.
- No sign may be erected, altered, or relocated without obtaining a permit.
- Signs that obstruct the visibility of vehicular or pedestrian traffic are prohibited.
- No sign may be attached with wires, strips of wood, or nails, and must use proper noncorrosive fasteners.
- No wall sign may cover any wall opening, project above the wall, or extend more than 10 inches from the building surface.
- No sign shall be located or maintained on or over any public right-of-way.

## Signs exempt from permit in Palos Heights

- Nonilluminated signs denoting architect, engineer, or contractor on work under construction and not exceeding 16 square feet (must be removed 30 days after occupancy permit).
- Nonilluminated professional nameplate not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Bulletin boards not over 20 square feet for public, charitable, or religious institutions, on the institution premises, unless permission is granted for off-premises placement.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and the date of erection, when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials.
- Temporary signs, decorations, or decorative fixtures placed on lampposts and buildings for public demonstration or promotion of civil welfare.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger, and other temporary, emergency, or nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the city council.
- Permitted signs specified in § 93.40 (construction signs, real estate signs, subdivision signs, church or community center identification signs, civic/religious/quasi-public signs, public signs, public event signs, integral signs, political campaign signs, temporary external signs with permit, and pennants for grand openings) as long as they comply with their specific restrictions.
- Holiday outdoor signs and lights of a Christmas holiday nature or related to Christmas holiday events and promotions from November 15 through January 15 without fee but subject to approval of the building commissioner.
- Strings of lights used to display merchandise or for security purposes are not prohibited.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Variations to the requirements of this chapter must be brought before the city council.
- An application for a sign permit must include two blueprints or ink drawings of the plans and specifications, method of construction, and attachment.
- Monument signs must be designed and engineered by a licensed engineer; stamped drawings must be submitted with the permit application.
- Permanent banners may be permitted by the city council on a case-by-case basis.
- Applications for the approval of special advertising signs and promotions shall be made to the license, permit and franchise committee which shall make recommendations to the city council, except businesses, schools, and other institutions within Palos Heights, which shall be approved by the building commissioner.
- Drawings stamped by an engineer licensed by the State of Illinois must be submitted to the building commissioner along with the permit application for monument signs.
- Requests for more than ten temporary signs for not-for-profit events must be reviewed and approved by the city’s license permits and franchise committee prior to installation.
- Painted wall signs are only allowed by approval of the city council.
- Permit required for all temporary external signs; application must include design for approval before erection.
- Permit required for all signs unless specifically exempted.

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

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